Spending time in the Finnish capital of Helsinki is absolutely lovely and one of my favourite places to visit. As well as enjoying the city and surrounding area taking a ferry across to Tallinn in Estonia for a day is a very popular excursion as the journey time is only two hours.
On our recent visit to Helsinki we arranged a trip on the flagship Tallink Megastar. As ferries depart up to seven times a day from both ports we opted to take the 10.30 a.m. Megastar service. This is Tallink’s newest and largest cruise ferry which has been in service since 2017 departing from the large and stylish West Terminal 2. The terminal is quick and easy to reach as both Trams 7 and 9 terminate there from the city centre with a journey time of around 10 minutes.
On arrival at the terminal we printed out our boarding cards but it’s also possible to download the Tallink and Silja Line app which allows passengers to check-in online and store boarding passes on their phones.
We arrived about an hour prior to departure allowing us 20 minutes to explore the terminal and to watch our ferry arrive from the boarding lounge windows. Standard return fares with seven hours in either port start at only €34 with upgrades to Comfort and Business Class available at an extra supplement.
Boarding the ferry begins 40 minutes prior to departure and as we’d arrived promptly this allowed us ample time to explore the ship and its many facilities before relaxing and enjoying a meal.
Megastar can carry up to 2,800 passengers but with so much space on board I doubt it ever feels overcrowded as there is plenty of room for everyone. As we were sailing mid-week the ferry wasn’t quite so busy and as we stepped onto Megastar it felt as though we were on a cruise ship as it was so luxurious and fitted out to a very high standard.
As a special treat we were booked into the Business Lounge which is conveniently located on Deck 8 with a door leading into it from just inside the main foyer. This premium lounge is positioned at the front of the ferry and boasts panoramic views through its large windows looking out to sea.
There is a €69 supplement for access to the Business Lounge and although not in everyone’s budget range, it definitely transforms the crossing into a memorable occasion. Facilities include premium super fast Wi-Fi, a full hot and cold buffet and a ‘serve yourself drinks bar’ which includes everything from soft drinks to wine, beer and spirits. On the outbound sailing we tucked into a delicious brunch buffet with a wide range of dishes including smoked salmon, pâté, fresh fruit, bacon, eggs and pastries.
For business travellers heading to either Tallinn or Helsinki I would recommend taking Megastar as with its short crossing time between the city centres it is actually much quicker than travelling by air. The Business Lounge is very comfortable and its facilities comparable with airport business lounges that we have used. There is ample room to relax and/ or work and as it is just by the entrance/exit customers enjoy priority disembarkation so can swiftly be on their way. The same applies for business travellers who have taken a car on board.
As we departed, we hardly noticed the ferry had started moving as it is powered on LPG and silent in operation. During the two hour crossing we also had time to take a look at the other facilities available on Megastar, all of which exceeded our expectations.
The Comfort Lounge is located on the same deck as the Business Lounge and also has cosy seating in a relaxed atmosphere. A €29 surcharge is payable to access this area with passengers being offered a selection of snacks and non-alcoholic drinks.
All other areas of the ship are included in the basic ticket price including the Sitting Lounge which is a quiet, separate area with reclining, airline type seats. Another option if you don’t want to splurge on upgrading to either business or comfort class is to enjoy a meal in the Delight Buffet Restaurant. This ‘all you can eat’ restaurant has a changing menu depending on the time of sailing and with the exception of the breakfast sailings also includes wine and beer. Late breakfast on the 10.30 a.m. sailing is €23 (€20 if booked in advance) and dinner €32 (€29 if pre-booked). Whilst lunchtime menus in Finnish restaurants are reasonably priced, dining out in the evenings can be expensive especially if you add wine to accompany your meal. This makes the Megastar buffet restaurant a good alternative and a pleasant way to round off a day trip to either port.
On board, there’s also the Chef’s Kitchen, a restaurant with an open kitchen and a relaxed atmosphere. The menu is moderately priced and has selections appealing to most tastes.
For light bites there are even more options including the Fast Lane, Coffee & Co., a floating Burger King and two pubs, the Victory Bar and the Sea Pub. The Sea Pub also has a small stage for live performances on some crossings.
Moving on from dining options, Megastar’s shopping experience extends the full length of the ferry and is stocked with international brands including the Finnish designer favourites of Marimekko and iittala.
On the floor below, passengers can purchase beer, wine and spirits which are all priced considerably cheaper than in Finland so much so that stocking up on the return trip can more than pay for the cost of the ferry with the savings made. We bought some wine and of course couldn’t resist adding several bars of the delicious Fazer Finnish chocolate to our shopping basket.
Our ferry docked promptly at 12.30 and as we were in business class we were able to disembark first. The nicest part was being offered some Fazer chocolates as we left!
Spending the day in Tallinn
The ferry terminal in Tallinn is just a 15-minute walk southwest of the old town. If you want to save your energy for exploring the city centre then you can take Bus 2 which leaves from Reisisadam in Terminal D.
Explore the medieval old town
The walking route from the ferry leads to the imposing city walls that enclose the old town. Many sections of the walls and the defensive towers are beautifully preserved as they would have looked hundreds of years ago. The walls were constructed in 1265 and are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Enter through Viru Gate which is flanked by two towers and one of the most picturesque sections. Just inside the gate, a daily flower market takes place which is lovely to see with its large displays of fresh flowers. Tallinn’s old town is an absolute delight with its exceptionally well preserved maze of narrow, cobblestone streets lined with cosy cafes, interesting small shops, beer halls and restaurants.
Old Town Square
At the heart of the Old Town lies the Town Hall Square which was once a market square and the centre of the city’s government.
This cobblestone square is named after the Gothic town hall which stands on one edge of the square and is surrounded by quaint, Hanseatic buildings. During the summer it’s home to numerous events and it is where a fairytale like Christmas market takes place each December.
Toompea Hill
Climb to the top of the old town via Toompea Hill for views of the medieval fortress Toompea Castle.
The fortress towers above the old town and is the seat of the Estonian Parliament. The blue, black and white Estonian flag is raised every morning at sunrise to the sounds of the National Anthem.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
This spectacular, onion-domed cathedral perched on top of Toompea Hill is Estonia’s Orthodox cathedral and the grandest, most opulent church in Tallinn. Entrance is free but photography is not permitted.
City viewpoints
Enjoy a walk on part of the walls which span 1.9 km. Located on the northern side of Toompea Hill is the Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform. From here there are stunning views over the old town across to the port beyond.
The Patkuli Viewing Platform is located slightly further along the city walls and also offers breathtaking views over the city rooftops and of the new town. From there, descend there 157 steps to the town below.
Balti Jaam Market
It’s always interesting to visit an overseas market and the one at Tallinn is no exception. Balti Jaam is located next to the railway station and contains around 300 stalls over its three floors.
There are large halls for fresh fish and meat, an entire lane devoted to fruit and vegetables and lots of inviting dining options in the street food zone. Upstairs visitors can take a look at Estonian design, crafts, clothing and household goods.
Overall
Back at the ferry terminal we were able to access the Tallinn Business Lounge for a cup of coffee before boarding the 19.30 return crossing to Helsinki. Seated by the window we watched the sun set whilst enjoying the delicious dinner buffet accompanied with a glass of wine. We then relaxed in our comfortable business class armchairs sipping freshly brewed coffee reflecting on what a lovely day we’d just had. I’d highly recommend taking the Tallink Megastar ferry between Helsinki and Tallinn whether in standard, comfort or business class as the journey definitely adds to the experience.
In addition to Tallink’s two ferries between Helsinki and Tallinn, Tallink also operates day cruises on their Silja Line ferries between Helsinki and Stockholm which include two nights on board either Silja Symphony or Silja Serenade and a whole day in either capital city. Further details can be found on their website.
If you have enjoyed reading this post, you may also like:
Helsinki – Free things to see and do
A Guide to Helsinki’s Best Seaside Cafes
During our ferry trip we were guests of Tallink and as always, all views and opinions are entirely my own.
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