For going to Tallinn from Helsinki we saw in Internet an agency with which the tickets were well priced. Looking directly into the company Tallink Silja (the one whose timetables adapted to the day and time we wanted: 7:30 am and 4:30 pm round trip) cost 40 € each way. Online (without the right to change or cancellation) cost us € 54 back and forth with the same company. The departure and arrival terminals were:
- Helsinki: West Terminal
- Tallinn: D-Terminal.
Since we wanted to visit Tallinn the day before of our return to Barcelona, for the last two days we took the hotel relatively close to downtown and Kauppatori for going to Suomenlinna and Tallinn.
The problem was that the company we went to Tallinn with departed from another terminal on the other side of the city (I thought that all the companies would depart from Kauppatori and not just some).
As the ferry left at 7:30am and we had to be half an hour before in the terminal, we had to get a taxi at 6:30 am to get the terminal on time. As there was no traffic, the taxi wasn't expensive at all, about 12 €, and in just 15 minutes we were at the ferry terminal.
In one day, even in a long morning, you can see perfectly the Old Town of Tallinn. We arrived at 9:30 am to the ferry terminal and at 10 am we were wandering around its cobbled streets. About 1:30 pm we had lunch in the Olde Hansa restaurant and then we walked quietly through the Town Hall Square. At 3:30 pm we went to the ferry terminal.
The ferries are very full, especially at certain times, because the Finns are going to Estonia to purchase or consume alcoholic drinks. In Finland alcohol is expensive. A can of beer cost about 2 €, whereas in Estonia alcohol taxes are much lower. So it's worth doing a return trip if you buy much alcohol or to get drunk. In fact, many people had folding trucks to transport boxes of bottles or cans.
The ferry terminal is relatively close to the old town, and after a nice walk of 20 minutes under a lovely day we arrived easily to the Old Town of Tallinn. You can't get lost. Just follow the stream of people.
Below you have the most interesting places we saw in Tallinn:
- Saint Olav Church. Views from the bell-tower
- Pikk Street
- Tower's Square
- Town walls
- Aleksander Nevski Cathedral
- Parliament of Estonia
- Saint Mary Cathedral
- Kohtu Platform
- Patkuli Platform
- Saint Nicholas Church
- Town Hall's Square
- Town Hall
- Town Hall's Pharmacy
- Olde Hansa Restaurant
- Viru Gate
- Saint Catherine Passage
From this point of the city walls of Tallinn you see the bell tower of Saint Olav church on the left and one tower of the walls on the right
The old town of Tallinn from the bell tower of Saint Olav church
The two cathedrals of Tallinn: Aleksander Nevski Cathedral and Saint Mary Cathedral
As well as the two cathedrals, on the left Saint Nicholas church appears
Towers of the city walls of Tallinn in Estonia
In the middle of this picture yo can see the Town Hall of Tallinn
Pikk Street in Tallinn
From Tower's Square in Tallinn you can get a nice view of the city walls
Taking pictures of the towers of the city walls of Tallinn
Detail of the roof of one tower of the city walls
The city walls of Tallin from the other side
Aleksander Nevski is the Orthodox Cathedral of Tallinn
Parliament of Estonia in Tallinn
I liked the building of the German Embassy in Tallinn
Catholic Cathedral of Saint Mary in Tallinn
Roofs of the old town of Tallinn from Kohtu Platform
Towers of the city walls of Tallinn and the bell tower of Saint Olav church from Patkuli Platform
Another view of Tallinn from the viewpoint of Patkuli
Behind the bell tower of Saint Olav church you can see the Baltic Sea from the viewpoint of Patkuli in Tallinn
Saint Nicholas church in Tallinn
In the blog www.elrincondesele.com I found very interesting information about the sites to visit in Tallinn and, above all, a restaurant to have lunch. The restaurant is called
Olde Hansa and is absolutely medieval. The restaurant building, located in the old city center and near the Town Hall Square, is like a medieval 3-storey house with a gabled roof.
Next to the front door, a cart to give the medieval appearance. And inside everything was set in the most splendid period of Tallinn where it was a trade hub in the Baltic. The waiters are dressed and speak to you with the accent of two centuries ago. The interior is medieval too: tables and chairs, soft light, you drink beer in jugs and eat food on huge plates. I ordered a delicious beer flavored with cinnamon. And the meal was succulent. Anecdotally, when asking for the bill, the waiter asked: in cash or in horses?
Building of the medieval restaurant Olde Hansa in Tallinn
Doorway of the restaurant Olde Hansa located near the Town Hall's Square in Tallinn
First floor of the medieval restaurant Olde Hansa in Tallinn
The low lighting and candlelight gave even more medieval atmosphere to the restaurant
My mug of beer with a slight taste of cinnamon
The main dish I enjoyed in Olde Hansa Restaurant in Tallinn
Leaving the restaurant to the Town Hall Square we discovered even a souvenir shop associated with the restaurant. Besides in the surroundings of the restaurant there is a nice girl dressed in a medieval style you can take a picture with and gives you an ancient coin as souvenir.
Town Hall's Square in Tallinn
Town Hall in Tallinn
Town Hall's Square in Tallinn
Town Hall's Square in Tallinn
Town Hall's Square
Town Hall's Pharmacy is one of the oldest pharmacy in Europe
Viru Gate in Tallinn
City walls of Tallinn between Viru Gate and the Passage of Saint Catherine
Saint Catherine Passage in Tallinn
We left the old town of Tallinn walking along Pikk street
Tallinn's Old Town is lovely and transports you to a past time. The day was sunny, which enhanced the beauty of its streets and buildings. Ther is a mix of architectural styles in the construction of religious buildings: Protestant churches, a Catholic cathedral and another Orthodox Cathedral.
The place I liked most was the Town Hall Square, wide, pedestrian, delimited with two-story buildings and the City Council as the most prominent building. The atmosphere in the square was festive and lively, with many tourists (it was weekend and the day was splendid with a very pleasant temperature for early April).
I liked the viewpoints too. There are two located in the upper part of the old town. From one of them, yo can see better the downtown area surrounding the Town Hall Square. From the other, a magnificent view of the city walls and the Baltic Sea is obtained. In addition we climbed the bell tower of the Church of St. Olav to get a first overview of the city.
And the walls are impressive. Very well preserved, with its towers finished in red cones perfectly visible from the viewpoints of the city.
This was our trip route in Finland and Estonia:
- Aleksanterinkatu Street
- Senaatintori
- Lutheran Cathedral
- Esplanadi Park
- Kappeli Cafe
- Sibelius Monument
- Olympic Stadium
Day 4 - Lapland
- Country Cross Ski in Ounasvaara Ski resort
Day 5 - Lapland
- Snowshoes in Ounasvaara Ski Resort
- Searching for Northern Ligths (Aurora Borealis)
Day 6 - Lapland
Day 8 - Turku and Helsinki
- Castle and Cathedral of Turku
- Senaatintori and Kauppatori (Senate Square and Market Square) in Helsinki
- Suomenlinna (Sveavorg) in Helsinki
Day 9 - Tallinn in Estonia
- Saint Olav Church. Views from the bell-tower
- Pikk Street
- Tower's Square
- Town walls, Tower's Square and Viru Gate
- Aleksander Nevski Cathedral
- Saint Mary Cathedral
- Kohtu and Patkuli Platform
- Saint Nicholas Church
- Town Hall and Town Hall's Square
- Olde Hansa Restaurant
- Saint Catherine Passage
Day 10 - Helsinki
- Buying souvenirs near Senaatintori (Senate Square)
Finally, other countries and cities I have already visited are:
