Helsinki

Return flights from London Stansted using Air Berlin
(I travelled From Tallinn using Nordic Jet Line).

Date Travelled: 21 November 2004

Just 90 minutes from Tallinn (€58 return) is the capital of Finland, Helsinki. Helsinki makes an ideal day-trip from Estonia, as the ferry company offers extensive day-trip packages, which include a 7 hour visit of the city.

If you visit during the winter months like I did, you will immediately notice the different in light levels in the sky, especially as you arrive into the port by ferry.


The view of Helsinki port from the ferry.

Spend a good half hour walking around this pleasant port, with its fishing boats and bigger ferries from all over the Baltic and Scandinavia.

You will have noticed the church overlooking the city, as you arrived. A 5 minute walk from the port leads to Helsinki's cathedral.


Helsinki cathedral.

The cathedral is a useful hideaway from the bitterly cold winds that I faced, along with the "proper" snow that was falling.

Once you've had a look at the church, and the nearly parliament building, head towards the new town, where the streets all feature underground heating, to assist the gritters keeping the roads clear of snow and ice.


Icicles over a couple of signs.

Have a look in "Stockman", Scandinavia's biggest department store chain, which is like Harrod's, but bigger. Why not try a "Kapin Kulta", Finland's number 1 beer, for around €4.

You will soon notice how early it gets dark here (about 3pm when I visited). As you head back towards the port, take a look at the monument standing by the roadside. The monument signifies the visit in the 1830's of the empress of Russia, during the time when Finland was part of the Russian Federation.


The Helsinki monument.

So if you're in Tallinn, a worth while day trip would be Helsinki.