Where did I go: Helsinki and Tallinn

When did I go: December 2016

Our pre-Christmas break to Helsinki and Tallinn seems ages ago.  I came back from the trip with many wonderful memories, a few kilos heavier and a mountain of posts to write. This is a little summary of our trip. I will be doing more detailed posts over the coming weeks, so please keep an eye out.

Our Itinerary

• 2 nights in Helsinki, 4 nights in Tallinn, followed by 1 night in Helsinki.
• London to Helsinki (and return) by plane with Finn Air. Flight time of 2.5 hours (each way).
• Helsinki to Tallinn (and return) by ferry with the Viking Line and Eckero Line – Sailing time: 2.5 hours each way.

Helsinki

Helsinki as a city is exactly how I thought it would be. A modern city, with lots of Swedish and Russian influence. Clean, cold and quiet, not to mention expensive.

Trip Highlights

1. City tour with Nick at Finland Local Guide

2. Temppeliaukio Kirkko or Temple Rock Church: Number 311 on the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travelist

3. Christmas Market in Senate Square

4. Catching the home coming show of  Finish native Saara Alto from X Factor 2016 on the steps of the Helsinki Cathedral.

4. Staying at Hotel Katajanokka: A converted former prison

Tallinn

In Tallinn I expected to find an old city and I wasn’t disappointed. The walled medieval city looks like something out of a fairy tale. It was smaller  than I expected though. There was a beautiful Christmas Marker in the central town square. Lots of places to eat and drink.  We also ventured outside out of the city with a day trip to Paldiski.  Outside the old town, the suburbs still have a lot of Russian influence.

Trip Highlights:

1. Beer tasting and old city tour with Estonian Experience 

2. Paldiski and Countryside Drive with Estonian Experience

3. Visit to the Estonian Parliament

4. Tour of the Bastion Tunnels

4. Visit to the Tallinn Seaplane Harbour Maritime Museum

5. Walking around the old town and the Christmas Market eating and drinking our way through copious amounts of beer, hot chocolate, a medieval feast and a visit to a garlic restaurant.

There are many other highlights I haven’t listed above – the Tallinn Design District, the Helsinki Chapel of Silence, Helsinki Cathedral, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Tallinn, the list goes on. There will be many posts over the coming weeks on all these and more.

Have you been to Helsinki or Tallinn? What did you like best? Please leave comment below and let me know.

This post is part of the WeeklyPostCard at Two Traveling Texans