The Tallinn to Helsinki ferry runs several times a day with three companies: Tallink (the fastest, about 2 hours, on MyStar and Megastar), Eckerö Line (about 2 hours 15 minutes, calmer), and Viking Line (about 2.5 hours, often the cheapest). One-way fares seen on comparison sites for early November 2026 ranged from about €14 to €39. Book online, carry your passport or EU ID card, and check in before the cut-off, which ranges from 20 to 45 minutes before departure depending on the company.
This guide explains who sails when, what tickets cost, how to choose between the three companies, and what to know about check-in, terminals, and bringing alcohol home.
Bookmark it before you book.
Three companies, three terminals, one short crossing
The route between the two capitals is one of the busiest short sea crossings in Europe. Three operators run scheduled passenger services, and they do not all use the same terminals, which matters more than most travellers expect.
Tallink
Tallink runs the fast shuttle ferries MyStar and Megastar, which take two hours, plus the larger cruise ferry Victoria I, which makes one daily crossing. Tallink says it offers up to six daily departures on the fast ferries. In Tallinn, Tallink uses Terminal D at Uus-Sadama 24, and in Helsinki it uses West Terminal 2 at Tyynenmerenkatu 14.
Eckerö Line
Eckerö Line sails the MS Finlandia, with a crossing time of about 2 hours 15 minutes. In Tallinn it uses the A-terminal at Sadama 25/2, and in Helsinki it shares West Terminal 2 with Tallink, according to the Port of Helsinki.
Viking Line
Viking Line sails the Viking XPRS, which takes about 2 hours 30 to 40 minutes. It uses the A-terminal in Tallinn, and in Helsinki it leaves from Katajanokka, a separate terminal from the other two. That terminal is closer to the city centre, which is useful if your hotel is near the Market Square.
Pro Tip: Estonia and Finland are in the same time zone, so the arrival time on your ticket is the real arrival time. There is no clock change to work out.
The Tallinn to Helsinki timetable, day by day
Schedules change by season and by day of the week, so treat these as a typical pattern and confirm on the operator’s site before you book. The times below come from comparison-site timetables for early November 2026 and a recent route guide.
Tallink
Tallink’s shuttles typically leave Tallinn at 07:30, 10:30, 13:30, 16:30, 19:30, and 22:30 and take two hours, as listed on a timetable site. Victoria I sails around midday, and the crossing takes about three and a half hours, so it suits travellers who want a slower, more relaxed trip.
Eckerö Line
Eckerö’s Finlandia leaves Tallinn at 06:00 (Monday to Saturday), 12:00, and 18:30 daily, arriving in Helsinki about 2 hours 15 minutes later. It is the first ferry of the day, which helps if you want a full day in Helsinki.
Viking Line
Viking Line’s pattern changes by weekday. Route guides list Tallinn departures at 07:00 and 17:00 on regular days, with different times on Fridays (10:45 and 17:30) and Sundays (07:00, 15:30, and 22:15). Because of this, check the exact day you plan to travel.
Earliest and latest sailings
The earliest departure is Eckerö’s 06:00 and the latest regular fast sailing is Tallink’s 22:30, which arrives at 00:30. Direct Ferries lists roughly 86 weekly sailings on the route across the three companies, so you will usually find a departure that fits.
What the ferry costs
Fares vary by date, time, company, and how early you buy. As a snapshot, one-way prices on comparison sites for Friday 6 November 2026 looked like this:
- Viking Line (Viking XPRS): about €18
- Eckerö Line (Finlandia): about €19 to €23
- Tallink Victoria I: about €22
- Tallink MyStar and Megastar: about €30 to €37
Other dates in late October and early November showed Viking Line as low as €14 to €16.50, and Tallink shuttles up to about €38.90. Those are snapshots from timetable sites, not official price lists, and fares change daily.
Why prices move
- Time of day: midday and mid-week sailings are often cheaper than evening and weekend ones.
- Company: Tallink’s faster shuttles generally cost more than Viking and Eckerö.
- Overnight cabins: a sample overnight sailing with a cabin cost about €134, but you do not need one for a two-hour crossing.
- Counter fees: check in online or at a kiosk to avoid a service fee. Viking Line charges a €5 fee for counter check-in on this route, and Tallink’s booking pages mention a €10 fee at the service desk.
Which company should you pick?
There is no single best operator. The right choice depends on what you care about most.
If you want the fastest crossing
Choose Tallink. The shuttles take two hours, and Tallink has the most departures, so you have the most flexibility if plans change.
If you want the lowest fare
Check Viking Line first. It often has the lowest prices on comparison sites, and the trade-off is a longer crossing of about 2.5 hours and fewer departures.
If you want a quieter trip
Try Eckerö Line. Route guides describe the ship as smaller and calmer than Tallink’s large vessels, and the experience as less hectic. It also has the earliest sailing at 06:00.
If your hotel is in central Helsinki
Viking Line’s Katajanokka terminal is close to the city centre. Tallink and Eckerö use West Terminal 2, which is reached by tram from the centre.
If you are planning a day trip
Pick the earliest outbound and the latest return. For example, Eckerö’s 06:00 from Tallinn arrives in Helsinki at 08:15, and Tallink’s 22:30 from Helsinki gets you back in Tallinn at 00:30, which gives you roughly 14 hours in Helsinki. You can buy each leg separately.
How to buy your ticket
1. Pick your date and compare
Check two or three operators for the same day. A comparison site shows all three side by side, and it is a quick way to see the cheapest departure. Then check the operator’s own site for the final price.
2. Book directly or through a seller
Booking with the operator gives you its app, its change rules, and its customer service. Third-party sellers can be cheaper or more convenient, but read the conditions before you pay.
3. Choose one-way or return
A return ticket makes sense if you are sure of your dates. If your plans are flexible, two one-way tickets let you choose a different company on the way back.
4. Enter names exactly as in your passport
Ticket names should match your travel document. Each passenger, including children, needs their own booking details.
5. Save your e-ticket and check in early
Save the booking confirmation to your phone, and use the operator’s app or the kiosks at the terminal.
Pro Tip: For weekends, public holidays, and summer, book a few days ahead. That is our suggestion, not an official rule, but popular sailings are the first to fill up.
Documents you need to carry
Both Finland and Estonia are in the Schengen area, but ferry companies still check travel documents at boarding. Tallink states that EU citizens may use a passport or national ID card, while non-EU citizens should carry a valid passport and check visa requirements.
Viking Line says each passenger, including children, must present a valid travel document at check-in. Eckerö Line says travellers must have all travel documents required for the trip, such as a passport and a visa where needed, in order to collect tickets and board.
If you need a Schengen visa, make sure it covers both countries and your travel dates.
Check-in and boarding: arrive earlier than you think
Boarding closes earlier than many first-timers expect, and once check-in has closed you cannot board. The cut-offs differ by company.
- Tallink: online check-in is open from 24 hours until 30 minutes before departure, and Tallink recommends arriving at the terminal one hour before.
- Eckerö Line: check-in begins two hours before departure and closes 45 minutes before. Eckerö asks passengers to arrive no later than one hour before.
- Viking Line: check-in opens about 90 minutes before. Passengers without a car must be at the harbour 30 minutes before departure in Helsinki and 45 minutes before in Tallinn, and boarding closes 20 minutes before departure.
A safe habit is to be at the terminal one hour before departure, whichever company you use. Security checks can add time at busy departures.
Getting to the terminals
In Tallinn, all three companies use the Old City Harbour, which is close to the Old Town. Tallink sails from Terminal D, while Viking Line and Eckerö Line use the A-terminal, so check which one is on your ticket.
In Helsinki, Tallink and Eckerö arrive at West Terminal 2, which guides say is the terminus of trams 7 and 9. Viking Line arrives at Katajanokka, where trams stop in front of the terminal, according to Viking’s own Helsinki harbour page. Tram numbers change, so check the Helsinki public transport map.
Bringing alcohol and tobacco into Finland
Many travellers shop on board or in Tallinn. Finnish Customs has a specific rule for this route: although Estonia is in the EU, there are quantity limits when you arrive in Finland by ferry from Estonia.
- Beer and wine: the tax-free allowances on this route match those for travellers from outside the EU, which include 16 litres of beer and 4 litres of still wine. Spirits and fortified wine have separate limits.
- Tobacco: up to 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 100 cigarillos from other EU countries. Packs should carry Finnish and Swedish health warnings.
- Age limits: according to Tallink’s customs page, Finland requires you to be 20 for alcohol over 22% and 18 for wine, beer, and tobacco.
Limits can change, so check the Finnish Customs page before you shop.
A Tallinn-to-Helsinki day trip, hour by hour
This is an editorial suggestion you can adapt.
- 05:15: arrive at Tallinn’s A-terminal and check in for Eckerö’s 06:00 sailing.
- 08:15: arrive in Helsinki at West Terminal 2 and take a tram to the centre.
- 09:00: coffee and a walk around the Market Square and Senate Square.
- 13:00: lunch, then museums or the Suomenlinna sea fortress.
- 19:00: dinner in the city centre.
- 21:00: head back to West Terminal 2 for the 22:30 return.
- 00:30: arrive in Tallinn.
Check return times on the day you travel, because the last sailing varies.
Mistakes that cost travellers time and money
- Going to the wrong terminal: Tallink uses Terminal D in Tallinn, while Viking Line and Eckerö use the A-terminal.
- Arriving at the cut-off: check-in closes 20 to 45 minutes before departure, and the ship will not wait.
- Paying counter fees: use online check-in or the self-service kiosk.
- Assuming every company sails every day: Eckerö’s 06:00 runs Monday to Saturday, and Viking’s times change on Fridays and Sundays.
- Forgetting your passport or ID: carry it for every passenger, including children.
- Overbuying alcohol: Finnish Customs sets quantity limits on this route.
Last-minute questions about the Tallinn–Helsinki ferry
How long is the ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki?
About two hours with Tallink’s shuttles, about 2 hours 15 minutes with Eckerö Line, and about 2 hours 30 to 40 minutes with Viking Line.
Which ferry company is the cheapest?
Viking Line often shows the lowest fares on comparison sites, but prices change by date and time, so compare before you book.
Which ferry is the fastest?
Tallink’s MyStar and Megastar, which take two hours.
Do I need a passport?
EU citizens can usually travel with a passport or national ID card. Non-EU travellers need a valid passport and any visa required for Schengen travel.
How early should I arrive?
Aim to be at the terminal one hour before departure. Check-in closes 20 to 45 minutes before departure, depending on the company.
Can I buy tickets at the terminal?
Yes, at the ticket desks, but online is usually cheaper and avoids counter fees.
Is the ferry the same price in both directions?
Not necessarily. Fares are set per sailing, so compare each direction separately.
Some useful resources
Timetables and prices change often, so confirm them with the operators before you book.
- Tallink: Tallinn–Helsinki ferry and check-in and boarding: ships, terminals, and check-in
- Viking Line: check-in, Tallinn harbour, and Helsinki harbour: cut-offs and fees
- Eckerö Line: how to check in: check-in and documents
- Port of Helsinki: West Terminal 2: which ferries use which terminal
- Finnish Customs: alcohol and tobacco allowances
- Tallink customs page: age limits
- Timetable site and route guide: sample times and fares
