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Helsinki or Tallinn Overview
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and the most populous city in Finland. Much of the architecture in the city was constructed using lightly colored granite which gives it the nickname “the white city of the north”. The aurora borealis can be seen here roughly once every 20 days. It is the most northern metro area with over one million people as well as the coldest capital city in the world. Being so far north, the city experiences up to 19 hours of daylight in the summer and as low as 4 hours a day in the winter. The population of the city of Helsinki is 650,000.
Helsinki sits at the top of the Baltic Sea and spans over 300 islands. The city is spread over an unusually large area because of the large number of islands it occupies. Because of the large amount of water in the area, fishing is a popular past time for the residents of Helsinki. Forests also cover a large amount of the city.
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia with 435,000 residents. It is only 80km south of Helsinki, making it is the furthest north of the Baltic capital cities. Tallinn’s Old Town is one of the best-preserved medieval cities on the continent and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Old Town looks like it was taken straight from a fairytale.
There are 46 kilometers of shoreline winding around the city. Tallinn is unique to most European cities because it does not lie directly on a river. There are at least five public beaches that people flock to in the summer months.
Places to See
Helsinki
Helsinki Cathedral is an Evangelical Lutheran Church located in the center of the city. It was built in 1852 and is one of the most famous landmarks in the city.
Temppeliaukio Church is a beautiful Lutheran church that was built directly into solid rock. It is a truly spectacular place to see.
Linnanmaki is Finland’s most popular amusement park with over 1 million people visiting each year. It is also known for donating proceeds to the Finnish child welfare system.
The National Museum of Finland holds many exhibits about the history of Finland, dating back to the medieval times. The building’s architecture was inspired by class Finnish cathedrals and castles.
Tallinn
Tallinn Town Hall is a beautiful Gothic-style building located next to the Old Town Square.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a large Eastern Orthodox Cathedral found in the Old Town. It has beautiful domes and a white and orange exterior.
Toompea Castle is a castle located on Toompea Hill in the middle of Tallinn. It has been in use since the 9th century and it now holds the Parliament of Estonia.
Kadriog Palace is a palace originally built for Catherine I of Russia by Peter the Great. It now serves a Kadriog Art Museum.
St. Olaf’s Church was built in the 12th century. It is claimed that from 1549 to 1625 it was the tallest building in the world. You can go to the top of the steeple and see the incredible vistas of the Tallinn
Food
Helsinki
Because of its close proximity to the water, the Finnish people love to eat fish. One of the most popular foods is the Baltic Herring which is served in a variety of ways. Grilled sausages are also hugely popular in Helsinki, especially when cooked over a fire during the summer months. One of the most popular treats in Finland is salted black licorice.
Tallinn
Most traditional cuisines in Tallinn seem to revolve around meat, potatoes, and fish. Rye bread is also a staple in Tallinn. Soup is often served before the main meal is eaten. For desserts, a couple of the most popular foods is the curd snack and rhubarb pie. Curd snacks are sugary curd mixtures covered in chocolate.
Getting Around
Central Helsinki is rather compact making it great for walking. The bus system doesn’t even run in the middle of the city. You can also use the network of ferries or use the trams which bring you to the most popular sites within the city. The city is rather flat which makes it perfect for biking around. You can rent a bike for $5 per day or $10 per week which is extremely convenient for someone visiting the city. The metro system is the most northern metro in the world. It is also regarded as one of the simplest to use.
Tallinn
Tallinn is a rather compact city, especially in the Old Town making it great to explore while walking. Biking is also a popular option to get around if you want to explore the seaside and the outskirts of the city. Public bikes are available using mobile apps. Bikes can be found outside of the tourist information office in the city center. The public transportation network runs on the honor system where they do random checks to see if people have tickets.
Nightlife
Finnish people have learned to party even through the cold weather. Once summertime hits, you can expect to spend a lot of time drinking and partying outdoors. With daylight lasting 19 hours at the peak of summer, the Finns love to spend their time outdoors, even into the night. Most of the nightlife can be found in the center of the city. The city center of the Helsinki is very walkable so you will be able to traverse the nightlife fairly easily.
Tallinn
For many years, Tallinn has been known for attracting stag parties. Today, there are many options to fit every taste in nightlife. Most of the bars are found in the Old Town. Studio and Hollywood are two of the best clubs to hit when you’re here. Like any nightclub, be aware of your belongings in your pockets when you are in the clubs. Hollywood has been deemed the “Bermuda Triangle” because of pickpockets.
Day Trips
Helsinki
- Tallinn is the capital of Estonia and is located only 80km from Helsinki. Tallinn is regarded as a city based on a fairytale because of its beautiful Old Town. A ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn is only $30.
- Tampere is the 3rd largest city in Finland and has quite a few things to see making it a great choice for a day trip.
- Nuuksio National Park is one of 40 some national parks in Finland. It is spectacularly beautiful with its forested terrain and rocky shorelines.
Tallinn
- Lahemaa National Park is one of Estonia’s largest and most beautiful national parks.
- Haapsalu is a small beach town known for its beautiful beaches.
- Helsinki is only 80km away from Tallinn. There are many ferries that cross the strait every day which makes it an incredible excursion from Tallinn.
- Tartu is home to Estonia’s oldest university and a KGB museum.
- Narva is known for having original Soviet architecture. The Narva River runs through the middle of the town. It also has two large fortresses worth giving a visit.
Both Helsinki and Tallinn would be great starting points to visit the other Baltic capital cities like Riga and Vilnius.
Overall
Helsinki and Tallinn are just 90km from each other across the Gulf of Finland. Helsinki is known for its beautiful waterfront and its unique churches. Tallinn is known for its old town which has a fair-tale feel. The beauty of these two cities is that you can do day trips to either one fairly easily. You will want roughly 3 days to see Helsinki and you will want 2 days to see Tallinn but if you want to go to Kadriog Palace, you might want 2.5 days. I highly recommend trying to see both cities if you have the chance.