TALLINN - St. Petersburg, Helsinki and Tallinn - page 172

by phone or in person at downtown offices costs €5 extra. If you just have questions, the re-
servations lines will answer them for free (Swedish tel. [phone], Estonian tel. [phone],
www.tallinksilja.com ) .
In Stockholm, Tallink Silja ships leave from the Värtahamnen harbor. To get there from
downtown Stockholm, take the Tallink Silja shuttle bus from the train station (50 kr, de-
parts according to boat schedule), or take the T-bana (subway, 36 kr) to the Gärdet station,
then walk 10 minutes to the harbor. On Mondays through Saturdays, public bus #76 (direc-
tion: Ropsten) takes you directly to the terminal (leaves from several downtown locations,
including Kungsträdgården; get off at Färjeterminalen stop). For Stockholm public transit
information, see www.sl.se/english . In Tallinn, Tallink Silja ships dock at D-Terminal (see
“Arrival in Tallinn,” later).
Age Restrictions: Travelers ages 18-20 are not permitted on the Stockholm-Tallinn
route unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Exceptions may be possible with a per-
mission form or documented reason. Before making plans, contact Tallink Silja by phone
or email to clarify your individual situation.
Speeding Between Helsinki and Tallinn
Four different companies—shown in the table above—offer ferry trips between Helsinki
and Tallinn. Fares run €20-55 one-way (evening departures from Helsinki and morning
departures from Tallinn tend to be cheaper; student and senior discounts available). Their
websites have all the latest information and prices. If you travel round-trip on the same
day, your ticket will cost barely more than a one-way fare, but you'll have just a few hours
on shore. Prices differ only slightly from company to company—base your choice on the
most convenient departure times and ferry terminal locations. Make sure you know which
terminal your boat leaves from and how to get to it (for descriptions of Tallinn's terminals,
see “Arrival in Tallinn,” later).
Unless you're bringing a car, the Linda and Viking lines are usually the most convenient,
as their docks in Helsinki and Tallinn are easy to reach by foot or public transport. Linda
Line uses 400-passenger, Australian-made catamarans that zip across the Gulf of Finland
in just 1.5 hours (6-7/day March-Oct, 3-5/day Nov-Feb). Boats leave from the Makasiini
terminal in Helsinki's South Harbor (Eteläsatama), just five minutes' walk from Market
Square, and arrive in Tallinn at the Linnahall terminal. Catamarans lack the spacious party
atmosphere of larger boats, and are slightly more expensive (but they're the only ones that
offer discounts on non-same-day round-trips). Cancellations, which can occur in stormy
conditions, rarely happen in summer; still, if you have a plane to catch, play it safe and take
a regular ferry. Viking Line leaves from the other side of Helsinki's South Harbor (Kata-
janokan terminal), and arrives at Tallinn's A-Terminal. Viking offers a more traditional ex-
perience on a big ferry with restaurants and shops (2/day, 2.5-hour crossing, generally a
few euros less than Linda Line).
Tallink Silja and Eckerö Line leave from the relatively inconvenient Länsi terminal at
Helsinki's West Harbor (Länsistama), which you can reach on tram #9 (catch it at Kamppi
mall in downtown Helsinki; the terminal is the end of the line). At the other end of the jour-
ney, Tallink Silja uses Tallinn's D-Terminal—the farthest from the Old Town, making it a
bit less convenient but still walkable. On the other hand, Tallink Silja's ferries are frequent