Helsinki ferry port in Finland is served by a number of ferry routes with crossings to Tallinn, Stockholm, Mariehamn, Travemunde & St Petersburg available. With a selection of up to 19 Sailings Daily, the port of Helsinki connects Finland with Estonia, Sweden, Aland, Germany & Russia.
Sailing durations range from 2 hours on the Tallinn service to 64 hours 30 minutes on the Stockholm service.
Although there is a brief summary on this page, as sailing information can vary based on time of year we’d advise you to get live sailing times and prices in our Helsinki fare search.
Helsinki’s ferry port is the largest in Finland and the busiest in Europe for passenger transportation; approximately 12.3 million people and over 14 million tonnes of goods travelled or were transported through the port in 2017.
Ferries from Helsinki sail to numerous countries in the Baltic region of Europe including Sweden, Germany and Russia. But the most popular route links the Finnish capital with Tallinn of Estonia, one of the busiest ferry connections on the continent with over 8 million passenger trips made each year.
Helsinki actually contains two ports, with three separate harbours making up the port in the city centre. Olympia Terminal, also known as South Harbour, alongside East Harbour and the Katajanokka Terminal, are all departure points for Stockholm, Mariehmamn, Travemunde and St Petersburg, with up to seven weekly crossings.
The second port of Helsinki, West Harbour, situated on Jatkasaari, is the gateway to Tallinn providing up to six daily sailings, making it the busiest ferry departure point from the city. Crossing times range from two to two and a quarter hours depending on the operator; they include Tallink Silja, Viking Line and Eckero Line.
Helsinki's ts compact size allows easy exploration by foot. Head for the central avenue, Mannerheimintie, and you’re within touching distance of the National Museum, Parliament House, the Ateneum Gallery and a choice of innovative restaurants bearing Michelin Stars.
Design your morning or afternoon around the city’s creative exploits and you won’t be disappointed. Lauded as one of the most exciting countries in the world for boutiques, glassware galleries, textiles and futuristic workshops, all of these national crafts culminate in the simply unmissable Design Museum, selling some of the best souvenirs in Helsinki, too.
More than just a city of architectural appeal, a third of Helsinki is covered in open green spaces, with the surrounding forested areas hiding some excellent hiking trails. Further afield, Helsinki’s islands can be reached by boat for a fun day out, or you can stroll along a quiet beach during summer followed by cross-country skiing in winter.
Helsinki, known as the ‘Daughter of the Baltic’, was founded in 1550 and has been the Finnish capital since 1812. Sitting on a peninsula in the Gulf of Finland, the city is a picturesque pioneer for new architectural designs, intertwined with glistening inlets and roughly 330 islands and bays of the Baltic.