3 Easy Day Trips from Helsinki, Finland

There is so much to do in Finland’s capital city! However, if you are looking to take a break from Helsinki or want to explore other parts of Finland or even set foot in another country altogether, then this post has you covered! Below you will find information about 3 easy day trips from Helsinki. All 3 of these places are very easy to get to and fun to explore!

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Suomenlinna

This 18th century sea fort was established by the Swedes to protect and defend themselves against Russian expansion. Then it was taken over by the Russians and remained under Russian control until Finland gained independence in 1917. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also one of the easiest and fastest day trips from Helsinki!

How to get to Suomenlinna

First get to the Market Square in Helsinki and then take the HSL Ferry to Suomenlinna. Suomenlinna is in Zone A. The ferry takes you to the main quay on the north side in Suomenlinna. There are several departures per hour in the summer and at least one per hour in the winter. See HERE for the schedule. Note you cannot buy tickets at the ferry itself. You need to buy them via the HSL app or a kiosk prior to boarding.

In the summer months (May until late September), there is also a water bus that operates from Market Square. You can buy tickets from the FRS Finland online store, directly on the water bus, or at the service point located at the pier during opening hours. HSL ferry tickets will not be accepted. This water bus is ideal if you are also looking to go to Lonna as it stops there as well. Lonna is a small island close to both Helsinki and Suomenlinna with a sauna and good restaurant.

Things to Do in Suomenlinna

The best thing to do on a day trip to Suomenlinna is to follow the “Blue Route”. The Blue Route is a 1.5-kilometer walking trail from the main pier (Iso Mustasaari) to the King’s Gate at the southern tip. It takes you through some of Suomenlinna’s key historical landmarks, museums, and fortifications.

When you first get off the ferry, go to the visitor center and get a map of the island. This map details all the key sites and attractions in Suomenlinna. You can grab an audio guide and also watch an introductory video about Suomenlinna at the visitors center. Once you get a map, an audio guide and have watched the video, you can start on the Blue Route.

Places to See on the Blue Route

• Jetty Barracks – The main gateway to Suomenlinna’s Russian period. It is now home to the Finnish National Defense University.
• Suomenlinna Church – Built in 1854 as an Orthodox garrison church. It is now a Lutheran church. It also doubles as a light house which is very rare in Europe!
• Suomenlinna Museum – Showcases the history of the fortress for over 270 years.
• Dry Dock – Used for shipbuilding during Swedish and Russian rule and is considered to be one of the oldest functioning dry docks in Europe.
• Great Courtyard – Originally the heart of the fortress.
• Bastion Zander – Known as the flag bastion of Suomenlinna since the construction of the island.
• King’s Gate – Ceremonial gateway, built in the 1750s.

See HERE for my detailed post on visiting Suomenlinna from Helsinki!

Porvoo

Porvoo is another one of the easiest day trips from Helsinki!. It was founded in the 14th century and is the second-oldest city in Finland. After Suomenlinna, Porvoo is one of the popular day trips from Helsinki and with very good reason. A trip to Porvoo takes you back in time. Roam its cobblestoned Old Town and walk along its colorful riverside. The town definitely makes for a very relaxing and pleasant day trip from the capital city.

How to Get to Porvoo

The bus is the best and most straightforward way to get to Porvoo from Helsinki! Get on a bus from the Helsinki Kamppi Bus Station . The journey will take around 55 minutes. Buses run hourly on weekdays but reduce frequency on weekends (4-5 a day).

The best way to get a bus ticket is to do it online using the Onnibus app or the Matkahuolto app. Download one of these apps to your phone. I used the Matkahuolto app (it also shows Onnibus buses) and it was very easy to buy a ticket online. Tickets are timed and for a specific bus. The Onnibus bus lines that go to Porvoo and back are OB7,OB71,OB72,OB77,OB78,OB79. The other bus line (U-line) numbers are 788, 848, 849. Also note that Onnibus does not let you buy tickets onboard and you have to buy those online. The U-Line bus does but it’s not always easy to tell which type of bus will be coming next without the app.

Things to Do in Porvoo

• Old Town
• Riverfront houses
• Museums – there are several!
• Shop for locally made goods
• Taste chocolates and local cuisine
• Porvoo cathedral

See my complete guide to Porvoo HERE!

Porvoo Guided Tours

Here are some tours if you rather have someone else take care of the logistics for you!

Tallinn

Tallinn is one of my favorite mid-sized cities in Europe and I think it deserves at least 2 days. However, if you are in Helsinki and have a day to spare and have never been to Tallinn, then consider crossing over to Tallinn. The ferry ride takes only 2 hours making Tallinn another one of the easy day trips from Helsinki.

How to Get to Tallinn

Below is a summary of all the ferry lines that can take you from Helsinki to Tallinn. My recommendation is to get to Tallinn on the earliest ferry and then depart on the last one. This way, you have a little over 12 hours in Tallinn. The best ferry for this is the Tallink Silja line.

 You should aim to purchase tickets for the ferry well in-advance. The Tallink Silja line offers a day trip rate which is cheaper than buying 2 one way tickets. Best of all the ship is so fancy and was more like a cruise ship than a ferry!

Your Options:

What to Do in Tallinn

Once in Tallinn, you should concentrate your efforts on exploring its medieval Old Town. Start at Viru Gate and make your way through the colorful and narrow streets. Here is a high-level list of things to do but do read my very detailed post about how to spend one day in Tallinn that was written for those who might be coming from Helsinki.

• Viru Gate
• Raeapteek
• Town Square
• Maiasmokk Cafe
• St. Nicholas Church and Museum
• Kiek in de Kök Museum and Bastion Tunnels
• Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
• Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform and the Patkuli Viewing Platform
• St. Olaf’s Church

Read my one day in Tallinn post HERE!

Tallinn Guided Tours

If you would rather do a guided tour of Tallinn, here are some well rated tours.

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