Can you really visit two countries in one weekend?
I decided to find out.
My plan was simple: fly out on Saturday morning, spend the day exploring Helsinki, Finland, take the ferry across the Baltic Sea to Tallinn, Estonia on Sunday morning, spend the day exploring Tallinn and then fly home on Sunday night.
It sounds rushed — and honestly, it is.
But if you’re someone who enjoys making the most of a short trip, I think it’s completely doable.
Helsinki and Tallinn are separated by the Gulf of Finland, and the ferry between the two cities takes roughly two hours. That makes this one of the easiest ways to experience two completely different countries during a short European break.
I went in December, which gave me the added bonus of experiencing Helsinki during the Christmas season. The Christmas markets, lights and winter atmosphere made the city feel even more special.
If you have the option, I’d definitely recommend flying out on Friday rather than Saturday. You’ll have considerably more time and won’t have to rush around as much.
However, I only had the weekend available, and I actually felt like I maximised my time pretty well.
Here’s exactly how I’d recommend doing it.
🇫🇮 Day 1 – Helsinki
My trip started with a Saturday morning flight to Helsinki.
Once I landed, I found getting into the city surprisingly straightforward.
Before I landed I bought an eSim which helped me navigate and use data abroad. You can buy the same one I used here.
Getting from Helsinki Airport to the city
Helsinki’s public transport was one of the things I liked most about the city.
I used public transport from the airport rather than paying for a taxi. The current airport connection includes bus 600, which runs to Helsinki city centre and takes roughly 40 minutes. There are also trains from the airport, and the city’s HSL ticketing system covers buses, trains, trams and the metro.
I found the whole system easy to use, reliable and, importantly for me, affordable.
The same was true in Tallinn later in the trip.
If you’re travelling on a student or backpacker budget, I’d definitely recommend using public transport rather than taxis. However if you are pushed for time it can help to prebook a taxi. You can book one here.
🏙️ My first impressions of Helsinki
Helsinki was stunning.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect before going, but I was immediately impressed by how clean, calm and beautiful the city was.
The architecture was probably one of my favourite things about Helsinki.
I also felt very safe while walking around the city.
One thing that stood out to me was just how walkable Helsinki felt. I spent a lot of the day simply walking from one place to another, and I’d actually recommend doing the same.
You see much more of a city when you’re walking.
Instead of jumping on public transport every few minutes, you can stumble across small streets, cafés, buildings and viewpoints that you probably wouldn’t have planned to visit.
And Helsinki is a particularly nice city to explore this way.
⛪ Helsinki Cathedral and Senate Square
One of my first stops was Senate Square, where you’ll find the enormous white Helsinki Cathedral.
The cathedral is probably one of the most recognisable sights in Helsinki, and the square around it is impressive in itself.
It’s a great place to start because you can walk to several other major attractions from here.
And because you’re exploring independently, there’s no need to pay for an expensive guided tour.
🧱 Uspenski Cathedral
From Senate Square, I walked towards Uspenski Cathedral.
It’s very different from Helsinki Cathedral, with its red-brick exterior and distinctive Orthodox architecture.
It’s also very close to the harbour, so it’s easy to include as part of a walking route around central Helsinki.
🌊 Helsinki Market Square
I then made my way towards Market Square, beside Helsinki’s harbour.
This is one of the places where I’d recommend having a look at the food stalls and local produce.
However, if you’re travelling on a budget like I was, be aware that tourist areas aren’t always the cheapest places to eat.
I found that the best way to keep costs down was to mix local food experiences with cheaper meals from supermarkets and less touristy places.
🎄 Helsinki at Christmas
One of the biggest reasons I enjoyed Helsinki so much was the fact that I visited in December.
The city had some fantastic Christmas markets, and the whole centre had a really nice festive atmosphere.
The main Christmas market is held around Senate Square, and Helsinki’s Christmas markets feature seasonal food, drinks, crafts and local products.
Walking around the market with the Christmas lights on, looking at the stalls and seeing the city decorated for Christmas was honestly one of the highlights of my trip.
If you’re considering doing this trip in winter, I’d definitely recommend it.
Just bring warm clothes and decent footwear.
You’re going to be doing a lot of walking.
🍲 What to eat in Helsinki
One of the things I wanted to do was try some traditional Finnish food.
If you’re visiting Helsinki, some things I’d recommend looking out for include:
🐟 Salmon soup
This is one of the foods I’d definitely try in Helsinki.
It’s particularly good during the colder months, and winter is a great time for hearty soups and traditional Finnish comfort food. Helsinki’s market halls are particularly good places to look for local food.
🦌 Reindeer
If you’re feeling adventurous, try reindeer.
It’s one of Finland’s more distinctive foods and is commonly served with potatoes and lingonberries.
🍩 Finnish pastries
You’ll also find plenty of Finnish pastries and cinnamon buns.
And if you’re visiting during December, try glögi, the Finnish version of mulled wine, alongside some traditional Christmas pastries.
For a budget traveller, I’d recommend looking around the markets and market halls rather than automatically going into expensive restaurants.
📚 Oodi Central Library
Another place I really liked was Oodi Central Library.
It might sound strange to put a library on a travel itinerary, but Oodi is much more than somewhere to borrow books.
The building itself is impressive, and it’s a great place to have a break from walking around the city.
And the best part for a budget traveller?
It’s free.
🪨 Temppeliaukio Church
Another interesting stop is Temppeliaukio Church, also known as the Rock Church.
It’s literally built into the rock, which makes it very different from the traditional churches you’ll see around Helsinki.
I’d recommend adding it to your route if you’re interested in architecture and want to see something slightly different.
You can book a ticket online here.
🚶 Walk, walk and walk some more
If there’s one piece of advice I’d give anyone doing this trip, it’s:
Be prepared to walk.
Personally, I didn’t see that as a negative.
I actually think walking is one of the best ways to discover Helsinki.
The city felt comfortable to walk around, and I enjoyed coming across places I hadn’t planned on seeing.
If you have more time than I did, I’d recommend slowing down and enjoying the city rather than trying to tick off every attraction.
But if you’re specifically doing the two countries in one weekend challenge, you’re going to need to keep moving.
An exciting addition to Helsinki is the floating sauna. Which is great if you have a bit more time than I did. You can book it here.
🚢 Day 2 – Helsinki to Tallinn
Sunday morning was when the trip got interesting.
I headed to the ferry terminal and travelled from Helsinki to Tallinn.
When I booked my ferry, I paid €45.
Prices can obviously change depending on when you travel and which sailing you choose, so I’d recommend checking the current prices before booking.
The journey itself takes around two hours, which makes it incredibly convenient for combining the two cities.
I actually really enjoyed the ferry.
It’s not one of those journeys where you feel like you’ve wasted half a day travelling. You can sit down, grab something to eat or drink, look out over the Baltic Sea and before you know it, you’re in another country.
Finland in the morning. Estonia by lunchtime.
That’s pretty cool.
The ferry can easily be booked online. You can also book the ferry with a tour of Tallinn which I highly recommend.
🇪🇪 Arriving in Tallinn
Once I arrived in Tallinn, I again used public transport rather than getting a taxi.
Tallinn Airport is only around 4 km from the city centre, and the city has several public transport options connecting the airport and centre. Current information lists bus 2, as well as trams T2 and T4, as airport connections.
The current single public transport ticket is around €2, and Tallinn’s public transport was another thing I found really easy to use.
I also felt very safe in Tallinn.
Like Helsinki, it felt like a city where I could comfortably walk around and explore without constantly worrying about where I was going.
🏰 Exploring Tallinn Old Town
Tallinn immediately felt completely different from Helsinki.
Helsinki felt modern, Nordic and spacious.
Tallinn felt medieval.
And that’s what makes combining the two cities so good.
You’re not just visiting two countries.
You’re experiencing two very different styles of European city.
🏰 Viru Gate
I started exploring Tallinn around Viru Gate, one of the entrances to the Old Town.
From here, you can simply start walking.
And that’s what I’d recommend.
Don’t worry too much about following a perfect route.
Tallinn’s Old Town is the sort of place where getting slightly lost is part of the experience.
You can book a tour of Viru gate with some stunning attractions included here.
🏘️ Town Hall Square
I then made my way towards Town Hall Square, the historic centre of Tallinn’s Old Town.
The architecture here is fantastic, and it’s one of those places where you’ll probably want to stop every few minutes to take photographs.
One thing I’d remember as a budget traveller is that the restaurants around the main square are likely to be more expensive.
Walk a few streets away and compare prices before deciding where to eat.
You can book a town hall square tour along with St Mary’s cathedral to learn all the information you could ask for about the history of Tallinn. You can book that here.
⛪ Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Next, I walked up towards Toompea Hill and the impressive Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
The building is instantly recognisable thanks to its distinctive domes.
It’s also part of a great walking route through the upper part of Tallinn’s Old Town.
🌇 Kohtuotsa Viewpoint
One of my favourite stops was Kohtuotsa Viewpoint.
From here, you can look across Tallinn’s rooftops and see how the medieval Old Town fits into the wider modern city.
It’s exactly the sort of attraction I love when travelling because it doesn’t need to cost anything.
Just walk up, take in the view and move on.
🏘️ Kalamaja
If you have enough time, I’d also recommend getting outside the main Old Town and exploring Kalamaja.
It’s known for its colourful wooden houses and more relaxed atmosphere.
The area gives you a different perspective on Tallinn and doesn’t feel quite as touristy as the Old Town.
🍴 What to eat in Tallinn
If you’re doing this trip on a budget, Tallinn is a good place to try some Estonian food without spending a fortune.
I’d look out for:
- Kohuke – a small chocolate-covered curd snack
- Pirukad – Estonian pastries filled with things such as meat or vegetables
- Black bread – a staple of Estonian food
- Kartulisalat – a traditional potato salad
- Verivorst – blood sausage, particularly associated with Christmas
And if you’re visiting during the winter, you’ll find plenty of hearty food that works perfectly in the cold weather.
Again, I’d recommend looking away from the main tourist square if you’re trying to keep the cost down.
🚌 Getting around both cities
One of the biggest positives of this trip was the public transport.
I found public transport very good in both Helsinki and Tallinn.
I used it to get from both airports into the cities, and I never felt like I needed to rely on taxis.
Helsinki’s HSL network covers buses, trains, trams and the metro, while Tallinn has an extensive network of buses and trams.
But honestly, I probably spent more time walking than using public transport.
Both cities are very walkable, and that’s something I’d encourage you to take advantage of.
🛡️ Did I feel safe?
Yes — very safe in both.
Obviously, you should always use common sense when travelling, particularly at night and around busy tourist areas.
But personally, I felt comfortable walking around both Helsinki and Tallinn.
Neither city gave me the feeling that I needed to constantly watch over my shoulder.
That made the trip even more enjoyable because I could focus on exploring rather than worrying about getting around.
💰 Was Helsinki expensive?
This is probably the biggest downside for someone travelling on a student budget.
Yes, I found Helsinki expensive.
It’s a beautiful city, but food, accommodation and activities can add up quickly.
That’s one reason I wouldn’t personally want to spend a huge amount of time there on a student budget.
Don’t get me wrong — I loved Helsinki.
But I also knew that I probably wouldn’t come back to Finland anytime soon, so I wanted to see as much as possible during this trip.
That’s why the fast-paced itinerary worked for me.
I’d rather spend one packed weekend seeing Helsinki and Tallinn than spend a week in Helsinki and come home wishing I’d explored somewhere else.
⏱️ Should you spend longer in Helsinki and Tallinn?
If you have the time, yes.
I’d recommend flying out on Friday if possible.
That would give you:
Friday – Helsinki
Saturday – Helsinki → Tallinn
Sunday – Tallinn
That extra day would make the trip considerably less rushed.
However, if you’ve only got Saturday and Sunday, don’t let that put you off.
I managed to see a lot in one weekend.
You just need to accept that you’re going to be moving quickly.
With extra time in Tallinn. I recommend seeing the KGB prison cells. Which shows an exciting part of Tallinn’s history. You can book a ticket here.
🗺️ My ideal Helsinki & Tallinn weekend
If I were doing the trip again and had exactly the same amount of time, I’d follow something like this:
🇫🇮 Saturday – Helsinki
Morning
✈️ Arrive in Helsinki
🚌 Public transport into the city
⛪ Helsinki Cathedral
🏛️ Senate Square
⛪ Uspenski Cathedral
Afternoon
🌊 Market Square
🌳 Esplanadi
🪨 Temppeliaukio Church
📚 Oodi Library
Evening
🎄 Christmas markets
🍲 Finnish food
🚶 Walk around the illuminated city
🇫🇮 → 🇪🇪 Sunday morning
🚢 Helsinki → Tallinn ferry
💶 My ferry cost: €45
🇪🇪 Sunday – Tallinn
🏰 Viru Gate
🏘️ Old Town
🏛️ Town Hall Square
⛪ Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
⛰️ Toompea Hill
🌇 Kohtuotsa Viewpoint
🏘️ Kalamaja
🍴 Estonian food
Then:
🚌 Public transport to Tallinn Airport
✈️ Fly home Sunday night
🇫🇮🇪🇪 Would I recommend visiting two countries in one weekend?
Definitely.
Would I recommend doing it this quickly?
That depends on you.
If you enjoy travelling quickly and trying to see as much as possible, then absolutely.
If you prefer sitting in cafés, taking your time and really getting to know a city, I’d add an extra day or two.
For me, I knew I wanted to experience Finland because I’d probably never make the journey back there. So I was happy to move quickly.
And I’m glad I did.
Helsinki was genuinely one of the most beautiful cities I’ve visited, particularly with the Christmas atmosphere in December. Tallinn then gave me a completely different experience, with its medieval Old Town and compact streets.
The fact that you can travel between the two by ferry in roughly two hours makes this one of my favourite ideas for a two-country European weekend.
Just remember:
Pack comfortable shoes.
You’re going to do a lot of walking.
And if you’re travelling on a student budget like me, keep an eye on your spending in Helsinki — because those Nordic prices can add up very quickly!
Two countries. One weekend. A lot of walking. And an unforgettable Baltic adventure.
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