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Med färja till Tallinn

20 January 2018 / 18 Comments

Choosing a ferry or flight to Helsinki?

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Should you choose ferry or flight to Helsinki? As you may know, we are travelling to Helsinki today and we naturally asked ourselves this question. Ferry or flight? Our choice landed on a flight for a number of different reasons, at least this time. How do you reason when travelling to Finland? Do you prefer to take a ferry or do you prefer to travel by plane?

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Ferry to Helsinki

We considered travelling by ferry to Helsinki and looked at both Viking Line and Tallink Silja Line. On Viking Line we found no departure, as the return trip on Sunday was cancelled. With Tallink Silja Line, however, it was possible to leave on Friday evening and arrive on Saturday morning, and travel back on Sunday evening and return on Monday morning.

Travelling on a cruise can often be relatively cheap, but the regular trips felt much more expensive. We could get a ticket for both to Helsinki for about 1200 SEK together and back for about 800 SEK. Then we had to add a cabin, which cost from about 800 SEK per cabin per route. The total would be about 3600 SEK or more.

  • Advantages: Plenty of time to have a cosy time on the journey and you don't have to go all the way to Arlanda.
  • DisadvantagesMore expensive than flying and much more time consuming.
Cigarrklubben
View from the Baltic Queen, Tallink Silja Line

Flights to Helsinki

There are several different airlines that fly directly between Stockholm and Helsinki. You can at least choose between SAS, Norwegian and Finnair. The flight takes one hour, and we could choose to fly from Stockholm on Saturday morning and back home on Sunday evening. We found tickets for 1800 SEK for both, round trip. We fly with Norwegian in one direction and with SAS in the other direction.

  • Benefits: Cheaper than the ferry and much faster
  • Disadvantages: You have to get to and from the airports.
Färja eller flyg till Helsingfors
Ferry or flight to Helsinki? Photo: Norwegian

Ferry or flight to Helsinki? Conclusion

This weekend the decision was easy, and landed on the flights for our part. Flying is by far the most time efficient, and I can be back at work on Monday morning without any problems. Also, the flight is the cheapest!

However, we know that there are many times when you can get really good prices on ferries, especially when travelling on a cruise. What's best, of course, depends on your circumstances. Do you prefer travelling by ferry or flight to Helsinki?

Buffé Victoria
Sometimes it's nice to go on a ferry! This weekend we don't have time for that ...

More to see and do in Finland

There is of course plenty to see and what to do in Helsinki. In Espoo, just outside the capital, you will find Haltia Nature Centre. There is also much to experience in Turku. Even more tips for Finland can be found below.

All our top tips about Finland. Click on the image!

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20 January 2018 6:00
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  1. Ditte says:

    If time is short, I have previously flown across the Baltic Sea. But if it is more of a holiday trip, we have chosen the boat version. We always go down to the Viking terminal, a 20-minute walk, so it's easy. But boats can be expensive. I always want a good cabin with large windows and they are more expensive and once on board there is food in the à la carte dining room and it also costs. But if it's a holiday, it's different.
    Getting to Arlanda is easy, I think. The airport buses or the perfect "DOOR TO GATE", shared air taxi is convenient and very affordable, so we usually take it. (We do not dare to take the Arlanda Express because of all the torn down overhead wires and trains that do not run).
    Wishing you great days in Helsinki.

    20 January 2018 - 6:11

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    • Comment by post author

      Helena says:

      We think a bit like you, Ditte. I think that cruises can have a very good price, but regular trips are more expensive. Especially if you want to live and eat well of course. We have not tried Door to Gate. We often take our own car to Arlanda, or Drive Now. Sometimes we have travelled on the airport buses as well. They have good prices and stop at Fridhemsplan, so it is both better and cheaper than Arlanda Express for us.

      20 January 2018 - 7:59

      Reply

  2. Anna, New York – My Bite of the Big Apple says:

    That sounds like a wise choice!

    This comparison is interesting. I have the same reasoning as Ditte above.

    However, I have mostly travelled by boat to Helsinki when it came to organised business trips, being a school class leader (when I was a teacher), etc.

    Every time I have travelled in the autumn and winter months, there has been heavy seas! This is the biggest reason for me to choose air travel in the future.

    In summer I can definitely imagine the sea route but not at too high prices 🙂 .

    20 January 2018 - 9:22

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    • Comment by post author

      Helena says:

      Bad luck with the sea state Anna! Most times we have travelled, it has actually been calm. (However, we have experienced a lot of wind between Poland and Nynäshamn at some point.) We thought the prices for ferries were quite expensive right now, but sometimes we have gone on cruises when there have been very good prices.

      20 January 2018 - 9:29

      Reply

  3. Lisa / livet från den ljusa sidan says:

    Disadvantage: environment.
    I really don't want to fly when a good alternative is available, i.e. domestic and other "given" easy trips. Choosing so actively is a way to live with the fact that I fly so much in general. Not that it is enough ... but for me it is the most important aspect for shorter distances.
    Helsinki? Nothing against ferry as transport, but could become air if the arguments were good enough.

    20 January 2018 - 9:35

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    • Comment by post author

      Helena says:

      The environment is always on the negative side when it comes to flights. What about ferries? You've read a lot about the negative environmental impact of cruise ships in general? We rarely fly in Sweden or other short distances, but now time was an important factor.

      20 January 2018 - 9:45

      Reply

  4. Matts Torebring says:

    For us, it's an obvious choice without thinking = Colour if you have the time!

    20 January 2018 - 9:46

    Reply

  5. Ama de casa says:

    I think it would be the plane for my part - do not really like cruises... Haha!

    Have a great time in the Finnish capital!

    20 January 2018 - 10:07

    Reply

  6. åsa i åsele says:

    The times I have travelled to Finland, not to Helsinki, I have taken a ferry, first from Örnsköldsvik and then when that line was closed from Umeå, but that was before I got scared, got my "boat phobia", fear of drowning.
    At the moment I chose flights, but for our part I don't know if I would say that it will be cheap 😉.
    First the journey to Stockholm/Arlanda and then the flight to Helsinki... but I would definitely choose that 🙂.

    20 January 2018 - 11:21

    Reply

  7. Steve says:

    Life is made up of constant choices. Sometimes you choose right, sometimes wrong. Enjoy your stay in Helsinki!

    20 January 2018 - 15:46

    Reply

  8. Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

    It is just to take out the shame pillow and admit that we have never been in Helsinki or Finland at all. I have some bad experiences regarding ferry trips in the Baltic Sea, including Poland and Gotland with heavy seas, but as most people think, it is a question of how much time you have.
    Your choice this weekend is just right!

    20 January 2018 - 16:02

    Reply

    • Comment by post author

      Helena says:

      Sorry that you have bad experiences with ferry journeys Britt-Marie! I think it is quite common for Swedes to have spent relatively little time in Finland, even though it is so close. But certainly it can be worth making a visit to our eastern neighbour! 🙂

      20 January 2018 - 17:19

      Reply

  9. BP says:

    In your case, I would definitely choose a flight. You had a specific goal - Caravan. But if you just want to stroll around Helsinki and don't have a specific goal, I would have chosen a cruise.

    20 January 2018 - 17:30

    Reply

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