This year’s birthday trip took us to Tallinn, Estonia, and then across the Baltic to Helsinki, Finland.
Riga to Tallinn By Lux Bus
Here is how the story begins. On Saturday the 11th, after Mike finished work, we boarded the Lux bus from Riga to Tallinn. The bus left on time at 15:00; I bought earphones from the driver for €1 and finished watching Exodus before we arrived in Tallinn at 19:25.
Last year it was −16 °C when we stepped off the bus; this time the air was mild enough for a comfortable walk. We headed towards the hotel but paused for drinks and dinner before calling it a night.
Rudolf
For drinks, we chose Rudolf. It was on the pricey side, at €7.50 for a 33 cl beer. Mike had a couple while I stuck to cranberry juice at €4 — I am not much of a drinker, so why waste the money.
Faeton
Dinner was at Faeton, an Azerbaijani restaurant two minutes from the hotel. The food and beer were affordable: our bill came to €64.50 for khachapuri, chicken shashlik, beef with mushrooms, a cider and two A. Le Coq beers.
The restaurant was cosy and the service attentive, and because it was quiet, our food arrived quickly. Highly recommended.
Accommodation in Tallinn – Hotel N48
We stayed at Hotel N48 for €56.70 per night. Despite the name, it was more like an apartment than a hotel, with no front‑desk check‑in; we used a code the owner sent via Booking.com to enter the building and our room.
It was perfect for a one‑night stop near the port to catch the ferry the next morning. If you plan to sightsee the Old Town for several days, though, this location might be a 25‑minute walk away unless you have transport or do not mind the stroll.
Compared with last year’s hotel near the Old Town, N48 had more practical amenities: a microwave, air fryer, fridge, coffee and tea machine, and a kettle.
A taxi from the hotel to Passenger Terminal A cost €6. We had never taken the ferry before, and Google Maps showed a strange, long loop to the terminal, so we took advantage of the cheap Bolt fare.
Eckerö Line
Our ferry to Helsinki was with Eckerö Line, scheduled for 12:00, but it departed seven minutes early, so make sure you arrive early! If you queue at the front, you will board sooner and have a better chance of securing a good seat.
Food and drinks were plentiful onboard; the trick was finding a window seat. We were not so lucky and ended up in the public lounge on the eighth floor.
The crossing took just over two hours. We spent the time snacking and drinking in the lounge; our small haul — nuts, a beer (Aura) and a cider — cost €16.20. Although the ferry was scheduled to arrive at 14:15, we did not disembark until about 14:30. Have you taken the ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki? I somewhat like it. Now, let us explore Helsinki; it is my first time here.