The 15 Best Boat Trips in Helsinki

1.Sightseeing Canal Cruise with Audio Commentary

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,299 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $33Our pick

From Market Square, cruise Helsinki’s shorelines and islands aboard a comfortable sightseeing boat. Expect Suomenlinna, Korkeasaari Zoo, icebreakers, and the narrow Degerö Canal, plus indoor and outdoor seating, a café, toilets, blankets, and commentary in four languages.

“Excellent canal cruise. Service was great. Departure / Return on time. The boat was clean and pleasant atmosphere. The audio on your phone was available. Only used slightly as it distracted me from just enjoying the views, which were exceptionally beautiful.”

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2.Helsinki to Tallinn Guided Tour -cruise ticket & pick up included

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 485 reviews · 13 to 14 hours (approx.) · from $150

Travel from Helsinki to Tallinn by ferry with hotel pickup, a guided three-hour walk through the Old Town, and three hours to explore alone. Expect a small group of up to 20, English guidance, and return transport to your Helsinki hotel. Bring a passport and comfortable shoes.

“Upgrade to a cabin is possible and desirable on the ferry. Dress in layers, as weather in Tallinn with fall approaching can be changeable and chilly/windy.”

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3.Evening Archipelago Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 468 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $30

Set out from Market Square with Royal Line for a 2.5-hour evening cruise through Helsinki’s islands, past Suomenlinna, coves, cottages, and seaside districts. Choose the outdoor sundeck or indoor seating, and buy drinks or reserve the onboard buffet separately.

“A wonderful, peaceful way to see the stunning and enormous archipelago. Especially recommended the evening cruise if the weather is good, the sunset was spectacular.”

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4.Helsinki Archipelago: Sightseeing Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 436 reviews · 1 day · from $33

From Market Square, spend 90 minutes cruising Helsinki’s harbor and nearby islands in summer, or 60 minutes indoors off-season. See Suomenlinna, ice breakers, Korkeasaari Zoo, Eira, Katajanokka, and Kruununhaka with multilingual audio commentary.

“I enjoyed the trip. The route was good as you see a mixture of the city coastline and then the nearby islands. The audio commentary in English was good and explained different places such as the history of the Sea Fortress. Being in Helsinki for only 24 hours, this was a good trip to do.”

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5.City Highlights 1.5-Hour Archipelago Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 387 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $33

Join Stromma Finland at Market Square for a 1.5-hour cruise along Helsinki’s urban shorelines. You’ll pass Suomenlinna, Korkeasaari Zoo, Kaivopuisto, the ice breakers, Eira, Kalasatama, and Kruunuvuorenranta, with commentary in four languages and written information in 12.

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6.Helsinki Canal Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 289 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $34

Cruise Helsinki’s archipelago for about 90 minutes from Market Square, passing Suomenlinna, Korkeasaari Zoo, icebreakers, and Degerö Canal. English commentary plays over loudspeakers, with indoor and outdoor seating, WiFi, a bar, and snacks available for purchase. The canal route may change with water conditions.

“Good solo couple of hours activity! Go here when you do have spare time, quite simple tour 1.5 hours long that passes you by islands and speaks about their history; good picturesque for sure. Some beverages on board available. Good service and timing options and quite low cost.”

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7.Explore Tallinn: Self-Guided Day Cruise from Helsinki

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 212 reviews · 8 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $65

Travel from Helsinki to Tallinn aboard the Tallink Star or Megastar, with about two hours each way, WiFi, restaurants, shops, and comfortable seating. Spend four or seven hours exploring Tallinn independently. There is no guide, so plan your route and return to the terminal on time.

“Great experience. Wow - we never knew ferries like this existed. More shopping, food, drink, seating options than we ever imagined.”

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8.Helsinki by Bus and Boat 24-Hour Combo Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 121 reviews · 1 day · from $58

Combine a 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus ticket with a 1.5-hour canal cruise. Ride past Senate Square, the Sibelius Monument, and Temppeliaukio Church, then see Suomenlinna, Korkeasaari Island, and Degerö Canal from the water with multilingual commentary.

“Great experience. Lot of food cafes are available. I would recommend to everyone for day trip.”

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9.Overnight Cruise to Stockholm with Breakfast

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 102 reviews · from $107

Travel from Helsinki’s Olympia Terminal to Stockholm aboard a Tallink Silja Line ship. You’ll sleep in a private sea-view cabin, watch the Baltic archipelago pass by, enjoy breakfast, and choose from restaurants, shops, music, karaoke, shows, and a sauna.

“The views are fantastic, you wont get this if flying. You also saved one night of hotel.”

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10.Sightseeing Cruise in Archipelago of Helsinki

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 100 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $33

Board Royal Line near Helsinki’s Market Square for a coastal cruise past Suomenlinna, Eira, island communities, old fortifications, and the icebreaker fleet. Expect English and Finnish announcements, plus a smartphone audio guide in 28 languages. The cruise lasts about 90 minutes from May through September, and about 60 minutes off-season.

“It was great to see so many people enjoying the summer out on the water. The commentary was very informative with regard to the history of the archipelago. The staff on the SS Helsinki were excellent and looked after us very well.”

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11.City and Outer Islands Guided RIB Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $159Top rated

Ride a rigid inflatable boat from Café Marina Bay through Helsinki’s harbor and outer islands. Your English-speaking guide covers landmarks, Finnish summer life, Suomenlinna, Löyly sauna, shipyards, and icebreakers. Safety gear is provided, but expect speed, spray, rain, and no time off the boat.

“Wir hatten trotz Regen eine echt spassige Tour. Auf jeden Fall empfehlenswert 👍!”

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12.3-Day Return Cruise to Stockholm & Breakfast

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 57 reviews · from $147

Take a 2.5-day Tallink Silja Line mini cruise from Helsinki to Stockholm. You get two nights in a private sea-view cabin for up to four people, breakfast on both mornings, six hours in Stockholm, and onboard shows, restaurants, shops, karaoke, and sauna access.

“Amazing value for money, for two nights in a private sea view cabin and 2 buffet breakfasts, a stop off in Stockholm and free entertainment on the ship. The cabin was big in itself, very warm and the shower was lovely :) would definitely do again!”

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13.Hop-On Hop-Off Bus and Sightseeing Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 51 reviews · 1 day · from $58

Combine a Helsinki hop-on hop-off bus ride with a 1.5-hour cruise from Market Square. Use the bus to choose your own stops, then view the city and archipelago from the water. English audio is included, and buses and boats operate from May 2 through September.

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14.Suomenlinna and Lonna Hop-on Hop-off Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 44 reviews · from $10Best value

Meet FRS Finland at Helsinki Market Square for a flexible boat ride to Suomenlinna and Lonna. Hop off to explore, return on a later sailing, or stay aboard for a scenic round trip. Finnish and English crew are available, and the boat is wheelchair accessible.

“Excellent rapport qualité prix. Très bonne idée pour partir une journée visiter les îles. Suomenlinna est une île assez grande et permet de passer plusieurs heures à marcher et visiter. Lonna parcontre n’est pas vraiment intéressante. Nous sommes parties à 10h et revenu pour 18h. Journée bien chargée.”

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15.Helsinki Supersaver: Hop On-Hop Off Bus and Helsinki Canal Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 41 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $61

Use your mobile voucher to board Strömma’s red or green Helsinki sightseeing buses, then cruise from Market Square. The bus covers landmarks such as Temppeliaukio Church and the Sibelius Monument, while the boat passes Suomenlinna, Helsinki Zoo, summer homes, and the Degerö Canal.

“Unfortunately it was raining heavily which made us have to sit inside on the boat , it was difficult to hear the commentary because of one very loud child. Make sure you look for City Sightseeing when you get off the ship. Their stop is outside the gate. There are 2 other hop on companies and it was vey confusing finding the right place to be. The drivers on the hop on/off bus were wonderful. Vary friendly and helpful.”

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