Helsinki and Tallinn: Baltic Sisters

Rick Steves' Europe Travel Guide © 2010 | The fascinating capitals of Finland and Estonia offer a chance to sample each country's history, art, and distinct love of life. We'll start in Helsinki with its Neoclassical old town, modern flair for design, and steamy saunas. Then it's just a two-hour boat ride to Tallinn - with its medieval charms and newfound prosperity - celebrating its freedom and thriving in its post-USSR renaissance. #ricksteveseurope #helsinki #tallinn
Visit www.ricksteves.com for more information about these destinations and other destinations in Europe.
Check out more Rick Steves’ Europe travel resources:
• “Rick Steves’ Europe” public television series: www.ricksteves.com/watch-read...
• “Travel with Rick Steves” public radio program: www.ricksteves.com/watch-read...
• European Tours: www.ricksteves.com/tours
• Guidebooks: store.ricksteves.com/shop/gui...
• Travel Gear: store.ricksteves.com/shop/
• Travel Classes: www.ricksteves.com/watch-read...
• Rick Steves Audio Europe App: www.ricksteves.com/watch-read...
Rick Steves, America's most respected authority on European travel, writes European travel guidebooks, and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio.

[@beardown1995]

So much more to Helsinki and Finland that deserves a full episode

[@Alice-wr7om]

@darktagmaster1861yes but why would population come into this? I don't think that a large population is what makes a good destination/ RS show. It's if it has enough worthwhile and excellent sites, like Finland and Helsinki!

[@jelybrd]

Could you imagine if 100,000,000 Americans (about 1/3) gathered in one place and sang as a protest to a government that no longer represents them? It would be a beautiful sight

[@madingwang7778]

could you imagine if 500,000,000 chinese gathered in one place and sang as a protest to a government that no longer represents them? oh wait, they did that before in 1989 and it did not work well

[@SecretStepDaddy]

No just angry white people.

[@donaldsmyth727]

So right, I don't understand how the Russians would just roll over from 300,000 Tallinites singing together.

[@Gr13fKvlt]

@@SecretStepDaddy It has been projected that by 2045 whites will be a minority in The United States.

[@Schneids1216]

Nah I’m sure they would be distracted by TikTok

[@Riipala]

Tallinn is my favourite city. Cheers from Helsinki.

[@housera229]

I like how they put all the statues in the basement.. "guarding" the bathroom. That is some good sense of humour right there :D

[@teviblekhman1628]

Estonia is a amazing country

[@andreia.p.3199]

I visited both and Tallin was my favourite

[@SHOREHILLEYEWEAR]

Tallinn and Helsinki are my favorite places to visit in Europe. I have been to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Rome, London, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Dublin, and Oslo....these two hidden gems are my favorite. I usually fly into either Tallinn or Helsinki and def visit Tartu as well. The midevil city of Tallinn is bigger and cooler than Stockholm imho.

[@briancooley8777]

Automated Future Bergen is way better than Oslo. I suggest you go there :D

[@steliospapayiannis3917]

How many days do i need to explore tallin and how many for helsinki?

[@robinkrieger8003]

Well….they were lovely ….people, waterways etc interesting…..but Copenhagen and Stockholm are my favorites

[@SHOREHILLEYEWEAR]

@@steliospapayiannis3917 Depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Remember depending on where you are flying from, there is jet lag ...etc, Go in the Summer, around anytime in June, July, early August. Spend atleast 2-3 days in each City.

[@SHOREHILLEYEWEAR]

@@briancooley8777 Thank you - Ill try to check it out next summer

[@fennelbrisquet7097]

Finland is one incredible country

[@BobiR-bl9fc]

Finland is very Cold ,But Iran is amazing in this year because we have a lot of rainfall & Snowfall .So if you are a backpacker bring your HD camera with yours ,

[@batutigin]

yes iran has amazing historical and natural beauties but we cant skip to helsinki human being has the whole world :D greeting from Turkey

[@relaxandrefocuswithmegan]

Rakastan Suomi.

[@florenna]

So is Estonia :) Especially the incredible way they achieved independence, by singing & peaceful protest...

[@wtfyoulookinatmane5013]

yes but people are sad here

[@willbergie55]

My paternal grandfather came from Vaasa, Finland. Many years ago I watched many of Rick Steves' travel programs on PBS.

[@mauricewalker7959]

l loved to visit Helsinki one day and take the boat from Tallinn to Helsinki.They both look beautiful,clean cities full of culture and history.

[@xeochannelalt]

I love Rick Steves Europe especially when he visits Tallinn and Helsinki

[@burt5057]

I'm planning to visit both Helsinki and Tallinn in spring 2024 spending 3 days in each. Finding this video is just the perfect introduction. Thank you!.

[@Meg_A_Byte]

There's so much more than was mentioned. In both cities. But I'm sure you'll prepare for your trip well. I hope you'll enjoy it!

[@mountaindew7190]

Once again, good ol' Rick Steves bringing the great weather with him where ever he travels. Does he ever visit a city on a miserable day?

[@krish5445]

Well sunny days in some countries are actually miserable where it is hot.

[@eliasalekai3626]

Dark Shadow very true

[@AXimab]

Tallinn is a beautiful old city. I've been there.

[@sootysammy7586]

Been to Helsinki twice . It isn't very big however it is very sophisticated and grand.

[@tonystjernberg7644]

its not BIG but its full of life!! And, circumstances by history it holds strong!!! Lets see how many britischers can hold against a enemy as big as USSR, as we did!

[@hankdasilva3817]

Estrella katarina I find it hard to believe that the dirt cheap cruises from Tallinn to Helsinki serve better food than any restaurant in Helsinki. I've eaten good meals in restaurants there, and if all else fails they serve excellent quick food at the marketplace. I've been to Tallinn, and eaten there, and it was good, but nothing that would blow my mind and that I couldn't find in Helsinki.

[@hankdasilva3817]

Estrella katarina But you're not going to? Seems to me you're just bloating your own capital.

[@hankdasilva3817]

Estrella katarina No, the island is called Klippan, and it's literally just outside of the harbor where the cruise ships operate (like swimming distance), Search Google images for Klippan Helsinki.

[@viseberg8527]

+Estrella katarina Allow me to introduce some of the best restaurants that Helsinki has to offer, for the next time you visit ;) *Fafa's*, a trendy series of restaurants in town serving falafel-based dishes *Friend's and Brgrs*, an upstart fast casual-style burger joint (Also see Naughty Brgr, it's good as well) *Putte's Bar and Pizza*, one of quite a few new pizzerias opened in the last 2 years, they've got a nice atmosphere and music as well *The Old Skiffer/Primula* is a staple Helsinki restaurant recently renovated and restructured, personal favourite

[@myselfecemp]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video. I have been wanting to visit Tallinn (plus Riga and Vilnius) for a while now and watching this has reinforced that desire.

[@attichamster]

I had a chance to go to all 3 this summer and can wholeheartedly recommend it. Each city is unique and all are beautiful. Hope you get a chance to go!

[@myselfecemp]

Awesome, thanks. I had the chance to buy tickets to Vilnius returning from Tallinn for $380 for June 2016 but I didn't get them because I had already purchased ticket to Italy in March/April 2016 and it seemed to soon. Maybe the following year but I definitely want to go.

[@laayounsouth7060]

I'm from Morocco I been to Finland I love it nice people

[@newsknowledge3776]

thank you, for showing me several beautiful and stunning places. I am totally addicated to your channel sir! I wish one day I will visit Europe .really your job touches the bottom of my heart.Thank you SIR!

[@dicio4001]

What a nice review of both cities. I love the duality of my own city, Tallinn as I predictably have explored it the most. You can go from mostly 1 or 2 story rural districts in Nõmme to the "Movie like" Soviet blocks in Lasnamäe to the medieval city center that has modern glass high-risers on the outskirts to the beach district and promenade of Pirita. It's probably quite the trouble for designers and architects to design some kind of common vision for the city. Even Lasnamägi has a unique feeling having lived there in my youth. Having been built just as the Soviet block collapsed it was the "latest" of the infamous Soviet block buildings and city design. If you stroll around it they did have some good ideas for a district design, well besides the horrible bleak buildings that drown you in misery. Those ideas were road access and nearby facilities, it's like someone was playing Simcity and copied their city design, block by block for maximum efficiency. For a local "ghetto" it is quite clean and at least works as a sleeping district quite well for giving you access to whatever you need.

[@volneisilva1199]

Yeah! I've finally made my dream come true and visited both cities (and much more).

[@briancooley8777]

Volnei Silva lucky

[@lonestarbellepk]

@@briancooley8777 yes lucky indeed.

[@Scandilady]

Thanks very much/paljon kiitoksia of this lovely report of my hometown Helsinki.

[@sheikmohmed2324]

Very beautiful place..

[@jeenamas]

Baltic Amber - I picked up pendants for my nieces in that market in the town square in Tallinn..Loved the land that gave us Skype .Great memories of Helsinki and Estonia Sept2016

[@satishtalikota1217]

Thank you, Rick. Traveling these two cities this summer.

[@thinkthearts2604]

Amazing

[@AntonioJose-dm6ye]

Liked, Rick Steves. A wonderful work on two wonderful cities. Two separate cultures, but one another host in the daily routine. Have the visited twice. I was with a great passion for these two cities.

[@albertoserrano9737]

I love Suomi. Finland has shown the world how smart and succesful they are.

[@sinaloasaurez6339]

Alberto Serrano...#1 in the world in education

[@blackcoffeebeans6100]

And in the other issues as well. World economoc forum conference in Switzerland ranked Finland the best country 2019.

[@MrNaysh]

I hope to visit these beautiful Scandanavian countries one day!

[@v.a.pvlogger781]

What a wonderful documentary sir Rick Steve's

[@teviblekhman1628]

Going there may can't wait

[@rozanahwirt1311]

Thank you Steve. I love your show

[@martymehrdadaskari8861]

Thanks Rick you are always the best. I hope you start travel again

[@Sadette1403]

Magnificent video and beautiful colors! There are a lots of beautiful places.

[@dianabart2299]

These programs keeps my husband and I sane and remember our great holidays including out independent Baltic trip

[@sayparler]

The cities must be interesting and beautiful for sure. But what really shines here is the way Rick describes and presents the cities to us. He does it with so much passion, insight, and peace, it really makes me want to visit all those places! Right now, we can't travel and explore the world, but once we get over this whole situation, I'd like to be able to pin a place in the map, and just get the ticket!

[@RemiAgun]

Was not a big fan of European travel but this channel has changed my mind. His deliberate blend of arts, cultural and political history just makes the experience endearing.

[@Mrpeace1900]

Freedom is something you people take for granted, appreciate the gift of freedom all the day.

[@karinsoster2265]

Brings back some lovely memories

[@kgreen9650]

Thank you for your excellent video! As a Finnish infantry lieutenant (reserve.) I especially appreciated your anti-communist stance. Communism was like nazism, both needed to be eradicated from this world so people could live free from oppression and wanton violence by self appointed officialdom. Well done, Sir. Kiitos.

[@finnicpatriot6399]

K Green Kansallissosialismi on nimenomaan vapautta.

[@GeorgE-yo5yc]

True. Though must be noted that post-WW2 the Communist regime killed or imprisoned significantly less people than the Nazism. You can't compare what happened in, say, Poland during 1939-1944 to what happened there between 1945-1991.

[@sunillazar4997]

Thanks for the wonderful presentation. It is a pleasure to watch your documentaries, ALWAYS. The countries are magnificent by themselves, and you; Rick make the experience all the more fascinating with your lively narration. You are the BEST!

[@GrunbergDavid]

Gracias Rick por la divulgación de la cultura!! Tus vídeos nos han sido para mí y mi familia de gran utilidad. Es muy emocionante recorrer tus pasos por Europa y encontrar locales que han formado parte de tus vídeos! Saludos desde Argentina

[@senarathdanawalagamageupal3869]

Thank you very much for this remarkable video! Appreciate you sharing it to us! May God bless you and your family.

[@nongyaoh6226]

Beautiful videos thank you very much Rick Steves .

[@Yaarbiriah]

yet another beautiful exposition.. great cinematography, lots and lots of fascinating content at a pleasant easy-going pace .. a feast! thoroughly enjoyable.

[@MrBubonicChronic]

That was absolutely beautiful. Thank you Steve.

[@otis2554]

Thank you for the well done documentary .

[@DiscoveringDestinations]

We visited the two cities, Helsinki and Tallin in May 2017 and we loved to review the places we visited in this very well done video, Thank you ! We went from Poland to Tallinn by plane and then took a ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki. We also found it funny to see many people taking boxes of beer cases from Tallinn to Helsinki in the ferry boat and then we discovered why. Drinks in general in Tallinn are much cheaper than in Helsinki, if we knew before we supposed to do the same! Amazing trip that we just posted on our Facebook page and we also created some short videos for that.

[@TheECSH]

Excuse me, do you have a suggestion on which ferry to take between these cities? How long does it take, approximately? Are the terminals near city centers? I found some contradicting information online and I'm a little lost... Thank you!

[@heikkisallinen9012]

Thank you ! This was a well-compressed documentary and I find it particularly great that these two cities were combined in this documentary. The two capitals have close ties and perhaps they will even be connected by a tunnel within 30 years.

[@anndeakin1508]

Baltic sisters Cathedrals and gardens nice places and history great tour Rick thanks Ann Deakin 2020 27th December

[@gertrudestuazon7476]

Thank you for a very good video! Appreciate you sharing it to us! May God bless you, your staff, and family.👍🏽👏🏻🤗😇

[@nelidacayas6789]

thank you for this video, I love history, the past and development of countries around the world.

[@oulhadimourad1458]

wonderful cntrie beautiful people and beautiful places

[@arela1030]

Hello Sir Steves i ❤️ your lovely voice I’m always enjoyed watching and listening, 🇫🇮 Finland’s a high quality education lovely place ,beautiful 💜 one of my favorite country Quitos god bless and peace

[@villLe]

Great video, very well produced and well informed.

[@faithhowe6170]

I visited both back in 2011, and this video was like looking back through memories.

[@deepalib3096]

Helsinki's Senate square is so magnificent!the cruise is wonderful...the parks are nice in Tallin

[@jeffbrunecz2151]

I abs adore Rick Steves.

[@srabonidattabiswas2102]

I love your show. Thank you

[@subhashsolanki6486]

Thank yourick. I have watched ypur all videos of europe tour .You have provided rich & useful inforrmation . I like your very much. Please keep on . Thankyou once again.

[@davintuuri3964]

Very informational! Love it!

[@aliaksandranikovich6300]

fantastic views

[@showkathossain9638]

Visited Helsinki last week, had a wonderful time

[@Love_funny_things]

Finland is so developed. If all countires on Earth were as developed as Finland, our world would be very, very great.

[@wtfyoulookinatmane5013]

but finland is sad tho ..

[@finnicpatriot6399]

Robust Steward Uhhhh no

[@blackcoffeebeans6100]

@@wtfyoulookinatmane5013 every country has got sad ppl. No paradise on earth believe me.

[@blackcoffeebeans6100]

Estonia is on the way to be the best country in the world. It is better and better every year.

[@finnicpatriot6399]

white riding hood *worse and worse

[@mpoanufuntours6871]

Lovely Cities !

[@GreatCityAttractions]

Another informative video - always delivery great content.

[@traceybeerling4776]

Wonderful thankyou Rick xx

[@sammiesmith6690]

I look to visit Finland 🇫🇮, Estonia 🇪🇪 & the rest of the Baltic & Scandavian Countries.

[@lexluthor6497]

Welcome to our little corner of the world

[@mohammedyusuf1244]

I'm going there next month.. can't wait!!

[@robertpickett7276]

Very beautiful 👍🏻🥇🏆

[@vackrakristaller]

I learned a lot and now I really wanna go!

[@amazingyummy2]

Very attractive all of it.

[@lelandpeck4585]

very informative and interesting!

[@peterryan6097]

Thank you Rick for bringing the story of these beautiful countries to life for me. Your video has helped to finalise a decision to visit both Finland and Estonia.

[@anikbarua4834]

Your videos are very informative, thank you :)

[@ashok755]

Excellent coverage

[@rolloalquiros2812]

Superb presentation!

[@SuperDanMega]

Absolutely amazing!, the way you take us through Helsinki, I love Katya from Finland, Kat chats, she introduce us to Finland through the KZbin channel. Thanks Rick Stevens, your videos around the World are amazing, thanks KCET in Los Angeles for introducing us to a wonderful world traveler genius like Rick Stevens, amazing!, Thanks! I have a super nice 4K HD 43' inch Westinghouse, eBay, Best Buy, Pay Pal credit, thank you!!!!!!!!.

[@NatiKuhn]

Great video, loved everything I see and heard! Good Job Rick and team :) Greetings from Argentina

[@joannedimauro2905]

I always hear about a country from Rick before discovering it. Been to 95% of all the fabulous European countries. They are all special in their own way!

[@grandadan]

I dream about a trip to northern Europe. I hope i can make it some day. I had a neighbour from Finland at Quarteira-Algarve-Portugal right in the same building. She was having her life time there, always happy.I love northern Europe architecture, so it´s so different of that in the south. Greetings from Spain

[@sutats]

Can't wait to visit them amazing places.

[@lexluthor6497]

Welcome

[@yllicepele3667]

Bravo Rick vidio fantestike Respekte Albania 2021

[@mamachingchannel8848]

So beautiful place watching from japan 🇯🇵

[@lexluthor6497]

Oh japan I so want to visit you.greetings from 🇫🇮

[@mamachingchannel8848]

@@lexluthor6497 thank you my friend

[@graceserenachristie2914]

Thanks for the videos and thanks for keeping the people in the focus instead of whoever was crushing them in some times period. It makes watching more easy. But the truth is they made it somehow I am so happy for the ones who lived..... Nice travel videos...... There are people who will never get born behind any iron curtain in any country for eternity after what they went through.... crushed by the Iron..... Much love.... more videos more countries nice to see the little towns with character as well. Cities ehh not much special they all look the same.... But nice towns that is different. Grace Namaste

[@SteffenMC]

i Think you miss visiting the other Baltic capitals Riga A beautiful city and Vilnius an equally beautiful town also Kaunas an anomaly among capitals

[@v.a.pvlogger781]

Keep uploading sir thanks for making such a nice and beautiful documentary best wishes from India 🙏

[@kimberleydelgado8232]

Nghe Phúc hát mà nước mắt rơi mãi ....quá nhiều cảm xúc ùa về, quá nhiều kỉ niệm. Cảm ơn Đức Phúc thật nhiều, giọng hát anh ấm tựa nắng mùa Thu vậy.

[@DmitrySidelnikov]

thanks. interesting.

[@onesandzeroes]

This Estonian Social Realism really stands out and has a lot of artistic value, if you discard the propaganda. I really like the style.

[@NoOne3234]

Estonian Social realism is not realism. It might share a lot of the techniques (some of the darker works would be very much at home in the ashcan school), but the themes are wrong. Realists discarded the old iconic imagery in favor of depicting people trudging through life or doing something ugly, but sort of beautiful if viewed in the right way. It was meant to reveal simple truths and offer a snapshot of how people act. Estonian realism focuses on iconic imagery and idealized values, which is what the realist schools rejected. It is really soviet romanticism painted by artists who wanted to be realists, but couldn't be. Remove the dominating Soviet romanticism aspect and you get rid of what makes this school distinctive/interesting.

[@xwiirastusx]

In fact it was called SocialIST realism.

[@soniamariaalonso5907]

bons videos...esperava mais arquitetura da parte dele..no demais ganhou meu LIKE..da-lhe rick steves

[@anndeakin1508]

The Baltic sisters review Rick was of invest. Reviewing the politics all systems of Russia and Sweden how change is positive for both country’s..Nice overview of the places of religious and scenic places to visit.Thanks for the overview Rick .

[@berndgarbe6962]

Giving a very good impression of both cities!

[@xwiirastusx]

But it seems Rick likes Tallinn a tad better than Helsinki. He gives the Finnish capital several subtle sideswipes, hinting that it's kind of boring and uniform. Rick Steves is very good at letting one know wether he really enjoys a city or not.

[@teviblekhman1628]

I'm am at tallin right now your video inspired by the video

[@eksiarvamus]

+tevi blekhman *Tallinn

[@dianabart2299]

Tallinn is the best out of three Baltic capitals: Tallinn is the most IT and internet savi full enclosed medieval city, Vilnius is best for Baroque architecture and fun, Riga is great for the food market

[@zofialewandowska1056]

Super, greetings from Warsaw 12.10.2020

[@MyYTwatcher]

I have been to both cities and they are both superb. I really love them. In case you will be in Helsinky, dont forget to visit rock church and skazen. And be prepared for worse weather than shown in the document :-) St. Peterburg in Russia is not that far from both cities. I think for short visit you dont even need visa. You can go there by ferry either from Helsinki or Tallin. I had fantastic time there and I will definitely return.

[@emmanuelg4999]

Is it cold in mid July?

[@Sammakko7]

MyYTwatcher dumbass child learn to write Helsinki.

[@Sammakko7]

Emmanuel Garcia no, most mid julys. July is the best time to go.

[@Aurinkohirvi]

Usually it is between 15C and 25C in July, the peak temperature of the day. This year, 2018, has been unusually hot, both June and July were about 30C almost every day.

[@sampejke]

you`re wrong, you will need russian visa even for short stay

[@zoe6690]

really interesting

[@HelensVlogs]

our friend here in HOUSTON TX loves you thanks for visiting my home country Estonia

[@foysalsheikh6237]

From Bangladesh

[@PathfinderHistoryTravel]

13:46 Estonia built their new economy and tax structure on economist Milton Friedman’s brilliant free market ideas. As could be expected it has worked out very well. The young Estonian leaders who chose this course are heroes.

[@SkandikFilm]

Helsinki was founded in 1550, only 15 years before the oldest city of the USA was founded, St. Augustine, Florida.

[@alh6255]

But Finland has also, for example, Turku - much older town , with the university from 1649

[@peabase]

SkandikFilm It would be more accurate to say modern Helsinki was founded in 1809. And we have the Russians to thank for that.

[@xwiirastusx]

Tallinn is first mentioned in the chronicles of 12th century, but probably much older.

[@Kirmukarmu]

Estonia is irrelevant and boring small country. Nothing to see besides tallin. Finland > Estonia x 100.

[@xwiirastusx]

You sound like a willfully ignorant person, who doesn't know any better.

[@user-ly5bc4xd2s]

فيديو جميل شكراجزيلا لكم والله يحفظكم ويحميكم ويرعاكم كل التقدير والاحترام للشعب الفنلندي الكريم الأصيل تحياتنا لكم من فلسطين نرجو لكم كل الخير

[@charithcolonne3211]

I like your video 🌟😍it is very good 👍❤🤯