We stayed at Radisson Blu Seaside Hotel in Helsinki which is near to the ferry terminal (West Harbour T2) to Tallinn - 10 minutes by tram or 20 minutes by foot. Unfortunately we found out that there isn't any ticket machine at the tram stop nearest to us so we walked to the ferry terminal. The point of the story is - not all tram stop has a ticket machine. 

This is afterall international border crossing from Finland to Estonia, so best to carry along the necessary documents like passport, though we have not been asked to show our passports. 

The cheapest ferry ticket we found is via Eckerö Line at the time of our travel. Single Helsinki - Tallinn return adult ticket cost €19. Ferry departed Helsinki at 09:00, arriving Tallinn at 11:15. Return ferry departed Tallinn at 18:30, arriving back in Helsinki at 21:00. 

We bought our ticket online on arrival in Helsinki, the evening just a day prior. Latest boarding time was 30 minutes before departure. The process was simple, just needed to scan the electronic ticket, pass the turnstill, get into the ferry and find a seat to your preference. 

We saw some comfy seats at one of the many cafes which turned out to be one that hosted bingo games midway. Participation was optional. 

The ferry docked at Vanasadam Old City Harbour. There were buses to the Tallinn Old Town but most people walked. We followed the rest of the visitors on foot, it was an easy stroll of about 20 minutes. 

As you entered the gate into Tallinn's Old Town, the Lower town features quaint, meadering cobblestone streets and gabled houses. 

Tallinn's Town Hall Square is the center of this old town since the Middle ages. In winter it houses Tallinn's Christmas market and we were very lucky that in during our visit, this Christmas market runs end of November till early January. It is one of the few Christmas markets that are run passed actual Christmas day. 

Just behind the beautiful Christmas tree is the Town Hall building, built between 1402 and 1404. At the end of the square is the Raeapteek, the oldest pharmacist in Tallinn and one of the oldest in Europe.  

One of Tallinn's most iconic landmarks, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral marked your arrival to Toompea as this church was completed in 1900 sits on top of the Toompea Hill. This Russian Orthodox church dates back to the old Russian empire and comprises 11 bells including Tallinn's largest bell weighing 15 tonnes. 

Kiek in de Kök 

Kiek in de Kök Fortification Museum forms a museum complex over 500 metres long that includes four towers - Kiek in de Kök, Maiden's Tower, Tallitorn Tower, and the Gate Tower of the Short Leg (Lühikese jala väravatorn). The fortification museum also includes access to underground bastion passages and exhibition on overview of past warfare. Tickets allows access to go up to the towers and the walk between them. 

In front of this museum complex is the Danish King's Garden. Found this page that provides some info to as why it is named Danish King's Garden. 

There are also a couple of viewing platforms to check out - Kohtuotsa viewing platform and Patkuli viewing platform. 

We packed breakfast and ate them onboard ferry to Tallinn and stopped for lunch in Tallinn. Sis listed down a pancake bar to try in Tallinn - Kompressor but were not feeling pancakes and wanted more hot food. We saw a Ukrainian restaurant - Odessa nearby to where we were then and popped in for lunch. Not in picture was Ukrainian red borsch with sour cream and buns "pampushka", and somewhat in photo - glögg. Food was very delicious and hearty. 

We were not organised enough to have also packed dinner, so we got sandwiches to share onboard and slept most of the trip back. Most people stocked up on alcohol from Tallinn to bring back to Helsinki though. It finally snowed when we arrived back to Helsinki.