Riga to Tallin

ScumLord

I'm going to be buying a flight to Riga in Latvia, working me way up to Tallinn in Estonia then getting the ferry over to Helsinki and flying back from Tampere (all ryanair flights). Anyone have experience with the bus between Riga and Tallinn? I was hoping to take a train but I've been told the trains are useless and don't go all the way to Tallinn. I don't like the idea of being stuck on a bus for a long time so if there's anything along the way worth seeing so I can take a break I'd like to know.

Anyone any experience with the ferry over to Helsinki? I'm hoping it will still be running around the beginning of November.

cailinoBAC

Whoever told you that about trains is correct. I much prefer trains to buses but usually it wasn't much of an option. Saying that the bus (well I took it from Tallinn to Riga) was fine. It takes 5 hours, this includes a stop at the border. Eurolines buses are generally pretty comfortable.
http://www.eurolines.ee/index.php?id=1356
Can't remember if they were all Eurolines or if there were others too, but there are some of the times.
I think I just slept most of the way. I did take one from Vilnius to Tallinn, which took about 9 hours and was overnight, now I don't think I'd do that again, especially as we were woken up at 2 borders! That was 2004 and I had naively thought that we wouldn't have to make a big deal of crossing a border now they were in the EU, but there you go.

As for Tallinn to Helsinki, I did my trip in August and there were loads of crossings every day. There wouldn't be so many in winter, but I'm pretty sure there are a few.
www.inyourpocket.com is your best friend in Eastern Europe. I think if you look up Tallinn (not sure if the online version or the pdf version) there should be an up to date timetable.
Hmmmm, haven't quite found a timetable but here's a list of companies
http://www.inyourpocket.com/estonia/tallinn/getting_around/ferries/category/1164-ferrycompanies.html

ScumLord

Nice one, I didn't have much info on the ferrys, I was just hoping there where running. There cheaper than I thought too.

Unshelved

We travelled Riga to Tallinn (and back again) last year and went by bus with Eurolines. It's not a long distance in kilometers but it took ages because of the state of the roads. For long distances there was only one lane of traffic becuause of roadworks (not one lane going each way - just one lane). I think the journey took about eight hours in total. It might not be as bad now because I'm sure the roadworks must be finished but as the bus crawled along I remember thinking that I'd never complain about the M50 again! The buses are comfortable enough - with a toilet. Be sure to bring food and drink because the only place the bus stops is at the border checkpoint.

I was amazed at how many Latvians had never been to Tallinn and vice versa with Estonians to Riga. I think it must have been a Soviet ploy to keep the roads lousy and stop the Baltic states from fraternising with each other!

On the way back we stopped in Parnu in Estonia for a couple of days. A pleasant enough seaside resort with nice hotels and not much else. It has good spas and that's about it - not worth seeing if you're travelling in winter.

Definitely take the ferry to Helsinki from Tallinn - it's a good day-trip. Tallinn is a lovely city and extremely cheap. Have a good time!