Often traveling to two cities offers a greater understanding of both through the comparison and contrasts the visitor experiences. Such is the case with Helsinki, the largest city and capital of Finland and Tallinn in Estonia. Travel affords deep reflective practice for those who may be reinventing life. As we look forward to new paths in life, travel is great to remind us of the change in life over time. Helsinki and Tallinn offer the visitor such times. The travel season is relatively short to both cities except for those hardened or well prepared through good clothing for the cold. For the summer, the temperatures range from a cool 59F (15C) up to a hot 86F (30C) in the warmest month of July. Visitors will enjoy up to 19 hours of sunlight in the summer. Both temperatures and the amount of sun plummet in the winter reaching average days that are well below freezing with blankets of snow, to the point where the sea itself freezes over, and it is never fully daylight. Naturally tourists then generally see both cities in the summer.

Comparisons between the cities go back as far as their ancient history as King Gustav of Sweden who, in 1550 founded Helsinki as a rival of its counterpart across the water – which later became Tallinn. Both are strategically important due to their sea ports and, as a result, have been run over by military forces in their histories. Tallinn grew to prominence as a summer retreat for the Russian Tzar Alexander the Great who built a modest summer palace there. Helsinki Helsinki is a modern European Capital with all the amenities you would associate with that status. While not large, it also was not bombed much during the second World War so its older Renaissance buildings are beautiful. Similar to Amsterdam, Helsinki promotes travel through the city by bicycle, with many commuters coming in by train and picking up the bike they left the night before at the train station. Pack comfortable clothes and rent a bike, you can easily see most of the city in a couple of days, able to easily hop off to see sights of interest and move on at your leisure. Helsinki is a city of neighborhoods and a tour on bicycle is perfect. You can travel around the edge, by the water on bike paths, then move inward to sights of interest as your mood suggests. Be sure to stop at the charming market at the edge of city center on the wharf. The Deco facade on the train station should not be missed, nor the two magnificent cathedrals – all within an easy distance from each other.

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