How to Get from Helsinki to Lottemaa: A Ferry + Drive Family Guide
By Lottemaa Team • Updated May 22, 2026.
From Helsinki to Lottemaa is roughly a five-hour journey: a 2-hour ferry across the Gulf of Finland to Tallinn, then 1 hour 45 minutes south on the Via Baltica to the park gates. It’s the standard route for the thousands of Helsinki families who treat Pärnu as their weekend escape — and increasingly for English-speaking residents of Helsinki who hear about Lottemaa from Finnish friends and want to try it. This guide covers the practical side: ferry options, ferry-to-car logistics in Tallinn, the honest one-day-versus-spa-weekend question, and how to time it all so the kids aren’t melting down on the return leg.
The journey at a glance
Lottemaa sits in Reiu village, about 15 minutes south of Pärnu by car. The exact address is Kanari, Reiu, 86508 Pärnu maakond. From central Helsinki — measured from Kamppi or the West Terminal (Länsiterminaali) — the total trip looks like this:
- Ferry Helsinki → Tallinn: 2 hours (Tallink Megastar/MyStar, Viking XPRS, Eckerö Line Finlandia)
- Loading and unloading: 30–45 minutes total
- Drive Tallinn → Lottemaa: 1 hour 45 minutes on the Via Baltica (E67)
- Total door-to-door: approximately 5 hours each way
That five-hour total is the deciding factor in how to structure the trip. A one-day return makes 10 hours of travel plus a full day at the park — workable with older children, exhausting with toddlers. Most Helsinki families instead build a 2- or 3-day Pärnu spa weekend around the visit.
Ferry options across the Gulf of Finland
Three operators run the Helsinki–Tallinn route, all with multiple daily sailings:
- Tallink — the largest operator. Megastar and MyStar are the modern fast ferries (2 hours crossing). 4–6 sailings per day in summer. Departs Helsinki West Terminal 2, arrives Tallinn D-terminal. Family pricing typically €120–220 return for a car plus 2 adults and 2 children.
- Viking Line — runs the XPRS. Slightly older vessel, 2 hours 15 minutes crossing. Departs Helsinki Katajanokka, arrives Tallinn A-terminal (adjacent to D-terminal). Pricing similar to Tallink, often slightly cheaper midweek.
- Eckerö Line — the Finlandia. The budget option, around 2 hours 15 minutes. Departs Helsinki West Terminal 2 nearby. Often the cheapest family fare, less polished but perfectly functional for a short crossing.
For families with cars, booking the early-morning 7:30–8:30 Helsinki departure is the play. You’ll arrive in Tallinn around 9:30–10:30, drive south by 11:30, and be at Lottemaa’s gates before lunch.
Ferry-to-car: the first hour in Tallinn
Once you’ve driven off the ferry, you’re roughly 1 hour 50 minutes from Lottemaa. The Tallinn ferry terminals sit just east of the Old Town, and the road network connects directly to the Pärnu maantee. You don’t need to drive through central Tallinn at all.
A practical sequence:
- Drive off the ferry. Tallink’s Megastar typically unloads cars in 15–20 minutes after docking.
- Take the Sadama–Pärnu maantee link. Follow signs to “Pärnu” out of the port area — about 5–10 minutes depending on traffic.
- Via Baltica (E67). Stay on it for the full 1h 30min south.
- Brown “Lottemaa” sign about 8 km before Pärnu. Turn left there. Don’t drive into Pärnu town centre.
Parking at Lottemaa costs €4 (€3 via the Snabb mobile app). For a more detailed look at the Tallinn → Lottemaa leg specifically, see our Tallinn-to-Lottemaa guide.
Without a car: ferry plus coach
Plenty of Helsinki families do this trip without bringing a car. The combination:
- Ferry to Tallinn as a foot passenger (Tallink, Viking, or Eckerö — all about €30–50 return per adult, children cheaper).
- Tallinn Coach Station to Pärnu on Lux Express or Hansabussid (~2 hours, €10–14). The terminal is a 10-minute taxi from the ferry port.
- Pärnu to Lottemaa by taxi (Bolt or Pärnu Taxi, ~€10 for the 10-minute ride).
This works, but adds about 90 minutes of total travel compared to the car option. Most families with kids under 8 find the car-on-ferry option significantly easier.
One-day trip versus the Pärnu spa weekend
The honest answer that most Helsinki families wish they’d been told: a one-day return from Helsinki is technically possible but brutal. The schedule looks like this — 7:30 ferry from Helsinki, arrive Tallinn 9:30, drive to Lottemaa by 11:15, 5 hours in the park, leave by 16:30, ferry from Tallinn at 19:30, back in Helsinki at 22:00. That’s 14.5 hours of travel and park combined, with children in a car or on a ferry for over 6 hours.
The two- or three-day version that most Helsinki families actually choose: Friday evening ferry, sleep in Pärnu, full Saturday at Lottemaa with the €41 two-day ticket, Sunday at a spa hotel and beach, evening ferry home. Pärnu’s four major spa hotels — Strand, Tervis, Estonia, Hedon — all sit 15–20 minutes from Lottemaa and are full of Finnish families every summer for exactly this reason. Our Pärnu family weekend guide walks through the typical Friday-to-Sunday rhythm in detail.
Cost estimate for a Helsinki family
A rough family-of-four budget for the two-day Pärnu spa weekend version, in summer 2026 prices:
- Tallink ferry return (car + 2 adults + 2 children): €150–220
- One night Pärnu spa hotel: €120–180
- Lottemaa two-day tickets (2 adults + 2 children, age 2+): €164
- Fuel and parking: €30–40
- Meals out (3–4 meals): €80–140
Total typical range: €540–740 for a family of four for the weekend. Cheaper than equivalent Linnanmäki + Helsinki spa weekend, more memorable than either on its own.
From Tampere or Turku via Helsinki
If you’re starting from Tampere (about 2 hours north of Helsinki) or Turku (1h 45min west), the standard route is via Helsinki. Drive to Helsinki, catch the morning ferry, then it’s the same plan. From Turku there is also an alternative — the Tallink Galaxy from Turku to Stockholm and then onward via Riga — but this is significantly longer (24+ hours) and only makes sense if you want the cruise experience itself.
Combining the trip with Tallinn Old Town
Many Helsinki families add a half-day in Tallinn’s Old Town to the trip. The Old Town sits a 5-minute walk from the ferry terminals. The combination that works: ferry to Tallinn Friday afternoon, Old Town walk and dinner, drive to Pärnu in the early evening (the road is quiet by then), Saturday at Lottemaa, Sunday at the spa. Trying to do Tallinn Old Town and Lottemaa in the same day is not advisable with younger children.
The official Lottemaa transport page
For maps, parking layout, and current information, Lottemaa maintains an official transport page with the most up-to-date detail. Save it to your phone before boarding the ferry.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the total trip from Helsinki to Lottemaa? About 5 hours each way — a 2-hour ferry, 30–45 minutes loading and unloading, and a 1h 45min drive south on the Via Baltica.
Should we bring our car on the ferry or rent in Tallinn? Bringing the family car is significantly more convenient — Tallink, Viking, and Eckerö all carry vehicles. Renting in Tallinn works but adds 30–45 minutes of paperwork on arrival.
Can we do Lottemaa as a one-day trip from Helsinki? Yes, but it’s a 14.5-hour day. Most families with children under 8 find a 2-day Pärnu spa weekend much more enjoyable, and the €41 two-day ticket means you also get more of the park.
Which Pärnu spa hotel is best for families? Tervis is the most child-friendly. Strand is on the beach with a modern feel. Estonia is the classic, more adult-oriented option. Hedon is the newest and priciest.
Which ferry is best for families with kids? Tallink Megastar and MyStar are the newest vessels with the most child-friendly facilities (play area, kids’ menu, cabin options). Viking and Eckerö work fine; the difference is marginal for a 2-hour crossing.
Plan your visit: [See 2026 opening dates and buy tickets →]
Author: Lottemaa Team, Content & Family Travel Editor at Lottemaa (Lotte Village Theme Park).
Lottemaa Team writes practical planning guides for visiting Lottemaa and the Pärnu region with children, covering seasonal opening dates, ticket inclusions, accessibility, and transport logistics from Tallinn, Riga, and Helsinki. This guide was last updated on
