Twin-city breaks in Europe you can do by ferry

With so many cities and countries to visit and so little annual leave available to take, booking a multi-destination trip makes sense when looking to maximise your vacation time.

The trip style is on the rise, too: A recent study from Klook found that two thirds of travellers are planning to make multiple stops on their itineraries in the coming year.

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to increase your air mileage.

While there are plenty of twin-city breaks you can do by train or bus, a ferry offers a scenic way to travel between some rather unexpected pairings.

Tallinn, Estonia and Helsinki, Finland

The capitals of Estonia and Finland are just 80 kilometres apart, and you can travel between them in around two hours by ferry.

In Tallinn, you can wander the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town, learn more about the country’s time under Russian and Nazi occupation at the Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom, or explore the museums and galleries along the Kultuurikilomeeter.

While Helsinki has an equal cultural appeal, especially for those with an interest in architecture, it’s the Finnish capital’s saunas and its Michelin-starred restaurants that we think you should be exploring.

Pozzallo, Italy and Valetta, Malta

Can’t decide between a city break and a beach escape? Combine the two by taking the ferry from Sicily’s Pozzallo to Maltese capital Valletta.

Encased by UNESCO-listed fortifications, Valletta is a very walkable city. Be sure to stroll the walls for a view of the Three Cities, and to visit the St. John’s Co-Cathedral, a stunning building built in high Baroque style.

Once you’re tired from all that walking, hop on the ferry, which takes just an hour and 45 minutes to reach Pozzallo. The resort town is known for its crystal clear waters, with several Blue Flag beaches.

Saint-Malo, France and St Helier, Jersey

Another walled city, Saint-Malo has long been a popular tourist destination with writers of the past heading here to visit Chateaubriand’s tomb.

In recent years, the publication of Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See, as well as the release of the Netflix miniseries of the same name, has also brought in visitors who come to see the setting of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book.

Once you’re done exploring the port city, hop on the ferry to Jersey’s capital St Helier, which takes just two hours.

In St Helier, you can visit attractions like Elizabeth Castle, a 400-year-old fortress on a tidal island, and the Jersey Opera House. For those planning a longer stay, take on the newly launched 77-kilometre Jersey Tidal Trail that encircles the entire island.

Ancona, Italy to Split, Croatia

Italy and Croatia both offer some dreamy coastal destinations, so why force yourself to choose between them? The ferry between Ancona and Split runs overnight, so you’ll wake up in an entirely new destination.

In Ancona, you can explore historic piazzas, churches and markets, while Split offers sights like the Diocletian’s Palace and the Saint Domnius Cathedral.

If you’re not all boated out, Split also has connections to famed islands like Brač and Hvar.

Milan, Rome or Naples to Sicily

Italian rail company Trenitalia offers what might be one of the most unusual ferry crossings in Europe.

Travelling from several hub city stations, your train will be loaded onto a ferry at Villa San Giovanni station in Calabria, southern Italy. You’ll then set sail for the port of Messina before the train is offloaded, continuing the journey along to Palermo and Siracusa.

Main departure points for this unique Sicily route include Milan, Rome and Naples, so you can focus your trip on shopping, history or food (or a mix of all three) before exploring Sicily.