City Transit

Crowded buses, trams and trolley buses can be unpleasant. But the system is functional and can be your friend; it services all entry points. Tickets are sold at kiosks for 10 kroons a ride (or book of ten for 70 EEK) and from drivers for 15 kroons a ride. You can also buy a monthly pass for 350 kroons. Most transport stops at midnight. For an online bus schedule of departing times, see www.tallinn.ee. You can buy bus tickets and pay for parking with your mobile phone. For info, see www.emt.ee. 

On the Road
If you have your own car, there’s one main problem with driving in Estonia: other drivers. Standards of driving can range from bad to down-right lethal. The best advice is to drive defensively: don’t assume your fellow drivers will do what you expect them to do, like stop for red lights or signal before they merge into your lane. If you can avoid it, it’s probably best not to drive on inter-city highways at night. That’s because—as if other humans weren’t enough to worry about—you also have to watch out for moose. There are thousands of them in Estonia and, hit at high speeds, they can do serious damage. Road signs drawing your attention to these gentle, dumb, but very large beasts aren’t kidding. Highways are somewhat better marked than they used to be, but at night it can still be difficult to see the road in front of you. 
      Other notes: Driving drunk is always a bad idea. The legal limit here is near zero....The speed limit’s usually 90 km/h on the open road, 50km/h in town...You must drive with your lights on 24-hours a day, and the law (if not common sense) requires that you wear your seat belt. 
       Finding a parking space in the city center can be tough. You have to buy a parkimiskaart—a parking card. There’s a pricey fee for parking in the old city. You can also pay via mobile phone; call tel. 1910. There’s a pricey fee for parking in the old city. 

Planes
The Tallinn airport is virtually within the city limits—only about 10 minutes from downtown by cab. After recent multi-million-dollar renovations, it feels more modern, slick and efficient than many of its Western counterparts. The airport is not usually bustling, so getting through check-in lines, security and customs only takes a matter of minutes. A number of major airlines service Tallinn; some airline offices are only open around flight time. There are direct flights to, among other cities, Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, London, Amsterdam, Vienna, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Oslo, Moscow, Kiev, Minsk, as well as Riga and Vilnius.
       For information, call 605-8888. You can also find updated airport info, plus timetables, at www.tallinn-airport.ee.

Air Baltic: SAS represents it. Tel. 605-8887 at the airport. 

Czech Airlines: (C-3) Rävala 5, tel. 630-9397; tll@czechairlines.com. www.czech-airlines.com 

Easyjet: at the airport. Flies from Tallinn to Berlin and London. www.easyjet.com 

Estonian Air: (J-2) Vabaduse väljak 10, tel. 631-3302; airport, tel. 640-1160.  www.estonian-air.com 

Finnair: (C-3) Roosikrantsi 2, tel. 611-0950. Also at the airport, tel. 605-8353. www.finnair.com 

LOT: (C-3) Rävala 3, tel. 681-4651. www.lot.com 

Lufthansa: (C-3) Rävala pst 6, tel. 681-4630. 

SAS: (C-3) Rävala 2, tel. 666-3030. Discount offers for booking through their web-site www.scandinavian.net 

Helicopter
Copterline: tel. 610-1818 or 1818; copterline@copterline.ee. This service flies the Tallinn-Helsinki route in 20 minutes; 28 flights a day—virtually every hour from 07:30-21:30. Prices vary from 75 to 230 dollars for a one-way ticket. In Tallinn, the heliport is at Linnahall, (A-3) Mere pst. 20, near the Tallinn Harbor. In Helsinki, it’s at Hernematalankatu 2; tel. (358) 9 681-16760. www.copterline.com 

Car Rental

Avis: (C-3) Liivalaia 13/15, tel. 667-1500; also at the airport, tel. 605-8222. www.avis.ee 

Budget: (E-5) The airport, tel. 605-8600, info@budget.ee. www.budget.ee 

Europcar: At the airport, tel. 605-8031, europcar@europcar.ee. www.europcar.ee 

Evison: At the airport, tel. 605-8059; airport@evison.ee. www.evison.ee 

Hansabuss: (D-3) Kadaka tee 62a, tel. 627-9080; info@hansabuss.ee. Rents quality mini-vans. Used by the Prince of Denmark to the Rolling Stones. www.hansabuss.ee 

Hertz: (E-5) Tallinn Airport, tel. 605-8923, airport@hertz.ee; also at Ahtri 12, tel. 611-6333; hertz@hertz.ee. www.hertz.ee 

National Car Rental: (E-5) At the airport, tel. 605-8071, arental@online.ee. 

Regelung: Laki 13, tel. 651-6222, info@regelung.ee; www.regelung.ee 

Sixt: (C-3) Rävala pst. 5, tel. 613-3660. Airport office, tel. 605-8148, rent@autoliising.ee. www.sixt.ee 

Tulika Rent: (D-2) Tihase 34, tel. 612-0012. Good value. www.tulika.ee 

Buses/Trains
In recent years, along with the rapid deterioration of train traffic, bus traffic has improved. Bus links to Europe are good, ticket prices are very reasonable, buses are new and comfortable and have fewer delays at borders. It takes at least 48 hours to get to Western Europe from Tallinn by bus. The bus station (D-4) is located at Lastekodu 46, tel. 680-0900, a kilometer from downtown. Domestic routes are inexpensive.
Ecolines: (I-4) Viru väljak 4/6, tel. 610-1570; ecolines@ecolines.ee. Buses go to the Baltic states, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Belgium, France, UK, Ireland, Norway, Poland and Sweden. www.ecolines.ee 
Eurolines: (C-4) Lastekodu 46, at the bus terminal, tel. 680-0909, mreis@eurolines.ee; tickets are also sold through the Wris Travel Agency. Buses go to Stuttgart, Cologne, Munich, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Moscow, Warsaw, Kiev and Minsk. Buses from Tallinn to Riga leave four times a day, and to Vilnius twice a day (in the morning and in the evening). They also sell tickets for buses to destinations around Europe. The prices are affordable and service good. When traveling, you should ask about the bus you are taking since, because of different sub-contractors, bus quality can vary. www.eurolines.ee 

The train station is located at Toompuiestee 37, (B-2), tel. 615-6851 or 1447, at the edge of the old city. There are three international trains: Tallinn-Moscow (departs daily); Tallinn-St. Petersburg (departs every other day, on even days); Tallinn-Minsk (departs twice a week and stops in Riga and Vilnius). Trains haven’t modernized nearly to the extent of Baltic airlines or, for that matter, buses. You can find train info at www.evrekspress.ee 

Boats/Ferries
Tallinn Harbor’s info number is reachable most hours of the day; it provides schedules and all-around advice; tel. 637-8555. Most local travel agencies sell tickets. 

Tallink, Eckerö Line and Silja Line’s passenger/auto ferries ply the Finnish Gulf daily, making the run to Helsinki in about four hours. 
       Car ferries have restaurants, cafeterias, duty-free shops, private cabins and several bars. They leave from the passenger port at the end of Sadama street. There is also a direct ferry connection with Stockholm. Tallink, Silja Line, Nordic Jet Lines catamarans and Linda Line Express hydrofoils get you from Tallinn to Helsinki in under two hours. They only run until late autumn and begin service again in March/April. Nordic Jet Line, Silja Line and Tallink catamarans also serve as car-ferries. 

To Helsinki, Finland:
Eckerö Line: (B-4) At the B Terminal, end of Sadama street; tel. 631-8606; info@eckeroline.ee. www.eckeroline.ee 

Linda Line Express: (A-3), At the Linnahall Harbor, tel. 699-9333; info@lindaliini.ee. Their fast boats run from spring until late autumn. www.lindaliini.ee  

Nordic Jet Line: (B-4) At the C Terminal, tel. 613-7000; booking@njl.ee. Their fast boats run from spring until late autumn. www.njl.ee 

Silja Line: (B-4) At the A Terminal, end of Sadama street, and at the D Terminal, Lootsi 13, for reservations tel. 611-6661. www.silja.ee 

Tallink: (B-3) Sadama 4, tel. 640-9808, and at the A Terminal, end of Sadama street, tel. 631-8320; booking@tallink.ee. Catamarans leave from the D Terminal. www.tallink.ee 

Viking Line: (B-4) At the A terminal, tel. 666-3966; tallinn@vikingline.fi. Two departures a day, at convenient times from Tallinn. www.vikingline.fi 

To Stockholm, Sweden:
Tallink: (see above). The Tallinn-Stockholm ferry takes about 14 hours. Tallink also has ferry service from Paldiski to Kappelskär. You can also get to Stockholm via Helsinki on Viking and Silja Lines. Silja Line will book your trip all the way from Tallinn.

To Petersburg, Russia:
Silja Line: (see above). Departures twice a week beginning from mid-June.

To Rostock, Germany:
Silja Line: (see above) Departures twice a week beginning from mid-June.

Travel Agents

American Tours: (C-2) Rävala 6, tel. 699-9222; www.americantours.ee 

Baltic Tours: (H-2) Pikk 31, tel. 630-0430; baltic.tours@bt.ee. www.bt.ee  

Estonian Holidays: (H-2) Lai 5, tel. 627-0500; holidays@holidays.ee. www.holidays.ee  

Estravel: (I-2) Suur-Karja 15, tel. 626-6201; sales@estravel.ee. www.estravel.ee 

Hermann Travel: (J-2) Pärnu mnt. 67b, tel. 640-7777; sales@hermann.ee. www.hermann.ee 

Wris: (J-3) Roosikrantsi 2, tel. 611-0525;   partner@wris.ee. www.wris.ee 

Distances

Distances and travel times don’t always correspond. By car, there are delays on Russia’s border, which can extend what should be just a five-hour trip to St. Petersburg. Intra-Baltic borders can at times be a nuisance, but have improved over the past three or four years.

Tallinn to Helsinki—85 km (53 miles)
Tallinn to Riga—305 km (190 miles)
Tallinn to St. Petersburg—350 km (217 miles)
Tallinn to Stockholm—375 km (233 miles)
Tallinn to Vilnius—605 km (376 miles)

 City Transit  On the Road    Planes    Helicopter    Car Rental    Buses and Trains  Boats and Ferries   Travel Agents   Distances 
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Also see full Baltic plane, ferry, bus and train schedules, here.