Tallinn, Estonia — Travel Tips
Getting There By Air
TallinnAirport(TLL)
Tel: 605 8701 or 8888 (information).
Website: www.tallinn-airport
Tallinn’s modern and efficient airport is located 4km (2.5 miles) from the city center. Facilities in arrivals include car hire, a currency exchange office, bar, telephones, shops and an ATM. In departures there is a currency exchange office, bar, telephones, shops and an ATM. Business facilities are available in departures at the lounge, which has Internet and fax. The regular public bus 2 connects the airport to the city center, terminating near the landmark Viru Hotel on the edge of the Old Town. You can take a metered taxi from outside the terminal. Ensure the meter is switched on or agree a fare in advance.
Getting There By Road
For such a modern and impressive country, Estonia's road network is still rather basic, though it is improving with major investment in recent years. Traffic drives on the right and the minimum driving age is 18. Speed limits range from 30-50kmph in towns to 90-110kmph on main intercity roads. Drivers must have the original V5 C (Vehicle Registration Document) as well as insurance documents covering them for Estonia if driving into the country. EU licenses are valid for foreign drivers.
Emergency breakdown services
Automobile Club of Estonia (tel: 1888).
Routes to the city
There are few dual carriageways and even the main route south to Latvia (E67) only has a single lane in each direction. This road also connects Tallinn with the southern city of Parnu. The E20 cuts east towards the Russian border, which it reaches after the city of Narva, while route 2 heads southeast to the university city of Tartu. There are plans for a new multi-lane highway connecting Tallinn with Russia and Latvia and on to the rest of Europe's motorway networks via Poland, but this still seems to be years away.
Driving times to the city
From Pärnu – 1 hour 45 minutes; Tartu – 2 hours 30 minutes; Narva – 3 hours ; St Petersburg – 7 hours; Vilnius – 9 hours 30 minutes.
Coach services
The main bus station (Tallinna Bussiterminal) is located a 10-minute walk from the Old Town at Lastekodu 46. Services run to all major Estonian towns and cities as well as outside the country to Latvia, Lithuania, Russia and all of Europe. The main operators are Lux Express (tel: 680 0909; www.luxexpress.eu) and ECOLINES (tel: 614 3600; www.ecolines.net).
Getting There By Rail
Rail Services
Tallinn Railway Station, Balti Jaam, Toompuiestee 35, is located just on the edge of the Old Town and offers services to domestic destinations such as Narva, Pärnu and Tartu, but only one international route, across the border to Moscow. The service to St Petersburg was withdrawn in 2008.
Rail Operators
Elektriraudtee (tel: 673 7400; www.elektriraudtee.ee) runs electric trains to the satellite towns and villages outside the capital, while Edelaraudtee (tel: 1447; www.edel.ee) runs longer distance trains. The daily overnight train to/from Moscow is run by GoRail (tel: 631 0044; www.gorail.ee).
Connections
From Pärnu – 2 hours 45 minutes; Tartu – 3 hours 15 minutes; Narva – 4 hours ; Moscow – 16 hours (overnight service).
Getting Around in Tallinn, Estonia
Public Transport
A comprehensive network of trams, buses and trolleybuses is operated by the local authorities (tel: 1345; www.tallinn.ee). You can buy tickets at many newspaper kiosks or pay when boarding, though it's cheaper to buy tickets beforehand. Make sure you punch your ticket once onboard to avoid a fine. Standard tickets are valid for one journey while one- and two-hour tickets are also on sale. Passes are available covering 24 or 72 hours.
Taxis
Taxis can be hailed on the street or at ranks at the railway and bus stations as well as in the Old Town. Pre-booked taxis can be ordered from a number of local companies such as Linna (tel: 644 2442) and Tulika (tel: 1200). Ensure the meter is either switched on or agree a price in advance for all journeys.
Driving in the City
Driving in the city center can be intimidating with heavy traffic and local drivers driving erratically. Note headlights must be used at all times.
Car Hire
There is little need to hire a car in Tallinn, as the city is so compact, though international car hire companies do have offices at the airport and in the city center, including Avis (tel: 667 1515; www.avis.ee), Budget (tel: 605 8600; www.budget.ee) and Sixt (tel: 613 3660; www.sixt.com).
Bicycle Hire
City Bike organizes bike hire and tours (tel: 511 1819; www.citybike.ee). Tallinn is fairly easy to get around by bike, though it is best to avoid the busier parts of town where the traffic can be dangerous.
