Arriving to Tallinn
Arrival by Plane
Located just 4 km from the Tallinn City centre, the modern Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport provides excellent facilities and a wide variety of services to meet the demands of all its customers.
Schedule of flights
Tallinna Lennujaam (Tallinn Airport)
Lennujaama tee 2
Ph.: +3726058888
http://www.tallinn-airport.ee/
Arrival by Sea
The Tallinn-Helsinki sea-line is one of the busiest international passenger routes in the world. Ferries cross the Gulf of Finland between Tallinn and Helsinki several times a day, covering the distance in roughly 2 to 3 hours. From late spring to late autumn, high-speed vessels also operate on the route, reducing travel time to just an hour and a half. Ferries between Tallinn and Stockholm depart every evening, with the trip taking approximately 15 hours. Passenger terminals are located a short distance from the medieval Old Town.
Schedules:
Tallinna Sadam (Port of Tallinn)
Sadama 25
Ph.: +3726318550
www.portoftallinn.com
Arrival by Bus
International bus lines (Lux Express, Ecolines) offer bus connections between Tallinn and many European cities. International and domestic bus lines arrive at and departure from Tallinn’s Central Bus Station.
Tallinna Autobussijaam (Таllinn Central Bus Station)
Lastekodu 46
Ph.: +3726800900
bussijaam.ee/en/
Arrival by Train
There are train connections to Moscow and St. Petersburg. The railway station is situated near the Old Town and harbour.
Schedule: GoRail
Balti jaam (Tallinn Railway Station)
Toompuiestee 37
Ph.: +3726310044
Transportation in Tallinn
Public Transport
Central Tallinn is very compact and easy to get around. For example Tallinn Airport is just 15 min bus ride away from the Medieval Old Town. To reach the suburbs there are buses, trolley buses and tram-lines in place. Public transport operates between 6:00 and 23:00 (some lines operate until 24:00).
Information about the different routes and timetables is available here.
Like other cities, Tallinn uses plastic smartcard and e-ticket system as of January 1, 2013. Smartcard is a plastic card which allows you to top up credit or buy different ticket types on it.
You can still buy single journey regular paper tickets costing 1.60 Euros from the driver when entering public transportation. Please try to have precise change for the driver if you want to buy a ticket.
E-ticket fares:
- 1h -1.10 EUR
- 1 day – 3 EUR
- 3 day – 5 EUR
- 5 day – 6 EUR
- 30 days – 23 EUR
NOTE! Day cards start upon purchase if not specified otherwise when buying the ticket(s).
Buying a smartcard
Smartcards are on sale in post offices, R-kiosks, Maxima, Prisma and Selver shop-chains, Autogrill kiosks, Stockmann shop and at Tallinn City Council customer service desk (Vabaduse väljak 7).
You need to pay 2 Euro deposit for your new smartcard. This is refundable (6 months after the first validation) when you return your smartcard to Tallinn City Council customer service desk (Vabaduse väljak 7).
For tourists
When planning no more than 3 journeys on public transport use the single journey tickets costing 1.60 Euros. You can purchase the tickets from the driver directly. Enter at the front door and keep in mind that tickets are only sold at stops, not while the vehicle is moving.
Tallinn Card holders travel free on public transport. Validate your Tallinn Card by touching the orange card readers (at all entrances) at the start of each journey.
If you plan more than 3 journeys on public transport it is cheaper for you to get the plastic (non-registered) smartcard. This smartcard is easy to top up with money or travel cards and then to validate your e-ticket(s) at the start of each journey. One smartcard can be used by different people (family members, colleagues etc.). Top up your smartcard at different sales points (listed below). Read more about the smartcard from below.
Tallinn Card holders travel free on public transport. Validate your Tallinn Card by touching the orange card readers (at all entrances) at the start of each journey.
Taxi
Taxi stands are located at major intersections and in front of bigger hotels. Passengers can choose from any of the available taxis at a taxi stand. Taxis can be also ordered by phone or hailed on the street. Starting fare 2 EUR-5 EUR, price for 1 km is about 0,50 EUR-1 EUR.
The price list for taxi services is determined by the taxi operator; that is, prices are not uniform for all taxis. In order to avoid misunderstandings, be sure that the approximate cost of the trip to your destination is clear in advance.
Before getting in
Be sure you understand the approximate cost of the trip. Prices are not uniform; taxi operators can set their own rates.
Take a close look at the yellow price list, which is posted on the right side rear door.
Here you’ll find rates for:
- the base fare (usually 2 EUR-5 EUR)
- the waiting charge, used only when the taxi is actually standing (usually 6 EUR-20 EUR /h
- the per-kilometre charges: a daytime charge used from 6am to 11pm, and a nighttime charge used from 11pm to 6am (both usually 0,50 EUR-1 EUR /km
Anything much more than these is considered high. Make sure the taxi driver holds an operator’s card – a white plastic card with the driver’s photo and name, attached to the middle of the dashboard.
Starting out
Make sure the taxi’s meter is turned on. It is illegal for the driver to smoke or to allow others to smoke in the taxi.
At the end of the ride
The driver is not allowed to ask for more than what is on the meter. The driver must be paid in Euros. Ask the taxi driver for a receipt from the meter’s printer. If the meter or printer is out of order, the driver should not be in service and you have the right to refuse to pay the fare.
Source: http://www.tourism.tallinn.ee/eng