Complete Guide to Transportation in Estonia: Airports, Ferries, Buses & City Tickets
Transport Guide
2026-10-03
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Just 15 minutes from Tallinn Airport to the Old Town, ferries connect to Scandinavia, buses reach across the country—understand the ticketing apps and travel smoothly.
Arrival & Getting into Town
| Option | Description | Time/Price |
|---|
| Tallinn Airport (TLL) | Tram lines 2/4 or bus 65 go directly to the edge of the Old Town | About 15 minutes, around €2 |
| Tallinn Passenger Port (D-Terminal) | 10-minute walk or tram line 2 into town | About 10 minutes |
| Long-distance Bus Terminal | Tram line 2 goes directly to the Old Town | About 10 minutes |
Ferries: Your Gateway to Scandinavia
- Tallinn–Helsinki: Frequent sailings by Tallink and Viking Line, about 2–2.5 hours; book early for €20–40.
- Tallinn–Stockholm: Overnight cruise takes about 16 hours, cabins and buffet meals included for a classic experience.
- Mainland–Saaremaa/Hiiumaa Islands: Prigulli ferries take about 30–90 minutes; winter schedules may be affected by ice, check in advance.
Inter-city Transport
- Long-distance Buses: Lux Express and FlixBus serve Tartu, Pärnu, Riga, and Vilnius with excellent vehicles and free WiFi; Tallinn–Riga takes about 4.5 hours.
- Trains: Elron trains run to Tartu, Narva, and Pärnu; Tallinn–Tartu takes about 2 hours, book tickets on the official website.
- Driving: Winter tyres are required (usually provided by rental companies); rural gas stations are sparse, plan ahead.
In Tallinn
- Unified ticket system for trams, buses, and trolleybuses: single ride about €2, 24-hour ticket about €6; buy on board via QR code or use the Pilet.ee app.
- Old Town, Rotermann Quarter, and Kalamaja are walkable; take tram 1/3 to Kadriorg.
- For taxis, use Bolt (the main local app); airport to Old Town costs about €8–12.
Tips
- Ferry tickets can sell out fast during peak season and the Song Festival; book cabins in advance on the official websites.
- Bus tickets are cheaper the earlier you buy; Lux Express often has half-price deals a week ahead.
- Google Maps works well for navigation in Estonia, and real-time bus arrival info is also available via apps.
- Road conditions are good; gas stations are mainly Neste and Circle K, and rural self-service pumps accept foreign cards.
- Kuressaare and Tartu have small airports; island-hopping flights take about 40 minutes, a good alternative when ferries stop in winter.