Tallinn: arrival & departure

Estonia is a member of the European Union and part of the Schengen Area. Nationals of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and any third-country national holding a residence permit of a Schengen State do not need a visa to enter Estonia - a national ID card or passport is required for entry.

 

For more information on visa exemptions and requirements for visiting Estonia, please consult the webpage of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or contact your nearest Estonian representation. 

The city's international airport, Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport, provides excellent facilities and a wide variety of services. In 2025, the cosy Tallinn Airport was awarded the title of the most enjoyable airport in Europe, as well as the title of the best airport in Europe in its size category by the Airports Council International (ACI) World.

Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport is very conveniently located – just 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) from the city centre. You can easily travel to and from the airport by tram or taxi. 

You can get to the city centre from Tallinn Airport by trams T2 and T4.

Tram T2 runs from the airport via the Old City Harbour to Kopli, while tram T4 travels through the city centre towards Tondi. For central Tallinn, you can use the Hobujaama stop on T2 or the A. Laikmaa, Viru and Vabaduse väljak stops on T4.

The trams depart from the airport’s public transport centre (stop Lennujaam), located at the city end of the passenger terminal. From the arrivals hall, follow the signs and take the escalator or lift to the connecting walkway.

A €2 one-hour ticket can be purchased with a contactless bank card at any validator on board or from the ticket machine at the airport. See Tallinn public transport routes and timetables at transport.tallinn.ee.

The taxi stand is located outside, in front of the arrivals hall. The fare from the airport to the city centre costs around €15. Read more about the taxi services in Tallinn in our corresponding transport section.

Many regular and express buses to and from Tartu stop at Tallinn Airport. You can find information on their schedules and buy tickets from the Tpilet.ee website. 

Several car rental services operate at Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport with offices and service desks inside the main terminal. The full list of different car hire companies is available on the airport’s website. 

Many different domestic and international airlines operate in Tallinn. See the webpage of Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport for more information on available routes and weekly schedules.

The airport's passenger information point is located in the departure hall. It opens two hours before the day's first flight and closes after the last arriving flight. 

 

Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport: 

tel. +372 605 8888

Ships from Helsinki bring travellers to Tallinn's passenger port each day. Tallinn also welcomes visitors arriving with yachts.

Passenger and cruise ship terminals are located within walking distance of the medieval Old Town (15-20 minutes depending on the terminal).

Tram line T2 connects the port area with the city centre and operates from 5:30 a.m. until midnight, including weekends and public holidays. See the T2 stops and timetable at transport.tallinn.ee.

Tickets can be purchased on board with a contactless bank card at any validator (€2) or from the ticket machines located in terminals A and D (€2).

A taxi from the different port terminals to the city centre costs around 7€-10€.

 

Read more about the taxi services in Tallinn in our corresponding transport section.

 

Ferries cross the Gulf of Finland between Tallinn and Helsinki several times a day, covering the distance in roughly two to three hours. 

Tel. +372 664 6006 

Terminal A (arrivals and departures)

Tel. +372 640 9808 (in Estonia: 1 7808) 

Terminal D (arrivals and departures)

Tel. +372 666 3966 (with Estonian sim: 1719)

Terminal A (arrivals and departures)

Tel. +372 640 9808 (with Estonian sim: 1 7808)

Terminal D (arrivals and departures)

The world's largest cruise agencies have included Tallinn in their itineraries, making it one of the busiest cruise destinations in the Baltic Sea region.

 

International cruise ships dock in the cruise area of the Port of Tallinn, conveniently located at 1.2 kilometres (0.7 miles) from the Old Town, easy to reach by foot or by taxi – read more about the taxi services in Tallinn in our corresponding transport section.

 

Port of Tallinn 

Tel. +372 631 8550

Tel. +372 631 8085

N 59°26.32' E 24°45.32' 

Around 110 quay spots

Tel. +372 5688 8825 

www.noblessner.ee 

N 59°27’18.00” E24°44’07.20” 

192 quay spots

Tel. +372 639 8801

N 59°28.2’ E 24°49.2’ 

Depth: 2.8 metres, 50 quay spots for guest vessels

Tel. +372 677 7700 

N 59°27'06'' E 24°36'30'' 

Tel. +372 502 2877 

N 59°27.2′ E 24°44.1′

International bus lines offer connections to Tallinn from several other European cities. 

The Tallinn Central Bus Station is conveniently located between the airport and the city centre, approximately 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) from the Old Town. You can easily get to the centre by city bus lines 67 and 23. 

 

Tickets can be bought with a contactless payment card from any validator in the vehicle (€2) or the ticket machine in the Central Bus Station (€2).

Buses no. 67 and 23 connect the station to the city centre. The stop (Bussijaam) is located behind the departure platforms, on Juhkentali Street. The buses operate daily from approximately 6:00 a.m. to 23:15 (see schedule).

 

Depending on your destination, the stops closest to the city centre are Estonia and Vabaduse väljak. 

You can easily get to the city centre from the bus station by tram. The tram stop Bussijaam (Bus Station) is on Tartu Road and tram lines T2 (towards Kopli) and T4 (towards Tondi) will take you the city centre (A. Laikmaa stop) in just a few minutes.

Tallinn public transport runs daily from 5:00 to midnight (see schedules at transport.tallinn.ee). Tickets can be purchased using a contactless card (€2) at any validator in the vehicle or the ticket machine at the bus station.

International and intercity buses arrive and depart via the Tallinn Central Bus Station. 

In addition to many other European destinations, regular routes to and from Riga and Vilnius operate several times per day.

Tel. +372 680 0909 

Tel. +372 606 2217 

www.ecolines.net 

See the website of Tpilet for domestic bus lines, fares and timetables. 

Tallinn Central Bus Station: 

Tel. +372 681 3408 

 

The railway station (Balti jaam) is situated in the city centre, near the Old Town.

The medieval city walls are only 300 metres (0.19 miles) from the railway station: simply cross Toompuiestee Street. 

Several bus lines serve the railway station. Buses number 2 and 3 take you from the Balti Jaam bus stop in front of the station to the city centre. Buses 21 and 21B have their stop next to the train station, by the car and bus park. 21 and 21B drive through the city centre (stop Vabaduse Väljak) and then continue towards Rocca Al Mare.

 

From the Balti Jaam (Baltic Station) tram stop, tram lines T1 (towards Kadriorg), T2 (towards Lennujaam (airport)) and T5 (towards Vana-Lõuna) take just a few minutes to reach the city centre.

 

A €2 one-hour ticket can be purchased with a contactless bank card at any validator on board. More specific routes and stops can be seen on Tallinn Transport Department’s website transport.tallinn.ee.

Tel. +372 616 0245 

Elron
24 h hotline +372 616 0245
Elron info line
+372 673 7400
(Mon–Fri 08:00–16:00)
info@elron.ee
elron.ee

The Via Baltica (E67) highway is the fastest road to Tallinn. 

If you need information on the local road conditions and works, check Tark Tee (Smart Road, available in English, Russian and Estonian), an online application of the Estonian Road Administration.

You need the following documents to drive in Estonia:

• Passport or ID card
• Driving licence
• Valid insurance policy
• Car registration certificate

Make sure your driving licence is recognised in Estonia. 

Driving in Estonia

• Traffic moves on the right-hand side of the road.
• A valid insurance policy is required.

Headlights and seatbelts

• During the day, dipped headlights or daytime driving lights must be switched on. After dark, the main headlights must be switched on.
• The driver and passengers must wear seatbelts at all times.

Speed limits

Speed limits are as follows, unless marked otherwise: 

• In residential areas: 30 km/h 
• In urban areas: 50 km/h 
• Outside urban areas: 90 km/h, though in summer, speeds of 110 km/h and 120 km/h are allowed on some indicated roads.

International and local filling station chains operate in Estonia, the largest of which are Circle K, Neste, Alexela and Olerex.