Travel and getting around

Estonia can be reached by plane, train, car or ferry. Travel document requirements for visitors are available on the website of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Travelling to Estonia by Plane

The largest international airport in Estonia is located in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, with direct flights from many major European cities. Information on airlines, schedules, and customs is available on the website of Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport. In March 2024, direct flights between Helsinki and Tartu have been re-established (for more information, see Tartu Airport’s website).

Travelling to Estonia by Boat

Ferries link Tallinn with Stockholm and Helsinki. The main ferry operators are Tallink/Silja Line, Viking Line, and Eckerö Line. 

The port of Helsinki, Finland, is 80 km from Tallinn, and the journey takes 2 to 2.5 hours by ferry. During the summer season (from May to September), ferries depart every few hours.

The port of Stockholm, Sweden, is 380 km from Tallinn, and there is a daily ferry (an overnight journey) in both directions. More information is available on the website of the Port of Tallinn.

Travelling from Tallinn to Tartu

Tartu can be reached by bus or train. Buses leave directly from Tallinn airport or more frequently from the Tallinn bus station.

• From Tallinn airport to Tartu: Buses from the Lux Express Estonia AS bus company travelling from Tallinn to Tartu depart often between 7 AM and 11 PM. There is no need to print the ticket out. You can just show it from your phone. There is also no need to go to the Tallinn bus terminal because all buses stop at the airport. It is good to buy your ticket in advance because sometimes buses are full when arriving at the airport. The train stop “Ülemiste jaam” is also very near the airport. 

• From Tallinn airport to Tallinn bus terminal and the city centre: Tallinn bus terminal is situated quite close to the airport and is readily accessible by taxi or public transport. Tram No. 4 goes directly from the airport to the bus terminal and the city center. If you want to go to the bus terminal, then the right exit is “Autobussijaam”, and the city center stop is called “Hobujaama” or “Viru”. The second option is bus No. 2, which connects the airport and harbor. A ticket on Tallinn public transport costs about 2 € if you buy it from the orange validator near the door (beep your contact-free bank card). There are many different e-tickets as well. You can also ask for information about public transport tickets in the R-kiosk inside the terminal. 

From Tallinn harbor to the bus terminal: It takes a little more time to get to the bus terminal from Tallinn harbor. Tram No. 2 (towards Ülemiste) or bus No. 2 takes you to the Tallinn bus terminal (the “Autobussijaam” stop) from the port. Alternatively, it can be easily reached by taxi. A ticket on Tallinn public transport costs about 2€ if you buy it on the bus or tram. 

• From Tallinn bus terminal to Tartu: buses leave almost every 30 minutes from 7 AM until 11 PM. Tickets cost 12-15€ and can be purchased from a ticket office inside the bus station, from the bus driver, or on the internet in advance. The trip to Tartu takes 2.5 hours. Buses are comfortable, and most of them provide free WiFi. Most Estonian bus lines and timetables can be found on www.tpilet.ee/en. 

• From Tallinn to Tartu by train. Trains from Tallinn to Tartu operate about ten times a day. Express trains take about 2 hours to reach Tartu and regular trains 2 hours 20 min. The train station (Balti jaam) is just outside the Tallinn Old Town and near the harbor. It can be reached by taxi or tram No. 2 from the harbor (“Balti jaam” stop). Trains are comfortable, and you can use WiFi. Buying the ticket in advance is necessary only in first-class. You can buy the ticket also easily on the train. Tartu train station is located 1 km from the city center. 

• Private transfer by car. In case you arrive at Tallinn late at night, you have the opportunity to order a private car (starting from the airport, harbor, or wherever in Tallinn) that drives you to your needed destination in Tartu. The service is provided by Tartaline and costs about 20€ per person. If you wish to use this service, you can forward your request to the Tartline via their website or contact organizers who will gladly help you. 

Taxi services in Tartu. Please check on the Tartu city web site services phone numbers

If you want to spend the night in Tallinn, the closest hotel to the airport is the Hotel Tallinn by Mercure (former Ülemiste Hotell). There are although many other hotels and hostels in Tallinn.