Travel information
Pirita promenade. Photo by Kadi-Liis Kalda 2016, visittallinn.ee
How to get to Tallinn?
Overall, there is good air connection between Estonia and other European countries. The only international airport in Estonia is called the Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport (TLL) and it is located in our capital city of Tallinn. The airport is modern and convenient, offering a warm welcome to all visitors. Thanks to this, the Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport was named one of the best small airports in Europe in 2018. For further information on the airport, please visit their website.
As Estonia is located by the Baltic sea, it is also possible to reach Tallinn by ferry from Helsinki and Stockholm. The Old City Harbour is situated right in the city centre, not too far from Tallinn University. In the Springtime, it is especially enjoyable to take a stroll around the shore. For further information, please see their website, under the category of Old City Harbour.
Another option to reach Tallinn is to take a bus from the Riga airport in the capital city of Latvia, which is located around 350 km to the South of Tallinn. The bus travel from Riga to Tallinn takes around 5.5 hours via bus. The Lux Express bus is equipped with free Wi-Fi and power outlets by every seat to help you stay connected on the road and individual multimedia screens to make the trip more enjoyable. If you wish to travel by bus, please visit the Lux Express website to buy tickets.
On the whole, domestic travel between major Estonian cities is quick and easy via a highway or railway system as most major cities are connected by buses or trains. For more information and ticket prices, please see the bus transportation website called T-pilet or Elron for the information on the national railway system.
How to get to Tallinn City Centre?
From the Tallinn Airport
If you’re opting for air travel, then you’ll be satisfied to learn how quick and comfortable it is to get to the city centre from the airport. The easiest, most sustainable, and cheapest way to get to the city centre is via public transportation.
The airport is well-connected and trams depart from the airport around every 10 minutes. You can take tram number 4 to Hobujaama station. From there, you can either walk to the University (ca 7 minutes) or change to trams number 1 or 3, with a direction to Kadriorg. Trams number 1 and 3 will stop directly by Tallinn University. The public transportation timetable is available here.
The airport’s bus stop is located in front of the terminal of arrivals. Bus No. 2 travels on the route Mõigu-Passenger Port. In the city centre, the bus stops next to Viru Keskus at A. Laikmaa Street. From the airport to the city, find a schedule named ''Moigu-Reisisadam'' where the bus stop ''Lennujaam'' means the Airport. See the webpage for more details and ticket prices.
If you wish to travel in privacy, there is an Airport Shuttle service available at Tallinn Airport. The shuttle service is fast and convenient to those who are used to travelling solo.
Lastly, you can also take a taxi. For your convenience, there are taxis available in front of the Airport building. Since Tallinn Airport is fairly small, you will easily see the taxis waiting in front of the arrivals gate. The cost of a taxi ride to Tallinn University should be approximately 15 EUR. If you’re used to taxi apps, you may also check Bolt or Uber, both of which operate in Estonia and are popular amongst visitors and locals alike.
From the Port of Tallinn
Your route to Tallinn University from the Port of Tallinn depends on which terminal you arrive at: if you arrive at Terminal D, you can simply walk to the university. From other terminals, you should take a taxi. You can find taxis in front of the harbour building (and if you can’t find one, please turn to the information desk). The taxi drive to Tallinn University should cost approximately 7 EUR. If you’re used to taxi apps, you may also check Bolt or Uber, both of which operate in Estonia and are popular amongst visitors and locals alike.
To familiarize yourself with the Port of Tallinn and its terminals, please see their website for detailed maps and information.
Public transportation in Tallinn
Public transportation in Tallinn is by buses, trams, and trolley buses. See the webpage for more details, prices, and guidelines on how to buy a single-use or long-term ticket. The public transportation timetable is available HERE and it is updated in real time.
Taxi
The cost of a taxi ride is approximately 0,5 EUR /per kilometre + starting fare 3,5 EUR. Most of the taxis will accept payments by card, but it’s recommended to ask before sitting in. In order to ensure that you’ll be able to catch a ride, make sure that you have enough change money in advance. For instance, you can do it at the currency exchange points both at the airport and the harbour.
If you’re comfortable with using taxi apps, we recommend opting for either Bolt or Uber, both of which are affordable and convenient to use. Moreover, did you know that Bolt is a taxi service app that was originally born in Estonia and has now grown to become an international company that offers its services in various countries all over Europe!
If you wish to have other options, it is possible to order a taxi via phone call:
Tallink takso, phone +372 640 8921 (card payments accepted)
Forus takso, phone +372 612 0000 (card payments accepted)
The taxi fares may slightly vary depending on the traffic and company
Electric scooters
As Estonia is a fast-developing country both in terms of digitalisation and sustainability, electric scoorts have become a popular way of getting from point A to point B among young people. Electric scooters are a great alternative to car rides as they use significantly less energy than their four-wheeled counterparts. Moreover, taking advantage of the public-use scooters gives you a wonderful opportunity to truly enjoy the city and its atmosphere.
In Estonia, there are two popular companies that offer electric scooters that are available for public use. Firstly, taxi app Bolt is also known for their high-end electric scooters that are fast and comfortable. Their scooters can be found anywhere all over Tallinn. Their service is easy to use via Bolt app that allows users to lock and unlock different scooters. On average, the fee is 0.20€/per minute.
Secondly, another popular app is called Tuul. Tuul is an e-scooter sharing app that’s mostly known for being one of the greenest and most sustainable scooters in the world. Tuul is also an Estonian company. Likewise to Bolt, their scooters are available to ride via downloading the Tuul app. On average, the fee is 0.20€/per minute.