Tallinn Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Trams 1 and 3 go to the Kadriorg stop right by Kadriorg Park. Buses 1, 8, 34 and 38 all run between the city centre and Pirita, stopping on Narva maantee near Kadriorg Park, and at Maarjamäe. Buses 34 and 38 go to the Botanical Gardens (Kloostrimetsa stop) and the TV Tower (Motoklubi stop).

Land

Bus

Buses to places within 40km or so of Tallinn depart from the platform next to the Central Train Station(Balti Jaam). You can get information and timetables from Harjumaa Liinid (641 8218).

For detailed bus information and advance tickets for all other destinations, go to the Central Bus Station (Autobussijaam; 680 0900; www.bussireisid.ee; Lastekodu tänav 46), about 2km southeast of Old Town. Tram 2 or 4 will take you there.

Here's the low-down on daily services from Tallinn to other Estonian cities.

Haapsalu 65Kr to 80Kr, 1½ hours, more than 20 buses.

Kärdla 140Kr to 160Kr, 4½ hours, three to five buses.

Kuressaare 170Kr to 195Kr, 4½ hours, eight to 10 buses.

Narva 85Kr to 110Kr, four hours, 15 buses.

Pärnu 80Kr to 115Kr, two hours, more than 20 buses.

Tartu 80Kr to 110Kr, 2½ to 3½ hours, about 30 buses.

Võru 85Kr to 110Kr, 3½ to 4½ hours, eight to 10 buses.

Car & motorcycle

There are 24-hour fuel stations in the city and on major roads leading to and from Tallinn. The Pärnu maantee Neste (petrol station) has a car-repair service.

Car hire in Tallinn is pricey, around 1000Kr a day. You can hire cars in Tartu or Pärnu instead and save a bundle. The tourist offices in both of those cities have extensive lists of rental agencies.

If you prefer to rent in Tallinn, try one of the following:

Avis (www.avis.ee) Liivalaia tänav (667 1515; Liivalaia tänav 13/15); Tallinn Airport (605 8222; Tallinn Airport)

BudgetTallinn Airport (605 8600; www.budget.ee; Tallinn Airport)

Hertz Tallinn Airport (605 8923; www.hertz.ee; Tallinn Airport)

R-Rent Tihase (605 8929; www.rrent.ee; Tihase 34) From 500Kr daily.

SixtTallinn Airport (605 8148; www.sixt.ee; Tallinn Airport)

Tulika Rent Tihase (612 0012; www.tulika.ee; Tihase 34) From 600Kr daily.

Train

The Central Train Station (Balti Jaam; 615 6851; www.edel.ee; Toompuiestee 35) is on the northwestern edge of Old Town, a short walk from Raekoja plats, or three stops on tram 1 or 2, north from the tram stop at the southern end of Mere puiestee.

The Central Train Station has three ticket areas: the main hall, for travel around Estonia; upstairs, for international tickets; and the separate elektriraudtee ticket office, next to the train platforms (and just to the right of the R-kiosk) for elektrirong (electric trains) within the Tallinn area.

Most Estonians think train travel is antiquated and old-fashioned, hence domestic routes are pretty limited. Here are some places you can still reach by train:

Narva75Kr, 3½ hours, one daily.

Paldiski 16Kr, 1¼ hours, 10 daily.

Pärnu50Kr, three hours, two daily.

Tartu80Kr, 2½ hours, four daily.

Valga115Kr, 5½ hours, one daily.

Viljandi65Kr, three hours, two daily.

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Boat

Tallinn's sea-passenger terminalis at the end of Sadama, about 1km northeast of Old Town. Trams 1 and 2 and buses 3, 4 and 8 go to the Linnahall stop, by the Statoil Petrol Station, five minutes' walk from terminals A, B and C. Terminal D is at the end of Lootsi tänav, although there is better access from Ahtri tänav. A taxi between the centre and any of the terminals will cost about 45Kr.

For yachting information, yacht hire and activities contact the Tallinn Olympic Yachting Centre.

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Air

For information on international flights (including helicopters to Helsinki). Tallinn Airport (605 8888; www.tallinn -airport.ee) is 3km southeast of Old Town on Tartu maantee.

Estonia has limited domestic routes. Avies Air (605 8022; www.avies.ee) flies from Tallinn to Kuressaare on Saaremaa (45 minutes) once or twice daily from Sunday to Friday. It also flies once or twice daily to Kärdla on Hiiumaa (30 minutes).

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