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Getting There & Away in Tallinn

How do you get to Tallinn?

Getting There9.1/10Easier to reach than about 90% of cities
Main airport
Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport (TLL)

Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: airport.ee, secretflying.com

Good to know

Good to Know

  • Airport is genuinely close to city center (4 km); tram #4 is fastest and cheapest route to Old Town.
  • Helsinki ferry is extremely popular and practical; door-to-door often faster and cheaper than flying. Book in advance in summer, negotiate last-minute deals in winter.
  • Tallinn's public transport is digital-friendly; contactless bank cards work as payment. Single tap = 1-hour ticket; multiple taps within a day auto-upgrade to day pass.
  • Rail Baltica project will dramatically reduce travel times to Riga/Vilnius after 2030, but current routes are workable for daily trains.
  • Ferry terminals A and D are walking distance apart and both close to Old Town; check your ticket to confirm which terminal.
  • Night trains to Russia (St. Petersburg/Moscow) are still operating but geopolitical situation may affect schedules; confirm current status.
  • Most international coaches depart from Tallinn Bus Station, not airport; plan accordingly.
  • Schengen citizens experience faster passport control at airport (domestic gates); non-Schengen visitors still move quickly through the efficient terminal.

Day Trip Access

Helsinki Day Trip
Fast ferry option makes Helsinki ideal for day trips or overnight

Nearby Destinations By Train

  • Narva
    Highlights
    Narva Castle, medieval fortress, border town views
    Distance Km
    210
    Travel Time Hours
    2.5
  • Rakvere
    Highlights
    Rakvere Castle, giant bull sculpture, historic site
    Distance Km
    120
    Travel Time Hours
    1
  • Viljandi
    Highlights
    Viljandi Folk Festival (late July), lake, castle ruins
    Distance Km
    160
    Travel Time Hours
    2

Domestic Routes

  • Elron
    Destination
    Tartu
    Journey Time Hours
    2.5
  • Elron
    Destination
    Narva
    Journey Time Hours
    2.5
  • Elron
    Destination
    Rakvere
    Journey Time Hours
    1
  • Elron
    Destination
    Viljandi
    Journey Time Hours
    2
  • Elron
    Destination
    Valga (Latvia border)
    Journey Time Hours
    3.3

International Routes

  • Elron (to Valga) + Latvian Railways (Valga-Riga)
    Frequency
    Daily coordinated service
    Destination
    Riga, Latvia via Valga
    Sample Cost
    €20
    Journey Time Hours
    5.3
    Note
    Connect at Valga station
  • Elron
    Frequency
    Daily
    Destination
    Vilnius, Lithuania
    Note
    Part of coordinated Tallinn-Riga-Vilnius corridor as of January 2025
  • Russian Railways (Baltiski Express)
    Frequency
    Daily in summer; 3x weekly off-season
    Destination
    St. Petersburg & Moscow, Russia
    Cabin Options
    1st/2nd class 2-berth sleepers, 3rd class open-plan
    Sample Cost Moscow
    €65
    Sample Cost Stpete
    €27
    Journey Time Hours Moscow
    16
    Journey Time Hours Stpete
    8

Ferry Connections

Port Facilities
Modern, well-organized terminals with ticket offices, check-in desks, clear signage. Free Wi-Fi, cafés, restaurants, luggage storage, ATMs, shops available.

To Helsinki

Frequency
Around 10-14 daily sailings each direction
Year Round
Yes
Distance Km
80
Accessibility
Close to Old Town; 15–20 min walk or via tram
Crossing Time Minutes
120-150

Operators

  • Tallink Silja
    Ships Description
    Newer, modern eco-friendly ferries; premium option

    Ships

    • MyStar
    • Megastar
  • Viking Line
    Note
    Classic cruise ferry feel; moderate pricing
  • Eckerö Line
    Note
    Often most budget-friendly option

Sample Pricing

One Way Range
€15–€30+
One Way Budget
€15
Note
Prices vary by season (winter cheaper), day of week, and advance booking

Terminals Tallinn

  • Terminal D
    Address
    Uus-Sadama 24
    Operator
    Tallink Silja
    Distance Old Town Walk Minutes
    15
  • Terminal A
    Address
    Sadama 25
    Operator
    Eckerö Line, Viking Line
    Distance Old Town Walk Minutes
    5

To Stockholm

Vessel
Overnight ferry (m/v Baltic Queen by Tallink)
Arrival
Värtahamnen, 10:30 next morning
Frequency
Every second day (18:00 departure)
Cabin Options
E-category inside (budget) to A-category outside with sea view
Crossing Time Hours
16

Public Transport Local

Modes
Bus, tram, trolleybus, local train (Elron commuter lines)
Operating Hours
Approximately 05:00–24:00 daily; night buses Fri–Sat 00:30–03:30
Payment Options
Contactless card tap (generates 1-hour ticket), QR ticket app, Ühiskaart reloadable card, cash (ticket machines only)

Tickets

  • Single 1-hour Ticket
    Cost
    €2.00
  • 1-day Ticket
    Cost
    €5.50
  • 3-day Ticket
    Cost
    €9.00
  • 30-day Ticket
    Cost
    €30

Airport Ground Transport

To Bus Station

How to get there
Tram or taxi
Distance Km
2.4
Description
Tallinn Coach Station is 2.4 km from airport

To City Center

  • Tram #4
    Cost
    €2.00
    Duration Minutes
    15
    Description
    Unbeatable for value and convenience to Old Town
  • Taxi/Bolt
    Duration Minutes
    15
    Description
    Fastest door-to-door option
  • Bus #2, #13, #15
    Duration Minutes
    20
    Description
    Direct public bus connections to city center

Airport

Name
Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport (TLL)
Key Facts
One of Europe's closest major airports to a city center. Compact, efficient terminal with fast processing.
Schengen Info
Estonia is part of Schengen Area. Flights from Schengen countries use domestic gates; non-Schengen flights (UK, Middle East) require passport control upon arrival.
Airlines Count
19
Distance From Center Km
4
Direct Destinations Count
52
Distance From Center Miles
2.5

Major Airlines

  • Air Baltic
  • Ryanair
  • Wizz Air

Car Rental

Available at airport; not all intercity buses stop at airport

Intercity Bus

Address
Lastekodu 46, 10144 Tallinn
Main Station
Tallinn Bus Station (Tallinna Bussijaam)
Daily Departures
12 national + 47 international routes
Domestic Operators
Lux Express, Ecolines, regional carriers
Distance From Center Km
1.6
Long Distance From Airport
Some coaches stop at airport en route; not all—confirm when booking

International Destinations

  • Poland (Warsaw, Kraków, Poznań)
  • Lithuania (Vilnius, Kaunas, Panevėžys)
  • Latvia (Riga)
  • Finland (Helsinki)

Location

Between Old Town and Kalamaja neighborhood, next to Telliskivi Creative City

Future Rail

Rail Baltica high-speed project targeting 2030 completion; will cut travel times significantly on Baltic corridor

Main Station

Balti Jaam (Baltic Station)

AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

Sources cited for this category

These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

  1. 1.airport.ee
  2. 2.secretflying.com
  3. 3.aviationweek.com
  4. 4.flightconnections.com
  5. 5.en.wikipedia.org
  6. 6.visitestonia.com
  7. 7.rail.cc
  8. 8.cinea.ec.europa.eu
  9. 9.seat61.com
  10. 10.eurail.com
  11. 11.interrail.com
  12. 12.tallink.com
  13. 13.directferries.com
  14. 14.bookishwayfarer.com
  15. 15.ferryhopper.com
  16. 16.herfinland.com
  17. 17.helsinki-tallinn.com
  18. 18.eckeroline.com
  19. 19.ferryhopper.com
  20. 20.travellingjezebel.com
  21. 21.guidetohelsinki.com
  22. 22.visittallinn.ee
  23. 23.en.wikipedia.org
  24. 24.airport.ee
  25. 25.flixbus.co.uk
  26. 26.omio.com
  27. 27.getbybus.com
  28. 28.tradingeconomics.com

More About Tallinn

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.