Getting around · Tallinn · Estonia
Getting around Tallinn
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Olga Itenberg, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
The Old Town is entirely walkable and largely car-free, and Kalamaja, Telliskivi and the Rotermann Quarter are within 10–15 minutes on foot. Trams and buses cover Kadriorg, Pirita, the airport and the Open Air Museum. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- TLL
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Tallinn Card
Ways to get around
Walking
Most sights in the Old Town, Toompea, Kalamaja and the harbour are within a 20-minute walk, though Old Town cobbles are uneven and Toompea is steep.
Tram
Tram lines run through the centre; lines 1 and 3 serve Kadriorg and line 4 runs to the airport.
Buy tickets with a rechargeable Ühiskaart smartcard or a mobile ticket rather than paying the driver.
Bus
Buses reach Pirita, the TV Tower and the Open Air Museum at Rocca al Mare, mostly from stops around Viru Keskus and the Baltic Station.
Ride-hailing
Ride-hailing apps such as Bolt, founded in Tallinn, are widely used and show the price before you ride.
Book through an app rather than hailing unmarked taxis at the port or Old Town, where overcharging has been reported.
Cycling
A cycle path follows the sea from the centre through Kadriorg to Pirita, and app-based e-scooters and bikes are common in summer.
Ferry
Ferries to Helsinki and Stockholm leave from the Old City Harbour terminals, about 15 minutes' walk from the Old Town.
Tickets and passes
Tallinn Card
Covers public transport and entry to many of the city's museums and sights for 24, 48 or 72 hours.
Public-transport period tickets
1-hour, 1-day, 3-day and longer tickets can be loaded on the Ühiskaart card for unlimited trams and buses.
From the airport
Tallinn Airport is about 4 km from the centre. Tram line 4 runs from the terminal to the city centre in about 15–20 minutes, and taxis or ride-hailing cars take around 10–15 minutes to the Old Town.
Do you need a car?
No. The centre is compact and walkable, and trams and buses cover outer sights. A car is useful only for Lahemaa National Park and rural Estonia.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Helsinki | About 2 hours each way by ferry | Ferry from the Old City Harbour |
| Lahemaa National Park | About 1 hour by car | Car or organised tour |
| Tartu | About 2 hours by train | Train from the Baltic Station |
| Keila-Joa | About 45 minutes by bus | Regional bus or car |
| Haapsalu | About 1 hour 30 minutes by bus | Bus from Tallinn bus station |
| Pärnu | About 2 hours by bus | Bus from Tallinn bus station |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Tallinn?
No. The centre is compact and walkable, and trams and buses cover outer sights. A car is useful only for Lahemaa National Park and rural Estonia.
+How do you get from the airport to Tallinn?
Tallinn Airport is about 4 km from the centre. Tram line 4 runs from the terminal to the city centre in about 15–20 minutes, and taxis or ride-hailing cars take around 10–15 minutes to the Old Town.
+What is the best way to get around Tallinn?
Walking: Most sights in the Old Town, Toompea, Kalamaja and the harbour are within a 20-minute walk, though Old Town cobbles are uneven and Toompea is steep.