Getting to Tallinn: flights, ferries, and buses explained

Getting to Tallinn: the overview

Tallinn is increasingly well-connected for a city of its size (pop. ~440,000). Most visitors arrive by air — the airport is small, efficient, and 4 km from the Old Town. From the Nordic countries, the Helsinki–Tallinn ferry is one of the most popular routes in the Baltic, running multiple times daily in under two hours. Overland options from Riga, Vilnius, and St Petersburg also exist for those building a Baltic tour.

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By air: Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport

Tallinn Airport (IATA: TLL) is compact and easy to navigate. Arrivals, car hire, the tram stop, and the taxi rank are all within a two-minute walk of each other. The journey from landing to Old Town accommodation can take as little as 25–30 minutes.

Airlines serving Tallinn (2026):

• Ryanair: London Stansted, Dublin, Brussels Charleroi, Krakow, Barcelona Girona, and several others.
• Wizz Air: Multiple UK and European cities, particularly Eastern Europe.
• airBaltic: Extensive European network via Riga hub; good for connecting destinations.
• SAS: Copenhagen, Stockholm; useful for Scandinavian connections.
• Finnair: Helsinki (short flight, though the ferry is often more practical for Helsinki itself).
• LOT Polish Airlines: Warsaw, connecting to many destinations.
• Eurowings: Various German cities.

Prices: Low-cost carrier fares from major European cities can be under €40 one-way booked in advance. Typically €50–100 one-way from UK, €30–60 from Central Europe. Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Copenhagen offer frequent connections for those routing through hubs.

Getting from the airport to the city: See the dedicated Tallinn airport to city centre guide for tram, Bolt, and taxi options.

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By ferry from Helsinki

The Tallinn–Helsinki route is one of the busiest maritime routes in the world. Three main operators run multiple daily crossings:

Tallink Silja (Megastar and MyStar ferries): Large, modern vessels with onboard restaurants, shops, and entertainment. Journey time approximately 2 hours. Departs from Tallinn’s D-terminal (Old City Harbour); arrives at Helsinki South Harbour.

Viking Line: Comfortable medium-sized ferries, slightly longer journey (around 2.5 hours on some sailings). Also from D-terminal to Helsinki.

Eckerö Line: The budget option, typically running one or two sailings per day. Comfortable but simpler; slightly longer crossing (2.5 hours). Often the cheapest option when booked in advance.

Prices: Return tickets booked 2–4 weeks ahead typically cost €25–50 per person for economy class. Peak summer and holiday periods are more expensive. Business/premium cabin options run €60–100+ for the crossing.

Booking: Book direct on the operator websites or via comparison sites. Buying on the day at the port is possible but may be more expensive and doesn’t guarantee a seat on your preferred sailing.

Book a return ferry day trip between Tallinn and Helsinki.

From the ferry terminal to Old Town: The D-terminal is about 1.5 km from the Old Town gates. Bolt takes 5–7 minutes (€4–5). Walking takes about 20 minutes and is a pleasant waterfront route. See Helsinki to Tallinn ferry guide for the complete picture.

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By bus from Riga

Bus is the standard overland route from Riga to Tallinn. Two main operators:

Lux Express: The premium option. Modern coaches with WiFi, power sockets, and comfortable reclining seats. Snacks and drinks available. Journey time: approximately 4–4.5 hours. Prices from €12–25 one-way, booked in advance. Departs from Riga International Bus Station; arrives at Tallinn bus station (Tallinn bussijaam), a 10-minute Bolt ride from the Old Town.

Tpilet (aggregator): Books seats on various operators including FlixBus. Prices are occasionally lower than Lux Express for the same route.

Journey overview: The route passes through Pärnu and the Estonian coastal road — scenic in summer. Total distance approximately 310 km. No border checks (both Latvia and Estonia are in Schengen).

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By bus from Vilnius

Vilnius to Tallinn is a longer haul — approximately 8–9 hours depending on stops and operator. Lux Express again is the main operator, often with a change in Riga. Some through-services run, especially in summer. Prices from €20–40 for advance bookings. For most travellers doing a Baltic loop, breaking this into two days (Vilnius to Riga overnight, Riga to Tallinn the next morning) is more comfortable.

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By car from Riga

The drive from Riga to Tallinn on the Via Baltica (E67) takes approximately 4–5 hours, depending on the route taken and border wait times (none — both countries are Schengen). The road is mostly dual carriageway or fast single-carriageway and is in good condition.

Renting a car in Tallinn and driving to wider Estonia is straightforward — see renting a car in Estonia for practical details. Note that driving into the Old Town is restricted; most visitors park at the edge of the walled area and walk in.

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By train from Russia

The historic train connection between St Petersburg and Tallinn was suspended as of early 2024 and is currently not operating due to the geopolitical situation in the region. Rail remains an option within Estonia itself (Tallinn–Tartu line), but not for international arrivals from the east.

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By sea from Stockholm

Tallink operates a cruise ferry between Tallinn and Stockholm — an overnight sailing that takes approximately 18 hours. This is popular for those combining Estonia with Sweden, or as a ferry holiday in itself. See Tallinn to Stockholm ferry guide.

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Which route should you use?

You are in…	Best option	Journey time	Approximate cost
UK	Fly (Ryanair or Wizz)	3–4 hours	€40–100 return
Germany/Austria	Fly or fly via Riga/Helsinki	3–4 hours	€60–130 return
Nordic countries	Ferry from Helsinki	2 hours	€30–60 return
Latvia/Riga	Bus	4–4.5 hours	€12–25 one-way
Lithuania/Vilnius	Bus (via Riga) or fly	8–9 h bus / 2 h fly	Bus: €20–40; fly: €40–80
Sweden/Stockholm	Overnight ferry or fly	18 h ferry / 2 h fly	Ferry from €60; fly: €50–100

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Practical tips for arriving in Tallinn

• Download Bolt before you land: Estonia’s ride-hailing app is far cheaper than unmetered taxis at the airport or port. Metered taxis can charge €20–25 for the airport–Old Town run; Bolt typically costs €5–8.
• Tram 4 from the airport: The cheapest and most reliable airport-to-centre option (€1.50, contactless card, ~15 minutes). The tram stop is directly in front of the arrivals hall.
• D-terminal for Helsinki ferry: The ferry terminal is not at the airport — it is at the Old City Harbour in Tallinn, about 1.5 km west of the Old Town.
• Book summer ferries early: The Helsinki–Tallinn route fills on summer weekends. Book at least a week ahead in July–August; book the specific sailing you want as sailings can sell out.
• Check visa requirements: See do you need a visa for Estonia.

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Tallinn in the context of a wider Baltic or Nordic trip

One of Tallinn’s most compelling characteristics is its position as a hub for multi-city Baltic travel. Understanding the connections helps you plan whether Tallinn is a standalone destination or part of a broader trip.

Tallinn–Helsinki axis: This is the most natural pairing in Northern Europe. Tallinn and Helsinki are 80 km apart across the Gulf of Finland, connected by ferries that run every hour or two throughout the day. The two cities are genuinely different: Helsinki is a Nordic design capital with broad boulevards and a different cultural character; Tallinn is Central-Eastern European in its medieval DNA. Together they complement each other perfectly. Many travellers do both in a 5–7 day trip, using the ferry as the transport link.

Tallinn–Riga–Vilnius: The classic Baltic circuit. Bus travel between the three capitals: Tallinn to Riga is 4.5 hours, Riga to Vilnius is 4 hours. The route can be done in either direction and in any combination. Lux Express is the reliable service for the full circuit; several direct services exist. Allow at least two nights in each city for a meaningful visit. See Baltic capitals 7-day itinerary.

Tallinn–Stockholm: The overnight Tallink ferry (approximately 18 hours) opens the possibility of a Scandinavia–Baltics trip using sea routes rather than flights. Arrive in Stockholm in the morning, sleep on the ship, wake up in Tallinn (or vice versa). See Tallinn to Stockholm ferry guide.

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Travelling between Tallinn and the Estonian countryside

Once in Tallinn, getting to the wider country is easy:

Buses: The Tallinn bus station (Tallinn bussijaam, on Lastekodu tänav in Kesklinn) serves all major Estonian destinations. Lux Express is the premium operator with comfortable modern coaches, WiFi, and power sockets. Tpilet.ee is the main booking aggregator for all operators. Key journey times:

• Tallinn to Tartu: 2.5 hours, departures every 30–60 minutes, €12–18 advance
• Tallinn to Pärnu: 2 hours, frequent service, €10–15 advance
• Tallinn to Narva: 3 hours, regular service, €8–14 advance

Train: The Tallinn–Tartu rail line runs several times daily. Journey time approximately 2.5 hours. Less frequent than bus but comfortable. The Elron (Estonia’s national rail operator) app makes booking easy.

Rental car: For Lahemaa, Saaremaa, and the more rural areas, a rental car is the most flexible option. All major rental companies (Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, local operators) operate at the airport and city centre. See renting a car in Estonia guide.

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Airport connectivity: which airlines and how often

Tallinn Airport’s route map has expanded significantly in recent years. As of 2026, direct connections exist from:

• UK: London Stansted (Ryanair, multiple weekly), Manchester (occasionally seasonal)
• Germany: Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg (mix of Lufthansa, Eurowings, Ryanair)
• France: Paris CDG (Air France codeshare via Helsinki or Frankfurt; Transavia direct seasonally)
• Netherlands: Amsterdam (KLM via Helsinki; Transavia seasonal direct)
• Italy: Rome, Milan (Ryanair, seasonal)
• Spain: Barcelona, Madrid (Ryanair from various Iberian airports)
• Finland: Helsinki (Finnair, multiple daily — though ferry is usually better value)
• Latvia: Riga (airBaltic, multiple daily — though bus is usually better value)
• Poland: Warsaw, Krakow (LOT, Ryanair)
• Ukraine, Georgia, Israel: Various carriers for diaspora and leisure routes

For destinations without direct service, Helsinki and Riga both function as excellent connecting hubs. The 2-hour Tallinn–Helsinki ferry frequently works out faster door-to-door than routing via Helsinki airport for travellers already in Helsinki.

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Arriving by cruise ship

Tallinn is a major port of call on Baltic cruise itineraries, particularly routes that include Helsinki, Stockholm, Riga, St Petersburg, Copenhagen, and Gdańsk. The Tallinn cruise port is at the Old City Harbour, approximately 1.5 km from the Old Town walls — a flat, walkable distance.

For cruise passengers with 4–6 hours in port, see our dedicated Tallinn cruise port guide and Tallinn shore excursions guide.