Tallinn currency and money tips: the practical guide

Estonia and the euro

Estonia joined the eurozone on 1 January 2011, replacing the Estonian kroon. If you are coming from another EU country with euros in your wallet, you can use them directly. No currency exchange required at any point in your trip.

If you are arriving from the UK, US, Canada, Australia, or any non-euro country, you will need euros. The good news: you almost certainly will not need much cash at all.

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Card payments: Estonia’s cashless reality

Estonia is one of the most cashless societies in the world — a practical result of the country’s push toward digital infrastructure that began in the 1990s. In 2026, card payments (and particularly contactless payments) are the default in the vast majority of situations:

• Restaurants and cafés: Virtually all accept cards, including the smallest neighbourhood café.
• Supermarkets: Cards always accepted.
• Public transport: Trams and buses accept contactless bank cards directly on the validator — tap and go. No need for a transit card or cash.
• Taxis and Bolt: All payment is in-app for Bolt; metered taxis also accept cards.
• Markets: Balti Jaam market stallholders increasingly accept cards; some still cash-only.
• Museum entry: Cards accepted.
• Street food and kiosks: Mostly card-friendly, though some street vendors are cash-only.

The practical upshot: for most visitors, carrying €20–30 in cash is sufficient for the entire trip. This covers occasional street food vendors, small-market purchases, or tip situations where you want to give coins.

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ATMs

ATMs are readily available throughout Tallinn — in the Old Town, in shopping centres (Viru Centrum, Ülemiste City), at the airport, and near the ferry terminal.

Best practice:

• Use ATMs attached to banks (Swedbank, SEB, LHV are the main Estonian banks) rather than standalone machines in tourist areas.
• Choose to pay in the local currency (euros) rather than your home currency if given the option — your own bank’s conversion rate is almost always better.
• Check your home bank’s foreign ATM withdrawal fees before you travel. Some banks charge per withdrawal; using one larger withdrawal instead of several small ones can reduce fees.

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Currency exchange: avoid it

There is no reason to use a currency exchange kiosk if you are arriving from the eurozone. If arriving from a non-euro country, convert your money via your bank before you travel or withdraw euros from an ATM on arrival — not from a kiosk.

Currency exchange kiosks in tourist areas, including some in the Old Town, advertise “0% commission.” This is accurate but misleading: the kiosks take their profit in the spread between the buying and selling rate they offer. You will consistently get a worse overall rate than an ATM connected to a reputable bank. The “0% commission” sign is a sales tactic.

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Tipping culture in Tallinn

Estonia does not have the strong tipping culture of the US, but tipping at restaurants is appreciated and has become more expected as the service industry has developed:

• Sit-down restaurants: 10% is a standard and appreciated tip. Rounding up the bill is common. Some venues add a service charge automatically — check the receipt.
• Cafés: No expectation of a tip for counter service. If there is a tip jar, a coin is appreciated but not required.
• Taxi and Bolt: Rounding up is common; no obligation for a specific percentage.
• Tours and guides: Tipping guides on private or small-group tours is appreciated. €5–10 per person for a half-day tour is appropriate; more for longer or exceptional service.
• Hotels: Tipping hotel staff (housekeeping, bellhop) is not a strong convention but is appreciated if you want to acknowledge good service. €1–2 per bag carried is standard.
• “Free” walking tours: These operate on a tip-based model and expect €10–15 per person. The word “free” refers to there being no fixed price, not to there being no payment expected.

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Budget planning with euros

For daily budget estimates, see Tallinn trip cost breakdown. Brief summary:

• Budget traveller: €45–60/day
• Mid-range: €100–140/day
• Upscale: €200+/day

These are all-in estimates including accommodation, food, transport, and activities. For more on getting value, see Tallinn on a budget.

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Practical money checklist before you go

• Notify your bank that you will be using your card abroad (some banks flag international transactions as suspicious)
• Add your card to Bolt (ride-hailing app) before landing
• Check your bank’s ATM withdrawal fee structure
• Carry €20–30 in cash for small purchases and market stalls
• Do not use currency exchange kiosks in the Old Town
• Add a backup payment method (second card or Apple/Google Pay on your phone)

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Digital payments

Estonia being a digital pioneer means newer payment methods work well:

• Apple Pay and Google Pay: Widely accepted wherever contactless is accepted — which is nearly everywhere.
• Revolut and Wise: Both work seamlessly in Estonia. For non-euro travellers, using Revolut to hold euros and spend directly via card or phone is an excellent option with better rates than most traditional banks.

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What to do if your card is lost or stolen

• Contact your bank immediately via their emergency number (have this saved before you travel).
• Estonian police non-emergency line: 612 3000 (for reporting theft for insurance purposes).
• Emergency line: 112.
• Most Estonian banks can issue an emergency card within 1–2 business days if you are with a major international bank.

For overall safety guidance, see is Tallinn safe. For an introduction to Estonian digital infrastructure and e-society, see our Kalamaja and Telliskivi destination guide which touches on the city’s tech culture, or the estonian language phrases guide for a broader cultural orientation.

If you plan to visit several museums, the Tallinn Card (which you can also buy digitally) saves money and reduces the need for cash at attraction entrances.

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Spending money wisely in Tallinn

The price gap between tourist areas and local areas

The most important money insight for Tallinn: there is a significant price gap between tourist-zone Tallinn (the restaurants facing Raekoja plats and the main Old Town tourist lanes) and everywhere else.

A concrete example: a bowl of elk soup near the square costs €14–18. The same dish at a Kalamaja restaurant costs €9–11. A beer at a bar on Raekoja plats costs €5.50–7.50. At a craft-beer bar in Telliskivi, it costs €4–6. Over three days of meals and drinks, this gap compounds into a material difference in what your euros buy.

The solution is not to avoid the Old Town — it is beautiful and should be explored — but to eat and drink in Kalamaja, Rotermann, or the back streets of the Old Town rather than on the square itself.

Bank cards abroad: the fee question

Different home banks have very different policies on international card use. If you are from outside the eurozone:

• Revolut or Wise: Both offer excellent rates for spending in euros. The interbank exchange rate with no hidden spread is the best possible rate. Using Revolut or Wise as your primary spending card in Estonia is often the most cost-effective approach for UK, US, Australian, and Canadian visitors.
• Traditional banks: Often charge 1.5–3% foreign transaction fee on purchases and a flat fee per ATM withdrawal. Read your account terms before you travel.
• Credit cards with travel benefits: Some premium credit cards (Chase Sapphire, Amex Platinum, etc.) offer zero foreign transaction fees. Worth using if you have one.

Avoiding bad exchange rates

If you must convert currency at a physical exchange point (for example, you arrive with sterling or US dollars), use an airport or bank exchange rather than the kiosks in the Old Town tourist streets. The “0% commission” kiosks on the main tourist drag typically offer exchange rates that incorporate a 3–6% hidden spread. Estonian banks (Swedbank, SEB) will give a better rate.

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Budgeting for specific trip durations

3-night weekend break (couple):

• Mid-range hotel (3 nights): €210–330 for the room
• Food and drink (3 days × 2 people): €200–280
• Activities and transport: €100–150
• Airport transport (both ways, 2 people): €5–20 (tram) or €20–30 (Bolt)
• Weekend total for two: €515–780

5-day trip (solo, mid-range):

• Hotel (5 nights): €350–500
• Food and drink: €175–250
• Activities: €100–130
• Transport: €30–50
• Day trip to Lahemaa: €65–75
• 5-day total: €720–1,005

These figures use mid-range assumptions. See Tallinn trip cost breakdown for the full three-budget-level breakdown, or use the Tallinn budget calculator tool for a personalised estimate.

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Money tips for specific activities

Tipping at guided tours: For a 2-hour Old Town walking tour, a tip of €5–10 per person is appropriate if the guide was good. For full-day tours (Lahemaa, Helsinki), €10–15 per person is the norm. “Free” tours operate entirely on tips — give €10–15 per person.

Splitting bills in restaurants: Splitting bills is easy and accepted in Tallinn restaurants. Most places have card terminals that can process multiple cards separately if asked, or can charge to individual cards for individual amounts.

Markets (cash vs card): The Balti Jaam market is increasingly card-friendly but some individual stalls are still cash-only. Carrying €20–30 in cash ensures you can buy from any vendor without drama.

Museum tickets with Tallinn Card: If you are using the Tallinn Card, show your card at museum entrances before they charge you. Some venues have a standard till process that will charge the card if you do not specifically show your Tallinn Card first.

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Long-stay and digital nomad finances in Tallinn

Tallinn is popular with remote workers and digital nomads. A few money notes for longer stays:

• Monthly apartment rental: Typically €700–1,200 for a furnished studio or one-bedroom in Kalamaja or Kesklinn.
• Estonian banking: Non-residents can open a Wise or Revolut account for day-to-day banking. Opening an Estonian bank account as a non-resident tourist is not straightforward (requires residence permit or e-residency for most banks).
• VAT refunds: Non-EU visitors are entitled to VAT refunds on purchases over a minimum threshold. Look for “Tax Free” stickers in shops; the Global Blue or Planet processes are available at Tallinn Airport. The 20% Estonian VAT rate makes this worthwhile on larger purchases.

For everything else about planning a Tallinn trip, see Tallinn travel guide for first-timers.