|
Getting Around By Air
Domestic air travel is expensive. Airest (www.airest.ee) runs domestic charter flights. Avies (www.avies.ee) operates flights between Tallinn and Kärdla on the island of Hiiumaa and between Pärnu and the small island of Kihnu.
Getting Around by Water
Frequent ferry services connect the mainland with the larger islands, and boats operate on Lake Peipsi and the Emajõgi River.
Getting Around by Rail
Domestic trains run by Edelarautee (tel: (3) 857 123 or 848 301; www.edel.ee) link Tallinn with many Estonian towns, including Pärnu, Viljandi, Valga, Narva, Tapa and Tartu. There are suburban electric trains to the Tallinn suburbs (tel: (6) 737 400; www.elektriraudtee.ee).
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right. Estonia has a high density of roads although there are few major highways. Signs are not always illuminated and fairly small, so driving at night can be tricky if you do not know the route. Car hire is simple and well catered for, with all the international operators and plenty of local companies offering rental.
Bus: There is a wide network covering most of the country, including express services. GoBus (tel: (6) 310 000; www.gobus.ee) provides affordable and reliable public transportation service in cities, counties, as well as charter transportation. Buses are still the most important means of transport. The buses to and from Tallinn are generally quite fast and there are more of them compared to the other cities. For city bus routes tickets bought from the driver are more expensive than if bought at a news stand. Travellers can also buy a 10-ticket package or anything from a one-hour to a three-day ticket. City buses tend to be overcrowded. Tickets for minivans (marshrutka) have to be paid for on board. Buses, trolleys and trams generally run between 0530-0030. Taxi: Private taxis must display the name of the company and their number on the roof. Fares should be agreed upon beforehand. Taxis are best ordered from hotels, rather than in the street. Regulations: The minimum driving age is 18, and EU licenses are valid for foreign drivers. Speed limits are well marked, and range from 30-50kmph in towns to 90-110kmph on main intercity roads. Wearing a seatbelt is compulsory. The national breakdown number is 112. Blood alcohol level must be 0%. Car headlights must be used 24 hours a day. Documentation: Drivers must have the original V5 C (Vehicle Registration Document) as well as insurance documents covering them for Estonia if driving into the country. Getting Around Towns and Cities
Taxis in Tallinn are inexpensive. All parts of the city are served by bus, trolleybus and tram. Tickets can be bought at stalls in the main shopping areas.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Tallin to other major cities and towns in Estonia.
|
