Estonia

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.

Main Airports

Tallinn (TLL) (www.tallinn-airport.ee) is located 5km (3 miles) northwest of the city. To/from the airport: Buses run between the city and the airport (journey time - 15 minutes). A shuttle bus to the main hotels and the city centre meets all flights. Taxis are also available. Facilities: Banks/bureaux de change, duty-free shops, shops, post office, restaurants, business lounges, tourist information and car hire.

Kärdla (KDL) (www.hiiumaa.ee) is located 5km (3 miles) east of the city. To/from the airport:Taxis run from central Kärdla to the airport (journey time - 20 minutes). Facilities: Banks/bureaux de change, post office, tourist information, car hire, travel agent, parking, a hotel and restaurants/bars.

Getting There by Water

Main ports: Tallinn (www.portoftallinn.com), from where ferries operate to Helsinki (Finland) (journey time – 2 hours 30 minutes, express service – 1 hour 30 minutes), Rostok (Germany) and Stockholm (Sweden) (journey time – 15 hours).

There are also services between Paldiski and Kapellskär (Sweden).

Getting There by Rail

At present there is only one international rail route to/from Estonia - a daily overnight train to/from Moscow run by GoRail (www.gorail.ee) that takes 16 hours.

Getting There by Road

There are direct routes along the Baltic coast into Latvia, Lithuania and Kaliningrad, and also east into the Russian Federation. The main border crossings with Latvia are at Valka, Ainazi and Vastse-Roose. The main border crossing with Russia is at Narva.

Bus: Long-distance services run regularly to Riga, Vilnius, Kaliningrad and St Petersburg. There are numerous excellent road links with all neighbouring countries. Eurolines (tel: 08705 808 080, in the UK; www.eurolines.com) runs regular coach services from the UK and other EU countries to Estonia. Passes: There are passes available that combine stops in other European cities.

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Generally temperate, but slightly cool and damp. Summer is warm, while spring and autumn can be mild. Winter, which lasts from November to mid March, can be very cold. Rainfall is distributed throughout the year with the heaviest rainfall in August. Heavy snowfalls are common in the winter months.

Required Clothing

Cooler clothes are worn during the summer months. Warm clothes are needed during winter. Rainwear is advisable all year.

Hotels

Foreign investment in the 1990s helped to bring Estonia's accommodation options to international standards, and now the range of hotels available in Tallinn is extraordinary. Outside Tallinn, Estonia enjoys an adequate range of acceptable accommodation, left over from the pre-independence days or built by Estonian entrepreneurs, including large hotels and smaller pension-type establishments.

Camping/Caravanning

There are over 300 campsites in Estonia. Many campsites are open throughout the year. See www.tourism.ee for a comprehensive list.

Rural/Farmstay Accommodation

The Estonian Rural Tourism Organisation (see Accommodation Information below) provides accommodation in the countryside across Estonia, including farm-stays, bed & breakfasts, holiday villages and camps.

Youth Hostels

There are 19 YHA hostels throughout Estonia, which also include apartments and farm-stays (see Accommodation Information below).

Self Catering

Villas, apartments, cottages and houses are available in Tallinn. Prices vary according to specification.

Accommodation Information

Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association

Kiriku 6, 10130, Tallinn, Estonia

Tel: (6) 411 428.

Website: www.ehrl.ee

Estonian Rural Tourism Organisation

Vilmsi 53b, 10147 Tallinn, Estonia

Tel: (6) 009 999.

Website: www.maaturism.ee

Estonian Youth Hostels Association

Narva mnt. 16-25, 10120 Tallinn, Estonia

Tel: (6) 461 455.

Website: www.balticbookings.com/eyha

Passport Note

Estonia joined the Schengen Agreement on 21 December 2007 for overland entry points and seaports, and on 29 March 2008 for airports.

Passports

Valid passport required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:

1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.

Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to three months within a six-month period; nationals will need to have evidence of sufficient health and travel insurance (to a minimum value of Kr400,000) and sufficient funds (at least Kr432 per day) for the duration of stay.

Visa Note

For longer stays nationals will need to apply for a residence permit from the Estonian citizenship and migration board.

Health Care

For European visitors who are taken ill or have an accident, free or reduced-cost treatment is available – in most cases on production of a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The EHIC gives access to state-provided medical treatment only. Note that the EHIC replaces the Form E111, which is no longer valid.

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Food and Drink

Estonian food can seem very fatty and starchy to some. There is a wide range of international dishes available, especially in largers towns.

National specialities:

• Sült (jellied veal).

• Täidetud vasikarind (roast stuffed shoulder of veal).

• Rosolje (vinaigrette with herring and beets).

• Braised goose stuffed with apples and plums.

• Verivorst (blood sausage).

National drinks:

• Saku beer.

• Eesti Kali (local form of kvas, a Slavic fermented drink made from bread)

• Vana Tallinn (a local liqueur that's probably best left to the locals to sip).

Legal drinking age: 18.

Tipping: 10% is standard for restaurants in larger towns, although sometimes it will be added automatically, so check your receipt before adding anything extra. In rural areas tipping will not usually be expected.

Nightlife

Tallinn is a favoured city break getaway for people all over Europe, especially Finns who come for the cheap alcohol and Brits who have been coming in ever growing numbers on stag and hen nights. There is a wide range of restaurants, cafes and cosy bars, as well as livelier nightclubs that sometimes feature live bands. Socialising is at its most active Thursday-Saturday nights, between 2300-0300. For culture vultures in Tallinn, there is the Estonia National Opera, the Estonia Concert Hall (tel: (6) 147 760; www.concert.ee), the Vanemuine Theatre (tel: (7) 440 100; www.vanemuine.ee), and for children, the Estonian Puppet Theatre. For further details on cultural events, contact the Estonian Institute (www.culture.ee).

Shopping

Amber, ceramics, glassware, leather-bound books and local folk art are good buys, as are traditional hand-knitted thick wool jumpers. There is a good knit market by the Old Town walls on Müürivahe in Tallinn.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1800; some on Sat 1000-1700; department stores: daily 1000-2000.

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Cross-country skiing

A massively popular sport, the best place to do cross-country skiing is in the resort town of Otepää(www.otepaa.ee), home of the cross-country skiing world cup.

Haapsalu

Haapsalu (www.haapsalu.ee) is a small town on the western coast which has been a well-known resort since the 19th century. It is the ideal place to get away from it all with its romantic wooden houses and tree-lined avenues.

National parks

Explore the countryside and see unspoilt forest and bogs, picturesque old fishing villages and historic manor houses in one of Estonia's three national parks - Lahemaa (www.lahemaa.ee), Soomaa (www.soomaa.com) and Vilsandi.

Wife-carrying World Championships

Estonia's most unusual tradition is its Wife-Carrying World Championships (www.v-maarja.ee), an ancient Baltic tradition revived in the 1990s and now dominated by Estonia.

Wildlife

Catch a glimpse of wildlifesuch as lynx, bears, wolves and elk. Watch eagles, storks and a variety of wetland birds at Käina Bay Bird Reserve and Matsalu Nature Reserve (www.matsalu.ee).

Railway Museum

Spot unusual trains on the wide-gauge track, and visit the Railway Museum (www.jaam.ee)in Haapsalu; pay respects in the ‘train graveyard' behind the museum.

Beaches

Sunbathe on white sandy beaches or at the pools and lakes which abound in the interior of the country. In the north of the country, it's possible to find small coves used for nude bathing, though there are no designated areas for this.

Saaremaa Island

The breathtaking and unspoiled Saaremaa Island (www.saaremaa.ee) offers good opportunities for hiking and cycling.

Outdoor activities

Otepää (www.otepaa.ee), with its lakes and forests, is best for outdoor activities, such as skiingin the winter or canoeing.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Tallinn

Wander the magical medieval cobble stone streets of the capital, Tallinn (www.tourism.tallinn.ee), an ancient Hanseatic city. Particularly interesting is the old town centre, which is dominated by the soaring steeple of Oleviste Church. Climb up to Toompea Castle for views.

Pärnu

Established in the 13th century, Pärnu (www.parnu.ee) is a small town situated on the banks of the Pärnu River,where it emerges into the Gulf of Riga. The town is known as a seaport and a health resort.

Tartu

Full of ancient architecture, Tartu (www.tartu.ee) is Estonia's second-largest city, seated on the Emajõgi River. Visit the city's old university, the Vyshgorod Cathedral, the Town Hall(18th century) and the university's Botanical Garden.

Narva

Head for Narva (www.narva.ee), one of the oldest towns in Estonia, situated on the western banks of the River Narva. Visit the Herman Castle,the town's oldest architectural monument, and the city museum.

Saaremaa

See old windmills, stone churches, fishing villages and a 3,000 year-old meteorite crater on stunning Saaremaa (www.saaremaa.ee),the largest island in Estonia.

Hiiumaa

Hop over to Estonia's second-largest island, Hiiumaa(www.hiiumaa.ee) - a true oasis of tranquility and biodiversity. This is also the best spot for bird-watching in the whole country.

Mustvee and Kuremäe

Find peace in Mustvee, situated on the shores of the beautiful and vast Lake Peipsi, and Kuremäe, the site of the only functioning convent in Estonia.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

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