Travel to Estonia
Check out this complete guide on how to get to Estonia, which covers travel by plane, cruise ship, bus, ferry, train, car, or private boat.
It is possible to get to Estonia by land, water, and air.
Estonia is located in northern Europe, bordered on the south by Latvia, on the east by Russia, and Finland to the north over the Baltic Sea.
Regular ferries run between Tallinn, Helsinki, and Stockholm, and landing at Tallinn Airport places you right in the middle of the city. Estonia is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area.
By plane
Tallinn Airport is conveniently located only four kilometers from the city center.
You can easily travel to and from the airport by bus or taxi. Buses 2 and 15 depart from the airport and travel to the city center. They leave from the lowest level (stop Lennujaam), down the escalator from the arrivals hall.
The flights from Oslo and Stockholm to Tallinn are all under two hours. You can fly from Helsinki to Tallinn in 20 minutes, and from Helsinki to Tartu in a little less than an hour. More information about flight schedules is available on the Tallinn Airport website.
From Tallinn Airport, you can also catch domestic flights to Kuressaare (the capital of Saaremaa Island), Tartu, and Kärdla (a town on the island of Hiiumaa).
Source: Tallinn Airport
By cruise ship
Tallinn is a popular cruise destination, especially during the summer.
All main lines crossing the Baltic Sea stop in Tallinn.
In addition to Tallinn, Estonia’s largest island, Saaremaa, is another popular cruise destination in Estonia. The port of Saaremaa is located a 45-minute car ride from Kuressaare, the biggest town on the island.
For more information, please browse the list of all cruise operators currently sailing to Estonia.
Source: visit estonia
By bus
Several international coach companies travel to Estonia from central Europe and the Baltics.
These are some of the main commercial operators:
Further information about international bus schedules is available at T-Pilet.
Source: Renee Altrov
By ferry
Tallinn Port is located a 15-minute walk from the city center.
The ferry ride from Helsinki will take around 2-2.5 hours (except for one ferry, which takes four hours). The trip from Stockholm to Tallinn is a 12-hour overnight ferry ride.
The following ferry operators service the lines:
More information about ferry lines and tickets is available below:
- laevapiletid.ee — can see all ferry ticket options, administrated by Estravel (Estonian travel agency)
- portoftallinn.com
There is also a ferry connection between the western town of Paldiski and Kappelskär, Sweden, with DFDS. The journey takes 10 hours, making it faster than the 12-hour trip to Stockholm. Paldiski is about an hour from Tallinn, but it can also be used as a starting point for a road trip around Estonia.
Source: Vaas / Transpordiamet
By train
Thanks to an agreement between Estonia and its Baltic neighbors, Latvia and Lithuania, it is now possible to travel comfortably by train between Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius. The connection operates once a day in both directions and includes a transfer in Valga.
Read more about the route and purchase tickets on Elron's website.
Source: Go Hotel Schnelli
By car
When driving in Estonia, the following documents should be carried with you:
- Full and valid driving license
- Proof of Insurance
- Proof of ID (passport)
- Proof of ownership (V5C certificate)
Your car will need to be equipped with beam deflectors, a fire extinguisher, and a warning triangle. All vehicles are required to have lights on during the day and night.
Estonia has right-hand traffic. The speed limit in the countryside is 90 km/h and 50 km/h in urban areas unless specified otherwise. During the summer, some highways allow for a maximum of 110 km/h. Passengers are required to wear seat belts, and lights must be switched on at all times. Estonia has zero tolerance for driving under the influence.
Estonia recognizes driving licenses from countries around the world; please check specific requirements beforehand.
Foreign vehicles must have third-party liability insurance in Estonia. Vehicles registered in an EEA country can only be insured in that specific country of registration. Vehicles registered in the following countries must be covered by a Green Card as proof of insurance: Albania, Andorra, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel, Iran, North-Macedonia, Morocco, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia.
You can purchase cross-border insurance as an alternative to the Green Card. Those vehicles not registered in EEA or the countries listed above must all be covered with valid cross-border insurance upon arrival to Estonia.
Source: Renee Altrov
By your own boat
Estonia is dotted with harbors and small marinas, often located in towns and little villages.
The shortest route from the northern coast across the Gulf of Finland to Finland is just 25 nautical miles.
Source: Mart Vares
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Last updated
06.03.2025