Page 378 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

376 SUR VIV AL GUIDE

TRAVELLING TO ESTONIA

It is easy to reach Estonia by air, as several station are only a short taxi or bus ride away.
major international carriers from many Tallinn has good coach connections with the
European cities provide links to Tallinn, the rest of Europe, although travelling by coach
capital of Estonia. The country is also well can be slow. Reaching Estonia from Western
served by ferries, with regular services to Europe by train is almost impossible, as the
Tallinn and the island of Saaremaa. In Tallinn, only international service is from Russia.
the ferry port and main railway station are A pan-Baltic train, Rail Baltica, is in the works,
conveniently located close to the Old Town but is a complex and expensive undertaking,
and city centre, while the airport and coach with completion set for 2024.

Other Estonian Airports
Estonia’s other airports are
situated in Pärnu, Kuressaare
and Kärdla. These are serviced
by small regional airlines with
connections to Tallinn. There
are special summer flight
services from Sweden to
Saaremaa Island and from
Finland to Tartu’s recently
upgraded airport.
Arriving by Sea
Estonia is very well served
by ferry, with Tallinn’s
Passenger Port (reisisadam)
Gleaming interior of Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport handling about 7 million
passengers a year. The main
Arriving by Air
London Stansted and line, Tallink, has routes to
The sleek-looking Lennart Meri Manchester; easyjet flies Helsinki (Finland), Rostock
Tallinn Airport is the only from London Gatwick. (Germany) and Stockholm
Estonian airport with regular (Sweden), while other carriers,
scheduled flights. In recent such as Viking Line and Eckerö
years, the airport has become From Tallinn Airport to Line, are accessible from
a regional hub with approxi- the City Centre Helsinki and Stockholm. Linda
mately 12 airlines using the Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport Line runs a hydrofoil service
airport, including major carriers is about 3 km (2 miles) from to Helsinki.
such as Finnair and Lufthansa. the city centre. Taxis wait Travellers from Helsinki are
The Latvian airline airBaltic outside and the ride to the spoiled for choice, with a
makes regular flights to Tallinn city centre costs around €10. range of catamarans and
with a quick stop in Rīga. Bus number 2 takes up to ferries making the crossing.
Nordica is the rightful 15 minutes to reach the centre The Passenger Port is within
successor to the bankrupt and costs around €1.50. It walking distance of Tallin’s Old
national airline, Estonian Air. leaves every 20 minutes from Town and a taxi ride should
Based in Tallinn, it offers Monday to Saturday, and cost between €3 and €5,
a good standard of service in every 30 minutes although it is close enough
both business and tourist class. on Sunday. to walk. The local bus no. 2
The airline has direct links with connects the port with the city
several major European destina- centre, bus station and airport.
tions as well as some Estonian Tallinn is also inclu ded
cities and islands. Visitors from in a choice
out side Europe need to catch a of Baltic Sea
connecting flight from cities such cruises. Pärnu
as London, Helsinki, Copenhagen and Saaremaa
or Stockholm. Island are also
A couple of low-cost carriers included in
provide daily flights to Tallinn some cruise
from the UK: Ryanair flies from Taxi stand near Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport ship itineraries.