Page 380 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

378 SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Getting Around Estonia endless stops in small towns and
villages. Route operators include
The best way of getting around Estonia is by car, as all the main SEBE and Taisto. The Tartu–
sights are, at most, a few hours’ drive away from each other. The Tallinn route is the busiest and
country’s rail network is cheap but with a limited reach and most convenient, with coaches
often frustratingly slow. A far better public transport option is departing every hour until late at
night. Tickets can be bought
the country’s well-developed bus system, which links all the from the bus station or the driver
major towns and cities as well as more remote areas. However, on boarding. On busier routes, it
rural bus services are sparse, and the buses tend to crawl along is best to buy tickets in advance.
at no more than about 30 kmph (19 mph). Alternatively, there Although ticket prices vary, they
is a good range of ferries serving the islands but many of these are generally very reasonable,
but slightly higher than those for
do not run in winter, when the sea freezes over. Some regular rail travel. The fares of buses
domestic flights connect Estonia’s mainland cities, and there bound for the islands are usually
are regular air connections to several islands. higher as they always include
the price of the ferry crossing.
To check bus schedules visit
Bussireisid’s website.
Luggage is usually carried
onto the bus and passengers
may have to pay a small
additional fee to stow any large
items in the compart ment
under neath the bus.
Travelling by Ferry
The Estonian islands are well
served by a number of car and
passenger ferry connec tions.
There are also regular ser vices
Local train waiting at Tallinn railway station between Rohuküla harbour
(near Haapsalu), Heltermaa
Travelling by Train
or updated and services are (on Hiiumaa Island) and Vormsi.
Estonia’s rail network is the usually posted on large display Virtsu har bour (north of Pärnu)
least efficient way to see the boards at the stations. has hourly connections with
country. Services have been Muhu Island, which is linked with
so drastically reduced that nearby Saaremaa Island by road.
the choice of destinations is Travelling by Bus Saaremaa itself is con nected
limited. There are rail routes The bus network in Estonia is with Hiiumaa from Triigi harbour
between Tallinn and Narva, efficiently run and is good value in the north east. Saaremaa has a
Tartu, Pärnu and Viljandi, and for money. Inter-city buses run special summertime ferry service
an electric train runs between regularly and are generally to Ventspils in Latvia. Check
Tallinn and Paldiski 10 times a comfortable. Some companies Saaremaa Shipping Company
day. It is usually advisable to run express routes, which avoid Limited’s official website for
catch a kiirrong (fast train),
although these are still rela-
tively slow compared to those
in Western Europe. However,
there are now express trains,
with first-class carriages,
between Tallinn and Tartu.
Edelaraudtee runs inter-city
passenger services and
Elron, a government-owned
train operator, runs local
electric trains.
It is best to buy pilet (tickets)
on board, although some can
be bought online or at the
ticket offices in Tallinn. There
are no passes for rail travel.
Time tables are rarely printed Bussireisid’s air-conditioned inter-city express bus en route from Tartu