Travelling to Estonia and Tartu

 

Arrival by air

Estonia's international airport, Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport, provides excellent facilities and a wide variety of services. There are direct flights or connections to Tallinn from many European cities. Check these out here.

In addition, there are many connecting flights from Riga Airport (Latvia). 

Connections between Tallinn/Riga and Tartu are very simple and regular and the landing in Tallinn airport is our strong suggestion. See details below.

Tartu-Helsinki-Tartu connection

The airline company Finnair Oyj also offers regular flights between Tartu and Helsinki Airport.

There are 12 trips per week between Tartu and Helsinki Airport. Flights start departing from Tartu to Helsinki at 6:00 a.m. and at 3:00 p.m. Flights to Tartu from Helsinki at 1:50 p.m. and 11:55 p.m.

You can view the exact flight schedule and buy tickets on Finnair's website: www.finnair.com

Connections

Information on international and domestic airlines can be found here.

The airport's information service point is located in the departure hall. It opens 2 hours before the day's first flight and closes after the last arriving flight. Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport: ph. +372 605 8888, www.tallinn-airport.ee.

 

 

Arrival by sea

Ships from Helsinki bring thousands of travellers to Tallinn's busy passenger port each day also there is an overnight ferry link with Stockholm.

Connections

Ferries cross the Gulf of Finland between Tallinn and Helsinki several times a day, covering the distance in roughly 2 to 3 hours. From late spring to late autumn, high-speed vessels also operate on the route, reducing travel time to just 1.5 hours. Ferries between Tallinn and Stockholm depart every evening, with the trip taking approximately 15 hours.

The largest ferry operators are Tallink, Viking Line and Eckerö Line.

More information about the schedules and ferries here: https://www.ts.ee/en/

Overnight cruise

Tallink and Viking Line are offering overnight cruises across the sea. It is a good choice if you would like to get a cheaper alternative for your accommodation. Also, it is a good choice when you arrive late to Helsinki and need a place to stay or have an early flight in Helsinki. Read more about Viking Line possibilities HERE and Tallink HERE.

 

 

Arrival by bus

Estonia has many international connections by bus. It is possible to travel to Tartu by bus from several countries, including Latvia and Lithuania, thanks to international connections operated by companies like Lux Express and other regional providers. Direct routes are available from Riga, but connections from Lithuania (e.g., Vilnius or Kaunas) may require transfers in Tallinn or Riga. These services ensure easy access to Tartu from neighbouring countries.

Lux Express offers direct connections from Riga to Tartu, ensuring a comfortable journey with modern amenities. Tickets can be easily booked on their website or app.

From Tallinn, Tpilet website provides access to several operators, including Lux Express, Ecolines, and GoBus, offering frequent departures and a quick 2.5-hour trip.

Both Tpilet and Lux Express support online booking and provide schedules and ticket options in English for a hassle-free experience.

Connections between Tallinn-Tartu-Tallinn

All weekdays have regular lines for the Tallinn-Tartu-Tallinn route. The buses leave every hour, from the Tallinn Airport as well as the Tallinn Coach Station (address: Lastekodu 46, 10144, Tallinn) to Tartu Coach Station (address: Turu 2, 51014, Tartu). The journey lasts about 2.5 hours, but time flies when seated in the Lux Express lounge area. The coaches have free WiFi, hot beverages, and an entertainment system onboard. Bus tickets can be bought from here, Tallinn or Tartu Coach Stations, or Tallinn Airport.

 

 

Arrival by train

Connections between Tallinn-Tartu-Tallinn

The Elron train service operates regular trips between Tallinn and Tartu several times a day. Trains depart from Balti Jaam in Tallinn (address: Toompuiestee 37, Tallinn) and stop at Ülemiste station (a 15-minute walk from the Tallinn airport, the best option for those who land in Tallinn airporcentret) before heading to Tartu Railway Station (address: Vaksali 6, Tartu). The Tartu station is located in a historical building 1.5 km from the city center. The journey takes approximately 2 hours. Train tickets can be purchased online, at stations, or directly on the train.