TALLInn - In Your Pocket

78 getting arounD getting arounD
Tallinn is basically a large village and getting from one end
of the city to the other is usually fairly quick and easy -
compared to most international standards of course. Here
we have listed all of the different ways you can navigate the
city - and in some cases even beyond.
Public transport
Tallinn's public transportation system is a fairly straightforward
network of buses, trollybuses and trams, all of which use the
same tickets. Trams provide the simplest way to get around
downtown areas, whereas buses are mainly for getting to
outlying neighbourhoods. From the centre, most major bus
routes leave from the new terminal under the Viru Keskus, or
from Vabaduse Väljak. You can easily pick up trams in several
places adjacent Old Town - check our handy transport map in
the back of the guide. Routes and schedules are also listed in
English on the www.tak.ee website, and detailed route maps
are posted at most bus stops.
When climbing on board, in 98% of cases, you can just hop on
any door, i.e. you don't have to show your ticket to the driver.
The rare exception is a few buses that have ‘no-entry' signs
on their rear doors. If you see this sign and the door doesn't
open, head to the front and punch your ticket/show your pass
to the driver. Tickets are otherwise checked by inspectors who
jump on at random stops. In our experience, inspectors appear
very rarely, but in theory they could show up any time. In other
words, don't blame us if you get nailed. The fine for 'riding like
a rabbit' - as locals call it - is €40.
Tickets: The same tickets are good on all three systems. The
simplest version is the single-ride ticket, or talong. Buy one
from nearly any kiosk for €1 (a book of ten tickets is only €8)
or from the driver for €1.60. Once you're on board, punch your
talong to validate it. Slide it into the green-topped ticket punch
and pull the top towards you. Other types of tickets are good
for specific periods of time and are only sold in kiosks. These
include a 1hr (€1.20; a book of ten tickets €10), 24hr (€4) and
tourist-convenient 72hr (€6) ticket. These need to be validated
the first time they're used - find the modern-looking ticket punch
with digital time clock on board the vehicle (usually by the centre
door). Long-term visitors can also opt for a 30-day (€27) pass.
Taxis
Taxi stands can be found near major hotels and next
the Drama theatre just outside Old Town, but grabbing
a taxi on the street, especially those parked in Old Town,
is the best way to get ripped off. Always check the prices
first, which should posted on the taxi’s right rear window.
These consist of a base fare of usually €2.20 - 3.20 plus
two per-kilometre rates (one for daytime, one for night)
which should normally be around €0.35 - 0.96. When in
doubt, you can agree on a price to your destination with
the driver before you get in. Ordering a taxi by phone is
always the best strategy, as you’ll avoid the dishonest
taxis that prey on tourists. Here is a list of taxi companies
along with their daytime base fares and per-kilometre
rates. Night time rates can be about 20% more.
Peretakso tel. (+372) 16111/(+372) 646 00 06,
peretakso@peretakso.ee, www.peretakso.ee. €3.20
+ €0.50 - 0.80/km.
Reval Takso tel. (+372) 1207/(+372) 601 46 00,
info@reval-takso.ee, www.reval-takso.ee. €2.50 +
€0.45/km.
Saksa Takso tel. (+372) 1316/(+372) 53 03 50
35, info@saksatakso.ee, www.saksatakso.ee. €2.30
+ €0.49/km. Q N
Parking
Tallinn is so centralised and pedestrian-friendly that there's
absolutely no reason to bring a car. If you happen to be here
with your own set of wheels though, keep in mind that finding
parking in downtown Tallinn, especially during working
hours, can be a real nightmare. Public parking on streets in
the town centre, as well as a few streets in Old Town, costs
€1.04 - 4.60/hour, depending on the zone. Look for posted
signs to tell you the price and the hours/days that paid
parking is in effect. Some city centre areas and all of Old
Town require you to pay even at night. Buy per-hour parking
passes from streetside vending machines or kiosks, and be
sure to leave a parking clock (or barring that a written note)
on your dashboard to mark the time that you first parked. If
all this sounds too complicated, you can just use the following
guarded central parking lots/garages:
Kaarli parking D-1, Kaarli pst. 2, tel. (+372) 1669,
parkimine@yhisteenused.ee, www.parkimine.ee. €2.30/
hr. QOpen 24hrs.
Rävala parking house D-4, Rävala pst. 3, tel. (+372)
661 02 23 , europark@europark.ee, www.europark.
ee. €0.90 for first 20min and €0.60/20min after that. Q
Open 24hrs.
Rotermann parking house B-4, Rotermanni 5/
Roseni 10, tel. (+372) 661 02 23 , europark@europark.
ee, www.europark.ee. Entrance from Ahtri street. €2/hr.
QOpen 24hrs.
Solaris parking house D-3, Estonia pst. 9, tel. (+372)
661 02 23, europark@europark.ee, www.europark.ee.
Entrance from Sakala street. €2.80/hr. QOpen 24hrs. J
Vabaduse väljak parking house D-2, Vabaduse väljak
9, tel. (+372) 1669, parkimine@yhisteenused.ee, www.
parkimine.ee. €2/hr. Q Open 24hrs.
Viru Centre parking house C-4, Viru väljak 4, tel.
(+372) 1669, parkimine@yhisteenused.ee, www.parkimine.ee.
€1.80/hr. Q Open 24hrs. J
WTCT parking house H-3, Ahtri 8, tel. (+372) 661
02 23, europark@europark.ee, www.europark.ee. €2/
hr. Q 24hrs.
For the motorist
If you’re driving in Estonia for the first time, here’s what
you need to know: traffic signs and laws follow general
European standards. The law requires use of seatbelts
and headlights at all times. Small children must sit in
child seats. You must have a valid license (with photo),
your car’s registration and proof of insurance with you in
the car, as well as a letter of authorisation if you are not
the owner of the vehicle. In pretty much all cases, your
driver’s license from back home will work fine.
Please note that the speed limit on highways is 90km/h
and in the cities 50 km/h, unless otherwise noted.
Tallinn In Your Pocket tallinn.inyourpocket.com
Car rental
ABC Autorent Paldiski mnt. 105, tel. (+372) 674 77
80, info@abcrent.eu, www.abcrent.ee. QOpen 09:00 -
18:00, Sat 10:00 - 15:00. Closed Sun.
Advantage Rent A Car J-5, Tartu mnt. 101, Tallinn
Airport, tel. (+372) 520 30 03 (24h), rentacarestonia@
advantage.ee, www.advantage.ee. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00.
Closed Sat, Sun.
Budget J-5, Tartu mnt. 101, Tallinn Airport, tel. (+372)
605 82 23, rent@budget.ee, www.budget.ee. QOpen
09:00 - 18:00. Also at: H-3, Pärnu mnt. 141, tel 605 86 00.
Bulvar H-3, Regati pst. 1, tel. (+372) 503 02 22 (24hrs),
info@bulvar.ee, www.bulvar.ee. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00.
Closed Sat, Sun.
Hansarent G-3, Ahtri 6, tel. (+372) 655 71 55/(+372)
53 04 40 55 (24hrs), booking@hansarent.ee, www.
hansarent.ee. QOpen 09:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun.
Towing service
Falck Autoabi Laki 11, tel. (+372) 1888/(+372)
697 91 88, info@falckautoabi.ee, www.falckautoabi.
ee. For help in any kind of road emergency anywhere in
Estonia. Q Open 24hrs.
tallinn.inyourpocket.com
R-Rent J-5, Tartu mnt. 101, Tallinn
Airport, tel. (+372) 50 36 446 (24hrs),
info@rrent.ee, www.rrent.ee. Prices
starting from €25/day. Car delivery free of
charge. Q They offer 15% off for our readers
when you mention the secret word “Pocket”.
Sir Autorent H-3, Juhkentali 11,
tel. (+372) 661 43 53/(+372) 56
51 353 (24hrs), sirrent@online.
ee, www.sirrent.ee. QOpen 09:00
- 18:00. Closed Sat, Sun.
Sixt J-5, Tartu mnt. 101, Tallinn Airport, tel. (+372) 605
81 48, rent@sixt.ee, www.sixt.ee. Whether you need a
car rental for business or pleasure, Sixt offers you great rates
and quality vehicles. QOpen 09:00 - 18:00, Sat, Sun 10:00
- 17:00. Also at: D-4, Rävala pst 5. Open 08:30 - 17:00,
closed Sat, Sun.
Helicopter
By far the fastest way to get to Helsinki.
Copterline F-3, Linnahall Heliport, Mere pst. 20,
tel. (+372) 610 18 18, fax (+372) 610 18 01,
contact.ee@fast-class.com, www.fast-class.com.
Copterline runs a fast passenger link between Tallinn
and Helsinki. The flight takes 18 minutes to cover the
85km between two capitals. Flights run seven times
per day, Mon-Fri and tickets cost between €258 and
€358 return. Tallinn’s helicopter terminal is the flat roof
of the Tallinna Linnahall near the Tallinn passenger port.
The opposite terminal is in Helsinki’s Hernesaari port, a
five-minute taxi ride from town. QOpen 07:15 - 18:30.
Closed Sat, Sun. Check website for schedules and
pricing information.
Airport
Lennart Meri - Tallinn Airport (Lennujaam) J-5, Tartu
mnt. 101, tel. (+372) 605 88 88 (24hr flight info), fax
(+372) 605 84 33, info@tll.aero, www.tallinn-airport.ee.
Tallinn's airport is a modern affair, but still so small there's never
a worry about getting lost. Once past the luggage receiving area,
you'll find ATMs and currency exchange in the centre of the hall;
toilets and car rental offices are downstairs. Officials still recommend
you arrive 2 hours before your flight though. Estonian Air
check-ins close 35 minutes before take-off. A taxi ride from the
centre roughly costs €10 and takes between 10 and 20 minutes.
You can also take bus N°2 (marked Lennujaam - Mõigu) from the
'A. Laikmaa' stop, just outside to the downtown Viru Centre on
its east side. Alternately you can opt for the 90K (see listing
above) or the airport shuttle that will take you anywhere within
Tallinn's city limits for the low fee of €5 per passenger. Tickets
for the shuttle should be purchased near the flight gates or after
you've picked up your luggage at the desk with the 'shuttle flag'.
Airline offices
Air Baltic D-3, Estonia pst. 1, tel. (+372) 17007/(+371)
67 00 60 06, tallinn@airbaltic.com, www.airbaltic.com.
QOpen 09:00 - 17:30. Closed Sat, Sun. Reservations and
information by phone 07:00 - 22:00, Sat, Sun 08:00 - 20:00. J
Czech Airlines D-4, Liivalaia 33, tel. (+372) 630 93
97, csa.tll@globairgroup.com, www.czechairlines.ee.
QOpen 09:00 - 17:00. Closed Sat, Sun.
Estonian Air I-5, Tartu mnt. 101, at the Airport, tel.
(+372) 16 101/(+372) 640 11 62, ov@estonian-air.
ee, www.estonian-air.ee.
Finnair tel. (+372) 684 05 36, www.finnair.com.
Lufthansa D-4, Tartu mnt. 101, Tallinn Airport, tel. (+372)
605 81 85, tllteammailbox.ga@dlh.de, www.lufthansa.ee.
April - May 2012
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