|
Travellers Essentials
By Air
The Airport of Tallinn is the major airport in Estonia. Estonian
Air, Scandinavian Airline System, Lufthansa Airlines and Finnair.
ELK Airways, Air Baltic, Air Lithuania, Aeroflot and LOT Polish
Airlines also have flights to Tallinn. Updated timetables,
and information on cargos and other services can be found
on the Internet, at: http://www.estnet.ee/tallinn-airport.
Tallin Airport is located 4km from the city centre. There
is an official airport taxi service that charges fixed prices.
You can also find airline coaches, (line number 2 and 98),
from airport to the city centre, bus station and harbour.
By Rail
Estonian Railways maintain a network of train services covering
most of Estonia. Despite recent cutbacks in service, it is
still possible to travel between the larger towns by train.
Estonia is very well connected to the rail system of the former
Soviet Union. From the west, the Baltic Express provides a
direct link from Warsaw through the Baltics to Tallinn, though
you have to change trains at the Lithuanian border due to
the fact the track widths are different in Europe from those
inside the former Soviet republics.
By Bus or Car
Distances between Tallinn and various main cities are: Helsinki-85km,
Stockholm-375 km, Oslo-790km, Copenhagen-830km, Berlin-1040km,
London-1770km, Paris-1840km, Athens-2360km, Brussels-1590km,
St.Peterburg-330km, Moscow-860km.
Bus connections are excellent from major European cities.
Eurolines offers comfortable long-haul buses for those whose
wish to enter Estonia using the Via Baltica highway. Petrol
stations are plentiful along this route through the Baltics.
All roads are marked in accordance with international standards.
Driving is on the right side of the road and passing on the
left.
By Sea
This is perhaps the most popular way to get to Estonia. There
are excellent ferry connections between Stockholm and Tallinn
(14 hours) or Helsinki and Tallinn (4 hours). In the summer
months there are also small hydrofoils that make the Helsinki-Tallinn
run in about 90 minutes.
Currency
The national currency of Estonia is called the Kroon and was
introduced in 1992. Kroon is abbreviated as EEK and is pegged
to the German Deustch Mark. The smaller unit is called the
Sent, 1EEK=100 sents. Foreign currencies can be easily exchanged
in banks and exchange offices. There are exchange offices
in several hotels, in the harbour of Tallinn, at the airport,
the railway station and many other places.
Credit Cards
Credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, Eurocard, Diner's Club,
American Express, etc. as well as travellers checks are accepted
in most of the major hotels, restaurants and shops, but ask
first. Most banks will give cash advances on credit cards
with a valid passport. Check with the credit card company
for further details before travelling.
Electricity
The electricity supply in Estonia is 220 volts AC, 50 Hz.
European - style 2-pin plugs are in use.
Tipping
In restaurants, hotels and taxis, the service charge is included
in the bill, but a small tip is always appreciated.
|
