Getting Around Tallinn

No. For most trips, Tallinn is easiest without a car.

• The center is walkable.
• Trams and buses connect the main clusters.
• Taxis/ride-hail are useful for quick hops (especially in bad weather or late at night).

A car becomes useful mainly for nature day trips outside the city (Lahemaa, cliffs, quarries).

The Old Town and city center are easy on foot — and walking is part of the experience. Use public transport mainly to connect the “clusters.”

Great walking clusters:

• Old Town + Toompea
• Telliskivi + Kalamaja
• Kadriorg + museums

Instead of bouncing across town, build each day around one cluster and let walking fill in the beauty.

• Old Town + Toompea: medieval lanes + viewpoints (best early and late).
• Kadriorg: parks + museums (a calmer, greener day).
• Telliskivi + Kalamaja: street art + cafes + modern Tallinn energy.
• Noblessner / Pirita: sea-air walks and sunset mood.

If you want ready-made cluster days, start with Weekend in Tallinn or 3 Days in Tallinn.

• Old Town ↔ Kadriorg for parks and museums.
• Center ↔ Telliskivi/Kalamaja for modern food and street art.
• Center ↔ Noblessner/Pirita for sea air.
• Center ↔ Rocca al Mare for Tallinn Zoo and the Open Air Museum.
• Center ↔ Nõmme for Nõmme Market and pine-forest neighborhood vibes.

For specific itinerary ideas, start with Weekend in Tallinn.

Think of public transport as a way to connect walking zones.

• Use trams/buses to get to Kadriorg, Telliskivi/Kalamaja, Noblessner, Pirita.
• Once you arrive, switch back to walking.

If you’re arriving by air, start with Tallinn Airport to City Centre.

A short taxi/ride-hail hop can be the difference between “fun day” and “windy slog,” especially in winter.

• Best for: late evenings, bad weather, and quick transfers with luggage.
• Least necessary: central Old Town days.

Transport systems and ticket rules can change. For up-to-date info, check official Tallinn transport sources close to your trip.

If you’re planning multiple attractions, you may also want to consider Tallinn Card (worth it mainly for museum-heavy days).

Tallinn’s charm comes with texture:

• Old Town has cobblestones.
• Toompea involves hills/steps.
• Sea-air areas can be windy.

Comfortable shoes and a wind layer are the simplest “transport upgrades” you can pack.

Inside Tallinn: no car needed.

Outside Tallinn: a car (or a guided tour) can make nature day trips feel smooth.

If day trips are in your plan, start with Day Trips from Tallinn and decide whether you want a nature day like Lahemaa or a city-hop day like Helsinki.