Public transport in Tallinn
Tallinn is a compact city and easy to get around. Our public transport network consists of bus and tram lines, connecting all districts of Tallinn.
Tallinn’s public transport operates daily, depending on the route, between 5:00 a.m. and midnight. A separate timetable applies on weekends and public holidays.
On Friday and Saturday nights, night buses operate in Tallinn between 00:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m.
A unified ticketing system applies on all Tallinn public transport vehicles, and passengers may travel only with a valid ticket or another document confirming their right to travel.
How to buy tickets
- The quick and easy option is to pay for each ride with a contactless bank card inside the vehicle at any validator. Each tap will purchase a 1-hour ticket and accumulate into a 1-day ticket if you take enough rides in one day.
- If you’re staying longer, consider buying a public transport card named Ühiskaart from one of the many sales points, including the Tallinn Tourist Information Centre and either transfer ticket money onto the card or purchase a ticket valid for a set period – 1 day, 3 days, 5 days or 30 days. You can also purchase tickets onto the HSL Matkakortti from the Pilet.ee mobile app and website tallinn.pilet.ee.
- If you want to buy a ticket in advance, you can purchase a one-hour QR ticket online or from a ticket machine (locations: Tallinn Airport, Tallinn Bus Station, Port of Tallinn terminals A and D, Tallinn Cruise terminal, Viru Centre bus terminal and Tallinn Tourist Information Centre).
Which ever type of ticket you have, you must validate your card or QR ticket on every entry. You do not have to validate when you exit the vehicle.
Note that QR tickets can only be validated at a machine with a QR code scanner, which are often only at the front of the vehicle.
Ticket prices
1-hour ticket* – €2
1-day ticket – €5.50
3-day ticket – €9
5-day ticket – €11
30 day ticket – €30
* If the cost of one-hour tickets purchased in a transport day exceeds the cost of a day ticket (€5.50), subsequent rides are free of charge for the cardholder until the end of the day (a transport day is a 24-hour period beginning at 4 a.m.).
Right to ride for free
In most cases, Tallinn’s public transportation is not free of charge for international visitors.
People who can travel for free include:
- Children under seven years old
- Passengers travelling with children under the age of three (applicable to one adult per child)
- Registered Tallinn residents (using a personalised Ühiskaart and carrying an ID).
Buying tickets for a group
You can buy a ticket for yourself and up to five companions using one contactless bank card or Ühiskaart.
To buy extra tickets, tap your card on the validator, select the number of additional tickets, press OK, and tap the card again.
One QR ticket can hold up to ten one-hour tickets. To validate several tickets at once, scan the QR ticket, use the arrows to select the number of additional tickets, press OK, and scan the QR ticket again.
More detailed information on ticket types, right of free travel, sales points, and passenger reminders and services can be found on the Tallinn Mobility Administration website.
Tallinn public transport timetables and routes
Check timetables at transport.tallinn.ee or plan your trip using the journey planner.
Map of key public transport lines:
Night buses
Night buses in Tallinn run on Friday and Saturday nights, every 30 minutes between 00:30 and 03:30. The same rules and ticket requirements apply to both day and night buses. Check timetables at transport.tallinn.ee/#nightbus.
Map of night bus routes in Tallinn:
Tallinn Card – free public transport and free sightseeing
The Tallinn Card acts as a ticket, entitling the holder to free public transport for the period the card is active. It also gives you free admission to museums and sights, and other discounts. The card is available for periods of 24, 48 or 72 hours.
Just like with other tickets, you must validate your Tallinn Card every time you enter a vehicle. Tap the plastic card onto the validator, as you would a contactless payment card or Ühiskaart.
If you have purchased the Tallinn Card via the app or online, be sure to use the rectangular validators with QR scanners located only at the front of the vehicle.
With one adult card, you can bring along two kids under the age of seven free of charge.
Trains and regional bus routes
Trains and regional bus routs travel through Tallinn and supplement the municipal transportation system.
Trains offer a quick and convenient way to travel longer distances within Tallinn or take a day trip to surrounding regions. Trains are not a part of Tallinn’s municipal transportation system. Timetables and ticket information can be found at Elron.ee.
The North-Estonian Joint Transport Centre or IIL, operates regional bus services around and inside Tallinn. The light blue buses are not a part of Tallinn’s municipal transportation system and require a separate ticket. More information on timetables and tickets: iil.ee.
The Northern Estonia joint ticket is valid on Tallinn Transport lines, Elron trains (except express trains) and North-Estonian Joint Transport Centre (IIL) county lines. A joint ticket can only be purchased for a Public Transport Card (Ühiskaart). The ticket must be validated each time you board public transport. More information on Tallinn’s mobility website.
Important links and contacts
- Tallinn Mobility Administration (detailed public transport information)
- 24h Tallinn helpline +372 611 8000
- Lost or found property on public transport: +372 643 4142 or info@tlt.ee
- Tallinn Municipal Police Department (ticket checks and warning fines)
