Public bus transport is well organised and offers good possibilities for transport within cities as well as over longer distances. Public transport in cities mostly offers the possibility of using 10-, 30- and 90- day public transport cards as well as single-fare bus tickets. If you have an ID card, you can also buy tickets using a mobile phone, internet banking or a fixed-line phone in Tallinn and Tartu.
Travelling long distances by train is cheaper, but as the rail system still needs a lot of investment, buses are generally quicker, and are used more often. One exception is the electric train system near Tallinn, in Harju County, which is used as everyday transport by many people. The long-distance bus schedules are very good, and bus transport is quite affordable. There are, for example, more than 60 buses from Tallinn to Tartu every day.
Public transport is free of charge in Estonia for children who do not attend school yet (that is until a child becomes 7); for children with disabilities; and for grown-ups with severe disabilities.
Tallinn and Tartu offer additional benefits in local public transport.
Tallinn offers free transportation to a passenger travelling with a child under the age of 3; to people who are older than 65; to children from a family with three or more children; and to people accompanying disabled children or grown-ups with severe disabilities.
Tallinn also offers discount tickets (single trip tickets as well as 30- and 90- day public transport cards) for school children; students; retired people; and parents of three or more children.
Tartu offers free transport for its registered citizens, who are older than 65; for families with four or more children under the age of 18; and to people accompanying disabled children or grown-ups with severe disabilities.
Tartu offers discount 10-, 30- and 90- day public transport cards for pupils, students, and retired people.
To use the discounts or the right to travel free of charge, the presentation of a document certifying the discount eligibility is necessary. This can be a student card, pension certificate or a certificate received from local social welfare department (i.e for families with many children).
Long-distance buses Language selection from homepage. Default: Estonian
Public transport in Tallinn (TripPlanner)
