Tallinn Old Town to the Airport: Tram, Taxi and My Early-Morning Walk
28 minutes ago
6 min read
Tallinn has one of the most convenient airports in Europe. Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport is only about 4 kilometres from the city centre, and you can be at the terminal from the medieval Old Town by tram in very little time. I did exactly that early one morning at the start of February 2020, just weeks before the world locked down: breakfast in my hotel, a walk through a grey, wet and windy Old Town, a dash through a shopping centre to stay dry, and the tram to the airport.
Here is the whole journey on film, followed by everything you need to do it yourself, with current tickets and tram lines checked against the official sources.
Leaving the Old Town
I stayed at the Olevi, a small hotel in the Old Town that felt suitably medieval; the building goes back to the 14th century. At around nine in the morning the streets were almost empty, which is the best time to see Tallinn before the crowds arrive.
Just down the street is the House of the Blackheads, one of the Old Town's grandest facades, and a few minutes later you come out on Town Hall Square. In early February the Christmas tree was still standing. A little detail for music fans: the Depeche Mode bar, DM Baar, is just off the square, and Mad Murphy's Irish pub is right on it if you need a pint before your flight.
From the square, head east through the Viru Gates, the old entrance to the walled town. As you leave, you will see the Hotel Viru ahead of you, the Soviet-era hotel that housed a KGB listening post. There is a museum about it inside, which I have visited; to be honest, it is one of the worst museums I have been to. At the edge of the new town you pass a Hesburger and a McDonald's, and the Viru Centre shopping mall is right next to the hotel.
A dry shortcut through the Viru Centre
When it is raining, and it was pouring, walk through the Viru Centre rather than around it. It keeps you warm and dry and brings you out near the trams. The official Visit Tallinn site lists a ticket machine at the Viru Centre bus terminal, so you can buy a ticket there before you board, and Viru is one of the central stops on tram T4 to the airport.
Taking the tram to Tallinn Airport
Two tram lines now serve the airport, according to Tallinn Airport and Visit Tallinn (checked on 5 November 2026):
T4: Airport to Tondi, running through the city centre. The central stops are A. Laikmaa, Viru and Vabaduse väljak.
T2: Airport to Kopli via the Old City Harbour. The handiest central stop is Hobujaama.
At the airport, the trams use the Lennujaam stop at the public transport centre, at the city end of the terminal building. Check times on transport.tallinn.ee before you go.
A tip from my own mistake: I got off one stop too early. It was no big deal, as the terminal was just down the road and I walked the rest, but in the rain you will be happier staying on until the Lennujaam stop.
Tram tickets and prices
Fares have gone up since I filmed. In 2020 a ticket from the machine cost €1.50, and about €2 if you paid on board. Today, according to the City of Tallinn and Visit Tallinn (checked on 5 November 2026), the prices for visitors are:
1-hour ticket: €2. Tap a contactless bank card or phone on a validator on board, or buy a QR ticket online or from a ticket machine.
1-day ticket: €5.50. If you pay by contactless card or with an Ühiskaart travel card, your one-hour tickets are capped at the day-ticket price.
3-day ticket: €9, 5-day ticket: €11, 30-day ticket: €30, all on the Ühiskaart travel card.
Ticket machines for QR tickets are at Tallinn Airport, the bus station, the port's terminals A and D, the cruise terminal, the Viru Centre bus terminal and the Tallinn Tourist Information Centre. Validate your card or QR ticket every time you board; QR tickets can only be scanned on validators with a QR reader, often at the front of the tram. Public transport is free for registered Tallinn residents, but most visitors need a ticket.
At the airport, and on to Tartu
The tram stop is part of the airport's public transport centre, with a waiting area and a ticket machine. When I filmed, it worked in English, Estonian and Russian. According to Tallinn Airport, you can buy a €2 QR ticket there, valid for one hour, and an Ühiskaart travel card from the R-Kiosk in the public area next to Arrivals.
Heading on to Tartu instead of into town? Several long-distance buses stop at the airport, and Tallinn Airport says all Lux Express buses on the Tallinn to Tartu and Tallinn to Tartu to Võru routes call there. Check times and buy tickets on Tpilet.ee. The airport notes that long-distance bus stops have moved temporarily during construction of the new tram line, so follow the signs in the terminal. I made that trip myself, and you can read about it in my weekend guide to Tartu.
Taxi or ride-hailing
If you would rather not walk or take the tram, Visit Tallinn says a taxi from the airport to the city centre costs around €15; the taxi stand is in front of the arrivals hall. When I filmed I suggested ride-hailing apps such as Bolt, FreeNow and Uber, but check which ones are working before you travel. You can also pre-book a private transfer with GetTransfer.
How easy is it?
Very. From the Old Town to the terminal, it is a far shorter and simpler trip than getting from central London to any of London's airports. If you have time and the weather is kind, walk through the Old Town to the Viru Centre and catch the tram from there. It is the most enjoyable way to say goodbye to Tallinn.
Changing money at the airport? Check Money Maps first
Estonia uses the euro, cards are widely accepted, and you can even pay for the tram by tapping your card. If you do want cash, don't change it at the airport without checking first. Money Maps compares bureau de change and online exchange rates near you, on a map and in a list, and its 'You get' calculator shows what you would actually receive after fees. With Capture the Board you can snap a bureau's rate board to earn points towards prizes, and you can report wrong rates too. It is free on the App Store, and an Android version is coming.
Stay connected on arrival
Sort your mobile data before you fly, so that maps, tram times and ticket apps work the moment you land. I recommend Roamless for an eSIM that you can set up before you leave home. Use code WONDERING for 20% off.
Where to stay in Tallinn
Staying in or near the Old Town puts you a short walk from the trams to the airport. Use the map below to compare places to stay, or browse hotels on Booking.com and Airbnb:
Plan your trip
Hotels: Booking.com
Apartments: Airbnb
Private transfer: GetTransfer
eSIM: Roamless (code WONDERING for 20% off)
Currency: Money Maps (free on the App Store)
Day trip or weekend away: Tartu, Estonia's second city
Flights
Flying to or from Tallinn? Compare fares below.
Frequently asked questions
Which tram goes to Tallinn Airport?
Trams T4 (Airport to Tondi, via the city centre) and T2 (Airport to Kopli, via the Old City Harbour). For the Old Town, T4's Viru stop is the closest; on T2, use Hobujaama.
How much is the tram to Tallinn Airport?
A one-hour ticket costs €2. Tap a contactless bank card on the validator on board, or buy a QR ticket online or from a ticket machine.
How much is a taxi from Tallinn Airport to the city centre?
Visit Tallinn puts it at around €15. The taxi stand is in front of the arrivals hall.
Can I get from Tallinn Airport straight to Tartu?
Yes. Several long-distance buses stop at the airport, including the Lux Express Tallinn to Tartu routes. Check times on Tpilet.ee.
Sources: the walk, my hotel, the 2020 fares and the airport ticket machine come from my film Walking from Tallinn Old Town to Tallinn Airport early one morning - Estonia Travel Guide, recorded in February 2020. Current tram lines, stops, ticket prices, the taxi fare and the Tartu bus details come from Tallinn Airport (airport.ee), Visit Tallinn (visittallinn.ee) and the City of Tallinn (tallinn.ee), all checked on 5 November 2026. Fares and timetables change, so check transport.tallinn.ee before you travel.
Photos: stills from my video, February 2020.
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
If useful, subscribe to my YouTube Channel. Or SubscribeStar. Or buy me a coffee via Ko-Fi.
Safe travels, The Wondering Englishman
Comments