Tallinn’s small but modern and efficient airport is located just three kilometres (1.8 miles) from the centre of town. Estonian Air, and a couple of other carriers, provide a decent selection of flights to major European cities.

Its single terminal is easy to navigate, and has all the amenities needed to get going in Estonia. An airport information desk on the first floor can help you sort out transportation and other travel plans.

Taxis offer the simplest way to get to your destination in Tallinn. The taxi stand is located directly in front of the Arrivals area and fares are cheap. Public bus number 2 departs from the terminal in front of the Departures area every 20 minutes, stopping at the Sokos Hotel Viru and at the old town. Several major car hire firms have offices on the ground floor of the terminal near the exit to the main parking lot.

Many overland travellers get to Tallinn by hydrofoil or catamaran. The most common route runs from Helsinki, Finland, with six operators providing daily service. The city’s expansive high-tech passenger harbour called the Reisisadam contains four terminals and is located just four blocks from the old town.

Coaches run from Latvia’s Riga, Lithuania’s Vilnius, and Russia’s Saint Petersburg, with new services opening up in Germany and Poland. You can arrive by train from a few cities in Russia, Lithuania and Latvia, but rail travel isn’t the ideal way to get here.

The compact old town is best explored on foot, and taxis offer the most convenient means of moving around Tallinn. Taxi drivers have been known to cheat tourists, so make sure the car has a (working) meter and that the driver’s license is displayed. Taxis charge a higher rate at night, so be sure you don’t get charged the evening rate during the day. You can easily call for a taxi as most dispatchers speak English.

In addition, a network of trams, trolleys and buses provide decent public transport in Tallinn from 06:00 to 24:00 every day. If you plan to travel a lot, the Tallin Card can be purchased for a fixed fee and allows for unlimited use of trams, trolleys and buses. In addition, one-day tickets can be bought from newsagents.