OVERVIEW

Estonia, a country of great scenic beauty with many forests, lakes and islands, is bordered by the Baltic Sea, the Russian Federation and Latvia. Tallinn, the ancient Hanseatic city and capital, has many historical and architectural monuments, particularly in the old town center which is dominated by the steeple of the medieval Town Hall (14th – 15th centuries), the oldest in northern Europe. Two hours' drive from Tallinn is Pärnu, a small 13th-century town on the banks of the Pärnu River. Known as a seaport and health resort, its attractions include a theater and a 3km-long (2 mile) sandy beach. Haapsalu, a small town on the western coast, has been a well-known resort since the 19th century, featuring romantic wooden houses and tree-lined avenues. Lahemaa National Park, is extremely popular. It contains mostly virgin forest with beautiful lakes, rivers, fishing villages and historic manor houses. Local specialties include sült (jellied veal) and rosolje (vinaigrette with herring and beets). Tallinn has a wide range of restaurants, cafes and bars. Opera, ballet and classical music performances are given regularly.

Social Conventions
Handshaking is customary. Normal courtesies should be observed. The Estonians are proud of their culture and their national heritage, and visitors should take care to respect this sense of national identity.

Tipping
Taxi fares and restaurant bills include a tip.

International Travel:

Air
Estonia’s national airline is Estonian Air (OV), which operates six direct flights a week (everyday except Saturday) between Gatwick and Tallinn. For more information, contact the Estonian Air office in the UK (tel: (020) 7333 0196; fax: (020) 7333 0068);. Aeroflot, Air Baltic, Finnair, Lithuanian Airlines and SAS also operate flights to Tallinn. Flights to Tallinn via Moscow, Helsinki, Riga or Stockholm are available from all major European cities. Connections to the USA are via Helsinki and New York or Los Angeles.

Approximate flight times
From Tallinn to London is approximately three hours, to Frankfurt/M is approximately two hours 30 minutes, to Los Angeles is approximately 22 hours (via Helsinki), and to New York is approximately 13 hours 30 minutes (via Helsinki).

International airports
Tallinn (TLL) is located 5km (3 miles) northwest of the city. Buses run between the city and the airport (travel time – 15 minutes). A shuttle bus to the main hotels and the city center meets all flights. Taxis are also available. The airport facilities include banks/bureaux de change, duty-free shops, shops, post office, restaurants, two business lounges, tourist information and car hire (Avis, Baltic, Budget, Europcar, Finest, Hertz, National and Sixt).

Departure tax
None.

Sea
Ferries operated by Eckerö Line , Silja Line and Tallink and run several times a day between Helsinki (Finland) and Tallinn (travel time – 3 hours 45 minutes). Express catamarans (operated by Nordic Jet, Silja Line and Tallink AutoExpress) and hydrofoils (operated by Lindaline) also ply this route (travel time – 1 hour 45 minutes). Express services run only in the high season. Tallink operates daily from Stockholm (Sweden) to Tallinn (travel time – 11 hours). Silja Line operates ferries from Tallinn to Rostock (Germany) in high season (travel time – 21 hours).

Rail
Estonian Railways (Eesti Raudtee) is underdeveloped, although there is a route on the EVR Express between St Petersburg (Russian Federation) and Talinn. There is no longer a train route between Estonia and Latvia. Travel is slower than by bus. Children up to seven years may travel free if accompanied by an adult and not taking a separate seat.

Road
There are direct routes along the Baltic coast into Latvia, Lithuania and Kaliningrad, and also east into the Russian Federation. Routes into the Baltic states are via Poland and Belarus or Poland and Lithuania; border points: Terespol (Poland) – Brest (Belarus) and Ogrodniki (Poland) – Lazdijai (Lithuania). Bus: Long-distance services run regularly to Riga, Vilnius, Kaliningrad and St Petersburg. Eurolines, 4 Cardiff Road, Luton, Bedfordshire LU1 1PP, UK (tel: (08705) 143 219; fax: (01582) 400 694; operate to other European cities, including Berlin, Hamburg, Kiel, Kyiv, Minsk, Moscow, Oslo, Riga, St Petersburg and Warsaw.

The following goods may be imported into Estonia without incurring customs duty, by persons aged 18 or over:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; 1l of alcohol over 22 per cent or 2l of alcohol up to 22 per cent and 2l of wine; 10kg of foodstuffs.

Note
Restrictions apply to certain items, including plants and vegetable products, firearms, diamonds and antiques. Contact the authorities for further information (tel: (6) 967 436;

Abolition of duty free goods within the EU
On June 30 1999, the sale of duty free alcohol and tobacco at airports and at sea was abolished in all of the original 15 EU member states. Of the 10 new member states that joined the EU on May 1 2004, these rules already apply to Cyprus and Malta. There are transitional rules in place for visitors returning to one of the original 15 EU countries from one of the other new EU countries. But for the original 15, plus Cyprus and Malta, there are now no limits imposed on importing tobacco and alcohol products from one EU country to another (with the exceptions of Denmark, Finland and Sweden, where limits are imposed). Travelers should note that they may be required to prove at customs that the goods purchased are for personal use only.

Internal Travel:

Air
There are domestic flights from Tallinn to the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa (this service does not operate during the winter).

Sea/River
Frequent ferry services connect the mainland with the larger islands, and boats operate on Lake Peipsi and the Emajõgi River.

Rail
The rail system is underdeveloped but most major cities are connected to the network. Rail services to Tartu take about three hours (express trains 2 hours 30 minutes) from Tallinn.

Road
Estonia has a high density of roads although there are few major highways. Signs are not illuminated and fairly small, so driving at night is best avoided. Car headlights must be used 24 hours a day. Lead-free and 4-star petrol are now widely available and a good network of petrol stations (many of them open 24 hours) has been developed. Payment is in local currency or by credit card. Traffic drives on the right. The minimum driving age is 18. Bus: There is a wide network covering most of the country, including express services. Prices are very low and buses are still the most important means of transport. Taxi: Private taxis must display the name of the company and their number on the roof. Fares should be agreed upon beforehand. Marshrut-taxis are minibuses which operate on fixed routes stopping on request. They can take up to 10 people. Car hire: Can be arranged at the airport or in Tallinn. Regulations: Speed limits are 120kph (74mph) on some roads in summer, 90kph (55mph) outside built-up areas and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. The consumption of alcohol while driving is strictly forbidden. Documentation: EU nationals should be in possession of an EU or national driving license and insurance.

Urban
Taxis in Tallinn are inexpensive. All parts of the city can also be reached by bus, trolley-bus and tram. Tickets can be bought in stalls in the main shopping areas.

Geography
Estonia is the most northerly of the three Baltic Republics and is bordered to the north and west by the Baltic Sea, to the east by the Russian Federation and to the south by Latvia. The country is one of great scenic beauty with many forests, more than 1400 lakes and 1500 islands. Smaller than Lithuania and Latvia, it has nevertheless the longest coastline of all the Baltic States.