Estonia train ticket prices and rail passes in Estonia: find information on how you can purchase them, their validity, and if they are worth to buy.

Are you traveling to Estonia and want to explore the country by train? This guide cover all the aspects on traveling by railways in this Baltic country.

Trains in Estonia

First of all, it’s important to stress that Estonia, together with the Baltic states, fits itself in a very specific category of railway transport in Europe because of history and demographics. Two main factors are crucial in the current state of railway transport in Estonia:

• • Estonia was part of the Soviet Union, and most of its railway network was built in that period. Therefore, the only international rail lines from Estonia go to Russia. There are plans to interconnect the Baltic States by rail, but so far, it’s not happening very soon.
  • Estonia’s population is extremely low, with just 1.3 milion people, that influences a lot on its transport network, and it’s frequencies.

This two factors allowed the bus industry to be earn a good chunk of the transport market in Estonia, and it’s also important to notice the presence of maritime transport, as Estonia’s strategic position on the Baltic sea allows it to have direct passengers ferries to Finland, Russia and Sweden.

Most of the domestic trains running in Estonia are pretty new. While you could still travel with some more “classic” trains, as of 2020, it is not the case.

Train Ticket Prices in Estonia

The two most obvious routes you are more likely to travel in / from Estonia are Tallinn to Saint Petersburg (or Moscow) in Russia and Tallinn to Tartu (the two most important cities in Estonia).
Tallinn to Saint Petersburg (6 – 7 hour ride): Seats as low as €21 euros, and a bed in the sleeping car will set you back €67
Tallinn to Moscow (17 – 18 hour ride): Seats as low as €50 euros, and a bed will cost €144.
You can buy tickets for these journeys on the website of Russian railways.
Tallinn to Tartu (2 hour ride): a Tallinn Tartu ticket will cost around €10. Domestic trains in Estonia are operated by the company Elron and you can buy their tickets clicking here to visit their website.

Railway Passes in Estonia

Both Eurail and Interrail passes are not valid to travel with trains or buses in the territory of Estonia, but you can take good advantages to use a number of ferry companies that operate to Estonia and are taking part in these rail passes programs:

Interrail and Eurail – Tallink:
Helsinki – Tallinn
Stockholm – Tallinn
Eurail pass holders get a 40% discount in low season and a 20% discount in high season when reserving a cabin in the category A – C.
Port taxes do not apply to the offer. Please check the Tallink Silja website for the exact dates of the high and low season as these can vary depending on the route.

Interrail – Viking Line:
Interrail pass holders get a 50% discount on deck prices.
Overall Estonia train ticket prices are quite affordable for European standards. However, it’s very small network can be not so exciting. You probably might end up using a different type of transport to get around in Estonia.

Click here to buy ferry tickets from Helsinki to Tallinn on DirectFerries.

Hotels in Tallinn

Tallink Express Hotel – If you are arriving via the Port of Tallinn, this property is extremely convenient. It is located a short walk from the port’s terminals, and has also a restaurant.

The von Stackelberg Hotel Tallinn – This is a great option if you want to enjoy Tallinn old town to the fullest. Its renovated premises are established in a building from the XIX century.

Other Resources for Traveling in the Baltic States

If you are visiting the Baltic States you may also be interested in the best places to stay in Riga and where to stay in Saint Petersburg.  You can also check the best places to visit in the Baltic States. Check also how to get from Tallinn to Helsinki.