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The old city walls, Tallinn...

There's no need to fly to reach Estonia.  You can travel to Estonia by train+ferry via Copenhagen & Stockholm, or by Eurostar and connecting trains to Rostock in Germany then cruise ferry direct to Tallinn, or overland all the way by train+bus via Brussels, Berlin, Warsaw, Vilnius & Riga.  The journey from London to Tallinn takes 3 nights, and is a great adventure with lots to see on the way.

On this page:

London to Tallinn by train & cruise ferry via Copenhagen & Stockholm

London to Tallinn by train & cruise ferry via Berlin, Rostock, Helsinki

London to Tallinn by train & bus via Warsaw

Train service within Estonia

Tallinn-Riga train service

Tallinn-Moscow train service

Tallinn-St Petersburg train or bus service

Sponsored links:

Tallink ferries sail from Stockholm to Tallinn  (picture courtesy of Tallink)

You have three options:

• By train+ferry via Rostock in Germany.  You take Eurostar to Brussels, the overnight sleeper to Berlin and connecting train to Rostock, then the Tallink cruise ferry from Rostock to Helsinki and on to Tallinn.  This is probably the simplest and most comfortable option.  The whole trip takes 3 nights, which includes a day spent exploring Berlin.  Times, fares, information on this option.

• By train+ferry via Copenhagen & Stockholm.  You take DFDS Seaways cruise ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg in Denmark, a train to Copenhagen and on to Stockholm for the overnight Tallink cruise ferry to Tallinn.  This takes 3 nights, including a day exploring wonderful Stockholm.  Don't miss the amazing Vaasa Museum!  Times, fares, information on this option

• Overland all the way by train and bus via Brussels, Berlin, Warsaw, Vilnius and Riga.  This involves long bus journeys in parts of the Baltic states where there are now no trains, and one or two overnight hotel stops making it the longest journey, at least 4 nights.  But you get to see a lot on the way.  Information on this option

If you choose to go via Stockholm, the next choice with whether to travel by DFDS Seaways ferry from the Harwich in Essex to Esbjerg in Denmark, then intercity train to Copenhagen and overnight sleeper to Stockholm, or by train all the way, taking Eurostar to Brussels and onwards trains to Stockholm through Cologne & Copenhagen.  Both these Stockholm options take 3 nights from London to Tallinn.  The journey shown below is the route I'd recommend, via Harwich, Esbjerg and Copenhagen.  For details of the overland Eurostar option between London and Stockholm, see the London to Sweden page.  For London to Tallinn overland via Warsaw, see below.

Option 1:  London to Tallinn via Stockholm...

London ► Tallinn

• Day 1, travel from London to Harwich by train, leaving London Liverpool Street at 14:18 and arriving Harwich 1 hour 25 minutes later.  Harwich International station is right next to the ferry terminal.  The train runs hourly, but this departure gives plenty of time to catch the ferry.  Please double-check times at www.nationalrail.co.uk.

• Day 1, sail from Harwich to Esbjerg in Denmark aboard DFDS Seaways 'Dana Sirena'.  The Dana Sirena sails from Harwich every Wednesday, Friday & Sunday at 18:00 (increased to every second day in June, July & August ), arriving in Esbjerg at 13:00 next day (day 2).  www.dfds.co.uk will confirm sailing dates.  The Dana Sirena is a modern and well-run ship, with comfortable cabins, two restaurants, a bar, coffee shop and lounges, see the photos below.  On arrival at Esbjerg, take a taxi or bus or simply walk to the railway station.  Bus number 5 runs from the ferry terminal to the station every 20 minutes, bus fare 15 Kr adult 8 Kr child.

  If you've a backpack or light luggage, you can easily walk from the ferry terminal to  the pedestrianised town centre in about 10-15 minutes, from where it's another 5-10 minutes walk to the station.  The station is a historic red-brick building, though not very distinctively marked.

• Day 2 afternoon, travel from Esbjerg to Copenhagen by InterCity train, leaving Esbjerg town station at 15:42 and arriving in Copenhagen at 18:53.  The journey is about 175 miles, right across Denmark in air-conditioned comfort.  You can check times for your date of travel at http://bahn.hafas.de.

• Day 2 evening, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm overnight, leaving Copenhagen by frequent Oresund link local train at 21:23 arriving Malmö at 21:58 (these Copenhagen-Malmö local trains run every 20 minutes).  A sleeper train leaves Malmö daily except Saturdays at 23:08 arriving Stockholm at 06:55 next morning (day 3).  You now have a free day in Stockholm.  The sleeper train has seats, couchettes (6 bunk) and sleepers (1 & 2 bed rooms with washbasin).  Alternatively, spend the night in Copenhagen and head for Stockholm the next day.  Regular high speed tilting 'X2000' trains link Copenhagen with Stockholm, check train times at http://bahn.hafas.de.

• Day 3, travel from Stockholm to Tallinn overnight by luxurious cruise ferry with Tallink.  Tallink's ships sail from Stockholm Frihamnen terminal every day at 17:30, arriving in Tallinn at 11:00 next morning (day 4 from London).   A range of comfortable cabins is available.  You can check sailing dates, times and fares at www.tallink.ee.  To reach the Frihamnen terminal in Stockholm, take a transfer bus from the Cityterminal (the bus station next to Stockholm Central Station).  Buses leave at 14:45 and 15:50 to connect with the ship (please check these times with Tallink).  Alternatively, the Frihamnen terminal is an easy 1km walk from Gärdet metro station.  A taxi from Central Station to the terminal will cost about £15.  Map of Tallinn showing ferry terminal.

On board DFDS Seaways from Harwich to Esbjerg...

The Dana Sirena is a modern and well-run ship, built in 2002.  All passengers travel in cabins, and all cabins have a private shower & toilet.  Facilities on board include the 7 Seas buffet restaurant, the Blue Riband à la carte restaurant, Café Lighthouse (with WiFi access for laptops), Columbus Lounge, and shop. The ship is child-friendly, with children's play area, child restraints for cabin berths available from reception, and highchairs available in all restaurants and lounges.  3D virtual tour of the Dana Sirena's cabins, lounges, bars and restaurants.  Cabins come in three classes:

• Seaways class: 1-6 berths with private shower and toilet;

• Sirena class: 1 or 2 berth with private shower and toilet, TV (BBC World, BBC Prime), complimentary minibar, breakfast included;

• Commodore Deluxe: Hotel-style rooms with double bed or two single beds, TV (BBC Prime, BBC World), small sitting area, private shower and toilet.  Commodore cabins are on their own deck with exclusive access to the Commodore Lounge which has sea views, complimentary tea, coffee, snacks, beer and (in the evening) free wine and spirits, PC with internet access and WiFi access if you have your own laptop.  Commodore Deluxe is like travelling to Denmark aboard a floating hotel, highly recommended..!

Crossing the North Sea aboard the Dana Sirena...		Commodore class cabin with double bed.		Sirena class cabin.

On board the Tallink ferry from Stockholm to Tallinn...

Tallinn ► London

• Day 1, sail from Tallinn to Stockholm on the daily Tallink cruise ferry, leaving Tallinn daily at 17:30 and arriving in Stockholm at 10:30 next morning.  A range of comfortable cabins is available.  Spend day 2 exploring Stockholm.

• Day 2, travel from Stockholm to Copenhagen overnight, leaving Stockholm daily except Saturdays at 22:35 by sleeper train and arriving Malmö at 06:42 next morning.  A connecting local train leaves Malmö every 20 minutes, with one at 07:02 arriving Copenhagen at 07:37.  The sleeper train has seats, couchettes (6 bunk) and sleepers (1 & 2 bed rooms).  Alternatively, on Mondays-Saturdays there is a high speed X2000 train leaving Stockholm at 06:20 and arriving Copenhagen at 11:33, allowing you to spend the night in Stockholm and travel next day (day 3) to make a same-day connection to Esbjerg for the ferry to England.  Check times and days of running at http://bahn.hafas.de.

• Day 3, travel from Copenhagen to Esbjerg by modern air-conditioned InterCity train, leaving Copenhagen at 12:30 and arriving Esbjerg at 15:24.  You can check times at http://bahn.hafas.de.  Take a bus or taxi to the ferry terminal, bus number 5 runs from the station to the port every 20 minutes.

• Day 3 evening, sail from Esbjerg to Harwich aboard DFDS 'Dana Sirena', leaving Esbjerg ferry terminal at 19:00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays, arriving Harwich at 11:30 next day (sailings are increased to every second day in June, July & August).  See www.dfds.co.uk for sailing dates.  3D virtual tour of the Dana Sirena's cabins, lounges, bars and restaurants.

• Day 4, travel from Harwich to London by train, leaving Harwich at 13:06 and arriving London Liverpool Street at 14:33.  The train service runs hourly, you can check times at www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Fares

• London to Harwich by train costs £24 return or £21.50 one-way.  Advance reservation isn't necessary, just buy tickets at the station on the day of travel.  Alternatively, if you book with DFDS Seaways by phone, they can sell you a London-Harwich train ticket with your ferry ticket for a special price of £10 one-way or £20 return.

• Harwich to Esbjerg by ferry starts at around £158 return for two people sharing a 2-bed cabin with private toilet and shower (= £79 each) or £147 return for one person with sole use of a cabin.  To check sailing dates, times and fares for different types of cabin, visit www.dfds.co.uk.  DFDS Seaways now has an airline-style pricing system so prices vary, book early and avoid peak times to get the cheapest fares.  Children under 16 travel at reduced fare.  Unfortunately, DFDS won't now let solo passengers share cabins, the whole cabin must be booked.

• Esbjerg to Copenhagen by train costs 297 Kr (£27) one way, 594 Kr (£54) return for adults, or 149 Kr (£14) each way for children and seniors over 65.  Advance reservation is possible but not necessary, and tickets can be bought at the station on the day at those prices.  Alternatively, DFDS can sell you a train ticket with your ferry ticket, at the same prices.

• Copenhagen to Stockholm by sleeper train costs SEK 760 (£56) one-way or SEK 1520 (£112) return per person travelling in 6-bunk couchettes, or SEK 1170 (£87) one-way, SEK 2340 (£174) return per person travelling in a 2-bed sleeper, when booked through SwedenBooking.com.

• Stockholm to Tallinn by ferry:  The fare depends on cabin type and season.  Fares start at around £25 one way, £50 return.  Check fares and book online at www.tallink.ee.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1:  Buy your Harwich-Esbjerg ferry tickets online at www.dfds.co.uk (no booking fee) or by calling DFDS Seaways on 0870 5 333 000 (£10 booking fee for phone bookings).  Phone lines are open 08:30-20:00 Mondays-Fridays, 08:30-17:00 Saturdays, 10:00-16:00 Sundays. 

• You can buy your London-Harwich & Esbjerg-Copenhagen train tickets at the station on the day of travel.  No reservation is necessary, and there's no price advantage in buying tickets in advance.  But if you want to save queuing at the ticket office, you can buy the London-Harwich ticket online at www.nationalrail.co.uk and the Esbjerg-Copenhagen ticket (with seat reservation) at www.dsb.dk, the Danish Railways website.  This is in Danish, but it's not difficult to work out how to use it if you're familiar with the way such booking systems work.  You pay by credit card then print out your own ticket.  remember that Copenhagen in Danish is 'Kobenhavn'.  Alternatively, if you book by phone, DFDS can add both UK and Esbjerg-Copenhagen tickets to your ferry fare, including making a seat reservation on the Esbjerg-Copenhagen train.  Ask DFDS about special cheap train fares from other UK stations to Harwich, too.

• Step 2:  Buy the Malmö-Stockholm sleeper tickets online at www.bokatag.se.  You buy online and pick up your tickets from the vending machines at Malmö station.  Bookings open 90 days before departure.  Look for the 'just-nu' special offer fares, 'just-nu' is the name for Swedish Railways non-refundable advance-purchase cheap deals.  A ticket for the connecting Copenhagen-Malmö local train can easily be bought at the ticket office for a few krone, when you get to Copenhagen.  Alternatively, you can buy Malmö-Stockholm tickets by email with www.swedenbooking.com, email info@swedenbooking.com or call + 46 498 203380.  Tickets can be posted to UK addresses, or tickets can be picked up by entering your booking reference into the automatic machines at stations in Sweden, including at Malmö and Stockholm stations.  The fares shown above include Swedenbooking's 10% surcharge over Swedish Railways' prices, and they also charge an SEK 100 (£7) booking fee.

• Step 3:  Buy the Stockholm-Tallinn ferry tickets online at www.tallink.ee.

Don't fly to Estonia, cruise there..!  The Tallink ship from Rostock to Tallinn, with cabins, bars, restaurants, sauna and health club.  Photo courtesy of Superfast Ferries, who originally marketed this service.

Option 2:  London to Tallinn via Rostock...

London ► Tallinn

• Day 1, travel from London to Brussels by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 18:35 (18:31 on Saturdays & Sundays), arriving Brussels 21:33.

• Day 1 evening, travel from Brussels to Berlin by sleeper train, leaving Brussels at 23:41 and arriving at Berlin (Hauptbahnhof) at 08:13 next morning.  The Brussels-Berlin overnight train is one of the German Railway's excellent City Night Line sleeper trains.  It has brand-new sleeping-cars (1, 2 & 3-berth deluxe rooms with private shower and toilet, 1, 2 & 3-berth standard rooms with washbasin, shower at the end of the corridor, all rooms with power points for mobiles & laptop computers), modern air-conditioned couchettes (choose between a berth in a 4- or 6-berth compartment), ordinary seats (not recommended) and a bistro-restaurant car.   Inclusive fares are charged covering travel plus sleeping accommodation.  The sleeping-car fare includes a light breakfast in the restaurant car.  Click for more pictures and information about this train.

• Day 2, spend some time seeing Berlin, then take a train from Berlin to Rostock in northern Germany.  The train takes around 3 hours, there are regular departures through the day, you can check train times at http://bahn.hafas.de.   In Rostock, either take a taxi from the station to the port, or use the Tallink transfer bus which leaves Rostock Hauptbahnhof at 21:30 (the bus stop is in front of the InterCity Hotel).  You must reach the terminal no later than 22:30, as this is when the last boarding for foot passengers takes place.

• Day 2 evening, board the daily Tallink cruise ferry from Rostock to Helsinki & Tallinn.  Boarding starts at 21:30, and you sleep the night on board.  The ship actually sails from Rostock next morning (day 3) at 05:00 (04:30 on Sundays), calls at Helsinki (arrive 06:00, depart either 08:30 or 09:00) and arrives in Tallinn on day 4 at 11:15.  The ship is fast, modern, and has a full range of cabins, bars, restaurants, cinema, children's play areas, and a health club with sauna and jacuzzi.  It calls at Helsinki on the way to drop off passengers for Finland.  You can check details at www.tallinksilja.com/en/.  Note that although the ship actually sails right through from Rostock to Tallinn, the service is shown on the Tallink website as two separate services, Rostock-Helsinki- & Helsinki-Tallinn.  Map of Tallinn showing ferry terminal.

Tallinn ► London

• Day 1, sail from Tallinn via Helsinki to Rostok in Germany on the luxurious Tallink cruise ferry, leaving Tallinn daily at 15:30, calling at Helsinki (arrive 17:45, depart 20:15) and arriving in Rostok at 20:15 just over 24 hours later (day 2).  The ship is fast, modern, and has a full range of cabins, bars, restaurants, cinema, children's play areas, and a health club with sauna and jacuzzi.  It picks up passengers in Helsinki on the way.  Spend the night in  a hotel in Rostock.

• Day 3, take a train from Rostock to Berlin.  The train takes around 3 hours, there are regular departures through the day, you can check train times at http://bahn.hafas.de.

• Day 3, travel from Berlin to Brussels by excellent City Night Line sleeper train, leaving Berlin Hauptbahnhof at 21:26 and arriving Brussels at 06:11 next morning.  This train has ordinary seats (not recommended), couchettes (4-bunk or 6-bunk) and brand-new sleeping-cars (1, 2 or 3-berth standard rooms with washbasin or deluxe rooms with private shower & toilet, highly recommended), plus a bistro-restaurant car.  Breakfast is included in the fare for sleeper passengers.  Click for more pictures and information about this train.

• Day 4, travel from Brussels to London by Eurostar.  On Mondays to Saturdays, a Eurostar leaves Brussels at 06:59 arriving London St Pancras at 07:55.  On Sundays, a Eurostar leaves Brussels at 07:59 arriving London at 08:56.

Fares

• London to Berlin by Eurostar+sleeper train starts at around £79 one-way or £159 return including a couchette in a 6-bunk compartment, assuming German Railways special combined fare is available.  For full details of fares in each type of seat, couchette and sleeper, see the London to Germany page.

• Berlin to Rostock costs around 33 euros (£25) one-way, 66 euros (£50) return.

• Rostock to Tallinn by Tallink ferry starts at 107 euros (£73) one-way or 190 euros (£130) return in an airline-style reclining seat or 196 euros (£135) one-way, 327 euros (£225) return with a berth in a 4-berth cabin.  For details of prices in each type of cabin, including 2-berth cabins and deluxe suites, see www.tallinksilja.com/en/.

How to buy tickets

• London-Berlin-Rostock train tickets:  The best people to call to buy your London-Berlin-Rostock tickets are UK's Deutsche Bahn office, on 08718 80 80 66.  Lines open 09:00-17:00 Mon-Fri.  Alternatively, call www.europeanrail.com, although a booking fee (about £20) applies.

• Rostock-Helsinki-Tallinn ferry ticket:  The best way to book is by phone with Tallink's UK agents, DFDS Seaways, on 0870 333111.  Phone lines are open 08:30-20:00 Mondays-Fridays, 08:30-17:00 Saturdays, 10:00-16:00 Sundays.  If you speak German (or are handy with the language tools at www.google.co.uk), you can book the ferry online at the German version of Tallink's website, www.tallinksilja.com/de/, but this online booking system isn't currently available in English.  You can also book by email or phone direct with Tallink through Tallink's English-language international website, www.tallinksilja.com/en/.

Option 3:  London to Tallinn overland via Brussels - Berlin - Warsaw - Vilnius - Riga:

The overland option from London to Tallinn via Brussels, Berlin, Warsaw, Vilnius and Riga takes about 4½ days.  It can only be booked from the UK as far as Warsaw, where you will need to buy a ticket for Vilnius, then you will need to re-book again in Vilnius for the bus or train to Riga and in Riga for the bus to Tallinn.  See the London to Latvia page for information on the journey from London as far as Riga.  Riga and Tallinn are linked by regular buses, taking 5 hours and costing about £10 - see www.eurolines.ee and www.eurolines.lv for times and fares.

Local trains run by Edelaraudtee link Tallinn with many Estonian towns, including Pärnu, Viljandi, Valga, Tapa & Tartu.  For times & fares, see www.edel.ee - the English version is just one rather useless page, so leave it in Estonian and click 'Soiduplaanid ja hinnad' top left, then click ''Põhisõiduplaanid tabelitena' on the left.  For a route map, click 'Kaart' at the top.

The website www.elektriraudtee.ee only has info for the suburban electric trains to the Tallinn suburbs.

Tallinn ▶ Riga by bus...

Tallinn is linked to Riga by regular Eurolines bus with a number of departures daily.  Journey time is about 5 hours, fare about 230 Krooni (£10 or $18).  See www.eurolines.ee and www.eurolines.lv.  These two Eurolines website show slightly different buses, so you'll need to visit both!

Tallinn ▶ Riga by train...

It's possible to travel from Tallinn to Riga by train if you don't mind spending the day on a couple of local trains. 

• Travel from Tallinn to Valga by train, leaving Tallinn at 06:40 and arriving in the town of Valga, right next to the Latvian frontier, at 12:19.  The fare is 125 Krooni (£6 or $13), and you can pay on the train.  You can also take the 07:46 train from Tallinn, although this involves a change at Tartu (arrive 10:09, depart 13:26) arriving Valga at 15:36.  You can check times for this Estonian train at www.edel.ee (only in Estonian, click 'Sõiduplaanid ja -hinnad' at the top left,  then 'Põhisõiduplaanid tabelitena' on the left, and note that Tallinn-Valga is shown in two separate timetables, Tallinn-Tartu & Tartu-Valga).  For a network map, click 'kaart' at the top.  Wikipedia entry on Valga.

• Travel from Valga to Riga by train.  This is now easier, as from April 2008 the Latvian train service from Lugaži to Riga has been extended 4km across the border to start in Valga.  The 17:33 train from Valga will get you to Riga at 20:39.  The fare is 2.29 Lats (£2.60 or $5), it can also be bought on board the train.  The dstance is 168 km.  You can check times for the Latvian train at www.ldz.lv, though you'll have to use it in Latvian - click 'Pasažieru pārvadājumi' at the top, then in the list below, click 'Vilcienu kustības saraksts maršrutā Valga-Lugaži-Valmiera-Sigulda-Rīga'.  For a network map, click 'Maršrutu shēma'.

• For the return Riga-Tallinn train service, see the Latvia page.

Tallinn ▶ Moscow by train...

There is a safe and comfortable overnight train between Tallinn & Moscow run by GoRail (www.gorail.ee, formerly EVR Ekspress).  The 'Tallinna Ekspress' (pictured right) runs daily, with 1st class 'Spalny Wagon' 2-berth compartments, 2nd class 'kupé' 4-berth compartments, ordinary seats and a restaurant car.

Tallinn ► Moscow				Moscow ► Tallinn
"Tallinna Ekspress"		Daily		"Tallinna Ekspress"		Daily
Tallinn	depart	17:10		Moscow (Leningradski)	depart	18:05
Moscow (Leningradski)	arrive	09:20		Tallinn	arrive	08:27

On board accommodation:  'Spalny vagon' 2-berth sleepers, 'kupe' 4-berth sleepers, reclining seats, restaurant car.

Fare:  Tallinn-Moscow costs around 650 kroons (£35 or $70) in a reclining seat (not recommended), 1,300 kroons (£65 or $130) one-way travelling in a 2nd class 4-berth sleeper (recommended for most travellers), or 2,500 kroons (£130 or $260) in a 1st class 2-berth sleeper.

How to buy tickets:  It's easy to buy tickets at the station in Tallinn or Moscow.  However, to book Tallinn-Moscow tickets in advance from outside Estonia, try GoRail's associated travel agency, www.gotravel.ee (click 'transportation' at top right, then click 'train').  If you book through them, please let me know how you get on.  Alternatively, you can email your booking request direct to GoRail at reisid@gorail.ee, and pick up the tickets (and pay for them) at the station in Tallinn.  The catch is that you have to pick up and pay for the tickets within 7 days, so unless you make a special plea it won't allow you to book a month ahead.   To pre-book tickets starting in Moscow, try a Russian agency such as www.realrussia.co.uk, www.sv-agency.udm.ru, www.hostels.ru, or www.waytorussia.net.

How to use the GoRail website:  You can check times and fares at www.gorail.ee, though there's no online booking.  The English version isn't very useful, so leave it in Estonian.  'Sõiduplaanid' means timetable, 'Piletihinnad' means prices.  On the prices page, 'Istevagun' means seat, 'kupee' means 4-berth sleeper, 'SV' means 2-berth sleeper.

Tallinn ▶ St Petersburg by train...

There is now once again a safe and convenient overnight sleeper train between Tallinn and St Petersburg.  It's the ideal way to travel between these cities and a far better option than a cramped bus seat for hour after hour.  You may have heard that the original overnight train was withdrawn in 2004, a victim of bus competition, but a new daytime train was introduced in March 2007 which has now itself been replaced an overnight train once more, from October 2007.  It is run by GoRail (www.gorail.ee, formerly EVR Ekspress), see www.gorail.ee for more information, although the main pages of this site are currently only in Estonian or Russian.

Tallinn ► St Petersburg				St Petersburg ► Tallinn
From 27 October 2007...		Daily		From 27 October 2007...		Daily
Tallinn	depart	22:24		St Petersburg (Vitebski)	depart	21:50
St Petersburg (Vitebski)	arrive	07:26		Tallinn	arrive	06:28

On board accommodation:  'Kupe' 4-berth sleepers (recommended) & ordinary seats.  There are no 2-berth sleepers on the St Petersburg route.

Fare:  Tallinn-St Petersburg costs around 650 kroons (£34 or $68) with a berth in a 4-berth 'kupe' sleeper, or 350 kroons (£18 or $36) in a seat.

How to buy tickets:  It's easy to buy tickets at the station in Tallinn or St Petersburg, but to book Tallinn-Moscow tickets in advance from outside Estonia, try GoRail's associated travel agency, www.gotravel.ee (click 'transportation' at top right, then click 'train').  If you book through them, please let me know how you get on.  To pre-book tickets starting in St Petersburg, try a Russian agency such as www.realrussia.co.uk, www.sv-agency.udm.ru, www.hostels.ru, or www.waytorussia.net.

How to use the GoRail website:  You can check times and fares at www.gorail.ee, though there's no online booking.  The English version isn't very useful, so leave it in Estonian.  'Sõiduplaanid' means timetable, 'Piletihinnad' means prices.  On the prices page, 'Istevagun' means seat, 'kupee' means 4-berth sleeper, 'SV' means 2-berth sleeper.

For direct trains between London and Moscow or St Petersburg, see the London to Russia page.

Tallinn ▶ Helsinki by ferry...

Tallinn is linked to Helsinki by a variety of shipping lines, operating both conventional ships (2½ hours) and fast ferry (1½ hours).  Services run  daily.  Operators include Tallink, Silja Line, Nordic Jet Line, Eckero Line, Linda Line.

The Thomas Cook European timetable has train & ferry times for every country in Europe, plus currency & climate information.  Published since 1873 and costing £13.50, it's essential for any serious traveller and an inspiration for armchair travellers.  More information on what the Thomas Cook Timetable contains.  You can buy the latest monthly edition online at www.thomascooktimetables.com with worldwide delivery, or buy it in person from any UK branch of Thomas Cook (ask at the bureau de change).  Or buy the independent traveller's edition from Amazon.co.uk:  Winter 2007/8 edition (December 2007 to June 2008) or Summer 2008 edition (June to December 2008). 

The Thomas Cook Rail Map of Europe is the best and most comprehensive map of train routes right across Europe, from Portugal in the west to Istanbul, Moscow & Ukraine in the east, from Finland in the north to Sicily & Crete in the south.  High speed & scenic routes are highlighted.  Highly recommended!  Buy online at www.amazon.co.uk (worldwide delivery).  See an extract from the map.

make sure you invest in a good guidebook.  For the serious independent traveller this means either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide.  Both books provide a similarly excellent level of practical detail and cultural and historical background.  You won't regret buying one..!

Click the images to buy online at Amazon.co.uk...

Or buy direct from the Lonely Planet website, with shipping worldwide.

Find a hotel in Tallinn or anywhere in Estonia, Lithuania or Latvia...

It's easy to book hotels in Tallinn to go with your train and ferry tickets, but there are almost too many hotel booking websites to choose from.  The answer is to use www.hotelscombined.com, just use the search form below.  This is not a hotel booking website, but a free search tool which searches all the main hotel booking sites for you (Expedia, Travelocity, LateRooms, Opodo, Venere and many others) to find the cheapest hotel rates on the net.  Set up in 2005, it's an amazing system and probably the best place to start for booking any hotel online in any country, worldwide.  Alternatively, try the Tallinn page on www.venere.com.

Search all major hotel booking sites at once...

Powered by Hotels Combined

Compare quotes from both Direct Line & Columbus...

Travel insurance..

Travel insurance is a boring subject, but it's a real necessity, so make sure you budget for it.  Make sure you get adequate cover - for example, at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover, from a reliable insurer.  Remember that an annual multi-trip policy is often cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just two or three trips a year.  Here are some suggested insurers to try.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy after clicking these links.

  If you live in the UK, get quotes from Direct Line (whom I've used myself) and Columbus Direct.

      If you live in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try Columbus Direct Australia.

  If you live in the USA or Canada, try Travel Guard USA.

EU health card...

UK citizens travelling in Europe should carry a European Health Insurance Card.  This replaces the old E111 forms as from January 2006.  The EHIC card is available free from www.ehic.org.uk and entitles you to free or reduced rate health care if you become ill or get injured in many European countries, under a reciprocal arrangement with the UK's NHS.

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