RIPE 54 Information for Travellers

Arriving by Air

Tallinn airport is around four kilometres from the city centre and five kilometres from the harbour and old town area where our meeting venue is situated. The airport caters for both domestic and international flights. The easiest way to get from the airport to the meeting venue is to either travel by bus or take a taxi.

Travel by Bus from the Airport

You should get bus number two from the stop in front of the terminal. It leaves every 20 minutes between 07:00 and midnight. The ticket costs 15 EEK (approx. 1 euro). You can buy tickets from the driver and from the R-kiosk in the terminal. The bus will drop you on Laikmaa Street, between the Tallink Hotel and the Viru Centre - a shopping centre that is attached to the Sokos Hotel Viru (our meeting venue).

Travel by Taxi from the Airport

There is a taxi stand at the airport, just outside the arrivals hall. The fare from the airport to the meeting venue is about 55 EEK (approx 3.5 euros).

Visas and Passports

Nationals of EU and EEA member states are free to enter Estonia. The required travel document for entry is a national ID card or passport.

Nationals of the following countries do not need a visa to enter Estonia, and can stay for up to 90 days in any  six-month period: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, USA, Uruguay, Venezuela. The required travel document for entry is a valid passport.

Citizens of South Africa can enter Estonia, if they hold a visa for Latvia or Lithuania.

Citizens of countries NOT mentioned above require a visa to enter Estonia. It can take up to 30 days to obtain a visa, so please ensure you apply in plenty of time.

Visitors arriving in Estonia with visa must have national passports valid at least three months after their planned departure from Estonia.

For more specific information, please contact the nearest Estonian consulate or embassy, or check the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website.

Currency and Banking

National currency: Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 cents
Fixed exchange rate: 1 EUR= 15.65 EEK. Exchange rates

Credit Cards are accepted by most larger hotels, stores and restaurants. However, it is advisable to have some Estonian kroons with you.

Travellers' Cheques can be exchanged in most banks but are less likely to be accepted in shops.

Banks are plentiful and easy to find in Tallinn. Most are open from 9:00 to 18:00 on weekdays, while some offices are also open on Saturday mornings. All banks offer currency exchange services. Exchange offices can also be found in larger hotels, the airport, harbour, railroad station and major shopping centres.

Tipping is not a common practice, but there is a growing trend to leave tips in restaurants; generally 5-10% of the bill according to level of service. Some places do include a service charge. Taxi drivers appreciate the spare change.

Electricity

The current is 220 volts AC, 50 Hz, European-style two-pin plugs are in use.

Weather

The climate in Tallinn is characterised by a fairly cold winter, a cool spring with little precipitation, a moderately warm summer and a long and rainy autumn. You can find a local weather forecast at: http://www.weather.ee/tallinn 

General Information

Estonia is in the Eastern European Time Zone: UTC + 2 hours.

Estonian's official language is Estonian. Russian, Finnish, English and German are also understood and widely spoken.

Internet Access

As well as being able to access the Internet through our network during the meeting, you might be interested to know that public Internet access points have been set up all over Estonia. They are located in local libraries and post offices. There are over 100 free wireless Internet zones around the country, many of them in rather unexpected places - beaches, Old Town squares, stadiums, and concert halls.

Emergency Telephone Numbers

In case of accident or illness, call for an ambulance free-of-charge from any phone: 112.

You can call the police free-of-charge call from any phone: 110.