Tourism in Estonia - How to Shop Tax Free

If you are traveler residing in a non-EU country, you can get back the VAT (18% in Estonia) payed when you bring your purchased items back home. When buying something big, like electronics, this can be a big discount!

First, if you want the money back, make sure you buy your item in a store with the "TAX FREE" sign, and ask for the shop to fill a Refund Cheque! (You might need to show your passport for filling the form)

Second, when leaving Estonia, or leaving EU, show your purchases, receipt and passport to a Customs Office and get your refund Cheque stamped. (Can be done before or after check-in in airports).

Last, show your Stamped Refund Cheque and passport to a Refund Office before leaving EU (usually every international airport has one) and ask for the credit in your credit card or the refund in cash! (If you want cash, you can get the amount converted to the local currency, or in Euros).

Easy! But there's some tricks. You have 3 months after the purchase to ask for the refund, and there's a minimum purchase value for asking the tax refund. For Estonia, this value is 2000 eek (around 180 U$D).

Have you ever got your tax money back? Was it easy? Add your info in the comments!

Traveling to Estonia - By Land II

Estonia has a good rail system, and is connected to Russia and (not directly) to Latvia. If you are coming from Russia, why not take a comfortable overnight train to Tallinn, specially when the Rail station (Balti jaam) is located in front of the Old Town, providing you a beautiful view on arrival.

Go Rail
Estonian rail company, daily trains from Tallinn to St. Petersburg and Moscow. The website (in Estonian and Russian) has timetables and prices, but you can buy tickets only at the rail station. To find good seats, you need to book the tickets in advance (specially if its near weekends or holidays). The train has different seat categories, and prices varies during the seasons, starting at 300 eek (Tallinn - St. Petersburg) or 600 eek (Tallinn - Moscow).


So, with all this options (by Air, Land, or Sea), what is the best way to get to Estonia? Tell us about your experiences in the comments.

Traveling to Estonia - By Sea

Estonia has connections with many countries by the Baltic Sea, with very nice and calm boat trips to many cities (sometimes a little rough and bumpy in autumn). You can bring also your car or motorcycle, if you would like to drive around Estonia (many Finnish come with their motor-homes).
Tallinn Port (Tallinna Sadam) is located quite in the city center, with a beautiful view to the Old Town. In their website you can find more information about ferry companies and timetables. Usually, you can book and buy tickets for ferries in their company websites or in travel agencies all around Estonia.

Tallink
Estonian company that operates ferries between Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Latvia and Germany. Unfortunately, website only in Estonian language, but there you can book the tickets and find discounts and season-offers, which are great (like a day-cruise from Tallinn to Stockholm for 500 eek). But you can always go to their office or call and talk in English.

Viking Line
A Finnish company that has ferries between Tallinn and Helsinki, part of a bigger network that offers 5 Ferry routes to Estonia from Sweden, Finland, Germany and Russia. Website in English and Estonian.

Eckeroline
A smaller Finnish company that has ferries between Tallinn and Helsinki, and cheaper prices (my local friends who travel frequently to Finland usually take this one). Website in English and Estonian.

Traveling to Estonia - By Land

If you don't live so far from Estonia, or you want to appreciate the landscape of a road travel, you can come to Estonia by the freshly renovated European roads. :)
Estonia has land borders with Russia and Latvia, so check your route to avoid crossing borders unnecessarily.

By Bus

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- Eurolines
European bus travel network, connects 500 cities in Europe. Very good service, you can buy tickets in bus stations or by their website. Prices are not always cheaper than train or plane, but offers discounts for seniors, students, children and groups.

- EcoLines
A Latvian bus travel network that connects 145 cities in Europe. With less lines to Estonia, but different time tables, and sometimes cheaper prices.

By Car

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If you like to drive, Estonia is not far away from you! You can take a ferry from Finland, Germany or Sweden (maybe Norway and Denmark also), and then drive your way in the Baltic countries. If you have a motor-home, or just like to drive in your vacations, its a good idea (specially in summer, because in winter, expect to use winter tires and very slow and slippery roads).

Some friends traveled from Spain to Estonia, in 2 winter days (almost) non-stop driving! Crossing France, sleeping in Germany, crossing Poland, trying (unsuccessfully) to get a shortcut from Belarus (remember that so far Europeans need visa to enter there) and all way up the Baltics to Tartu, the city of good thoughts!

So, do you have a good driving route to Estonia? Let me know in the comments!

Would you like to visit Estonia ? :)

I will not try to explain what is Estonia,
perhaps you should see with your own eyes... ;)



Rafael Karamázov - Brazil

Traveling to Estonia - By Plane II

So, you want to come to Estonia, but using a more adventurous route?

Why not come from one of the neighbors countries? Now that Estonia is in Schengen, you can travel to Helsinki or Riga (cities with bigger Airports) and then come to Estonia easily.


Finland

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Helsinki is separated only by 80 kilometers of Baltic sea from Tallinn (some say that on bright summer days, one can see Helsinki from Tallinn TV Tower) and the Vantaa Airport has very good connections with many cities in the world. Like in Tallinn, Port of Helsinki is very close to the city center, with great transport service. Finland use Euros, and you can easily communicate in English with anyone. Just remember that Finland has Nordic prices (more expensive than the Baltics).

- FinnAir
The biggest Finnish Airline, with good prices and service. Offers destinations to North America (New York and Toronto), Europe and Asia.


Latvia

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Riga, considered the hub of Baltics, is around 300Km from Tallinn. There you find more airlines (and more low cost airlines). But pay attention to some details:
- Latvia currency is Lats (1 Lat is aproximately 1.5 Euro).
- It's harder to get by with only English in Latvia (speaking Russian helps);
- Riga has a Bus Station right next to the city center, but the Riga Airport is not so close. You have to go by bus or taxi (and it can get expensive);

- Air Baltic
The biggest Latvian Airline, with good prices and service. Connects Riga to more than 50 cities in Africa, Asia and Europe (also many cities in Russia).

- Ryan Air
A Irish low cost Airline that connects Riga with some European cities like London, Milan, Frankfurt and Stockholm. You can find tickets for 1 euro (plus taxes), but be careful with traps, like extra luggage.


So, here you are! With more choices, you can enjoy a different trip, and spending some time at the neighbors capitals you should be able to answer: Estonia looks more like a Baltic country,or a Nordic country?

Traveling to Estonia - By Plane

If you want to come to Estonia by plane, Tallinn has an airport (called Tallinna Lennujaam) very close to the city center (4km), with very fast connections by city bus or taxis to the city center! If it's your first time, it might be the best choice. Plus, the airport has free wireless internet! :)

- Estonian Air
The National Airlines flies from Tallinn to many European capitals and cities.
In the website (in Estonian, English and Russian) you can book and pay with local bank cards or international credit cards. Prices are good if you book in advance, and you can have a interesting taste of Estonia, with blond flight attendants, surrounded by Estonian language.

- EasyJet
A British low cost Airline that connects Tallinn with daily flights to London (£19.99) and Berlin (€19.99).
It's cheap, but with some gotchas: Hand luggage price not included (cost by piece); Extra luggage (more than 20kg) is veeery expensive (cost by extra kilo, watch out!); Payment adds extra costs (if you can, pay with visa debit cards, it's cheaper).
The website, and the whole service, is done in almost all European languages, and don't be surprised if you find a flight attendant that speaks your language.

There are more airlines working in Tallinn, like the Finnish Finnair, Latvian Air Baltic, Dutch KLM and German Lufthansa, but it all depends where you are coming from, and what you want. If you are looking for the cheapest way, I recommend getting to Europe first (London, Berlin, or other European capital), and then with one or two flights you are in Tallinn.