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Photo by: Kadi-Liis Koppel
Photo by: Kadi-Liis Koppel

    Coronavirus: travel advice for Tallinn, Estonia

    Culture & eventsSightseeing
    09.07.2020 visittallinn.ee
    Estonia has begun easing restrictions in place since the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic. However, you should still remain vigilant about social distancing, wash your hands, stay home when sick, and follow the safety guidelines in different establishments. Let's all help keep each other safe!

    Estonia has reopened its borders to passengers with no symptoms arriving from the European Union, the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, and selected non-European countries. However, if you are coming from a destination where the relative coronavirus infection rate (cases per 100 000 habitants) is above 15, you will have to self-isolate for two weeks - see the website of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the exact conditions and requirements (updated every Friday). 

    For the latest instructions and additional information related to the coronavirus epidemic in Estonia, consult the official crisis portal www.kriis.ee (in Estonian, English, and Russian) or call the crisis hotline at 1247 (+372 600 1247). For medical advice, please call the family doctors' helpline at 1220 (+372 634 6630, open 24h/7).

    What to know about the safety measures in place in Tallinn, Estonia?

    Social distancing

    In public areas, both outside and inside, please keep a safe distance of at least two metres (6,6 ft).

    Face masks

    Protective masks are not compulsory in Estonia. However, their use is recommended in more crowded places where keeping a social distance is difficult, such as shopping malls, public transport, and medical facilities. You can find more information about when and where to use a mask in Estonia on the kriis.ee website.   

    Public spaces: museums, attractions, spas etc.

    The following attractions, shops, and entertainment establishments are open provided they comply with the rules on social distancing and hygiene:
    • Museums
    • Malls, shopping centres, and individual shops
    • Public playgrounds and outdoor sports grounds 
    • Gyms and sports clubs
    • Bars and restaurants
    • Spas, saunas, and swimming pools, although they can only operate at 50% of their maximum capacity
    • Bowling alleys and billiard halls 
    • Theatres, cinemas, and casinos provided they do not exceed the maximum occupancy rate of 50% and follow the rules for indoor events (see below)
    • Tallinn's public beaches.
    Nightclubs, shisha-bars, and other similar recreational establishments will re-open from 1 July 2020. 

    Public events

    Event organisers must disperse peole to ensure social distancing and follow the restrictions on the number of participants and room occupancy (max. 50%).  

    As of now, you can take part in:
    • Indoor events: a maximum of 500 participants filling no more than 50% of the venue
    • Outdoor events: a maximum of 1000 participants
    From 15 July 2020:
    • Indoor events: a maximum of 1500 participants filling no more than 50% of the venue
    • Outdoor events: a maximum of 2000 participants

    Travel restrictions and crossing the Estonian border

    As a temporary measure, Estonia has reintroduced border control. You can find more information about crossing the Estonian border during the global coronavirus epidemic on the kriis.ee website. 

    Who can enter the country? 

    • Estonian citizens and holders of an Estonian residency permit or right of residence
    • Foreign nationals who have close relatives in Estonia 
    • Diplomats and their family members posted to Estonia
    • People providing vital services, foreign nationals needing to enter in the framework of international military cooperation, and international cargo.
    • People with no symptoms arriving from the European Union, the members of the Schengen area or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
    Please bear in mind that if you enter the country, you may need to self-isolate. The compulsory quarantine for people arriving in Estonia depends on whether the relative coronavirus infection rate in their country of origin is above 15. This means that no more than 15 people per 100 000 inhabitants are infected in the passenger’s country of origin in the past 14 days. Anyone arriving in Estonia from a country with a higher infection rate must self-isolate for two weeks on arrival. 

    See if you are required to self-isolate on the website of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the infection rates are updated every Friday).

    What else should you know about travelling to Estonia?

    • You can transit through Estonia to your home country if you have no symptoms of COVID-19. 
    • There are no restrictions on exiting the country.
    • Many flight, bus, and ferry connections have temporarily stopped or reduced their services - for details about your travel connection, please contact your travel company or service provider. 
    • International cruises: the start of the cruise ship season at the ports of Estonia has been delayed.
    Read more about travelling to Estonia and crossing the border on the crisis information portal kriis.ee (in English, Russian, and Estonian) or call the crisis hotline 1247 (+372 600 1247). 

    Consular information 

    If you need consular information or have questions about travel restrictions in other countries, you can find the contacts of diplomatic representations in Tallinn on the website of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (24h-helpline: +372 53 01 9999) 

    Tallinn Tourist Information Centre: opening times

    The staff at Tallinn's conveniently located Tourist Information Centre are always happy to assist you! The centre is open daily from 09:00 to 18:00.  

    You can contact us by phone, e-mail or via social media. When in Tallinn, you can also simply drop by to ask questions, take free maps and brochures, or use the centre's free Wi-Fi to do your own research.

    We are committed to acting responsibly to minimise the spread of the coronavirus. The health of our customers as well as our team members is of utmost importance to us. 

    Medical help in Estonia

    • Family doctor advice line: +372 634 6630 (or 1220 if you have an Estonian number)
    • Emergency: 112
    If you need medical advice while in Tallinn, please contact the family doctor helpline at +372 634 6630 (or 1220 if you have an Estonian number). 

    A doctor answers your health questions in English every day from 15:00 to 17:00 (24h/7 in Estonian and Russian) and can also redirect you to the emergency line 112 if necessary.  

    Should your situation get worse, call 112 for an ambulance. 

    Travelling to Estonia

    Information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic 

    Keep a safe distance, wash your hands, and stay home when sick. Photo by: Kriis.ee
    Keep a safe distance, wash your hands, and stay home when sick. Photo by: Kriis.ee