Time

Estonia (just as Finland, Latvia, and Lithuania, ...) uses East-European Time, EET, which is one hour ahead of Central European Time, CET, in other words GMT+2 in winter and GMT+3 in summer.

Electricity

The electricity supply is 220 volts AC, 50 Hz. European-style 2-pin plugs are in use.

Money and banks

From 2011, Estonia is using the Euro (EUR), the single European currency.

ATMs abound in Tallinn although they are not always well visible. Beware that an Estonian ATM first gives you your money and only then returns the card. Worse, you have to ask the machine to give your card back.

Luckily for you, these machines speak English. Almost all businesses (but not some bus drivers, taxi drivers) accept bank cards (even for the smallest payments) and the local people carry very little cash.

Postal services

Postage on letters and postcards (up to 50 g) within Estonia is 0.55 EUR, to Europe and the former USSR countries 1.20 EUR, to the rest of the world 1.30 EUR.

Post offices are open during the normal shopping hours. Stamps are also sold in newsstands. More information from Omniva.

Phones

Area codes are not in use in Estonia and there is no initial zero.

For international calls to Estonia: dial the prefix for intl. calls (00 in most countries), then the country code 372, and then the subscriber's number.

For international calls from Estonia: dial the prefix 00 for intl. calls, then your country code, etc. Calls within Estonia: just dial the full 7- or 8-digit subscriber's number.

The emergency number (fire brigade, ambulance) is 112. For police only, dial 110.

There are 3 mobile providers: EMT, Tele 2 and Elisa. The GSM frequency is 900/1800 MHz. The 3G, 3.5G and 4G coverage is very good accross the country.

The are no public payphones in the country.

Internet

Although the popularity of WiFi is declining in favor of mobile data connection, Tallinn is still packed with public WiFi hotspots (some 375 in all Tallinn, whereof some 200 are in the center). In particular, you can connect yourself in any decent cafeteria or pub (look out, e.g., for Reval Cafes).

Internet access through WiFI or some other form is also offered by all hotels. In reasonable hotels, this service is complimentary.

Tourist information

For tourist information on Estonia in the Web, check the web pages of the Estonian Tourist Board. For tourist information specifically on Tallinn, check the web pages of the Tallinn Tourist Board. InYourPocket.Com's unofficial Estonia and Tallinn pages make an even more useful reading.

For in-depth background info on Estonia, we recommend the Estonian Institute's www.estonica.org.

The Tallinn Tourist Information Center is located at Niguliste 2/Kullasepa 4 Opening hours in winter time (Sept-Apr): Mon-Fri 9-18, Sat, Sun 9-15.