Travel tips and weather

About Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It lies on the northern coast of Estonia, along the Gulf of Finland. With one of the most completely preserved medieval cities in Europe it is a precious city on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Although there are only 400 000 inhabitants Tallinn has a very rich cultural and pleasant atmosphere and many interesting sights to be explored. Tallinn is also an important Baltic seaport and a modern city with extraordinary telecom and Internet solutions available.

Getting to Tallinn
Tallinn is conveniently accessible by airplane, ferry, car or bus. Estonian Air, Finnair, SAS, KLM, Lufthansa, Air Baltic and several other carriers offer direct flights from many European capitals. For detailed information on bus connections please visit the homepage www.eurolines.ee and www.tallink.ee for ferries from Helsinki and Stockholm.

Passport and Visa
Nationals of EU and EEA member states do not need visa to enter Estonia. The required travel document for entry is a national ID card or passport. From December 2007, Estonia is a part of the Schengen visa area. For more specific information, please contact the nearest Estonian consulate or embassy, or check the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website (www.vm.ee/eng).

Insurance
It is highly recommended that participants carry proper health and travel insurance.

Banks, currency and credit cards
National currency in Estonia is Estonian kroon (EEK, 1 kroon = 100 cents). Fixed exchange rate is 1 EUR = 15.65 EEK. Most larger hotels, stores and restaurants accept Visa, MasterCard, Eurocard. However, it is advisable to carry some Estonian kroons with you.

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

Time and weather
Estonia is in the Eastern European Time Zone: GMT +2 hours in winter and GMT +3 hour during the Daylight Savings Time in summer. The beginning of September is autumn in Estonia, with average temperature of about 10°C and daily highs reaching 15°C. Weather can be windy and changeable with possible rainfall. Please see the homepage www.weather.ee for the latest forecast.

Shops
Most shops are located in the shopping centers and in the Old Town. Shops are generally open from 10.00 to 19.00 on weekdays, and from 10.00 to 17.00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Larger department stores are generally open every day from 10.00 to 21.00.