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www.hotelsEstonia.net :: TIPS FOR TRAVEL :: ESTONIA :: TALLINN
Location
Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is located in Northern Europe in the
north-eastern part of the Baltic Sea region. Area of Tallinn - 159,2 km²
(Estonia 45 227 km²).
Climate
The climate in Tallinn is characterized by a fairly cold winter, a cool
spring with little precipitation, a moderately warm summer and a long and rainy
autumn. However, some summers have weeks at a stretch of temperatures around
+30°C, and a warm, sunny summer can keep autumn at bay until mid-October.
Average temperature in July +16,7°C
Average temperature in February -4°C
Weather forecast in the Internet:
www.weather.ee/tallinn
Time
Estonia is in the Eastern European Time Zone: GMT + 2 hours.
Population
The population of Tallinn is 401 694 (22.03.2005).
Nationalities: Estonian 53.7%, Russian 36.5%, Ukrainian 3.7%, Byelorussian 2.0%,
other 4.1%.
Language
Estonian's official language is Estonian. Russian, Finnish, English and
German are also understood and widely spoken.
Religion
The largest denomination is Lutheran (30%) followed by Russian Orthodox
(28%), and Catholic (3%). However, only about 20% of Estonians practice any
religion.
Visa Regulations
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
visa to enter Estonia, and can stay for up to 90 days in any 6-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.
Visitors arriving in Estonia with visa must have national passports
valid at least 3 months after their planned departure from Estonia.
Children aged 7 to 15 years must have their own
passport when travelling to Estonia or, if they are registered in their parent's
passport, must have their photo next to the name. Children under 7 years need
not have a photo if they are registered in their parents' passports. Persons
above 15 years must have a separate travel document with photo.
For more specific information, please
contact the nearest Estonian consulate or embassy, or check the
Estonian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs' website.
Foreign Representations in Estonia
For specific information, please check the
Estonian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs' website.
Customs
A Customs Guide for travellers to Estonia can be found at
www.customs.ee.
Tax-free
Travellers arriving from outside the European Union can buy
goods from tax-free shops and have them exempt from VAT. Exemption from Value
Added Tax shall be applied when the total sales price of the goods purchased
from a tax-free shop (including the VAT) exceeds 2500 EEK. A tax-free shop
provides the buyer with a respective document to prove the purchase. This
document must be presented to Customs for confirmation when leaving the European
Union. The buyer must take the goods out of the European Union before the end of
the third month following the month of purchase.
Travellers are not allowed to unwrap
the packaged goods before leaving the European Union. Travellers are obliged to
present the unwrapped goods for customs inspection if requested. For further
information please contact the local customs office or a customs officer on
duty.
Customs helpdesk: +372 696 7435, +372 696 7436.
Currency & Exchange
National currency: Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 cents
Fixed exchange rate: 1 EUR= 15.65 EEK.
Most larger hotels, stores and
restaurants accept Visa, MasterCard, Eurocard, Diner’s Club and American
Express. However, it is advisable to carry some Estonian kroons with you.
Traveller’s checks can be exchanged in most banks
but are less likely to be accepted in shops. Eurocheque is the most widely
accepted traveller’s check, but American Express and Thomas Cook are also
accepted.
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.
Communications
To call Tallinn from abroad, dial your international access
code and 372 for Estonia and then the telephone number.
Within Estonia, you can make local and
international calls from card-operated public payphones. Telephone cards
costing 50 and 100 EEK are sold at newsstands, post offices and tourist
information centres. Calling abroad, dial 00 and the country
code.
The GSM mobile phone system is available; please
check compatibility with your operator.
Internet
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.
Post Offices
Tallinn Central Post Office is located in the centre, at
Narva maantee 1, and is open Mon-Fri 7.30-20.00, Sat 9.00-18.00, Sun 9.00-15.00.
Ph. +372 661 6616, info@post.ee,
www.post.ee.
Toompea Post Office is located in the Old Town, at Lossi plats 4, and is
open Mon-Fri 9.00-17.00.
Medical Services
For entry into Estonia no vaccinations or health certificates are
required. Health insurance policy is optional.
Pharmacies are usually open from 10:00-19:00, but
one stays open all night (Tõnismäe Apteek, Tõnismägi 5, ph: +372 644 2282).
Ordinary medication is available in all pharmacies.
In case of accident or illness,
call for an ambulance free-of-charge from any phone: 112.
Police
Free-of-charge call from any phone: 110.
Public Holidays 2007
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| 1 January |
New Year's
Day |
|
24 February |
Independence
Day: the 89th anniversary of the declaration founding the Rebuplic of
Estonia (1918) |
| 6 April |
Good Friday |
| 8 April |
Easter
Sunday |
| 1 May |
Spring Day |
| 27 May |
Whitsunday |
| 23 June |
Victory Day |
| 24 June |
St. John's
Day |
|
20 August |
Day of
Restoration of Independence: Estonia regains independence after Soviet
times |
| 24 December |
Christmas
Eve |
| 25 December |
Christmas
Day |
| 26 December |
Boxing Day |
Power Supply
The current is 220 volts AC, 50 Hz, European-style 2-pin plugs are in
use.
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