Estonia on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, Estonia is manageable on a budget: allow about €73 per person per day, with about €30 for a bed, €25 for food, €10 for sights and €8 for transport. Cheap buses and many free sights help, and Tartu and Pärnu stretch the money further than Tallinn.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €30 | €65 | €130 |
| Food & drink | €25 | €45 | €85 |
| Sights & tickets | €10 | €25 | €45 |
| Local transport | €8 | €15 | €40 |
| Per person, per day | €73 | €150 | €300 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Estonia day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk Tallinn's Old Town, Town Hall Square and Toompea, with the Kohtuotsa and Patkuli viewpoints.
- Visit the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on Toompea (free entry outside services).
- Explore Kalamaja's wooden houses and Telliskivi Creative City.
- Walk Kadriorg Park around the Baroque palace.
- Walk the Viru Bog boardwalk in Lahemaa National Park (3.5 km).
- Walk Pärnu Beach and the Tartu Town Hall Square and Toome Hill.
Cheap eats
- Elk soup at III Draakon in Tallinn's Town Hall: about €4.
- Breakfast or lunch at Balti Jaam Market food stalls: about €6-10.
- Weekday lunch menu (päevapakkumine) in a café: about €7-10.
- Kama, black bread and smoked fish from a market: a few euros.
- Pastries and coffee at a bakery: about €4-6.
Where to sleep for less
In Tallinn, budget travellers stay in hostels and guesthouses in Kalamaja and near Balti Jaam, about €50-80 for a double, with dorm beds cheaper. Tartu and Kuressaare have hotels from about €70, and Pärnu is cheaper outside summer.
Getting around cheaply
Tallinn's trams and buses cost about €2 an hour by contactless card; tram 4 runs from the airport to the centre in 15-20 minutes. Lux Express buses (€8-15) and Elron trains link the main towns; the Virtsu-Kuivastu ferry and buses reach Saaremaa.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Old Town walk to Toompea viewpoints (free), then St Olaf's tower (about €5).
- Lunch: elk soup at III Draakon (about €4) and a pastry.
- Afternoon: walk to Kalamaja and Telliskivi (free), coffee at Balti Jaam Market (about €4).
- Evening: weekday dinner in Telliskivi or the Rotermann Quarter (about €15).
- Total: about €73 with a hostel or shared budget room
More ways to save
- See the Old Town early or after 16:00, when cruise groups have gone and cafés have free tables.
- Use weekday lunch menus for the main meal of the day.
- Travel between towns by bus rather than hiring a car, except for Lahemaa and Saaremaa.
- Spend more nights in Tartu, which is cheaper than Tallinn and lively during the university term.
- Visit in May or September for lower prices and still-long days.
- Pick one big museum (Seaplane Harbour, KUMU or the National Museum) rather than all three.
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Common questions
Can I travel around Estonia without a car?
Yes. Buses and trains link Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu and Kuressaare cheaply; a car or tour helps only for Lahemaa and rural Saaremaa.
How do I get from Tallinn Airport to the centre?
Tram 4 takes 15-20 minutes for about €2; a Bolt or taxi costs €8-12.
What can I do in Tallinn for free?
Walk the Old Town, Toompea viewpoints, Kalamaja, Telliskivi and Kadriorg Park.