Ferry schedule from Haapsalu to Hiiumaa. Water transport in Estonia. Viking Line and Eckerö Line ferries

IN Soviet time It was possible to get to the island of Saaremaa only with special passes issued by the border service. Now, 30 years later, it is open to everyone. From Tallinn to Kuressaare, the main and only city of the island of Saaremaa, 221 kilometers. There are four ways to overcome them.

Bus.

The Tallinn bus station was completely renovated in 2012.

The most popular way to get to the island.
The bus service between Tallinn and the islands is excellent and Saaremaa is, of course, no exception. Buses from Central Station Tallinn departs for the island almost every hour.
The station is located at Lastekodu 46. It is very easy to get to it, as there is a street next to it. a large number of public transport. Buses No. 17, 23, 47, 54 stop on Juhkentali Street (Juhkentali, 48). Trams No. 2 and 4, as well as buses No. 2, 15, 39, stop on Tartu Highway (Tartu maantee 58).
From the airport to the bus station the bus is coming No 2. C railway station you need to take tram no. 2. You can even walk to it from the Old Town. From Viru Gate it takes 15-20 minutes to walk. More detailed routes can be found here. https://routes.one/ru
The station is open from five in the morning until one in the morning. Tickets go on sale from 7:00 to 20:00.
The number of flights to Saaremaa varies depending on the day of the week. The busiest day for routes is Friday. The bus departs to Kuressaare 14 times.
Travel time is about four hours. The time depends on the carrier and the number of stops along the way. The first bus leaves at 7.55. The last one is at 22.15 and arrives at the island bus station at 2.10.

Lux Express has only modern buses.

There are several carriers, so the price and level of comfort on buses differ. The price ranges from 12-16 euros. There is a 40% discount for children under 16 years of age and people over 60 years of age. Buy a ticket and find out detailed information You can find information about flights on this website. The site supports Russian language.
Several trips are made by buses from the Lux Express company, which often has sales and a ticket can generally be bought for 5-6 euros. Therefore, it is better to buy tickets for these buses directly on the company’s website. They have a system: the earlier you buy a ticket, the lower the price. You can save some more by planning your trip in advance.

The bus goes to the pier in the village of Virtsu, where it picks up a ferry (about the ferry separately), crosses the strait and calmly moves on. You can stay seated on the bus, or you can walk along the ferry. From Kuressaare to Tallinn the first bus leaves early in the morning at 4.55, and the last at 17.55.
You can also get to the island from Tartu (travel time about six hours, two flights per day) and Pärna (travel time three hours, four flights). Information can be found on the same website as about buses from Tallinn.

Automobile.

The most convenient way to get to the island.
And if you plan to stay on the island for several days and get to know it better, then this method is the only correct one. Many attractions are located in rural areas, and getting to them without a car is problematic. You can rent a car either on the island or in Tallinn. Rental price for 2 days is 50-70 euros. You can arrange for the car to be delivered to your hotel.

If you are traveling by car, then no matter where you are coming from, you will still arrive at the port in the village of Virtsu. You can view and download your route in Google Maps or Yandex maps. The distance from Tallinn to Virtsu is 137 kilometers. Next, take a ferry to the port in the village of Kuivastu. This is not Saaremaa yet, but the island of Muhu. It is connected to the island by a dam. The length of the dam is three and a half kilometers. There are special places for cars to stop to admire the surroundings.

The ferry Tyll finishes loading.

The ferry service between the mainland and the islands is carried out by the company Tuule laevad.
Ferries start running from 5-35 in the morning until late in the evening. The last one departs at 22.15. The interval in summer is approximately 35 minutes, in winter it is much less frequent. The cost of transporting a passenger car is 8.4 euros. Adult passenger 3 euros, child 1.5 euros. On Friday after 13-00 the price of travel from the mainland to the island increases by 50%, and on Sunday after 13-00 the price increases for travel from the island to the mainland.
The ferry travel time is 30 minutes, and the entire trip with arrival and departure is about 50 minutes. good weather You can go out to the upper deck, where there are chairs for sitting. The ferries have free toilets and a snack bar.
Transportation is carried out by four new ferries built in 2017. The ferries are named after the mythological creatures that once lived on the islands. “Till”, “Leiger”, “Piret”, “Tiina”. At the same time, any of them carries 700 passengers and 150 cars, so there is usually enough space for everyone. The ferries have four decks, two for parking and two for passengers. One closed, for winter and bad weather, and open, for summer.

There is a “live” line of people wishing to leave for the mainland.

Tickets are sold both directly at the pier in special terminals or from a cashier-operator, and online in advance. There is one undoubted advantage in pre-purchase: such passengers and cars are allowed through a special passage, there is no need to stand in line. You can buy a ticket. The site is in Estonian and English, but everything is clear. If there are no tickets online (which happens on holidays), then it’s okay. Some tickets are reserved for the first-come, first-serve queue.

If you have an electronic ticket and arrived earlier, then if there is space on the ferry, you can leave on it. If you miss your flight, your ticket is valid for another 48 hours, but only on a first-come, first-served basis.
It is better to print out the ticket and take it with you. When purchasing a ticket, you must correctly indicate the license plate number of the car and enter the Russian letters of the license plate in Latin letters.

Airplane.

Jetstream-3200 on the runway at Kuressaare airport.

The fastest way.
Oddly enough, there is an air connection between Tallinn and Kuressaare. Flights are operated by Transaviabaltika airline and will continue to do so at least until May 31, 2019. Before this date, she won a competition to conduct flights to Saaremaa.
There is a unique opportunity to take a ride on a 19-seater Jetstream-3200 aircraft. On weekdays, there are two flights from Tallinn at 08:35 and 18:35, on Saturday at 10:50, on Sunday at 18:35. From Kuressaare at 9-30 and at 19-30 and at 11-45 on Saturday and on Sunday at 19-30. Travel time is only 45 minutes. The price is quite reasonable -26 euros. However, this is all theory. In practice, it is not very clear where to buy a ticket. There are no online sales either on search engine websites or on the Tallinn Airport website. Although if you wish, you can try to fly to Tallinn from Kuressaare. The airport is located three kilometers from the city, and getting to it is not difficult. It is open from 10 am to 7 pm. More detailed information on tickets can be obtained by calling +372 6058887, +372 55603687 or on this website.

Purchasing an excursion tour.

The most carefree and easiest way to visit the island of Saaremaa is to buy an excursion to the island in Tallinn or even in St. Petersburg. And then get on the bus, relax and enjoy the road and communication with the guide. Prices naturally vary from company to company. As an option we offer this excursion. The price may not be the cheapest, but the excursion is individual and you will definitely remember it for a long time.

If you decide to come to the island for a few days, check out our articles about and if you are traveling by car.

TALLINN, April 1 – Sputnik. On Sunday, April 1, capacity restrictions were introduced for regular Rohuküla-Heltermaa ferries (mainland - Hiiumaa island), all transport benefits and benefits electronic tickets canceled, general queue order applies. This was reported by the portal praamid.ee, which informs both about the situation at sea in the area of the ports connecting the mainland with the islands of Hiiumaa and Saaremaa, as well as about the occupancy of ferries and loading conditions Vehicle and boarding passengers.

The introduction of restrictions is explained by the drop in sea level in the ferry crossing area to critical levels. This message is not an April Fool's joke, since the drop in sea level and the possible introduction of restrictions has been reported since March 31, with reference to the latest data from the TUT Institute of Marine Systems.

The ferry company TS Liinid apologized for the inconvenience caused. To avoid loading problems, it is recommended to plan to travel to the mainland from the island on Monday, April 2, or to cross on ferries on foot without vehicles.

It is also emphasized that police, ambulance and rescue vehicles, as well as postal service vehicles, have priority access to the ferry. Shuttle Buses, vehicles transporting people with disabilities or deceased, as well as cars with diplomatic license plates.

In the last few months ferry service was repeatedly disrupted due to falling water levels in the Rukki Canal near Haapsalu, through which ships pass on Hiiumaa. Residents of Hiiumaa are confident that the reason for the interruptions in ferry service was not the weather, but irresponsibility and negligence. According to one of the initiators of the petition, member of the opposition Reform Party Peep Lillemägi, new ferries were ordered for a hundred million euros, but the problems remained the same.

In turn, Minister Simson said that the crisis with the ferry service between the island and the mainland was the fault of the former Minister of Economy, reformist Kristen Michal, who abandoned dredging work in the Rukki Canal two years ago.

Regular water transport in Estonia is widespread and accessible. On domestic directions ferry service connects mainland Estonia with western islands, with small islands north of Tallinn, as well as the island of Piirissaar on Lake Peipsi. About five ferries run daily between Tallinn and Helsinki, making a total of more than a dozen trips per day, and on some of them tourists are given the opportunity to spend the night on board. Two flights a day operate on the route Tallinn - Stockholm.

Ferries to Estonia

Ferries Tallink & Silja Line

The largest ferry operator on the Baltic Sea, Tallink (www.tallink.com), operates in Estonia. Six ferries depart daily from Tallinn to Helsinki, with departure times from 7:30 to 22:30. The number of flights has been reduced from 24 to 31 December. A similar schedule applies on the return route, but there is an additional night flight at 0:35. The line operates Star and Superstar ships with a journey time of 2 hours, as well as the more spacious and luxurious Baltic Queen, which makes one trip per day. It departs from Tallinn (Terminal D) at 12:30, from Helsinki (West Terminal, Länsisatama) at 18:30, travel time is 3.5 hours.

Travelers can spend the night on the ferry and disembark in the morning. This opportunity is valid for Baltic Queen on the flight from Helsinki to Tallinn, as well as for the last Star flight of the day in both directions. Star leaves Tallinn at 22:30, receives overnight passengers in Helsinki until 0:35, releases passengers from Tallinn at 6:00 and goes to Tallinn at 7:30, where both night and morning passengers from Helsinki disembark.

On the night from Saturday to Sunday, the opportunity to spend the night on board, and also in both directions, is provided to passengers of the Superstar, which spends the night in Tallinn.

The basic fare ranges from 24 to 53 euros, depending on the day of the week and time of departure. 20 euros must be paid extra for Star Comfort Class, which includes hot and cold drinks, snacks and wireless Internet. If you wish, you can order a cabin, which will cost 30 or 35 (for a cabin with a porthole) euros above the price of the base ticket.

An overnight ferry ticket costs 81 euros on the Star/Superstar ferries, while on the Baltic Queen it usually costs between 81 and 131 euros. If you choose a cabin with a porthole, the price increases by 5 euros.

Another Tallinka route, operated from the Estonian capital, is to Stockholm with a stop in Marienhamn. Departure from Terminal D at 18:00, arrival in Värtahamnen at 10:00. Departure from Stockholm at 17:45, arrival in Tallinn at 10:00 (at winter schedule- at 10:45). The route is served by ferries Victoria I and Romantika. The cost of a place in a 4-berth cabin is from 39 euros.

Viking Line and Eckerö Line ferries

International destinations are also served by the Finnish companies Viking Line (www.vikingline.fi) and Eckerö Line (www.eckeroline.fi). On the route Tallinn - Helsinki, the Viking XPRS ferry makes 2 trips per day (on summer schedule- 3). The cost depends on the flight and the time of booking and starts from 19 euros (Sunday morning flight Tallinn - Helsinki, without cabin and meals), the usual minimum price is 24-34 euros. The minimum ticket price for a car and driver is from 32 euros (Sunday morning), the usual minimum price is 41-54 euros. For frequent travelers, a ticket for 10 trips costs 210 euros. However, this ticket is not valid during the peak season of July. On an evening flight, an overnight stay on board is possible; The ship spends the night in Tallinn. The schedule depends on the season.

A flight departs once a day at 14:25 to Stockholm (arrival at 10:00) with stops in Helsinki and Marienhamn. On the way back, departure from Stockholm at 16:30, arrival in Tallinn at 13:40. The line is served by the ferries Mariella and Gabriella. Viking Line uses Terminal A in Tallinn, Katajanokka Terminal on the peninsula of the same name in Helsinki and Stadsgården in Stockholm.

Eckerö Line operates two trips daily on the route Tallinn - Helsinki and back on the ferry Finlandia. Ticket prices start from 19 euros. Terminal A is used in Tallinn, and Terminal West (Länsisatama) is used in Helsinki.

Linda Line Ferries

Linda Line high-speed catamaran ferries (www.lindaline.fi) also operate between Tallinn and Helsinki. Travel time is 1 hour 40 minutes. Ferries do not go to winter time of the year. Tickets cost around 30-40 euros, but the website regularly offers various promotions for day trips round trip, for early or late booking, for group tours and so on.

Ferries on the Estonian islands

Ferry services to numerous Estonian islands are provided by Saaremaa Laevakompanii (www.tuulelaevad.ee) and Kihnu Veeteed (www.veeteed.com). The island of Saaremaa can be reached by the ferry Virstu - Kuivastu, which connects mainland Estonia with the island of Muhu, from where you can drive to Saaremaa along the causeway. In summer the ferry runs every half hour, in winter breaks can last up to two hours. Travel time is 25 minutes, a ticket for an adult passenger costs 2.6 euros, car transportation costs 7.4 euros.

A ferry from Saaremaa (Triigi port) runs to the island of Hiiumaa (Sõru port) every two days. Travel time is 65 minutes, ticket price is 2.6 euros, car transportation is 7.4 euros. From the mainland, Hiiumaa can be reached by the Rohuküla - Heltermaa ferry, which runs several times a day. Ticket price: 8.8 euros per car, 3 euros per adult, travel time 1:15. The ferry runs to the island of Vormsi (route Rohuküla - Svibi) four times a day; the exact schedule depending on the season can be found on the website of the operator Kihnu Veeteed.

The same company serves southwest direction: the islands of Manilaid, Kihnu and Ruhnu, as well as the northern one with the routes Leppneem - Kelnase (Prangli island; 6 euros one way), Tallinn - Aegna (4 euros one way and 6 euros round trip) and Tallinn - Naissaari. On Lake Peipus there is a route Laaksaar - Piirissaar (3.2 euros). The frequency of flights on these routes depends on the season.

It should be remembered that in the summer, especially on Midsummer Day (June 24), there can be long queues on the ferries. Tourists traveling by car are advised to book tickets in advance. Some popular flights may run out of seats more than a week before departure.

There is something endlessly intriguing about small islands, some completely different life than on those seemingly very close to them mainland lands. And we just can’t, and we’re not trying, to overcome this charm, and we go to the islands of the Baltic Sea over and over again, fortunately, there are many of these islands, and we don’t even have to repeat ourselves very much. On Estonian Saaremaa we were a few years ago, young and childless, with good friends. Last year, other good friends revealed their beloved Åland Islands to us. This year we returned to Saaremaa and went to another tiny island, Hiiumaa.
Every day there are two ferries from Saaremaa to Hiiumaa, morning and evening, the ride is about an hour, the ferry schedule can be found, tickets were sold directly on the ferry and cost about 10 euros for two adults and a car.
I remember when I first came to Estonia with a school friend, we crossed the border on foot, and once in Narva, he said something like “now let’s exhale and walk calmly and not in a hurry, we are in a quiet little country.” In Narva and even in Tallinn, everything really seems very calm and measured compared to our metropolis. In Saaaremaa, Tallinn and the whole of mainland Estonia begins to be perceived as bustling, loud, and full of people. It seems that it simply cannot be quieter and more deserted. Well, maybe in Hiiumaa. Ten cars arriving by ferry instantly scatter across the 990 square kilometers of the island, the roads are empty, according to the reaction local residents it seems that our car is the first here in a week, although it is clear that this is not the case.
Our first stop is the ruins of the church in the village of Kaina, a 15-16th century Gothic church that burned down during the Second World War. This is the largest church on the island; it could accommodate 600 people (and in total there are about 9,000 people living on the island!).

A hole in the wall leads to a ladder that can be used to climb up to the choir loft. Dad and Vladik climbed up, I looked at it from below.

And leaving the church into the surrounding park, we met a fox! However, she ran away before I had time to photograph her. From the post office in Kaina we sent postcards to friends, some of them arrived, some took two months on the road.

Then we went to the most northern point islands, Tahkuna lighthouse, built at the Eiffel factory, where the tower is :). Its height is quite small, 50 meters.

Entrance to the lighthouse is conditionally paid, maybe two euros, the keeper is a cheerful old man, joyfully greeting visitors and handing out candy to children after they have overcome the ascent and descent. Which, by the way, Vladik did completely on his own. Proofpicks:

We climbed in!

Views from above of the sea and the forests of Hiiumaa.

Vladik swings on a swing on the lower floor of the lighthouse.

We wanted to eat the lunch we had taken with us on the pebbles near the lighthouse, but while we were descending, it became like this.

It started to rain and we had to eat in the car. After lunch, we went around the island further, along this road:

While I was taking this photo and helping myself to blueberries, Vladik and dad went deeper into the forest for half an hour and returned with Vladik’s bucket full of porcini mushrooms. We then ate them for dinner. And then we got to the Kõpu lighthouse.

Kõpu Lighthouse is one of the oldest surviving lighthouses in the world, built in the mid-16th century on the initiative of Hanseatic sailors. The lighthouse itself is not high, 36 meters, but since it is located on the highest point of the island, its light is visible from a distance of 46 km (versus 33 km for the higher Tahkun). I was surprised how far it really is from the sea:

Initially, the tower was solid, and one climbed up a wooden staircase installed along one of the walls! It was only in the 19th century that a staircase was built into the tower, which is still in use today. Compared to this climb, the climb up Tahkuna was very easy!

Happy that the stairs finally ended, dad and Vladik ran around the lighthouse site several times.

Inside the tower at the top of the stairs there is a very interesting exhibition telling about the history of the construction of lighthouses on the Baltic Sea, with photographs and the current state of each of them. Near the lighthouse there is a small cafe (almost the only one on the island), but it’s more of a “drink coffee” rather than “eat something” kind of cafe.
And then we took a slightly roundabout road to look at more of the island and went back to the ferry. In general, there is still something to see in Hiiumaa - a couple beautiful churches, a farm museum, nature trails... To be honest, what we saw was enough for us, and Vladik still plays with lighthouses that shine in the sea and help ships keep their course.

Waiting for everyone an amusing trip- guided tour of the big island Estonia Hiuma. We will see ancient churches and windmills, visit a noble estate and a peasant farm, climb a real lighthouse, get acquainted with the culture of the local residents and enjoy the modest charm of the Baltic nature. The island of Hiiumaa is full of unique charm and preserves the heritage of past centuries.

We invite you to our four-day excursion tour in Estonia, visit the picturesque island of Hiiuma. The island of Hiiuma (German: Dago) is the second largest island in Estonia, with an area of just under 1000 sq km. The island has an eventful history; in 1563-1721 it belonged to Sweden and is still important center Swedish culture in Estonia.

Tour program:

Departure from St. Petersburg

Departure from metro station "Vosstaniya Square"(Ligovsky pr., 30, near the Galereya shopping center) at 06.20
from metro station Baltic at 7.00

1 day
Moving to Ivangorod.
Passing border formalities.
Transfer to Haapsalu.
Breakfast.
(additional charge)
City Tour.
Haapsalu is wonderful resort town, which certainly charms its guests: very small, but very cozy and hospitable. There is a medieval bishop's castle, several museums, an 18th-century town hall, a Lutheran and orthodox church, Kurhaus, and a promenade along which you should definitely take a stroll.
Visit to the Museum of Coastal Swedes.
Estonian Swedes have lived on Estonia's northwest coast and islands for more than 1,000 years, according to various sources. Many institutions and societies are now involved in preserving the culture of Estonian Swedes. One such place is the Rannarootsi Museum in Haapsalu, officially opened in 2002 by the Swedish royal couple. The museum houses a 20-meter hand-embroidered painting depicting the history and lifestyle of Estonian Swedes.
(additional charge)
Hotel accommodation.
Free time.
Day 2
Breakfast in the hotel.
Transfer to the port of Rohukula.
Boarding the ferry and traveling to the island of Hiiumaa.
Excursion to Kassari Island.
We will see the picturesque ruins of the Church of St. Martin, built in the 16th century, and the Kassari Chapel - the only one operating on the island. Its harsh stone walls and high tower with a wooden roof they seem quite impressive on Kassari, where there are so few buildings. It is no coincidence that this temple is considered an object cultural heritage Estonia. Some representatives of the Stackelberg family are buried under its walls. A significant period of the island's history is associated with this genus. At the crossroads we will see one of the windmills and a monument to the giant Leiger, who, according to legend, lived on this island. He is also associated with one of the most beautiful places islands - Cape Sääre Tirp, from which stretches a long rocky spit.
A walk along the seashore and the Sääre Tirp spit awaits you, which will take about 1.5 hours: a real juniper valley will give you the opportunity to get an excellent aromatherapy session - walking to the very end of the spit and taking part in one important island tradition is a matter of honor for every guest of Hiiumaa.
Transfer to Kardla.
Hotel accommodation.
Day 3
Breakfast in the hotel.
Visit to the Suuremoisa estate.
The history of the estate is connected with three noble Swedish families, who once owned the entire island. The manor house is surrounded by an English park. Nearby we will see the Church of St. Lawrence of the 13th century - this is one of the oldest churches on the island, built by German knights. The owners of the Suuremoisa estate are also buried there.
Excursion around the island.
You will be able to get acquainted with the life of local residents on a real 19th-century farmstead, where almost all the buildings have been preserved.
We will also get acquainted with the “smallest county capital” - the only city on the island, Kärdla, which dates back to Viking times. Thanks to picturesque nature, beautiful parks and the charming island architecture, Kärdla has become a wonderful holiday destination. The settlement of Reigi is also connected with Swedish history, where people who speak the Old Swedish language still live. There is also the estate of the Ungern-Sternbergs, an old Baltic noble family who served first the Swedish and then the Russian monarchs.
The Long House Museum in Kärdla is the main museum of the island,
which is popularly called the “Long House” (this is the longest wooden building in the city of Kärdla, more than 60 meters long). The building was built in the 1830s as a residence for the directors of a cloth factory. Along with the history of the development of the city and the factory, the exhibition allows you to get acquainted with residential buildings ordinary factory workers. The museum contains the history of not only the factory, but the city and the island.
Visit to Kõpu and Tahkun lighthouses.
A separate point of the Hiiumaa program is visiting the lighthouses. Lighthouses themselves are always impressive. At the northern tip of the island, on the shore there is a white giant, the Tahkuna lighthouse with a height of 39.6 m. The light of the lighthouse is visible for 18 nautical miles. The lighthouse was acquired by the Russian government in 1871 at an exhibition in Paris, and in 1875 it went into operation. Next to the lighthouse on the seashore there is a monument of grief and sadness, in memory of the dead children from the ferry Estonia. This is a bell with children's faces.
Return to the hotel.
4 day
Breakfast in the hotel.
Transfer to the port of Heltermaa.
Ferry crossing to Rohukula.
Transfer to Matsalu Park.
Walk through the national park.
Läänemaa, the westernmost county of mainland Estonia, is a real gateway to the islands – beautiful place holiday for absolutely everyone. National Park Matsalu is 48,610 hectares of protected area, which includes Matsalu Bay, the Kasari River delta, surrounded by picturesque lowlands, coastal meadows, reed thickets and about 50 sea islands. The park has several nature trails and seven bird watching towers; Matsalu is one of the most important European waterfowl nesting areas and stopover areas during seasonal migration.
Moving to St. Petersburg.

Attention:

For participation in this round You must have a valid visa and health insurance.
To participate in tours to the Republic of Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Moldova and Mongolia, a visa is not required.
The tour program does not include visits to water parks, shopping complexes and fish shops.
Late autumn, winter, in early spring, due to the short daylight hours, visits to some of the objects stated in the program may occur in the dark.
The organizer is not responsible for queues at border checkpoints, delays in transit associated with customs, border and other official formalities, weather conditions, as well as traffic jams.
If weather on the route may threaten the safety of tourists (heavy snowfalls, low/high air temperatures, mudflows, rainstorms, floods, forest fires, smog, etc.), the organizer reserves the right to unilaterally change the tour program: replace one object with another, and if replacement is impossible, exclude objects from the program.
Seats on the bus are allocated by the organizer as the group is recruited.