Taking the car to Tallinn

[network_engineer]

Hi all,

Quick question if I may: We were planning to travel to Estonia, and was wondering: Is it okay to take our car along? Or should I skip the idea?

What are the hazards involved?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards!

[Upphew]

Is it okay to take our car along?

Yes.

What are the hazards involved?

Car full of cheap(er than in Finland) booze might make neighbours jealous.
Getting ticketed for not having all the mandatory stuff in car, like fire extinguisher.

edit. they also have zero tolerance with DUI.

[network_engineer]

Hi!

Thanks for the reply.

Getting ticketed for not having all the mandatory stuff in car, like fire extinguisher.

What does this mean? You mean that I should have a fire extinguisher in the car? Is that mandatory for all cars traveling to Estonia?

Other obligations? Thinks I should know? E.g. I am aware that in *some countries* there are people waiting to jump in front of the car to extract money, or try to bump into you and then claim money etc. Anything similar cons I should be aware of w.r.t. Estonia/Tallinn?

Thanks.

[Pursuivant]

Figuring out the curbside parking is my biggest challenge in Tallin. Also, cars get burgled quite fast. Otherwise... welll... the traffic is a bit crazy but you get used to it. And the trams are solid steel and wide tracked so if you think getting squished by a Helsinki tram is bad...

Estonia is relatively small and theres lots to see so a car is definitely the way to go, they got medieval castle ruins or huge manors in every village it seems. Just for a daytrip to Tallin, unless you're planning to stock up on booze & fags, not really worth the hassle queueing in and out these days any more, though I've done it (when it was worth filling your tank and stocking up groceries). The roads are generally OK, they do have the two seasons, winter and roadwork, but I'd guess the Tallin - Tarto highway is now finished. You should try and get a roadmap, and when you plan to go to places, the shortest gravel road isn't always the pleasantest to drive. To "see" places I'd recommand say hitting the Tallin-tarto road, turning at the huge Lego man and "Anttila" sign to Viljandi (the Anttila itself is a larf) and then taking the south border highway to pärnu. (Tallin-Pärnu road is good, but bo-o-oring) Other nice route is looping via Narva and going down the lake Peipsi shore. Tartu is quite pleasant, and an interesting city is Valga/Valka where the border just skirts through town. Then of course theres the Hiiumaa and Saaremaa - do note the Estonians have "midsummer" just like Finns and everyone wants to go there so its jampacked.

And regarding the crazy traffic, not necessarily crazy traffic but crazy drivers. Don't worry if everyone passes you, they do, even the lorries. The DUI fines are quite huge and I don't think there is anyone with a license in some of the villages...Besides DUI the police love to have radar in the bush. Basically, every time you hit a village the speed limit automatically changes (like here) but the markings aren't always that easy to spot and the "village" is of questionable existence. Theres not as many speed limit signs, you sort of just "need to know".

And yeah, Estonia got a rule that besides the emergency triangle, you need to have a fire extinguisher as "mandatory equipment".

[Upphew]

Getting ticketed for not having all the mandatory stuff in car, like fire extinguisher.

What does this mean? You mean that I should have a fire extinguisher in the car? Is that mandatory for all cars traveling to Estonia?

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safe ... dex_en.htm
(and according to that the DUI limit is not zero)

Other obligations? Thinks I should know? E.g. I am aware that in *some countries* there are people waiting to jump in front of the car to extract money, or try to bump into you and then claim money etc. Anything similar cons I should be aware of w.r.t. Estonia/Tallinn?

Not that I know. I haven't driven there though.

[Pursuivant]

E.g. I am aware that in *some countries* there are people waiting to jump in front of the car to extract money, or try to bump into you and then claim money etc. Anything similar cons I should be aware of w.r.t. Estonia/Tallinn?

Estonia isn't so multiculturally enriched as Finland, so theres only domestic beggars mainly. Old ladies selling socks and mittens or some glue-sniffing punks. Less pickpocketing than Helsinki these days, but lets say stuff gets "socialized" if you don't pay attention. The driving "culture" is a bit underdeveloped, or lets say young men + big BMW = accidents happen. Cons... not really except you might want to pay attention to prices as you might get "tourist treatment" but generally I wouldn't worry too much. They had a few scandals with police doing bribes, but I think they flushed the force twice within a few years so don't think they got any bent ones left.

Oh, and if you are a photographer, besides old castles and ruins theres still "soviet industry" places around if you're into "urban decay" and one striking thing - sounds a bit morbid, but visit a graveyard. They still have an old-fashioned style of a "holy grove" instead of those Finnish boring lawns where stones are in neat rows...

[irnbru]

multiculturally enriched

Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit Mr Pursuivant

[Nordick]

Do not worry about traveling to Tallinn with your car. It's quite safe.

[network_engineer]

Thanks a lot, much appreciated.

Kind regards.

[masao]

hi,
Unlike in Finland, cars stop immediately when someone stands at pedestrian crossing.
That's marvelous.
Both countries are (or have been) under big influence of the nation next door, but
their road culture developed different way.

t, masao

[network_engineer]

PS: Where could I buy a portable fire extinguisher that satisfies the requirements? I really don't want a big one, just the smallest possible portable one.

[Upphew]

PS: Where could I buy a portable fire extinguisher that satisfies the requirements? I really don't want a big one, just the smallest possible portable one.

Biltema.

[Pursuivant]

Costs about 15 euros, go to the "boat" section. Other one is Motonet.