Can I use a card to pay for taxis in Estonia, or should I carry local cash?
From my personal experience, Estonia is one of the easiest places in Europe to get by without cash. Almost all taxis in Tallinn accept cards, and you’ll see people using Apple Pay or contactless everywhere. I did one trip from Balti Jaam to Kadriorg Park and just tapped my card at the end like I would at a café. Still, carrying a few euros in coins is useful for tips or if you encounter a very old-school taxi.
I didn’t carry much cash during my time in Estonia and it was fine. Taxis in Tallinn, Tartu, and even smaller towns had card readers most of the time. The country is very digital-first and most locals barely use cash themselves. That being said, I always kept about 20-30 euros with me just to cover odd situations. Once in Tartu, the driver’s machine actually failed to connect, and I had to pay in cash. It’s rare, but not impossible.
Estonia is very card-friendly, and taxis are no exception. I stayed near the Old Town and most cars had working card machines. The drivers seemed used to people tapping or swiping, and nobody made a fuss. That said, my hostel mates told me about drivers sometimes claiming “machine broken” if they prefer cash, so you should be prepared. For peace of mind, use Bolt since it’s the dominant ride app and bills you through the app with no awkward discussions about payment.
In Tallinn, nearly every taxi I took accepted cards. Bolt is huge here, and since you can pay directly in the app, I didn’t really use cash at all. Even when I hailed a cab outside Tallinn Airport, the driver had a working card terminal. The only time I ran into trouble was late at night with an old unmarked taxi near Telliskivi where the reader “wasn’t working.” Since then, I always keep some euros in small notes, just in case something like that happens again.