Trying to figure out if buses and metros in Estonia take cards or if Ill need small cash. Any recent experiences?
The only hiccup I faced was in Tartu. I tried tapping my card on the city bus, but nothing happened. Locals explained that only the green Ühiskaart works there, and I had to buy one from a kiosk. It felt like a step backwards after how easy Tallinn was. So, if you’re only visiting the capital, you can live fully cashless. But if you’re planning to travel around Estonia, you may need coins or a prepaid card outside Tallinn.
Estonia’s transport was one of the smoothest systems I’ve used in Europe. Every bus and tram I boarded in Tallinn allowed me to tap my bank card without any issues, and fares capped automatically so I never overspent. I liked that there was no confusion about different ticket types - one card covered everything. The trams from Kadriorg to the city center were spotless, and I never once saw locals paying cash. It made exploring the city effortless and stress-free.
When I stayed near Balti Jaam, I used trams daily and was surprised how easy it was. I just tapped my Revolut card on the validator, and it worked immediately, even though I’m not from the EU. I had actually bought an Ühiskaart out of habit, but I ended up not needing it since my bank card covered every ride. When I took the bus to Pirita beach, the same thing worked - no coins, no hassle. Tallinn felt incredibly cash-free compared to other places I’d visited.
Tallinn doesn’t have a metro, but its buses, trams, and trolleys are very modern. You can tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard directly at the onboard reader and it charges you the standard fare. Drivers no longer handle ticket sales, so cash isn’t useful. For visitors, this is much easier than figuring out the green Ühiskaart transport card, though locals still use those. If you’re traveling only in Tallinn, you won’t need coins at all. Just make sure your card supports contactless and you’re good to go.