Tallinn → Riga
Since January 2026 one direct train a day has run between Tallinn and Riga, about six hours by way of Tartu, and the coach does it in about four and a half with no stops. A private car takes about as long as the coach but collects you at your door, or at the cruise terminal, and lets you break the drive where it is worth breaking.
The natural route runs south along the coast through Pärnu, Estonia's summer town, before crossing into Latvia. We meet cruise and ferry passengers at the Tallinn terminal with a name board, help with luggage, and deliver you to your Riga hotel with the day still ahead of you.
How the options compare.
| How | Time | Cost | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | About 6 hours | From about 30 EUR per person | One direct Elron train a day each way since January 2026, via Tartu. It leaves Tallinn in the afternoon and Riga early in the morning. Check elron.ee, the line has had midweek closures for track work. |
| Coach | About 4 hours 30 | From about 15 EUR per person | Lux Express, Ecolines and FlixBus, up to a dozen departures a day, with wifi and reserved seats. |
| Plane | About an hour in the air, 3 hours or more door to door | Usually more than the coach | There are airBaltic flights, but the airports take back most of the time. |
| Ferry | No crossing | No passenger ferry runs between Tallinn and Riga. The ferries from Tallinn go to Helsinki and Stockholm. | |
| Private carWith us | About 4 hours 30 with a Pärnu stop | $491 (≈ €420) sedan, up to 3 travelers, total | From your door or the cruise terminal, with a proper break in Pärnu on the way. |
Stops we can build in.
- Pärnu
- Estonia's summer capital, a long sand beach and a low wooden old town. Coffee, a walk, or a swim in season, then back on the road.
- Coast road
- The preferred line south, quiet and green, with the Gulf of Riga never far. We allow time for one proper stop, not a service-station dash.
- Gauja valley (optional)
- If time allows near Riga, a detour into the Gauja National Park, with castles and river bends around Sigulda.
What the price covers.
- Private sedan or van, with fuel, tolls and parking
- English-speaking driver
- Hotel, airport, or cruise terminal pickup in Tallinn
- A break in Pärnu on the way
- Bottled water and child seats on request
- Door delivery to your Riga hotel
Comfort for the distance.
Sedan for up to three with luggage, van for up to eight. Cruise groups with cases are no problem. Tell us your numbers and we send the right vehicle.
- Is there a train from Tallinn to Riga?
- Yes. Since January 2026 Elron has run one direct train a day in each direction, via Tartu and Valga, in about six hours, from around 30 EUR. The coach is quicker at about four and a half hours. A private car takes about as long as the coach, door to door, with a Pärnu break built in.
- Is there a ferry from Tallinn to Riga?
- No. No passenger ferry runs between the two cities; the ferries from Tallinn go to Helsinki and Stockholm. The way between them is overland, by coach, train or car, and the coast road through Pärnu is the pleasant version.
- Can you collect us from a cruise ship?
- Yes. We meet cruise and ferry passengers at the Tallinn terminal with a name board and help with luggage, then drive on to Riga.
- Is the coast road slower than the highway?
- Barely. The route via Pärnu is the natural line south and the most scenic. We allow time for one proper stop without adding much to the day.
- How many people and how much luggage fit?
- A sedan takes three travelers with cases, a van up to eight. Note any oversized items on the form so we send the right vehicle.
- What does the price include?
- Fuel, tolls, parking, the driver, and door pickup and drop-off. Entries and meals along the way are extra and optional.