€1.50 Bus 2 is the cheap TLL link for Kadriorg, Lasnamäe and the port
From T1 at Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport, Bus 2 runs to Kadriorg, Lasnamäe and the ferry-port side of town in about 15–25 minutes, depending on traffic and where you jump off. It’s a standard city bus, not an airport shuttle, and locals quote it as “fine if your hotel is in Kadriorg or Lasnamäe” but not worth it for Old Town compared with tram 4.
Daytime frequency sits around every 15–20 minutes, dropping to a slower headway later in the evening, so late flights around 22:00 still usually have a bus but you might wait longer. Tickets cost roughly €1.50–2.00 using regular Tallinn public transport fares, so this is one of the cheapest ways out of T1 if you’re watching costs.
The airport stop for Bus 2 sits just outside the T1 arrivals area, but it’s less obvious than the clearly signed tram 4 platform that’s right at the terminal door. Several visitors mention that figuring out direction and stop names is harder on Bus 2, especially because the route and stops have changed over the years and many older blog directions are now wrong.
Bus 2 can be slower than tram 4 in peak traffic because it shares more road space with cars as it approaches the city, which is why some port‑bound travellers said it “didn’t feel worth the hassle” compared to taking the tram and walking a bit. Expect closer to 25 minutes in the 08:00–09:00 and 16:30–18:00 rush if you’re heading toward the port side.
Regulars on Tallinn forums often tell first‑timers to “forget Bus 2 and just use the tram” unless they specifically need Kadriorg, Lasnamäe or a direct drop near the ferry terminals. One visitor still called Bus 2 “useful for the port area” but admitted that for Old Town they’d skip it and rely on tram 4’s more intuitive route and clearer on‑board displays.
How to use Bus 2 from TLL, step by step
- 1. Exit T1 arrivals and follow signs for public transport; look for the Bus 2 stop rather than the better-marked tram 4 platform.
- 2. Check the digital board or printed timetable at the stop and confirm you’re boarding Bus 2 in the city/port direction, not outbound away from Tallinn.
- 3. Buy a ticket for about €1.50–2.00 via a validated paper ticket, QR ticket, or with a contactless bank card if Tallinn’s current system allows it on board that year.
- 4. Track your stop using a maps app, because visitors report the on‑board displays and place names are harder to follow than on tram 4.
- 5. Get off near Kadriorg, Lasnamäe or the ferry terminals as planned, and double‑check onward walking distances, especially to the port quays A, B or D.
Pro tip: If your hotel is in Old Town or right by Viru Keskus, save the brain space and just take tram 4; keep Bus 2 in your pocket for early-morning flights from the Kadriorg side or for a cheap hop to the ferries.