Tallinn Bus Station 60

• HISTORY

  1922–1939
  Our story begins on 23 May 1922, when architect and entrepreneur F. Kangro received a permit from the city council to operate five bus routes. At the time, city and intercity buses departed from the Russian Market, also popularly known as the Flea Market, and briefly called Viru Square during 1939–1940. The buses lined up where the current Viru Hotel stands today, adjacent to New Market. A small office at the corner of Pärnu Road and Russian Market housed a traffic coordinator who also sold tickets.

  1940–1959
  Bus departures continued from what had been renamed Stalin Square. In 1949, rural bus departures were relocated next to the Estonia Theatre, to a square created after the original market hall was demolished and the marketplace moved to the Tartu Road area. A year later, a suitable location was found for the rural bus station at the edge of the vast Stalin Square, at the beginning of Tartu Road, approximately where the Radisson Hotel now stands.

  1959–1961
  In early 1959, the bus station moved to its current location at the corner of Lastekodu and Odra Streets, previously occupied by a flea market. The original single-storey wooden bus shelter from Stalin Square was dismantled and reassembled at the new location, where bus route 17 now begins.

  1961–1965
  Construction began on a new two-storey terminal building. The new bus station complex was scheduled to be completed by 21 July 1965, in time for the 25th anniversary of the Estonian SSR. The deadline was fulfilled mainly, although the official inspection report noted several deficiencies. The architects of the station were Kalju Valdre and Liivia Murdmaa.

  2012
  From June 25 to December 19, Tallinn Bus Station underwent a major renovation. During the construction works, both the interior and exterior of the building were modernised. The passenger waiting area and café were expanded, and new features, including an information desk and self-service ticket machines, were added.

  2015
  As of 2015, approximately 200 buses depart daily from Tallinn Bus Station, using just thirteen departure platforms. Each year, approximately 3 million passengers pass through the station, which is served by a total of 26 bus companies.

  2025
  Today, Tallinn Bus Station is more than just a transport hub. Under the management of T grupp OÜ, the station has become a cultural venue through the «Culture Walks Through Bus Stations» initiative. It has introduced free travel libraries, hosted diverse art exhibitions, provided musical experiences, and organised large-scale festivals. These cultural offerings make waiting at the bus station more enjoyable and encourage greater use of public transport services.

• JUBILEE EXHIBITION

  

  Tallinn’s first intercity buses departed from what is now Viru Square, near the edge of Tammsaare Park. The row of buildings in the photo stood where the Viru Centre is today. The bus on the right is a Berliet.
  1928 / Estonian History Museum

   

  

  Departure of intercity buses from Viru Square, by today’s Tammsaare Park. Luggage is being loaded onto the roof of a Büssing bus heading to Kuressaare.
  1939

   

  

  The white “Bus Station” sign stood where the main entrance of today’s bus station is located. View towards Odra Street.
  1963 / O. Juhani

   

  

  In the early 1960s, the former bus station building relocated from Viru Square stood in the middle of what is now the station forecourt. The wooden houses visible in the background were later replaced by a car park and, behind it, Filtri Road.
  April 1964

   

  

  The wooden waiting pavilion with ticket sales stood where today’s local bus stop is located.
  1964 / Art Museum of Estonia

   

  

  Construction of the new bus station. In the foreground is the railway line running alongside Odra Street.
  1964 / A. Vaik / Tallinn City Museum

   

  

  Construction of the southern waiting platform and canopy. View from the window of Lastekodu 39.
  3 January 1965 / H. Org

   

  

  LAZ buses are at the bus station the day before the grand opening of the new terminal. View from the window of Lastekodu 39.
  20 July 1965 / H. Org

   

  

  Temporary ticket offices in decommissioned LAZ buses, during the final days before the opening of the new terminal. View from the window of Lastekodu 39 towards Liviko.
  July 1965 / H. Org

   

  

  Freshly completed façade of the new bus station.
  July 1965 / V. Gorbunov / Kodumaa newspaper editorial office

   

  

  An Ikarus Lux bus is departing from the newly completed bus station.
  August 1965 / A. Allan / Kodumaa newspaper editorial office

   

  

  A light blue Ikarus Lux passes by the bus station.
  1 May 1966

   

  

  Platforms 1 to 9 are beside the bus station waiting area.
  October 1968

   

  

  Administrative building of the bus station. A newer-model LAZ bus stands in front.
  May 1973 / H. Org

   

  

  Interior view of the bus station waiting hall.
  1970s–1980s / J. Külmet / Kodumaa newspaper editorial office

   

  

  View of the bus station platforms.
  1970s–1980s / J. Külmet / Kodumaa newspaper editorial office
  
  

  

  Advance ticket sales for intercity buses were located on Pärnu Road. Tickets could be purchased up to 7 days in advance, depending on the route.
  1970s–1980s / Estonian History Museum

   

  

  Telephone pre-booking office for intercity bus tickets.
  1970s–1980s / Estonian Television

   

  

  Bus station ticket counters.
  1980s / E. Raag / Museum of Estonian Architecture

   

  

  Bus station waiting area.
  1980s / E. Raag / Museum of Estonian Architecture

   

  

  Bus station waiting area and travel information boards.
  1980s / E. Raag / Museum of Estonian Architecture

   

  

  Ikarus buses during rush hour before the long Women’s Day weekend.
  5 March 1988 / H. Org

   

  

  AS Mootor buses at the bus station. View from the window of Lastekodu 39.
  July 1993 / H. Org

   

  

  The renovated Tallinn Bus Station, featuring an updated interior and exterior, was officially opened.
  19 December 2012 / V. Tõkman

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