Valga

The city has the only railway station through which one can get from Estonia to Latvia. The city is rather dull, but curious about its position on the invisible state border. It has a military museum with a rich exposition dedicated to the Estonian War of Independence.

The border (in the literal sense of the word) location is, perhaps, the most interesting feature of Valga. In the city there are neither medieval monuments nor interesting wooden buildings, so Valga is deprived of the charm and comfort inherent in many other Estonian cities. The population of Valga is mixed, 35% Russians, and most other people speak Russian, because it was and is the language of interethnic communication between residents of Estonia and Latvia. The city has a light industry (furniture, clothes and footwear, woodworking). Life along the railway station is convenient, but the overall economic situation is rather bleak, and this is evident to the unaided eye: Valga is one of the poorest county-level cities in Estonia.

1 Tourist Information Centre, Kesk 11, ☏ +372 766 16 99, fax: +372 766 16 99, valga@visitestonia.com.

History:

Bus and train schedules are easily available online—read more under Estonia#Get around.

By train:

There are 3 trains per day from/to Tallinn (3½–4 hr, from Tartu 1 hr 15 min). In addition, there are 3 trains from/to Riga (Latvia) via Sigulda, Cēsis, Valmiera, and Strenči directly into Valga (the Latvian part doesn't have a railway station). 3 hr 15 min, €5–6. Current Estonian railway schedules and tickets are available at ELRON's website, Latvian schedules and tickets at the Pasažieru Vilciens website.

1 Railway station and bus station (Valga raudteejaam) (about 1 km southeast of the centre). Daily 06–20:00; Ticket desk: Mon–Fri 09:00–18:00, off 13:00–14:00. Built in 1949, the building has a ripped rectangular tower, which is of architectural interest and the most distinct in Estonia. The inside is reconstructed and accessible with shops, toilets, and a ticket desk.

By bus:

There several buses a day from Tallinn (4 hr).

Almost hourly (6–8 per day) from Tartu (1½–2 hr) and Viljandi (1½ hr).

In addition, there direct buses from Narva, Pärnu, and Kuressaare. However, it might be easier and faster to transfer half-way, going there—see Peatus.ee for connecting journeys.

Buses from Latvia go via the Valka bus station, except for the Riga-Saint Petersburg route, which used the Valga station.

By car:

From Tartu (85 km) highway #3, from Viljandi (80 km) and Pärnu (141 km) highway #6 lead into Valga. From Tallinn it is 235 km (via Viljandi).

Take the Latvian A3 from Riga (160 km).

By foot:

From Valka you can walk across the border.