Estonia is famously digital, so sending a physical postcard can feel oddly old-fashioned. The good news is that you do not need to waste half a day hunting down a traditional post office. Here is the pragmatic way to get your mail sorted without leaving the centre.
In brief:
- The Cost: €4.30 worldwide for postcards and letters up to 250 g.
- The Easiest Spot: Tallinn Tourist Information Centre at Niguliste 2. Buy your cards and stamps here, then drop them in the box just steps away.
- The Drop-Off: Look for Omniva’s orange street boxes or the vintage green box by the Town Hall.
- The Airport: Yes, you can post cards right before you pass through security.
If you are in a rush, the summary above will get the job done. But if you want to find a card that stands out, or you care about the design of the stamps you put on it, here are the details for the rest of the process.
Where to Buy Postcards and Stamps
If you want the simplest option, go straight to the Tallinn Tourist Information Centre (Niguliste 2). You can buy your postcard and stamps there, then drop the card in the nearby street box.
If you prefer to hand your mail directly to a postal clerk – or want a wider selection of stamps to choose from – the central Kaubamaja Post Office (Gonsiori 2) is located just outside the Old Town (open Mon–Fri, 10:00–18:00).
For the postcards themselves, generic views are available at souvenir shops throughout the Old Town – the historical core covered extensively in my complete guide to exploring Tallinn. For something more distinctive, try one of these locations:
- The Estonian Maritime Museum at Fat Margaret (Pikk 70),
- The Estonian Children’s Literature Centre (Pikk 73),
- Raamatukoi (Harju 1).
Fans of quirky, surreal art should seek out the Navitrolla gallery (Müürivahe 11 – just be sure to double-check their opening hours in advance, as they can be irregular).
If your itinerary takes you slightly further out to Kadriorg, the Kumu Art Museum has a fantastic selection of art prints.
Rahva Raamat inside Viru Keskus (Viru väljak 4/6) is another convenient option, particularly if you want postcards alongside stationery and other souvenirs.
Standard stamps are also sold at Raeapteek (Raekoja plats 11) and most R-Kiosk convenience stores, though the selection there is usually limited to basic designs.
A note for postcrossers: If you have a few days to spare and want specific, beautifully illustrated Estonian stamps, order them online from the Omniva e-shop. They deliver to any local parcel machine (pakiautomaat) within 2–3 working days. If you are not familiar with the system, these self-service lockers are a staple of Estonian daily life – you will find them outside almost every supermarket and shopping centre, and you simply collect your order using a PIN code sent to your phone and email.
Postage Costs and Delivery Times
Omniva, Estonia’s national postal service, treats a standard postcard as a standard letter (up to 250 g).
- Estonian postage rates (2026): €4.30 for international mail (regardless of destination) and €2.10 for domestic drops. This applies to standard letters and postcards up to 250 g. If you are trying to map out your overall travel budget, check my detailed breakdown of everyday prices in Tallinn to see what else you can expect to spend.
Expect delivery to take between 1–3 weeks. Mail to Germany and Western Europe generally arrives in about 7 days, while destinations like the USA, Japan, or Australia take 2–3 weeks.
Where to Mail Your Postcard
You do not need to queue at a post office to send a postcard. Just affix the correct postage and drop it into any street box.
In the Old Town: Most current Omniva letter boxes are orange. The old green box beside Tallinn Town Hall is an exception – and an easy one to spot. There is also a convenient letter box at Lossi plats 4, right by the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
At the Airport: If you forgot to mail your postcard in the city, there is an Omniva postbox inside the passenger terminal building. It is located before security (landside), not far from the pharmacy.
Live Map: Since street boxes can occasionally move, you can always check Omniva’s official location finder for the closest active drop-off point.
What You Need to Know Before You Go
How do I format an international address?
Write the recipient’s name, street address, postcode, and city. Write the destination country in English or French on the last line. Writing the country in capital letters can make it easier to spot during sorting, but it is not a strict requirement.
Santa Claus’ Main Post Office
Tähtikuja 1, 96930 Rovaniemi,
FINLAND
Do I need a special stamp for a postcard?
No. Omniva treats a standard postcard as a standard letter for postage purposes. For an international postcard up to 250 g, the standard international rate applies.
Can I use multiple smaller stamps instead of one?
Yes. You do not have to buy a single €4.30 stamp. If you want your postcard to look more interesting, you can stick multiple smaller denomination stamps onto it, as long as their combined face value adds up to the required international rate.
Do I need to include a return address?
A return address is not normally needed on a standard tourist postcard. If you want the card returned in case of a delivery problem, you can add your own address in a small space on the message side.
