Traffic arrangement during the XIII Youth Song and Dance Celebration (30 June – 2 July 2023)
From 30 June to 2 July, the XIII Youth Song and Dance Celebration “Holy is the Land” will take place. Nearly 800 collectives with nearly 25,000 choir singers and orchestra musicians will be attending and the number of audience members at the event is expected to be even higher.
The Song and Dance Celebration will mean changes to traffic and public transport in the capital. Depending on the date and time, different traffic restrictions will be in place in different locations.
These primarily concern the surrounding area of Kalevi Stadium and the Song Festival Grounds as well as the Song and Dance Celebration procession route.
Traffic info
- Public transport
- Bike and scooter parking areas
- Main regions where traffic and parking are reorganised – Kalevi stadium, Song Festival Grounds area, City Centre and Old Town area
- Car parking
Area plans for visitors
- During the XIII Youth Song and Dance Festival, which will take place from 30 June to 2 July, special buses will be in service between the city center and the festival grounds. Numerous additional departures will also be added to the schedules of regular public transportation lines.
- From 30 June to 2 July, use of Tallinn’s public transport is free for everyone (Elron trains are free for performers and one companion from 27 June to 2 July). Info about schedules and routes can always be found on the homepage transport.tallinn.ee.
FRIDAY and SATURDAY, 30 June to 1 July:
On Friday, 30 June, from 8–23, and on Saturday, 1 July, from 12–23, there will be a temporary bus line number 81 operating in the direction of Estonia – Dance Festival.
Bus number 81 route: Teatri väljak, Lembitu street, Juhkentali street, Liivalaia street, A. Lauteri street, and back to Teatri väljak.
Stops: Estonia (starting point next to Solaris, Teatri väljak), Püssrohu, Bussijaam, Püssirohu, Estonia (end point next to Teaduste Akadeemia, Teatri väljak). Buses depart approximately every 5 minutes.
SUNDAY, 2 July
Temporary bus lines no. 80 and no. 82 are available for the participants of the song festival on Sunday, 2 July.
Bus line number 80 operates on Sunday, 2 July, from 12–23, along the route Estonia > Song Festival.
Stops: Estonia, Bussijaam, Kivimurru, Song Festival, Pae, Bussijaam, Estonia.
Buses depart approximately every 5 minutes.
Bus line number 82 operates on Sunday, 2 July, from 12–23, along the route Song Festival > Taevakivi.
Stops: Song Festival, Taevakivi, Taevakivi, Sabatähe, Song Festival.
Buses depart approximately every 10 minutes.
For convenient connection between Haabersti (West Tallinn) and the city center, bus line number 42 is available.
| IMPORTANT! Tram lines 1, 3, and 6 WILL NOT OPERATE during the procession between 7–14 on 2 July. Starting from 2 pm until the end of the day, tram lines 1, 3, and 6 will operate on an intensified schedule. From the beginning to the end of the day, bus lines 1, 18, 18A, 40, 42, 60, as well as trolleybus lines 1 and 3, will operate on an intensified schedule. |
Changes in public transportation routes:
- From the beginning to the end of the day on Sunday, 2 July, the routes of bus lines 1, 8, 34, and 38 will be modified.
- From 7–13:30, the routes of bus lines 2, 3, 16, 17, 17A, 18, 18A, 20, 20A, 21, 21B, 23, 24, 36, 40, 41, 41B, 42, and 73, as well as trolleybus lines 1 and 3, will be modified.
- From 7–14 and from 19:30 until the end of the day, the routes of bus lines 29, 35, 44, 51, 52, 60, and 63 will be modified.
- From Sunday morning at 07:00 until the end of the day, the routes of bus lines 5 and 66 will be modified.
| NB! On Sunday, Viru Bus Terminal will be CLOSED from 7 o'clock in the morning until the end of the procession. |
Temporary bus stops
During the detour, all stops along the route will be served (unless otherwise indicated), including temporary stops.
Temporary stops are located in the following places:
- In the direction of the city center, in front of building No. 37 on Suur-Ameerika Street (bus lines 2, 3, 16, 17, 17A, 23, 24, 40, 42)
- On the outbound direction from the city center, on Pärnu Road between Suur-Ameerika and Väike-Ameerika Streets (bus lines 5, 18, 18A, 20, 20A, 36)
- Temporary stops on J. Smuuli Road at Laulupidu (bus lines 5, 29, 44, 51, 60, 63, 80, 82)
Due to significant traffic changes and redirection of public transportation in the city center area, it is advisable to allocate more time for reaching your destination!
Detailed information about the detour routes of the affected lines can be found at transport.tallinn.ee
Visitors coming by car to the song festival can park their cars for free on July 2nd at Tondiraba Ice Hall, Bauhaus, Lasnamäe Prisma, Lasnamäe Centrum, Ülemiste outdoor parking areas, and T1 parking garage in Lasnamäe. In Haabersti, cars can be parked at Rocca al Mare Shopping Center. Public transportation connections are available between the parking lots and the Song Festival Grounds. Important information for car drivers: traffic and parking regulations, as well as the main areas affected by the changes in the city. Important information for car drivers: car traffic and parking and main areas where traffic and parking are reorganised .
See more about the arrangement of public transport and main regions where traffic and parking are reorganised – Kalevi stadium, Song Festival Grounds area, City Centre and Old Town area.
- It is also possible to come to the Song Festival Grounds by bike. Unguarded bicycle parking areas are located next to the Russalka Memorial, on Pirita Road and by the other entrances to the Song Festival Grounds. Cyclists must have bike locks.
- On the day of the Song Celebration it will not be possible to travel via rented scooter in the immediate vicinity of the Song Festival Grounds nor to park them there. The nearest rented scooter parking spots will be in front of Russalka and next to the Orlov Castle parking areas.
- There is no organised parking in the Kalev Central Stadium area during the Dance Celebration. Juhkentali street is closed for regular traffic.
- There is no organised parking in the Song Festival Grounds’ surroundings. Many streets near the Song Festival Grounds will be closed during the event. This year it will not be possible to park cars on the Smuuli or Pirita roads.
- On 2 July during the procession before the concert, traffic from the city centre to the Song Festival Grounds will be restricted.
- We suggest that visitors of the capital leave their car in a large car park and make their way to the Song Festival Grounds from there. Arrangements have been made with the owners of several private car parks in different areas of the city who have agreed to help the city and the visitors of the Celebration.
- On Sunday, 2 July, parking will be free in Tondiraba Ice Hall, Bauhaus, Lasnamäe Prisma and Lasnamäe Centrum car parks. In the centre of the city, the T1 car park and Ülemiste City car park are open to visitors. In Haabersti, people can leave their cars at the Rocca al Mare Shopping Centre car park. Public transport between the car parks and the Song Festival Grounds will be provided. Please note, however, that not all the buses go right to the Song Festival Grounds, and you will have to walk a bit to get to the venue.
- We would like to remind everyone that traffic laws prohibit parking on pavements and in green areas, and violators will be fined.