Kärdla Airport (KDL) – Getting to Your Destination on Hiiumaa

Kärdla Airport is tiny — one of the smallest commercial airports in Europe. It serves Hiiumaa, Estonia's second-largest island. There are no taxis waiting at the terminal, no shuttle buses, and no car rental desks inside. If you have not arranged transport in advance, you will be standing in a parking lot with your bags, hoping someone answers the phone.

The airport sits about 5 km east of Kärdla town center. If you are heading to Kärdla itself, pre-booked transfers or a local taxi called ahead of time are your realistic options. If your accommodation is elsewhere on the island — Kassari, Kõpu, or Käina — you absolutely need to arrange a ride before you land.

Kärdla Airport handles flights from Tallinn operated by NyxAir (formerly Transaviabaltika successor). These are small turboprop aircraft carrying around 19 passengers. When you step off the plane, you walk across the tarmac to a small terminal building. There is no jet bridge, no baggage carousel — your luggage is brought to a collection point near the entrance.

The terminal has basic facilities: a small waiting area, restrooms, and occasionally a staffed information point during flight arrivals. Do not expect Wi-Fi to be reliable. There is no ATM inside the terminal, though Kärdla town has banking services.

The entire deplaning and luggage process takes about 10 minutes. After that, you are outside in a quiet parking area. On Hiiumaa, everything operates at island pace — which is charming once you have a ride sorted.

Pre-booked airport transfer: This is the most reliable option, especially if you are visiting Hiiumaa for the first time. A driver meets you at the terminal and takes you directly to your accommodation anywhere on the island. Since the island is not large (roughly 40 km across), most transfers take 20–45 minutes depending on destination.

Local taxi: There is no taxi rank at the airport. Kärdla has a handful of taxi operators, but you need to call ahead. Response times vary — on a good day, 15–20 minutes; on a bad day or during summer weekends, longer. Save a local number before you fly.

Rental car: No rental desks at the airport itself. Some local companies on Hiiumaa can arrange delivery to the airport if you book in advance. This is worth considering if you plan to explore the island, as public transport is limited.

Public bus: There is no direct bus service from the airport. The nearest bus stops are in Kärdla town. You would need to get there first, which brings you back to needing a taxi or transfer.

Walking to Kärdla: It is about 5 km along a quiet road. Doable in summer with light luggage, but not practical with suitcases or in Estonian winter conditions.

Transport costs on Hiiumaa are modest by European standards, but availability is the real currency here — and honestly, price is not the thing that will go wrong on this island.

Estonian taxi fares are not set by any authority — each operator sets its own and must display its price list on the vehicle. There is no Hiiumaa tariff to quote, so check the price list before you get in, or agree the fare when you call. We are not printing a per-km figure, because there is no official one to print.

Pre-booked transfers are quoted per vehicle and fixed at booking, so you know the figure before you fly. That is the main practical argument for them here: not that they are cheap, but that they exist when you land. Distances set the price more than anything else:

The island is roughly 40 km across, so even the longest run is short. The challenge is not the price — it is finding an available car. Pre-booking removes that uncertainty entirely.

Kärdla Airport does not handle late-night flights under normal scheduling. Flights from Tallinn typically arrive in the afternoon. However, delays happen — weather on Hiiumaa can ground or reroute flights, and if your arrival pushes into the evening, your options narrow significantly.

After dark, finding a taxi on short notice becomes very difficult. There is no 24-hour taxi service on the island. If your flight is delayed, contact your accommodation — many guesthouses and hotels on Hiiumaa will arrange a pickup as a courtesy, especially if you let them know in advance.

The small terminal means short walking distances, which is helpful with children. No long corridors or escalators to navigate. Luggage is handed over quickly.

If you are traveling with a car seat for a child, bring your own — local taxis almost never carry them, and even pre-booked transfers may not have one unless you specifically request it during booking. Hiiumaa is a family-friendly destination, but the transport infrastructure assumes you are self-sufficient.

For families with strollers and multiple bags, a pre-booked transfer with a larger vehicle (minivan) is the stress-free choice. Specify your luggage count when booking.

The airport is small enough that there is essentially one exit. When you walk out of the terminal, you are in the parking area. Pre-booked drivers typically wait right there, often holding a name sign. There is no separate arrivals hall or meeting point — the entire terminal frontage is visible at a glance.

If your driver is not immediately visible, check the small parking lot to the right. In summer months, drivers sometimes wait in their cars with the windows down. A quick phone call usually resolves any confusion within moments.

Book a transfer in advance if: You are visiting Hiiumaa for the first time, traveling with family, have accommodation outside Kärdla, or arriving during the off-season (October–April) when even fewer transport options exist.

Try a local taxi if: You are a returning visitor, comfortable with making calls in Estonian, heading only to Kärdla town, and arriving during summer daytime hours.

Rent a car if: You plan to spend several days exploring the island. Hiiumaa has beautiful but spread-out attractions, and buses run infrequently.

Walk if: You are young, fit, it is summer, you have a backpack, and Kärdla is your destination. The road is safe and scenic.