Kohtla-Järve

Kohtla-Järve is in East Estonia. Kohtla-Järve is an agglomeration of industrial settlements in Eastern Estonia. Separate parts of this unusual and rather conditional city are separated from each other by tens of kilometers. Most of them are dull and uninteresting, but an attentive traveler will find several unique objects here: a slate mine, a slate museum and a curious selection of post-war Soviet architecture, as well as a sea of ​​ruins and industrial color. The center of the agglomeration is a separate and very independent city of Jõhvi, in which the bus station, railway station and all the necessary infrastructure are concentrated.

Understand
Kohtla-Järve is the industrial center of Estonia, the fifth largest city. Kohtla-Jarve is unique in that it is spread over the region: its districts are in different parts of East Estonia.

As of 2021, 74% of the city's population were ethnic Russians Estonians, and 16% were ethnic Estonians.

The history of Kohtla-Järve is closely tied to the history of extraction of oil shale – the main mineral of Estonia.

By train
The train from Tallinn to Narva stops in the Oru area.

You can take the same train to the city of Jõhvi, near Kohtla-Järve, and then drive 9-10 km by bus or taxi to any part of the city.

However, if you are heading to Viivikonna or Sirgala, it is better to take a different route. Getting to these areas by train, you will have to get off at the Vaivara station, get to the city of Sillamäe by bus, from where there is a direct route to Viivikonna. From Viivikonn to Sirgala you can cross on foot. However, these parts of the city are unlikely to arouse your interest.

By bus
Any area of ​​Kohtla-Järve can be reached by intercity bus.

Get around
Intracity transportation in Kohtla-Jarve is carried out by buses, fixed-route and passenger taxis. City bus lines are operated by Atko bussiliinid. Routes are built to connect the city with other areas, and with the neighbouring city of Jõhvi. The city bus station is at the Vironia shopping centre. There is an Oru railway station in the Oru area.