Tallinn
Tallinn is Estonia's capital and largest city. On the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is a city of over 400,000 inhabitants. It is home to a third of the country's population, and is also the capital of Harju County in Northern Estonia.
Understand
History
Tallinn then became a pawn in the geopolitical games of its big neighbours, passing into Swedish hands in 1561 and then to the Russian Empire under Peter the Great in 1710. By World War I and the ensuing brief Estonian independence (starting 1918) Tallinn's population had reached 150,000.
Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940, conquered by Nazi Germany (1941–44), and then retaken by the Soviets. In World War II, the city was quite extensively bombed by the Soviets, although luckily the medieval town remains. The Soviet Union undertook a program of massive East Slavic migration, and just over 40% of Tallinn's current inhabitants are Slavic (compared to an average of 28% for the entire country). On 20 August 1991, Estonia declared independence and Tallinn became its capital once again.
Present day
Tourism is important for Tallinn and this is especially visible in the old town where almost every door leads into a souvenir shop, restaurant or bar. Unsurprisingly the majority of visitors are day trippers from Finland. The neighbours from across the bay usually know their way around without a map and have already seen the sights of Tallinn a couple of times. They come to enjoy low prices on practically all goods and services from restaurant meals to fuel and even plastic surgeries, not to forget as much alcohol as the customs regulations allow you to bring into Finland!
Districts
- Kesklinn - literally meaning "city centre" and being just what the label says, this district includes the main part of the Port of Tallinn, the Old Town (Vanalinn), Tallinn's central business district with its skyscrapers and many other tourist attractions in the quarters surrounding them, including the Kadriorg park and palace and most of the coastline of Lake Ülemiste except for the part immediately adjacent to the airport
- Haabersti - the westernmost district with the extensive coastline holds the Estonian Open Air Museum, the Tallinn Zoo and the Saku Suurhall Arena, as well as the city's largest shopping centre
- Põhja-Tallinn - literally meaning "north Tallinn", extends north of the railway line and includes the industrial part of the Port of Tallinn, as well as many monuments to its military heritage, the Maritime Academy and the quarter of Kalamaja known for its wooden houses
- Pirita - the least populous district of Tallinn stretches along the eastern part of its coast and includes both a popular beach and a forest. This is one of Estonia's most desirable places to live, in single-family houses, for the affluent, and home to some tourist attractions as well, including Tallinn's TV Tower or the Botanic Gardens
- Lasnamäe - the most populous district of Tallinn holds over a quarter of its inhabitants in the large Communist-era blocks of flats, but apart from the airport it has little of interest to the tourists
- Nõmme - formerly an independent town founded as a leisure/summer residence, Nõmme remains green and sparsely inhabited, with rich architectural heritage and many private villas. It ranks as one of the country's most affluent areas.
- Kristiine and Mustamäe are residential districts southwest of the centre.
Climate
At these latitudes winters are dark and cold and temperatures under -20°C are not unheard of from December to February. Thankfully, the sea moderates the winter temperatures a bit compared to continental cities with similar temperatures like Moscow.
Spring is the driest season and while there are often sub-zero temperatures at night until well into May, the snow usually disappears towards the end of March and the days are getting gradually warmer. Summer months are pleasant with day temperatures between +20°C and +30°C in July and August, however if it's raining, temperatures are lower. The summer is the best time of the year to visit Tallinn. Although Tallinn doesn't experience the Midnight Sun, in the middle of the summer it doesn't get really dark at night.
Usually you will need your jacket again towards the latter half of September. The autumn is the "rain season" and with both temperatures and the leaves falling, Tallinn doesn't look very attractive this time of the year. However the greyness is covered up by the snow that usually arrives in early December. Visiting Tallinn in December when the Old Town is beautifully covered in snow and Christmas decorations is not a bad idea.
Tourist office
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Tourist Information Centre in Old Town
phone: +372 645 7777address: Niguliste 2 / Kullassepa 4.
Get in
By ferry
From Helsinki
The most common ferry route is from Helsinki, Finland to Tallinn Port, which has upwards of 20 departures daily. Depending on the ferry, journey time is 1½-3½ hours. Prices average €16-30 one way, depending on operator, season (summer costs more), day of week (Fridays and Saturdays cost more) and time of day (to Tallinn in the morning and back in the evening is popular and hence more expensive). Particularly popular are day cruises, which can go for as little as €10 return. All ferries also carry cars, from €25 one way. Bicycles can be taken for around €5 one way. Bikes on car ferries must go through vehicle check-in, which closes earlier than passenger check-in, so plan for extra time.-
phone: +372 664 6000Operates only one ship, the 2000-passenger Finlandia (3 times daily, travel time 2½ hr). Often has the cheapest fares. If you take the morning sailing to Tallinn and the evening sailing back you will have about eight hours in Tallinn.
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phone: +372 640 9808Up to 6 departures daily on large Shuttles Star and Superstar (2 hr). They also operate the MS Baltic Queen (3½ hr), a 2,800-passenger cruise ship for easy overnight stays in Tallinn. Discounts are available to Eurail pass holders. As this company has more departures you will have more flexibility planning your day trip.
Viking LineLarge Viking XPRS ferry (2½ hr). Departs Helsinki midday and late in the evening. The day departure from Helsinki is very late (11:30) so you will have less than four hours to spend in Tallinn (you need to be back on board half an hour before departure) before the ship sails back. On Sundays the ship leaves even earlier. If taking this boat you would better stay overnight in Tallinn if you want to do any serious sightseeing.
Eckerö and Viking usually have the cheaper fares, as they are more geared towards day-trippers and the party crowd who come to have a great time on board and tend to spend more in the bars, restaurants and shops on board. On the other hand Tallink is more geared towards frequent travellers such as Estonians working in Finland.
Other regular ferry routes
- Tallink also offers a year-round daily overnight service from Stockholm taking 16h.
- St. Peter Line provides infrequent overnight services to Saint Petersburg.
Passenger ferry terminals in Tallinn Port
All ferries dock at Reisisadam port, to the north of the center. Tallink uses at the south-eastern side of the bay and Eckerö and Viking the at the northwestern side. At Terminal A/B you can grab a useful free city map just before exiting the terminal. From there, city bus #2 and commercial bus #90K operate to the city centre (A. Laikmaa stop), inter-city bus station (Autobussijaam stop) and the airport (Lennujaam stop). Or, you can take a leisurely 15-min walk toward the Old Town that is easily visible from the terminals. View a map of route 2.The journey from the port to the city centre is not all that impressive but don't be shocked - this isn't the real Tallinn! As of late 2015, construction of a new, glitzy shopping area is underway, something that will cover much of the ugly sand and mud fields (on the downside these buildings will reportedly partially cover the view to the old town).
If you are travelling with your car on the ferry, the traffic in the harbour can be a bit chaotic as everyone tries to get out from the area as quickly as possible and lanes are not clearly marked, especially around Terminal D.
By your own boat
You can sail with a yacht to Old Town Marina, the special harbour for recreational vessels.By plane
Tallinn AirportTallinn has an international airport, the Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport, within the city limits in the district of Ülemiste. A small yet pleasantly quiet airport, it has a good choice of cafes and free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal building. Car rental desks are located on the bottom floor next to the entrance.
In large parts due to Estonia's small population Lennart Meri has few connections for an airport serving a national capital in Europe and is not among Europe's best-connected; thus planning your travel to Tallinn may be tricky depending on your origin or next destination. The airport has no intercontinental flights, the longest flights being towards Turkey and the Mediterannean.
Most flights out of the airport are operated by the Latvian flag carrier Air Baltic, who has a base there, and, somewhat surprisingly, Polish LOT Airlines operating as Nordica, who took over the routes of the late Estonian Air. Further connections are offered by several other major flag carriers, mostly from Star Alliance, Finnair, and low-fare airlines. It is thus much more interesting - and cheaper - to travel to Estonia via one of the major European hubs.
Travel between the airport and the city
- Taxis should cost €7–10.
- Tram 4 has its eastern terminus at the airport and takes about 15 minutes to get to the city centre, with one of its stops just outside the Old City's South-Eastern gates. A ticket, valid for one trip without vehicle change, is €2 and can be bought from the tram driver (knock on the door to get their attention, and exchange your money for a ticket via the little door in the window).
- Bus #2 is the only city bus serving the airport and departs roughly every 15min. The journey to the Old Town (A. Laikmaa stop near Hotel Viru) takes approximately 20 minutes. Both inbound and outbound line #2 buses stop at the airport. To get to the city centre, use the bus stop next to the terminal entrance and catch the bus travelling towards "Reisisadam" (the passenger port), and not towards "Mõigu", which is a residential area on the outskirts of the city. The bus stop in the city centre (A. Laikmaa) is between Hotel Tallink and the Viru Center shopping mall/intra-city bus terminal. The bus does not stop in the intra-city bus terminal. You can buy a ticket from the driver, purchase a ticket online or purchase a rechargeable "green card" from the R-Kiosk located in the terminal building (see Transport). View a map of route 2.
You can also hop on one of the hourly Sebe buses to Tartu. They stop in front of the terminal. Tickets can be bought from the driver or from the ticket machine installed on the ground floor of the terminal building. Buses to other Estonian destinations depart from the city bus station (see below) and do not stop at the airport.
By train
Tallinn train stationIt is the hub of local Estonian trains operated by Elron in the directions of Tartu, Pärnu, Viljandi, Paldiski, and a few other Estonian cities. RZD provides daily international services to Saint Petersburg (7 hr) and Moscow (~15 hr) in Russia.
By bus
Frequent buses operate between Tallinn and other cities in Estonia. Domestic bus schedules and prices can be found at Tpilet.ee and Peatus.ee (a good trip planner as well).
International buses run frequently between Tallinn and Riga, Latvia (4½ hr) with continuing service to Vilnius, Lithuania and the rest of Europe. Another popular route is between Tallinn and St. Petersburg, Russia (€25-30, 8 hr). Free Wi-Fi is usually available on board.
The following bus companies operate international bus service to/from Tallinn:
Get around
The Old Town is best navigated on foot, not that you have much choice. A network of buses, trams and trolleybuses covers the rest of the city. There is an abundance of relatively cheap taxis. Before you jump in a random taxi car make sure you check the price on the window of the car. In Tallinn there are more than 20 different taxi companies and some can be a rip-off.
By public transport
TLT operates frequent bus, trolley and tram services daily 06:00-23:59.Timetables and maps are available in English.
Public transport is comparable cheap in and around Tallinn, compared to overland prices of the same distance, due to the zone structure of Tallinn. Thus, many sights even an hour away from Tallinn (e.g. Jägala Falls) are highly affordable, as long as they are within the zones.
Public transport is free for residents of Tallinn. Unless you are registered as a resident, remember to buy your ticket from the driver (€2, no change given; the ticket is valid for exactly one trip, no transfer) or get the rechargeable "green card" (Ühiskaart), which is a brand new, cash-free, and smart way of payment. Use your card to touch a bright orange box every time you enter the bus: a single 1-hour ticket (€1.10, transfer allowed) will be charged automatically and on each day individual tickets will total until the price of the day ticket (€3) is reached. Alternatively, the card can be charged for unlimited travel for 3 days, 5 days, or one month. Get this card from one of the abundant R-kiosks for €2, a refundable deposit which is only refundable in limited locations. Refund is available at the R-Kiosk of the Tallinn Airport, Old City Harbour Terminal A and D, Balti jaam and the service desk of bus station (details). You can charge the card immediately or do it later on-line (major credit cards accepted).
If you have internet access, you can purchase a single ride for €1 online by debit/credit cards (multiple rides/passengers can be purchased at the same time). After payment, you will receive a QR code which can be scanned at the bright orange box only on the front door of the bus/tram as proof of payment.
The Tallinn Card includes unlimited use of public transport.
Bus, trams, and trolleybuses form an extensive network with the major bus hub at Viru Hotel (underground bus station). Some trolleybuses terminate at the nearby stop Kaubamaja, which is adjacent to the main department store (Kaubamaja). Vehicles may have different colours depending on their age and model: some old trolleybuses from the time of the USSR can be still seen in the streets of Tallinn. The level of comfort varies greatly. If you want to avoid steps, look out for special yellow markings in timetables: these denote newer vehicles that are friendly to baby prams and people with reduced mobility.
By taxi
As a modern alternative to classical taxi service providers, you can also book a ride via Bolt (formerly Taxify) (a native company) and American provider Uber – both are available as apps on your smartphone
Do not accept offers from taxi drivers waiting at the harbour or train station. Do not accept offers from taxi drivers who approach you at the airport. Same goes for any taxi that looks shabby or does not carry the logo of one of the reputable companies. Also be wary of taxis that look overly luxurious: large Mercedes, TV-screens inside, usually only a very small and vague logo on the door. If you're obviously drunk and are taking one of those questionable taxis from the harbour, you might be driven to some bar/strip club the taxi driver is collaborating with. Usually you will proceed to have a few drinks there without asking for the price and will then be presented with a huge bill. Taxis hanging out in front of nightclubs often have the highest prices.
Reputable taxi companies are:
- Tallink, yellow Mercedes B-class, Audi A6, Skoda Superb or Hyundai I30 Wagon (not to confuse with Tallinn Taxi, who also have their cars painted yellow)
- Tulika, usually white Toyota Avensis
- Sõbra, "economy" taxis with a mixed car fleet, somewhat cheaper than the competition. Unlike many other economy taxis, the cars are clean and the drivers competent.
- Marabu, mid-price company
- Krooni.
By car
Parking
There is an abundance of parking, but you have to pay for it. In some cases you can park free of charge for 15 minutes, but for an average traveller that is of course not enough. To find a cheaper parking area, Parkopaedia mobile app generally helps, with up-to-date prices mapped for most central parking locations; it won't tell the current availability, though. €1.5 per hour, €5 for 24 hr at Europark within walking distance from the downtown is a somewhat typical cost.The locations of ticket machines, and other methods for paying for parking, aren't always obvious. The ticket machines are the easiest way of paying for your parking. With the ticket machine, just pay the price for the time you wish to park, push the green button, take the ticket and put it inside the windscreen where the parking attendant can see it. Prepare coins in advance, as credit cards and paper money are only accepted by parking machines in large indoor parkings, while breaking money can be difficult to find nearby. Mobile phone payment is popular with locals, but requires a local mobile contract to use it.
For a rental car, a few helpful tips to avoid being fined are:
# Each rental car should come with a plastic mock clock on the dashboard that should be clearly visible from the outside of the car. This clock is used to indicate when you first park at a location. For example if you park at 05:30, your plastic clock should be set to show 05:30. You can then park for free until 05:45.
# Find a bright-orange vested parking inspector in order to determine what type of parking ticket you need. To ask for a parking ticket, say "Palun, üks parkimispilet" in Estonian.
# Scratch the correct date and length of time you'll be parking. In kiosks and some grocery stores you can buy parking tickets that look like lottery tickets. The ticket is split into sections and they are written in both Estonian and English. Scratch off the date of usage. Then scratch off the time you wish the ticket to start. Make sure it is clearly visible next to the clock on the dashboard.
Signs prohibiting parking are not always well visible, one example is the area between the Terminal D in the port and the Norde Centrum shopping centre. Look out for signs with the word Eramaa - this is Estonian for "private" and means that parking is either prohibited or available for a fee.
By bike
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phone: +372 511 1819address: Uus 33Over 140 bicycles and lot of extra gear. Real cyclist centre with experienced staff, opened in 2003. Tours, good recommendations for day-routes in Tallinn and self-guided tours in all over Estonia.
On foot
The Old Town of Tallinn is very comfortably covered on foot.Audio guides in several languages are available for small charge at the tourist centres.
See
Kesklinn (city centre)
Toompea Hill
According to myth, the hill was built on top of the grave of legendary Estonian king Kalev, but more historically, its solid limestone and the site of the Danish castle that founded the city in 1219. Toompea was the home of the Danish and later Baltic German aristocracy and relations between the toffs and the plebs were often inflamed, which is why it's surrounded by thick walls and there's a gate tower (1380) guarding the entrance. Check out the viewpoints, some of which give great views over the city. There's also a cluster of amber (merevaik) shops around here (no Estonian origin but popular among cruise tourists).-
phone: +372 6316357address: Lossi plats 1AIt's the seat of Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu). The castle complex consists of several parts: the western wall and the towers of Tall Hermann, Pilsticker and Landskrone built by the Danes between 13th and 15th centuries; the classic style building of the government of Estonian Governorate built 1767–1773 by the Russians, and the building of the Riigikogu from the 1920s. It's believed that already in the 9th century there was an ancient Estonian wooden fortress on the location.
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phone: +372 644 3484address: Lossi plats 10A classic onion-domed Russian Orthodox church, built 1894–1900, during the Russification period when Estonia was part of the Russian Empire. In 1928, when Estonia was independent, it was argued that the church is a symbol of oppression and architecturally non-suitable, therefore should be demolished. But it survived also the Soviet times, and now is used by the Estonian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate.
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phone: +372 644 4140address: Toom-Kooli 6The oldest church in Tallinn, built as a Catholic church in 1229 but renovated and expanded many times since then, becoming a Lutheran church in 1561.
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address: Rahukohtu 3Today, the Stenbock House is the seat of Estonia's government, but it was built as a courthouse in late 18th century, at the behest of the erstwhile Russian authorities. The Russian treasury eventually found itself unable to pay for the building, so the Count Stenbock, who erected the edifice, was left with it as his personal residence. The treasury was only able to buy it more than a century later, when it finally became the courthouse it was intended to be.
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address: Kiriku plats 1The green Renaissance revival building was erected in mid-19th century as the fourth consecutive home of the Estonian Kinghthood, a congregation of essentially German nobles who pratically controlled Estonia up to its independence in 1920s. Since 1920s, it played host to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, National Library, and the art collections on display at Kumu. As of 2014, it is home of the Estonian Academy of Arts. The building is not open to the public as it is used for instruction and faculty work.
Vanalinn (Old Town)
The medieval Old Town (Vanalinn) of Tallinn was built in the 15-17th centuries, and is excellently preserved. It contains a large part of Tallinn's sights and is the only UNESCO world heritage site entirely in Estonia. As clichéd it may sound — you can't say you've been to Tallinn if you haven't visited the old town. This compact area is best explored on foot.Viru GateThis section of town is known as All-Linn or "Lower Town", as it's where the merchants and artisans of old Tallinn lived. Today, Viru is still Tallinn's trendiest shopping street and the entire All-Linn is the busiest (and most touristy) bit of Tallinn.
Town Hall SquareThe square in the heart of the Old Town, just next to medieval Town Hall (Raekoda), ringed with cafes and restaurants. The square was used as a marketplace.
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phone: +372 645 7900address: Raekoja plats 1Tallinn Town Hall, built at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, is the oldest town hall in the Nordic countries and Baltic states. Its heavy stone structure dominates the square. Nowadays it's used as a museum where smaller concerts are held. The weather vane on top of the spire is called Vana Toomas ("Old Thomas") and it has become a symbol of the city.
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address: Lai 51Built in the 12th century - today it is a Baptist church and probably the most visible landmark on the northern end of the Old Town. When Estonia was part of the Soviet Union the tower was used as a radio tower and a surveillance point.
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address: Niguliste 3St.Olaf's lookalike is at the other end of the Old Town. Heavily damaged in World War II and a fire in the 1980s, it is now an art museum and houses Bernt Notke's famous Danse Macabre from 1633.
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phone: +372 668 0250address: Toompea. 8Describes the life conditions under Soviet and Nazi regimes.
City WallA section of the City Wall can be climbed from the corner of Suur-Kloostri and Väike-Kloostri, with entry into three towers possible. Quite frankly, the views from up on Toompea are better, and the spiral staircases are steep and somewhat claustrophobic.
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phone: +372 6968 690address: Pikk 17The History Museum's main location is the medieval Great Guild Hall. Here, the permanent exhibition takes you through 11,000 years of Estonian history by means ranging from striking exhibits of artifacts to interactive "time capsules". Topics covered include a surprisingly wide range, from coinage and wine to the history of the Great Guild building itself. On top of that, there are always some temporary exhibitions which usually serve as a link with present-day Estonia and Tallinn.
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phone: +372 6 200 550address: Pikk 70The Maritime Museum dates back to 1935 and is housed inside the largest of the Tallinn city wall towers, aptly named "Fat Margaret" (Paks Margareta). Visiting the museum allows one not only to see the potpourri of maritime-themed artifacts, but also the 16th-century cannon tower and experience the view from the cafe on its roof. While the museum is the original location of the Meremuuseum, you absolutely cannot miss their second location in the Seaplane Harbour, where the ships and airplanes are stored (see below).
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Ex-KGB Headquarters
address: Pikk 61Now the Interior Ministry and not generally open to the public, this is where the KGB detained and tortured suspected dissidents. A Soviet-era joke says that this was the tallest building in Estonia: even from the basement, you could see Siberia. Interrogations were indeed conducted in the basement and you can see even today how the windows were crudely bricked up with concrete to mute the sound. -
City Train for kids
phone: +372 5887 7742address: Kullassepa 5Departs every 20 minutes; so takes the round trip.
Outside the Old Town
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Freedom Square
address: Vabaduse väljakThe Freedom Square is one of the main squares in Tallinn, featuring the simple and elegant St. John's Church from the 1860s and the contemporary Victory Column, erected in 2009 to commemorate the Estonian War of Independence of 1918-1920. The square looks especially spectacular at nighttime, when the column is lit up. Rottermann QuarterAn industrial district between the city and the Tallinn Port. The buildings are from the 19th and 20th century, with motifs of Art Nouveau and Historicism. New and stylish apartment buildings with shopping centre have now been built there widely regarded as architectural masterpiece in Tallinn.
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address: Mere pst. 20A fine example of Soviet Brutalist architecture designed by Raine Karp and Riina Altmäe and built for the 22nd Moscow Summer Olympic Games in 1980 for sailing events held in Tallinn. Scale the exterior of this crumbling monumental eulogy to mass culture and marvel at the fact that beneath its crumbling exterior lies a 5,000-seat amphitheatre (that last held a concert in 2008) and a 3,000-seat ice rink. It is closed to the public as negotiations regarding its redevelopment continue - maybe a last chance to see part of Tallinn's overlooked architectural heritage in its current form. Linda line run their catamaran service to Helsinki from offices adjacent to/underneath the helipad.
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phone: +372 53 028 404address: Raua 2
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Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia (EKKM)
phone: +372 53305449address: Põhja pst. 35Already when entering, this place plays with what a museum should look like: you enter into a café. The exhibition rooms are diverse, as they make use of old industrial space. The shows are prepared by artists, hence the place builds a bridge between the upcoming and the established scene.
Kadriorg quarter
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address: Weizenbergi 37An imperial Russian summer residence built by Italian architect Niccolo Michetti for Tsar Peter the Great in 1718. It is in a 90-ha (222-acre) park in the eastern part of the city. The Tsar, a classic and mysterious Russian soul, preferred to stay in a modest house nearby. This event signified the beginning of Tallinn's fame as a summer resort for noble and rich Russians for most of the 18th and 19th centuries. The palace houses some painting collections and other art. A portion of the complex is now occupied by the Office of the President and not available to the public.
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address: Weizenbergi 37/Valge 1Opened in February 2006, this is the largest government-built building since the liberation and it is an almost 50,000 m² (538,196 ft²). The museum, whose architecture is by itself enough to justify the visit, houses a cyclopic house, partly cut out of limestone rock. Permanent exhibition is obviously focused on Estonian art in a wide interval of time. Quality of many pieces is very good and well worth a visit. Also very interesting is the (not too spontaneous) turn of interests of artists toward socialist themes during the USSR period. Exhibitions of modern art, mixed with net/social applications, are often surprising and amusing. Not to be missed or overlooked.
Song Festival GroundsA huge Modernist structure where the All Estonian Song Festival, which is held every five years, features 34,000 singers and dancers in addition to a massive audience.
Pirita
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address: Kloostrimetsa 58aA 314 m high, free-standing structure with an observation deck on the 21st floor which, with its 170 m, is the highest in Northern Europe. It offers spectacular views across Tallinn and, on a clear day, you can see Finland.
Tallinn Botanical GardensThe Tallinn Botanic Garden is in the eastern outskirts of Tallinn, 10 km from the city centre and 3 km from the Pirita Sailing and Recreation Centre.It is a must see destination for nature and plant lovers. The "greenhouse" located near the ticket office houses variety of plants, flowers, trees, cactus family and lot more. Spring temperature is maintained always inside the greenhouse, even during winter season. The outdoor garden is vast and has varied flower collections.
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Metsakalmistu Cemetery
address: PiritaTallinn's most famous cemetery, housing Estonia’s presidents Konstantin Päts and Lennart Meri, as well chess player Paul Keres. If you're not there to see the graves of Estonian celebrities, it's a peaceful experience to just stroll among the trees. Holy Birgitta MonasteryA monastery of Scandinavian female saints, as well as a landmark of 16th century catacombs and ruins. It includes a guest house operated by the nuns.
Põhja-Tallinn
Kalamaja QuarterThe oldest suburb of Tallinn, dating back to the 14th century. It was probably inhabited by fishermen (Kalamaja means "Fish house") and mostly houses workers. The current wooden buildings are from the 19th century.
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phone: +372 504 6536address: Kalaranna 2Built by Tsar Nicholas I in 1820 as a fortress to protect the city from the sea-born attacks, it was turned into a notorious KGB prison in 1920. The prison ceased operations in 2004.
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phone: +372 6 200 550address: 6 VesilennukiLennusadam, literally "air port", was constructed in 1916 for the purpose of serving the seaplane fleet with a spectacular, three-domed concrete hangar. Today, it serves as an outpost of the Maritime museum, serving its large collection of complete ships, airplanes and maritime and military equipment too large to fit the Fat Margaret. Inside the hangar, the highlight is the complete submarine Lembit, whose interior can be visited as well, a shipwreck from the 16th century and a collection of smaller boats and seaplanes. The crown of the collection moored outside in the harbour is the steam-powered icebreaker Suur Tõll. Throughout the museum, a number of state-of-the-art technologies and solutions are employed for a more engaging and enjoyable visit, and the museum has a wide range of activities and tours on offer. As the Seaplane Harbour is a bit out of the way, those getting peckish can enjoy a meal at the museum's restaurant Maru inside the hangars.
Haabersti
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address: Vabaõhumuuseumi tee 12This museum includes 72 buildings of Estonian vernacular architecture and village milieu of the Tsarist time of rule in a dark, dense forest. This museum provides a picture of the life and its hardship in the old times. The Folklore Society Leigarid gives free dancing performances here at 11:00 each Saturday and Sunday. The museum organizes special events during Easter, which provide more insight on Estonian traditions and culture.
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address: Paldiski mnt. 145This is an enormous area. Among its live exhibits, you'll find the world's best collections of mountain goats and sheep, which means there are a lot of them! Tallinn Zoo defies the realities of a relatively modest town it features all the elephants and crocodiles a visitor would expect to see in a larger zoo, as well as a breathtaking maze of lake-size ponds that host birds in summertime.
Also, check out other sights within North Estonia, which could allow for a day trip from Tallinn.
Do
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phone: +372 56 2011 15address: Põhja pst 27aFormerly an industrial site, this is now Tallinn's main creative hub, site of many events (see website).
Beaches
A flag system that regulates swimming. A green flag means it is safe swim, a yellow flag means you can swim, but it isn't recommended and a red flag means swimming is not advised, go in at your own risk.
Pirita BeachA large sandy beach which in summer is full of locals and tourists.
Stroomi BeachThe water is clean and warm, and it is the gay friendliest beach of Tallinn.
Lake HarkuSmall lake that draws a lot of people. The lake gets dirtier by the year and swimming is not always recommended. Watch out for the vipers on the shore!
Kakumäe beachThe water is one of the purest in all of Tallinn beaches.
Pikakari BeachThe water quality is fairly good and it gets deep quite soon when you go in. The huge waves coming from the ships break on shore for the joy of all swimmers. The historical Katariina Pier is nice to walk on.
Sporting & relaxation
Tallinn offers a lot of sporting opportunities - from ATV rentals to ice skating.Tourists from European countries often opt for spa holidays in the city.
Film festivals
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF)The festival combines a feature film festival with the sub-festivals of animated films, student films and children/youth films.
Music festivals
The Estonian Song CelebrationFirst held in 1869, takes place every five years. In 2014, 35,000 choral singers gathered to perform for an audience of 90,000 people. It is recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Tallinn Music WeekShowcase festival, aiming to stage the best and most outstanding Estonian talent on two nights in Tallinn's most vibrant live venues, as well as a networking event for the music industry professionals.
Tallinn International Festival JazzkaarIn addition to Tallinn jazz concerts also take place in Tartu and Pärnu.
Õllesummer FestivalApprox 70,000 people attend the festival each year over the course of 4 days.
Birgitta FestivalMusic and theatre festival, held at the ruins of the historical Pirita (St. Bridget's) convent.
Saku SuurhallRocca al Mare. Estonia's largest concert and exhibition space, the venue for the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest. The hall and its facilities include an excellent shopping centre that can easily be reached by trolleybus 6.
Sport events
Simpel SessionInternational skateboarding and BMX event.
Tallinn International HorseshowBiggest international horseriding competition in Baltic states, includes showjumping and dressage. Takes place in Saku Suurhall.
Learn
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Tallinn University of Technology Summer School
phone: +372 620 2002address: Ehitajate tee 5TUT offers every summer courses in English (TOEFL) and Nordic Culture -
Tallinn University Summer School
phone: +372 6409218address: Narva mnt 25Tallinn University offers a Summer School to learn Eesti. -
phone: +372 626 7301address: Estonia pst 7Open Academy for everybody interested in arts. Wide range of courses and interactive creativity
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phone: +372 619 9909address: Narva mnt 25Runs a training program and several other activities in the film & media sphere and has a cooperation with Apple
Work
Jobs for non-Estonian speakers are less common in other fields, although several IT companies (e.g. Skype) have English based job openings. Compared to Finland or other Scandic countries salaries are lower, so it could make sense to utilize job opportunities in nearby areas. Estonia is part of the EU and Eurozone, so work permits are easy for EU member states and associated countries. All other will need to apply for work permits.
Digital nomads may take advantage of the several coworking spaces, with new ones still popping up from time to time. Among the bigger ones are, for example, Spring Hub and Lift99 (the latter being application-only and strongly connected to the local startup scene).
The national library, which is located few houndred meters south of the very city center, offers plenty of space and good free internet connectivity during opening hours.
Buy
Department stores & shopping malls
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address: Viru väljak 6In and around the landmark Viru hotel, it is very busy as the bus terminal is below this mall. It is still in walking distance from the port but serves tourists and locals as well.
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address: Narva maantee 5
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address: Gonsiori 2Opened in 1960, this is the grand old department store of Tallinn, unsurprisingly a lot has changed since the Soviet times.
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Melon Kaubanduskeskus
phone: +372 630 6500address: Estonia puiestee 1/3
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phone: +372 633 9539address: Liivalaia 53Part of the Finnish department store chain, here since 1996. Close to the port and popular with Finnish tourists.
Rocca al Mare kaubanduskeskusA few kilometres west of the old town along Paldiski maantee. Consists of a Prisma hypermarket and tens of smaller, mostly fashion boutiques.
Rotermanni KvartalRotermann's Quarter is a downtown shopping area with clothing and department stores and restaurants between Viru Keskus, Tallinn port and the Old Town. If you are walking from the harbor towards Viru Väljak the quarter is on your left hand side. One place to find bargain clothes is the Rotermann Kaubamaja situated right at Mere Puiestee. The Kaubamaja also has a combined cafe and restaurant on the third floor which seems to be surprisingly empty even as they have reasonable prices.
Boutiques and souvenirs
For boutiques and souvenirs, your best choice is Viru street in the Old Town and its side streets. There are many stalls selling traditional items like woolen pullovers, crystal and amber. Be prepared to bargain in order to get a reasonable price. Please note, however, that bargaining is only accepted at some places. Even though Baltic amber and Russian matryoshka dolls are widely available in souvenir boutiques, neither are in any way related to Estonia or its culture and are sold in Estonian souvenir boutiques mainly because they sell good among tourists.
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address: Telliskivi 60aFormer industrial, now creative/entrepreneurial district Telliskivi is home to many small boutiques selling nice goods ranging from arts, to clothes and interior. A book store and a record store are also welcoming you. You will find all shops on the website.
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address: Suur-Karja 14Fashion-interested people can visit the main store of Estonia's first Post-Soviet designer brand Ivo Nikkolo.
Markets
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Jaama Turg
address: Kopli 1A market place next to the train station. Overrated and overpriced, gourmet food at three times the price of regular market places. For tourist and rich locals. -
Keskturg
address: Keldrimäe 9Market place 500 m from the bus station. They sell food and clothes. -
address: Raekoja PlatsThe Christmas Market on the Town Hall square is open from late November to early January. They sell knitwear, various wooden objects for use and decoration, Christmas tree decorations, gingerbread and such. It's not all about shopping, the Christmas tree in the middle is worth taking a photo of and there's a stage when they sing carols. Of course you can occasionally run into Santa at the market! Don't forget to try a mug of hot glögg, sold at many stalls.
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Vana Turg
address: Mere Pst.The name translates to "old market" and is located on a small square just outside the old town. Vana Turg is a place to buy clothes and decoration items often Estonian-made and sometimes sold by the makers themselves — knitted pullovers and caps, gloves, belts and slippers are examples of what you can find here. -
address: Kai 5Shopping daytrippers who arrive with Viking Line or Eckerö Line and can't be bothered to walk far from the terminal usually end up at this large indoor market. Three floors of clothing, bags, food and souvenirs plus some restaurants on the second floor. And of course also alcoholic beverages at a third of the Finnish prices.
Records
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address: Viru 3A music store covering all major media types, with somewhat of a focus on vinyl. They especially have great indie and electronics offerings, can at the same time help find great local music and also other common genres. Located in an upper floor, the store has a special atmosphere to it. Offering second hand and a wide variety of new records.
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address: Endla 38Mainly metal and rock/pop/blues also. Owner knows about Estonian and Russian rock music also. Carries many Melodia label records.
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address: Voorimehe 9Good selections. Classical, jazz, Estonian, pop-rock and so on. Furthermore, they sell postcards and stamps.
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address: Telliskivi 60a/3 1st floora small but very friendly and diverse record store
Eat
Budget
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phone: +372 5322 6855address: Telliskivi 60a/FUsed to be an industrial hall, now made a great bistro/bar which tends to become very busy in the evenings (book if you can, but as it's big you might well be lucky and find the one spare table. Good value for price.
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Karja Kelder
phone: +372 644 1008address: Väike-Karja 1Pleasant and affordable tourist trap in basement. Located in the middle of Old Town. -
phone: +372 6601786address: Narva mnt 10Cafe Narva long boasted an old-style interior preserved from the Soviet area; today's chic interior seems questionably authentic. Ladies at the counter are somewhat brusque (still) and mostly Russian-speaking, although this should not prevent you from enjoying traditional food of Soviet workers as well as delicious pastries baked on the premises.
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phone: +372 555 15 235address: Tatari 1, TallinnPizza, falafel, hummus, soup, beer. Fast food joint with wild staff and increasing customer service.
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phone: +372 64 64 079address: Pikk 16The oldest still operating café in Tallinn, dating back to 1864. Coffee, tea, chocolate and various sweet and savoury pastries available, at a quite cheap price. Spacious with stylish decor. Right next door is the Maiasmokk confectionery shop, which sells quality Estonian chocolates to take home with you.
Mauruse PubiA great local pub, featuring cheap food with hearty portions.
Mid-range
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phone: +372 626 9088address: Rataskaevu 8.Excellent organic, biodynamic and Demeter food, also full vegan options. Beautiful interior, very charming and romantic, wonderful service.
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Aserbaijan Restaurant Shesh-Besh
phone: +372 661 1422address: Gonsiori 9This dim and blandly decorated Azerbaijani bar-restaurant "Shesh Besh" offers genuine Azerbaijan cuisine. Although a namesake, it has nothing to do with a branch of Azerbaijan restaurants in Russia. -
address: Vene 12/Katriina KäikA very nice little Italian restaurant stashed away in a small side passage in the Old Town. Offering genuinely excellent food at reasonable prices with good service. Its only "flaw" is that it's hard to get into and is most often completely full, even on off-season week nights. You may want to call ahead and make a reservation. Pizzas and pasta dishes are around €10.
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phone: +372 5604 8262address: Telliskivi 60a/5, hall BFrench food bistro in a hip vintage-industrial-modern setting. Has cheap daily offers.
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phone: +372 6601611address: Õle 33pizza baked in a wood oven, with the choice of topping being aligned to traditional south Italian pizza. Small place, just one big table everybody shares. Combining traditional elements and a rather modern/hip atmosphere.
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phone: +372 6 314 575address: Võrgu 3A rather small restaurant with a nice, minimalistic decor. Serves traditional Estonian food with a Russian influence. Voted best restaurant in Tallinn in 2010. Very popular among tourists, and as such it is usually quite full. Prior reservations are recommended but not mandatory.
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address: Rataskaevu 3This place offers an assortment of huge and delicious pancakes. Don't give in to the temptation to order two portions, one pancake is usually enough. This place used to be less touristic, but is now.
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address: Rävala Puiestee 3This open kitchen type restaurant serves good flame-grilled food at decent prices, especially popular for its daily lunch specials, King Club sandwich and burgers.
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phone: +372 630 7898address: Viru 3A traditional restaurant in the heart of the Tallinn Old town. The menu is centered on various kinds of steaks, but there are also pastas and vegetarian dishes available. Main courses €15–23.
Restoran PeppersackA middle ages-themed restaurant one block away from the city hall square - even the names of the dishes are medieval themed. Outdoor seating available in the summer, when they also played medieval (what else?) music on a small outdoor stage, and they seem also to have sword fight and oriental dance performances. Probably the main competitor of Olde Hansa and a bit touristy indeed but fun.
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phone: +372 639 3246address: Üliõpilaste tee 1Georgian food as it is done in Georgia. It's well out of the way, but that's a good thing. Almost everyone at this restaurant is local (although the menu has English), and tourists are not in sight, so the food here is good and great value. Try the Khinkali or the Harcho.
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phone: +372 56 992 200address: Mere puiestee 6ENear the city centre. A rather small restaurant with a simple, yet stylish interior, a bit resembling an old Soviet-era cafeteria. Serves Nordic cuisine and new Estonian cuisine with an Italian influence. The menu is rather short, including only five main courses, four pastas and some starters and desserts. The dishes themselves are attractively presented and tasty. Sfäär also has a clothes shop adjacent to the restaurant.
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address: Raekoja plats 15Offers generous portions of Russian food. In the warm summer months, people dine on the terrace. In winter, they head down to the warm cellar. To fill up, get a small zakuski (which is anything but small) appetizer plate. It's big enough for three and costs €9, then dip your pelmeni dumplings (costing €6) in smetana or the other sauces provided and wash it down with a shot of vodka (€5).
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phone: +372 600 1035address: Kalasadama 8Considered among the best restaurants in Tallinn. Originally located in Mustamäe, the restaurant came under threat of closing down in March 2019 when the building housing it was demolished. Instead of closing down, it opened in new premises in Kalamaja in northern Tallinn.
Umami offers Estonian-style cuisine with an international twist, as well as a diverse wine list. The restaurant has a spacious terrace and is a short walk away from the ferry terminal. The burger of the day is worth trying.
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phone: +372 626 9080address: Rataskaevu 10/12Translates as "Grandma's Place", which gives you an idea of the warm welcome you can expect here. Friendly and attentive staff are happy to explain the traditional dishes. Excellent value for money. It's a tiny place, so reservations are essential in the high season. Try the meatballs or the pork with sauerkraut and don't miss the kama porridge for dessert.
Splurge
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phone: +372 662 3013address: Harju 1The name pretty much says it. This is a modern cocktail bar and restaurant serving vodka and caviar, fish dishes and a wide range of wines.
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phone: +372 611 7290address: Olevimägi 9One of the trendiest restaurants in Tallinn. Features Italian cuisine by Nicola Tanda. It also has a nice bar to enjoy cocktails and snacks. This is one of the busiest restaurants in Tallinn. Reservations are highly recommended.
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phone: +372 646 1676address: Olevimägi 11Modern Asian kitchen supervised by Alan Yau from Hakasan, London. Modern and warm interior to give a retro asian impression. Reservations recommended for the weekend and during summer holidays.
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phone: +372 628 6567address: Dunkri 8Good traditional Estonian restaurant close to the main square. Try the house beer or vodka and fresh buckthorn and honey apertif with your blood sausage or the famous pork knuckle with extra spicy mustard. The traditional desserts are also worth a try. Live traditional music Sep-May F Sa nights.
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phone: +372 5663 6211address: Niguliste 6This is primarily a wine bar, but it has light meals as well. From the outside it looks like a cosy oasis, and you might think the place is one little rustic room on display but there is more tables behind the wine bar. Welcoming staff and a good selection of wine by the glass. A good place for a relaxed meal, or with your friends before or after dinner.
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address: Vana turg 1The ruling king among Tallinn's purely touristy restaurants with some of them trying to copy its style. The place is simply medieval, not just in terms of food but also in the sense of performance - no electricity, no music except live and authentic, no modern inventions. The house special is bear meat "marinated in rare spices and cooked over a fire in honour of Waldemar II, the brave King of Denmark" costing €40+. Try one of the extraordinary beers, such as the honey beer. It is not likely that you will meet any locals here.
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phone: +372 661 6150address: Mere pst. 6EReopened and two new chefs Martin Meikas and Ranno Paukson with focus on Modern Estonian kitchen. Good view of old town.
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phone: +372 6000 610address: Vene 9As the name suggests, it is a Russian restaurant, but don't expect wooden benches, traditional food, and folk music. On the contrary, you will find a selection of Russian delicacies ranging from pancakes with caviar to pelmeni with pork and wild mushrooms, along with fusion-style cuisine (rabbit with Jerusalem artichoke being a good example). Expect delicious food and very high prices, but if you are looking for typical Russian fare, try to find another place for dinner.
Drink
Cafés
There are plenty of nice cafés, especially in the centre. Among the interesting ones:
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phone: +372 6604019address: Vabaduse väljak 10located just next to the freedom square, this café has good drinks as well as dishes. The interior is a great blend of classical styles of prior decades with the modern times.
Nightlife
Bars and pubs
In old town (vanalinn)
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address: Dunkri 5Plenty of beer types to choose from in this large authentically styled and decorated Bavarian Beer hall, including 5 of their own beers made on site. Try the Medovar Honey beer.
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address: Suur Karja 18Popular Irish pub on one of the nightlife axes. Attracts younger people and is relative new, so no pub crawlers puke in front of the door.
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phone: +372 644 9433address: Väike Karja 8The widest selection of beers of any pub in town including many quality imports from Brewdog and Mikkeller. Good English-style pub-grub, featuring award winning fish and chips. Monthly comedy nights from the "Comedy Estonia" and quiz nights.
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address: Pikk 39The name means 'the gentle wolf' in Estonian. A comfortable and homey pub in the Old Town and offers a wide selection of beers (including two of their own brews) and some pretty decent food. Don't miss the spare ribs.
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address: Vabaduse väljak 8Founded 1935 by local art community and claiming to have had the best accessible cuisine in whole former USSR since 1958 during the Russian occupation.
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address: Suur-Karja 10Laboratory themed bar known for its shots in testtubes. You should definitely try the "Brain Scan".
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address: Olevimägi 12A cozy alternative bar in Old Town with a small dance floor.
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Nimeta Baar (The Bar With No Name)
address: Suur-Karja 4Really fun place, popular with tourists. -
phone: +372 631 1755address: Pikk 43Texas-style cantina is a casual place to knock back a Corona or a Bud, or even to try out the frozen margaritas churning in the electric mixer behind the bar. More serious drinkers can try the ‘tequila flights’ - 3 or 5 shots of different tequilas to give you a sampling, not that you’re likely to remember which was which next time around.
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address: Rataskaevu 10An avant-garde theatre/bar.
Out of old town
These are still quite central; they are just not in the old town.East:
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address: Rävala Puiestee 3On the top floor of the Radisson Blu Hotel, it offers spectacular views of Old Town and the Baltic sea from a trendy indoor setting and a breathtaking outdoor terrace. Lounge 24 serves a variety of light fares to full dinner menu, and a wide selection of beverages. Open to the general public.
North:
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phone: +372 444 0036address: Mere pst 20located at the pier behind Linnahall, you are really at the sea.
Nightclubs
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address: Tartu mnt. 17Plays middle of the road pop and disco. Popular with the young crowd. Reasonably priced.
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address: Mere Pst 6eOpen to all who can get past the strict "face control". Over-the-top décor (chandeliers, leather seats) and prices to match.
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address: Vana-Posti 8Big club, popular with young Estonians during the week (Ladies Night on Wednesday) and general party crowd at the weekend. Standard is euro trash and top40 songs. Gets started at 23:00 but before 01:00 the party doesn't rock.
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address: Ahtri 10Bubblegum pop and live events.
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Prive
address: Harju 6Tallinn's flashiest nightspot, run by legendary warehouse party organizers Vibe, often has foreign DJs playing. Expensive and has strict face control, so dress up. -
phone: +372 5084602, +372 5038720address: Viru väljak 4/6If Russian club music, vodka shots and a vibrant crowd is your desire, this is the base. Pretty empty until 01:00 after then it fills up. They have a nice terrace during summer which is a popular meeting point as the main bus terminal is 100 m away and many stop their for the wait on the first bus in the morning. The club does have many bouncers but as long as you don't carry weapons or start a fight, they are rather passive.
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phone: +372 56 88 4444address: Vabaduse square 5Basement club on Vabaduse square. Popular with late twens and smaller groups. Music focus is on 1990s and 2000s. Door policy is relaxed but most people are dressed up. Usually starts going at midnight.
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phone: +372 56992255address: Tartu mnt. 29Gentlemen's club with erotic shows and luxurious drinks. Popular with business travellers and male tourists.
Sleep
Budget
Hostels
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phone: +372 501 3046address: Roseni 9
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phone: +372 646 6210address: Lai 20Friendly staff, small kitchen and large common room. Wi-Fi available in all of the rooms.
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phone: +372 5837 3602address: Roosikrantsi 4The place with a character. Painted walls, daily events, workshops and unplugged concerts make this place different from other hostels. A must stay for artistic spirits. Friendly staff and free Wi-Fi. As of 2018, this hostel closes during the winter season.
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phone: +372 510 0916address: Põhja puiestee 27Hostel with a big living room, kitchen and a lot of clean toilets and showers. Free Wi-Fi.
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phone: +372 5821 3292address: Nunne 120 beds
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phone: +372 646 6016address: 31 Tartu MntAustralian-owned.
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phone: +372 5781 0173address: Väike-Karja 1Changed owner a couple of times and also the name but still on the same place. Clean, friendly and flexible staff.
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phone: +372 5550 1001address: Rüütli 18Hotel quality accommodation at hostel prices. Hostel occupies a house that is over 600 years old, with the centre of the Old Town just out the door. Fully equipped kitchen, common area, free Wi-Fi, free tea and coffee.
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phone: +372 636 3924address: Tatari 1Even booking a place here online (either through the well known suspects or their own website), does not mean they have accommodation available. They are unreliable with regards to updating the status of their beds. So, better not have this stress and book somewhere else.
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phone: +372 6411 281address: Uus 26A very nice, friendly and stylishly decorated hostel in the northern part of the Old Town, very near to the centre of Tallinn. The staff speak excellent English. The rooms are good enough to pass for hotel rooms, but have no private bathrooms. No restaurant, and no breakfast provided - you cook your own food or dine elsewhere in Tallinn. Free Internet connection available for hostel guests.
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phone: +372 644 0298address: Olevimägi 11Includes a sauna.
Hotels
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phone: +372 610 5201, +372 610 5300address: Männiku tee 89, Nõmme
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Park Inn by Radisson Central Tallinn
phone: +372 633 9800address: Narva mnt 7CThis is not the best Park Inn in the world, but with some luck you can get a super low room rate compared to its sister hotels under the main Radisson brand. -
phone: +372 631 0100address: Toompuiestee 37
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phone: +372 6400040address: Roosikrantsi 2AA former hospital converted into a hotel. Located just south of the Old Town, it is easily accessible by public transit with bus and tram stops nearby.
Mid-range
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Barons Boutique Hotel
phone: +372 699 9700address: Suur-Karja 7The hotel is in an old bank building and features and overdose of pretentiousness for what are essentially quite simple rooms. -
phone: +372 6699 777address: Paadi 5The Euroopa has a first-rate location overlooking the marina basin of the Old Town Port of Tallinn, and is generally a very modern hotel. The rooms are spacious and comfortable and perhaps the only downside to it all are wildly clashing textures and patterns throughout the hotel.
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phone: +372 6220 900address: Vana Posti 11/13The hotel in the conspicious white early 20th century building may look like many others in Tallinn with the slightly outdated and pretentious decor, but behind this veneer lies a true dedication to detail, extending as far as featuring a bathtub duck in the courtesy toiletries set.
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Hotel Palace
phone: +372 680 6655address: Vabaduse Väljak 3Operated by the local company Tallinn Hotels, the Hotel Palace is stuated in a 1937 buildinging with a stark gray period facade, somewhat contrasting with its name. The interiors have been refurbished in mid-2014 and now feature furniture and fixtures reminiscent of the interwar period. The art-deco theme is continued in the use of motifs from paintings of Konrad Mägi, a famous Estonian painter whose lifetime covered the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. -
phone: +372 631 5333address: Liivalaia 33390 air-conditioned rooms and bars and restaurants. It also has a conference centre, health club with swimming pool and saunas. Free WiFi throughout the hotel.
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phone: +372 630 0800address: A. Laikmaa 5Tallink's City Hotel has a very central location, right opposite the Viru shopping centre, but unfortunately it is let down by poor service standards dictated by the group business that is the hotel's mainstay.
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phone: +372 667 8700address: Sadama 9The Tallink Express is the cheapest of the hotels provided by the ferry operator Tallink, sandwiched between their spectacular headquarters and the Tallink Spa & Conference Center. The rooms, furniture and fixtures are rather basic, and the location a tad remote and not in a pleasant or picturesque part of Tallinn.
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Tallink Spa & Conference Center
phone: +372 630 1000address: Sadama 11aTallink's most upscale property is just what the label says, with a pool spa with a number of water-based amenities and a conference centre. The rooms are modern and decorated with sometimes bewilderingly clashing patterns, and some overlook the main pool atrium rather than the outside. There is a considerable distance from the hotel to everything else but the ferry terminal. -
phone: +372 603 2600address: Lennujaama tee 2With a location close to the shore of Lake Ulemiste within walking distance to the airport, this hotel counts as Tallinn's airport hotel. Apart from the airport and the Ulemiste shopping centre, it is not quite close to anything. Everything about the hotel is reasonably modern, though let down by small niggles.
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phone: +372 66 91 500address: Viru 11The hotel has outdated rooms, some of which do not have much in terms of a view, while others feature sloping roofs, and it is bested by other hotels in many other respects. But this is all made up by its brilliant location on the Viru Street in the heart of the Old Town.
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The von Stackelberg Hotel Tallinn
phone: +372 66 00 700address: Toompuiestee 23The hotel is based in a historic building once belonging to the von Stackelberg family, sitting just outside of the Old Town of Tallinn. The rooms are quite spacious for a historic property though, and there is an on-site spa providing wellness treatments.
Splurge
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phone: +372 6977 500address: Dunkri 4/631 rooms and six suites. The hotel is a small complex of 14th and 16th century buildings with rooms all looking in on the central courtyard. The historic buildings contrasts nicely with the luxurious designer interiors of the rooms.
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phone: +372 622 2900address: Viru Väljak 3A modern hotel at Viru Väljak square in the city center. Good and generous breakfast buffet.
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phone: +372 6 277 650address: Olevimägi 4Really nice and comfortable hotel in the middle of the Old Town. Free internet access. It has a very good hotel restaurant. The building is from the 14th century and has lots of character.
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phone: +372 682 3000address: Rävala pst. 3280 rooms, all equipped with television, telephone, minibar, air conditioning, trouser press, minisafe, refrigerator, internet connection, bathrobes (in superior rooms and suites), hair dryer and coffee and tea making facilities. The rooms are decorated in Scandinavian, Italian, Maritime and Oriental styles. Free broadband.
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phone: +372 680 6688address: Suur-Karja 17/19The Savoy is the most upmarket property among those operated by the local company Tallinn Hotels. The large building stands out among its Old Town surroundings, while the interior is appointed in a simple and conservative style. Due to the limitations of the historic buildings, some rooms, especially singles, are rather smallish.
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phone: +372 699 77 00address: Pühavaimu 13/15Old storehouse that is converted in a barock-gothic boutique hotel. By some measures the oldest hotel (first erected in 14th century) and renovated in detail to fulfill today's requirements of a 5-star hotel. Only 23 rooms, spa and part of Leading Hotels of the world.
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phone: +372 680 9300address: Viru väljak 4This is a large matchbox of a building and, for a long time, it was the tallest modern building in Tallinn. It's very centrally located at the edge of the Old Town. In the Soviet days, when Tallinn was a hotbed of espionage, Viru was the city's premier hotel and every single room was famously bugged by the KGB. Today it's just a very good Finnish-run business hotel, and even the gray facade has been whitewashed.
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phone: +372 6 809 300address: Viru valjak 4The Estoria is a part of the same building complex as the Viru hotel, but it follows the upmarket "Solo" concept and features colourful and unique design elements throughout its interior. The level of comfort and facilities is higher than at the Viru, but the 93 rooms are placed in a smaller building with less spectacular vistas.
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phone: +372 628 6500address: Rataskaevu 7The St. Petersburg is a sister hotel of the Schloessle, operated by M.C Hotels, and as such a member of Summit Hotels and the Preferred Hotels Group. The boutique property is housed in a historic building at a corner of pedestrianized streets in the Old Town. The interior is filled with exquisite appointments and designer or vintage furniture and fixtures. Service and price levels match this standard.
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phone: +372 624 0000address: Tornimäe 3Tallest building within the banking district. 238 stylish guest rooms with either city or harbour view. The hotel houses two restaurants and a deli for guests on the run; Püroval Spa & Wellness delivers private fitness and relaxation facilities, including an indoor pool, a gym, a sauna and a steam room. Views over Tallinn and Old Town are spectacular from 30th floor Horisont Bar.
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phone: +372 6000 600address: Vene 9Located in Tallinn's Old Town, the hotel building was constructed as an exchange station for the Estonian Telegraph company in 1878, and with the historical façade left standing completely renovated to be reopened as a five-star hotel in 2007, featuring 86 elegant rooms and suites, a small (Elemis!) Spa area with an indoor swimming pool, two booths for facials and massages, a Symphony Lounge (function room, private events) as well as the renowned Restaurant Tchaikovsky and during the summer months a charming summer terrace.
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The Three Sisters Boutique Hotel
phone: +372 630 6300address: Pikk 71A member of Relais & Chateaux, the Three Sisters in the name refer to the three medieval buildings that make up the hotel. As the buildings date back to the 14th century, each of the hotel's 23 rooms is unique in shape and size, as well as appointments - some stay true to the medieval character of the rest of the hotel, while others are surprisingly modern. The steep staircases, sloping roofs and small windows are also part of the package.
Stay safe
The biggest trap to tourists in Tallinn is getting ripped off by taxi drivers or in "gentlemen's clubs". Many of the latter are known for their exorbitant prices and hidden "fees". Credit card skimming and other similar scams are common practice in those establishments. Stay away, unless you particularly enjoy losing your month's pay in a few hours.
People who arrive to Tallinn by camper van or just by car should be careful and not leave valuables in their vehicles. Unfortunately it's not rare that cars with foreign plates are looted. Those crimes are committed mainly in the area of Tallinn's passenger port and nearby streets where many camper vans stop. There are safer official parking lots, but they are often harder to find, their location might not be very good, and you have to pay quite a lot of money to park in there.
Winters in Tallinn - and Estonia for that matter - are milder than in Scandinavia and Russia, but slippery roads are common nonetheless.
Respect
Connect
If you want to send a post card, almost every place selling something also has post cards. However they seldom have stamps. Check the web page of the Estonian Post for post office locations, this is where you can purchase stamps.
Cope
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phone: +372 622 7070address: Ravi 18Full-fledged clinic with all areas covered (ICU, midwife, surgery etc.) and recommended by most embassies.
Embassies
Many details can also be found here: https://www.embassypages.com/estonia-
phone: +372 627 3311address: Toom-Kooli 13, 2nd floor
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phone: +372-6103 200address: Kohtu 4
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phone: +372 698 8590address: Viru valjak 2, 10111 Tallinn
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phone: +372 627 5300, +372 627 5304 (emergencies)address: Toom-Kuninga 11
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Greece
phone: +372 640 3560, +372 5349 6007 (emergencies)address: Pärnu Mnt 12, 1st Floor 101 48 Tallinn -
phone: +372 644 0479address: Suurtüki 4A-12, 10133 Tallinn
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phone: +372 680 5500address: Rahukohtu 4-I
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phone: +372 640 5600address: Pikk 28
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phone: +372 667 4700address: Wismari 6
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phone: +372 668 8100address: Kentmanni 20
Go next
- Jägala Falls – 20 km east of Tallinn is Estonia's largest waterfall.
- Lahemaa National Park – About 50 km east of Tallinn, a place to find some nice forests, coast, swamps, beautiful bogs, and 4 interesting manors. Good for a day trip or even hikes with overnighting at the park.
- Soomaa National Park – About 60 km south of Tallinn and second largest national park in Estonia, known for its swamps and bogs (Soomaa means "land of bogs" in Estonian), and its "fifth season". Surprisingly, swimming is popular there and is said to rejuvenate the skin.
- Kaberneeme – A village about 40 km east of Tallinn on the coast. The village has a 2 km long beach area with pine tree forests edging right up to the shore.
- Viljandi – A beautiful, ancient and hilly city, known for its annual Viljandi Folk Music Festival, beautiful old town and overwhelming and picturesque park around the old castle.
- Tartu – 2 hr by car, 2 hr 30 min by bus, south east. Museum-rich and hanseatic city on the banks of the Emajõgi River. Also, Estonia's second-largest and oldest city, intellectual hub famous for its universities, and a lively student city.
- Paldiski – 40 km west, this former Soviet closed city is a great place to see remains of Soviet military and industrial infrastructure.
- Hop on the ferry and you are in Helsinki, Finland in 2 hours. Remember to bring your passport (for citizens of the European Union a national ID card will suffice).