Tallinn.
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Overview

Tallinn is Estonia's capital and largest city. Tallinn is an important port of the Baltic Sea, with the busy passenger section of the port reaching the foothill of the picturesque medieval Old Town, which has been astonishingly well preserved and is a since 1997.

Understand

On the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is a city of over 450,000 inhabitants (2023). It is home to a third of the country's population, and is also the capital of Harju County in Northern Estonia.

In a striking contrast to its Old Town, its immediate outskirts are filled with a cluster of modern office towers, with intermittent architectural monuments to the Soviet era. Further out, you will find a bewildering variety of historic and modern neighbourhoods, religious, civic, industrial and maritime heritage. This all provides for the city seeing very sizeable tourist traffic given its size, which in turn means the infrastructure is robust and extensive.

Tallinn is a historic city dating back to medieval times. The first fortress on Toompea was built around 1050 and Tallinn was possibly first recorded on a world map in 1154. In 1219, the city was conquered by Valdemar II of Denmark and it became a member of the Hanseatic League in 1285. The city, known as Reval at the time, prospered as a trading town in the 14th century, and much of Tallinn's historic centre was built at this time.

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 survived. 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.

Today Tallinn is a bustling, gleaming city. However, among the tall glassy buildings and corporate headquarters, Tallinn retains an inner charm seldom found elsewhere. Estonia considers itself a Northern European/Nordic country, with very close ethnic, linguistic and cultural ties to Finland and cultural ties to Scandinavia, and visiting Tallinn you will find a mix of at least three architectures in this very visual city—old Europe (the city walls with rustic buildings and charming living areas with well-preserved and colourful wooden houses of bourgeois taste of 1920s), Soviet brutalist (concrete apartment blocks), and modern Europe (including McDonald's next to the city walls!)

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!

Tallinn is made up of 8 administrative districts (linnaosa), which are further divided into numerous quarters (asum). Most of the points of interest to tourists are located in the seaside districts. The districts of Tallinn are: 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 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.

At these latitudes winters are dark and cold and temperatures under −20°C (−5°F) are not unheard of from December to February. Thankfully, the sea moderates the winter temperatures a bit.

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 of 20–30°C (70–85°F) 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 midsummer 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 "rainy 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 Information Centre in Old Town.

Get in

All ferries dock at Reisisadam port, to the north of the centre. Tallink uses at the south-eastern side of the bay and Eckerö and Viking the at the northwestern side. Walking between the two terminals takes about 5 minutes over a pedestrian bridge crossing the marina. At Terminal A/B you can grab a useful free city map just before exiting the terminal. From there, tram 2 operates to the city centre (A. Laikmaa stop) and the intercity bus station (Bussijaam) in one direction, and to the train and regional bus station (Balti jaam stop) in the other direction. 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 walk from the port to the centre has improved a lot compared to the olden days as most of the developments along Sadama street have been completed, and the road crossings have been made more pedestrian-friendly.

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. Bikes on car ferries must go through vehicle check-in, which closes earlier than passenger check-in, so plan for extra time.

The following companies operate ferries between Tallinn and Helsinki:

Eckerö Line. Operates only one ship, the 2,000-passenger Finlandia (thrice daily, travel time 2½ hr). If you take the morning sailing to Tallinn and the evening sailing back you will have about eight hours in Tallinn.

Tallink Silja. Up 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 Interrail pass holders. As this company has more departures you will have more flexibility planning your day trip.

Viking Line. Large Viking XPRS ferry (2½ hr). Departs Helsinki midday and late in the evening. The day departure from Helsinki is very late (11:30) so on a cruise, 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.

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 16 hr.

You can sail with a yacht to the harbour for recreational vessels:

Despite serving a capital city, Lennart Meri Airport has few connections to major hubs across Europe; 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 Mediterranean.

Most flights to the airport are operated by the Latvian flag carrier Air Baltic, which has its second hub there. It is thus much more interesting, and cheaper, to travel to Estonia via a major hub in northern and central Europe.

The Bolt app is more popular than Uber (it's Estonian after all!) Tram #2 and Tram #4 link the airport with the city centre. Bus #2 and Bus #15 depart roughly every 12–15 min to the centre. To get to the city, catch the bus travelling towards Balti Jaam or Estonia, and not towards Mõigu, which is a residential area on the outskirts of the city. The journey to Balti Jaam (the central railway station close to the old town) takes some 20 minutes. Drivers do not sell tickets.

You can also hop on one of the hourly Lux Express buses to Tartu. They stop in front of the terminal. Tickets are cheaper online in advance, but can be also 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.

Since Jan 2025, one train a day runs from Vilnius in Lithuania, leaving at 07:00 and reaching Riga in Latvia about 11:45, then Valga, Tartu and Tallinn around 17:30. The return southbound train leaves Tallinn at 10:25 and Riga at 16:50 to reach Vilnius around 21:00.

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. A few buses also still (?) run between Tallinn and St. Free Wi-Fi is usually available on board.

The following bus companies operate international bus service to Tallinn: Ecolines Lux Express FlixBus

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. In Tallinn there are more than 20 taxi companies and some can be a rip-off.

TLT operates frequent bus, trolley and tram services daily 06:00-23:59. Timetables and maps are available in English.

As you board a public transport vehicle, you will be required to validate your trip every time by swiping the payment card at the rectangular orange validators in the front of the vehicle. If you see a green light, your trip has been validated.

Rechargeable "green card" (Ühiskaart), which is a brand new, cash-free, and smart way of payment. Alternatively, the card can be charged for unlimited travel for 3 days, 5 days, or one month. 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).

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. You can also load pilet.ee mobile app to buy tickets.

The Tallinn Card includes unlimited use of public transport.

Bus, trams, and trolleybuses form an extensive network with the major bus hub at Estonia. Some lines also terminate at the nearby underground bus hub underneath Viru Keskus. Vehicles are coloured according to their type. City buses are green, trams are mostly red/white, and trolleybuses are blue. Except for some 'retro' trams, the entire fleet of city transport is low-floor and accessible.

Due to fleet and contact network renewal, the trolleybuses are temporarily out of service until 2026, and replaced by regular buses with an 8 in front if the line number (e.g. trolleybus route 1 is now bus route 81).

Põhja-Eesti Public Transport Centre is a local authority which organizes public transport in Harju County, the province surrounding Tallinn.

Public transport is cheaper in and around Tallinn than overland prices of the same distance. This is 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. Information about zone boundaries and ticket prices are available.

Tallinn has many different taxi companies and independent taxis. Some tourist scam taxis have absurdly high prices, and as long as those prices are displayed on the sticker in the window and on the dashboard, they are completely legal. The locals never take those taxis: their sole modus operandi is to prey on innocent tourists.

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. The 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 or strip club the taxi driver is collaborating with. Taxis hanging out in front of nightclubs often have the highest prices.

Ride-hailing services (Bolt, Uber, Yandex.Taxi) are very common in Tallinn, see Estonia#By taxi.

Unlike many other economy taxis, the cars are clean and the drivers competent. Usually white Toyota Avensis. 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).

The road rules and driving style in Tallinn can be confusing to tourists. The one and two way roads change frequently and some signposts are not descriptive. Another peculiarity to be found are roads with three lanes where you need to be a local to know if the lane in the middle is meant for traffic going in your direction or in the opposite direction. Traffic jams in Tallinn clear very quickly, however. The speed limit in Tallinn is 50 km/h, except some major streets such as Laagna tee, Pärnu mnt., Paldiski mnt., Peterburi tee etc., which have a speed limit of 70 km/h.

Car rental In addition to traditional car hire, there are also the app-based CityBee and Bolt Drive, the cars of which can be picked up and dropped off in some public car parks. For these latter, you need a driving licence that the company can verify automatically on the net.

Parking There is an abundance of parking, but you have to pay for it, although, in some cases, you can park free of charge for 15 minutes. 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.

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. Prepare coins in advance, as credit cards and paper money are only accepted by parking machines in large indoor parkings, while places for breaking money can be difficult to find nearby. For tourists the mobile app "PARGI.EE" can be used to find prices and pay for parking either for street parking or for some of the most popular parking garages.

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. 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.

There are more than 180 km of bicycle roads in Tallinn. The Eurovelo international route goes from west to east, giving you a good chance to ride comfortably through the city. Many bicycle roads are in green parts of the city and are meant more for recreation, although suitable for commuting. You can ride on every road, and use the sidewalk, though you must heed the pedestrians. Many hostels have bike rentals for their guests.

City Bike. Over 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, unless you have mobility issues.

Audio guides in several languages are available for small charge at the tourist centres.

See

The Tenet tour is a showcase of sets of the 2020 film Tenet. The Tallinn history tour is a walk through the city's long history.

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).

Toompea Castle. 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 the Estonian Governorate built 1767–1773 by the Russians, and the building of the Riigikogu from the 1920s. It's believed that already in the middle of the 11th century there was an ancient Estonian wooden fortress on the location.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. A 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.

St. Mary's Cathedral. The oldest church in Tallinn, built as a Catholic church in 1229, but renovated and expanded many times since then. It became a Lutheran church in 1561.

Stenbock House. Today, 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.

Estonian Knighthood House. The green Renaissance revival building was erected in mid-19th century as the fourth consecutive home of the Estonian Knighthood, 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 Gate. This 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 Square. The 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.

Town Hall. Tallinn 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.

St. Olaf's church. Built 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.

St. Nicholas church. St.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.

Vabamu. Educates and involves the people of Estonia and its visitors and encourages everyone to think about the recent past, to sense the fragility of freedom, and to stand for freedom and justice.

City Wall. A 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.

Estonian History Museum. The 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.

Estonian Maritime Museum. The 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). Next to the museum, facing the sea, is the Broken Line (Katkenud liin) monument to the 1994 MS Estonia shipwreck.

KGB Prison cells museum. Now 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. Departs every 20 minutes; so takes the round trip.

Kiek in de Kök. An artillery tower, which is today a museum.

Freedom Square. The 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 night, when the column is lit up.

Rottermann Quarter. An 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.

Tallinn Linnahall. A 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. It is maybe a last chance to see part of Tallinn's overlooked architectural heritage in its current form.

Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia (EKKM). Already 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.

Peter the Great's Naval Fortress. In the 18th century, the coastal protection batteries, part of the larger Peter the Great’s sea fortress system, were built in the island.

Kadriorg quarter A beautiful and rich seaside resort district with mostly wooden buildings from the 18–20th centuries, and 20th-century Art Deco and Functionalist structures. It also includes the baroque pearl of Estonia, the Kadriorg Palace and Garden.

Kadriorg Palace. An 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.

National Art Museum KUMU. Opened in 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 Grounds. A 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. The festival played an important role in Estonia getting free from the Soviet Union at its fall.

Pirita Pirita includes forest parks, Botanic Gardens and Metsakalmistu (the last resting place of well-known Estonians). A few km east of the city centre along the seaside road.

Tallinn TV Tower. A 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 Gardens. The 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.

Metsakalmistu Cemetery. Tallinn's most famous cemetery, housing Estonia’s presidents Konstantin Päts and Lennart Meri, as well as 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 Monastery. A 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.

Kalamaja Quarter. The 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.

Patarei (Battery) Prison. Built 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.

Seaplane Harbour. Lennusadam, 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, aeroplanes 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.

Estonian Open Air Museum. This 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. Also they organize a big party on June 23rd at night, the day before Jaanipäev (Saint John day), there are big fires , music and dancing to celebrate the shortest night of the year.

Tallinn Zoo. This 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. It also has pets that children can cuddle in children’s petting zoo.

Also, check out other sights within North Estonia, which could allow for a day trip from Tallinn.

Do

Medieval Days. Come and experience the medieval atmosphere of the historic Hanseatic City! You can find workshops and market with traders, participate in tours and witness exciting tournaments.

Kultuurikatel (creative hub). A former industrial site, it now Tallinn's main creative hub, site of many events (see website).

PROTO Invention Factory. Indoor amusement park where amusements take place with the help of VR glasses.

Kalev Spa. One of the largest water parks in Northern Estonia.

Atlantis H2O Aquapark. The water park has several fun water equipment: a wave pool, a flow pool and eight different slides, the longest of which is over 120 m. For toddlers, there is a separate area with two smaller slides, a climbing area and a 0.20-m-deep swimming pool.

Vembu-Tembumaa. The oldest and largest amusement park for the whole family.

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 Beach. A large sandy beach which in summer is full of locals and tourists.

Stroomi Beach. The water is clean and warm, and it is the gay friendliest beach of Tallinn.

Lake Harku. Small 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 beach. The water is one of the purest in all of Tallinn beaches.

Pikakari Beach. The 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.

Football: The men's national soccer team play at Lilleküla Stadium (sponsored as A. Le Coq Arena), capacity 14,300, 2 km south of city centre. City clubs playing soccer in Meistriliiga, the country's top tier, are Levadia, Flora, Nõmme Kalju and Nõmme United. Tallinna Kalev and FC Tallinn play in Esiliiga the second tier. The playing season is March-Nov.

Simpel Session. International skateboarding and BMX event.

Tallinn International Horseshow. Biggest international horse riding competition in Baltic states, includes showjumping and dressage. Takes place in Saku Suurhall.

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.

The Estonian Song Celebration. First 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. Tickets go on sale in January for three dance festival performances and two song festival concerts.

Tallinn Music Week. Showcase 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 Jazzkaar. In addition to Tallinn, jazz concerts also take place in Tartu and Pärnu.

Birgitta Festival. Music and theatre festival, held at the ruins of the historical Pirita (St. Bridget's) convent.

Saku Suurhall. Rocca 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.

Learn

Tallinn University of Technology Summer School. TUT offers every summer courses in English (TOEFL) and Nordic Culture

Tallinn University Summer School. Tallinn University offers a summer school to learn the Estonian language.

Estonian Academy of Arts. Open Academy for everybody interested in arts. Wide range of courses and interactive creativity

Baltic Film and Media School. Runs a training program and several other activities in the film & media sphere and has a cooperation with Apple

Work

English language teachers with TEFL certificates or equivalent are in demand. Especially during periods of Summer School and/or TOEFL test times, teachers have good opportunities.

Jobs for non-Estonian speakers are less common in other fields, although several IT companies have English based job openings. Compared to Finland or other Scandic countries salaries are lower in Estonia. Estonia is part of the EU and Eurozone, so work permits are easy for EU citizens. All others 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 a few hundred metres south of the city centre, offers plenty of space and good free internet connectivity during opening hours.

Buy

Tallinn may be cheap compared to other major European cities, but it is no longer the bargain deal it once was. Though not overtly touristy, it is much more expensive than the rest of the country. If you come here for an authentic Estonian and inexpensive experience, this is the wrong place. Prices can be comparable to Munich and Milan.

Viru Keskus. In 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.

Kaubamaja. Opened in 1960, this is the grand old department store of Tallinn. Unsurprisingly a lot has changed since the Soviet times.

Stockmann. Part of the Finnish department store chain, here since 1996. Close to the port and popular with Finnish tourists.

Rocca al Mare kaubanduskeskus. A few kilometres west of the old town along Paldiski maantee. Consists of a Prisma hypermarket and tens of smaller, mostly fashion boutiques. Also restaurants.

Kristiine Keskus. One of Estonia's biggest malls with dozens of clothing and shoe outlets, nearly 20 cafés and restaurants, and countless other shops and services.

Rotermanni Kvartal. Rotermann'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. Even though Baltic amber and Russian matryoshka dolls are widely available in souvenir boutiques, neither are related to Estonia or its culture and are sold in Estonian souvenir boutiques mainly because they sell well to tourists.

Telliskivi — indie shops. Former industrial, now creative/entrepreneurial district Telliskivi is home to many small boutiques selling nice goods ranging from arts, to clothes and interior. A book shop and a record shop are also welcoming you. You will find all shops on the website.

Ivo Nikkolo. Fashion-interested people can visit the main store of Estonia's first Post-Soviet designer brand Ivo Nikkolo.

Geek Shop Estonia. Pop culture collectibles and gaming store, which sells toy figures, board games, clothes, accessories and other geek stuff.

Jaama Turg. A market place next to the train station. For tourist and rich locals.

Keskturg. Market place 500 m from the bus station. They sell food and clothes.

Jõuluturg. The 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.

Vana Turg. 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.

Sadamarket. Shopping 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.

Sadama Turg. Another market near the ferry terminals, selling quality Estonian handicraft, food, and alcoholic beverages at cheap prices.

Biit Record. A music shop 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 secondhand and a wide variety of new records.

Rockroad Record. Mainly metal and rock/pop/blues also. Owner knows about Estonian and Russian rock music. Carries many Melodia label records.

Raamatukoi Grammofon Records. Good selections. Classical, jazz, Estonian, pop-rock and so on. Furthermore, they sell postcards and stamps.

World Clinic record shop. a small but very friendly and diverse record shop

Eat

The Old Town is packed with restaurants claiming to offer authentic Estonian food, particularly on and around Raekoja plats. Prices at restaurants near the Raekoja Plats are generally more expensive, yet offer the same quality of food, as restaurants off this main square. Prices are steep by Estonian standards, but still much cheaper than neighbouring Helsinki, which explains why on weekends they're always packed with day tripping Finns.

Maiasmokk. The oldest still operating café in Tallinn, dating back to 1864. Coffee, tea, chocolate and various sweet and savoury pastries at quite cheap prices. Spacious with stylish decor. Next door is the Maiasmokk confectionery shop, which sells good quality Estonian chocolates.

Pub Kompressor. Very tasty and varied pancakes. There are also other dishes. Fantastic place with great food and drinks, especially kvass!

III Draakon. If you'd like to scoop nostalgia. Very interesting to eat in a special way. They have a small menu to offer but very good and very typical. The waitress plays at having the character of a sour waitress but with humor. A memorable experience.

Pizza Grande. Very cozy place. Delicious pizza, affordable prices, pleasant service. Great environment.

Loca. Pizza, falafel, hummus, soup, beer. Fast food joint with wild staff and increasing customer service.

Borsch j Varenyk. Great place to enjoy home-made Ukranian food

F-hoone. Used 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.

East of the old town around the Coca-Cola Plaza

Kohvik Narva. Cafe 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.

Puffid bakery. Puffid bakery offers snacks for every taste, curd pockets, a special children's set, croissants, baguettes and salads with different fillings.

Aed. Excellent organic, biodynamic and Demeter food, also full vegan options. Beautiful interior, very charming and romantic, wonderful service.

Amarillo. The Tallinn branch of the Finnish Amarillo tex-mex restaurant chain. Serves a variety of tex-mex style food including hamburgers, steaks and salads. The menu is the same as in Finland. The staff speak Estonian and English and some of them even speak Finnish.

Cinnamon. An Indian and European mix cuisine in the Tallinn Old Town. Serves international cuisine for tourists' tastes, don't expect traditional Estonian cuisine here. You can eat either inside or at the (rather cramped) terrace on Pikk street.

Controvento. A 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.

Crudo Resto. Italian cuisine, pizzas, pastas and a variety of Italian appetizers (antipasti), salads, soups, carefully selected wines, classic cocktails and Italian desserts.

Il Forno. A rather small Italian restaurant in central Tallinn. Easily accessible by tram and bus lines as it's located near the Vabaduse Väljak square.

Frenchy bistro. French food bistro in a hip vintage-industrial-modern setting. Has cheap daily offers.

Guru. A new Indian restaurant in central Tallinn, just outside the old town. Easy to find as it's on the same street as the Kalev Spa. Offers authentic Indian cuisine with plenty of spices. Try the Indian tea for dessert.

Kaja Pizza Köök. pizza 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.

Kohvik Moon. A 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.

Kompressor. This 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.

Madissoni Grill & Baar. This open kitchen type restaurant serves good flame-grilled food at decent prices, especially popular for its daily lunch specials, King Club sandwich and burgers.

Oliver. A 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.

Restoran Peppersack. A middle ages-themed restaurant one block away from Raekoja plats – 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.

Pirosmani. Georgian 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.

Taverna del Gallo Nero. An Italian restaurant near the Kadriorg Park.

Troika. Offers 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.

Umami. Considered 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.

Vanaema Juures. Translates as "At Grandma", 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.

Bar Fish and Wine. The 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.

Bocca. One 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.

Chedi. Modern 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.

Kuldse Notsu Kõrts. Good 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.

Musi. This 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.

Olde Hansa. The 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. Try one of the extraordinary beers, such as the honey beer. It is not likely that you will meet any locals here.

Restaurant Ö. Reopened and two new chefs Martin Meikas and Ranno Paukson with focus on Modern Estonian kitchen. Good view of old town.

Tchaikovsky. As 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).

Drink

Cafés There are plenty of nice cafés, especially in the centre. Among the interesting ones:

Café Mademoiselle. A café with the high quality confectionery products.

Wabadus Kohvik. located 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.

Tallinn's crazy nightlife is out of proportion to the city's small size. The days of armed mafiosos are over and these days any drunken fights tend to involve stag parties. Exercise some caution in choosing your venue, as some strip clubs and regular clubs make their money by fleecing tourists who come in for a drink.

Bars and pubs In old town (Vanalinn)

Beer House. Plenty of beers 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.

The Dubliner. Popular Irish pub on one of the nightlife axes. Attracts younger people and is relatively new, so no pub crawlers puke in front of the door.

Drink Baar. The 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.

Hell Hunt. The 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.

Helsinki Karaoke Baar. A legendary gathering place for Finns. This bar, also known as Lokaal Helsinki, is a popular destination for both locals and tourists who crave a cozy atmosphere and Finnish music.

Kuku klubi. Founded 1935 by local art community and claiming to have had the best accessible cuisine in the former USSR since 1958 during the Russian occupation.

Lab Bar. Laboratory themed bar known for its shots in test tubes. You should definitely try the "Brain Scan".

Levist Väljas. A cozy alternative bar in Old Town with a small dance floor.

Nimeta Baar (The Bar With No Name). Really fun place, popular with tourists.

100 õlle koht. The name means "the place of 100 beers" and the establishment indeed serves over 100 different types of beer. Traditional Estonian pub snacks also available. It's in an underground cellar so it's not suitable for people with limited mobility.

Texas Honky Tonk & Cantina. Texas-style cantina is a casual place for a Corona or, if you must, 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.

Von Krahli. An avant-garde theatre/bar.

Piana Vyshnia. A bar that serves only one kind of drink, so it's easy to decide what to get: a moderately sweet, cognac-infused spirit on cherries (the name means "The Drunk Cherry"). You won't find anything like it anywhere else.

Out of old town These are still quite central; they are just not in the old town.

Lounge 24. On 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. Open to the general public.

Tšungel. A terrace bar restaurant near the railway station.

Kohvik Nord. At the pier behind Linnahall; you are really at the sea.

Arena3. Plays middle of the road pop and disco. Popular with the young crowd. Reasonably priced.

Bonbon. Open to all who can get past the strict "face control". Over-the-top décor (chandeliers, leather seats) and prices to match.

Hollywood. Big 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.

Gentlemen's Club Golden Time. A strip club with excellent interior design and good music.

Parlament. Bubblegum pop and live events.

Prive. Tallinn's flashiest nightspot, run by legendary warehouse party organizers Vibe, often has foreign DJs playing. Expensive and has strict face control, so dress up.

Riff. If 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.

Teater. Basement 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.

Virgins. Gentlemen's club with erotic shows and luxurious drinks. Popular with business travellers and male tourists.

Sleep

Alur Hostel. Friendly staff, small kitchen and large common room. Wi-Fi available in all of the rooms.

Euphoria. The 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.

Fat Margeret's. Hostel with a big living room, kitchen and a lot of clean toilets and showers. Free Wi-Fi.

GIDIC Backpackers. Australian-owned.

Zinc Old Town Hostel. Changed owner a couple of times and also the name but still on the same place. Clean, friendly and flexible staff.

Knight House. Hotel 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.

Monk's Bunk. Even 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.

Old House Hostel. A 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.

Tallinn Backpackers. Includes a sauna.

Park Inn by Radisson Central Tallinn.

Hotel St. Barbara. A 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.

Citybox. Self-service hotel. Guests handle booking, payment, check-in and check-out themselves.

St. Olav Hotel. An old building with an interior that is also antique. However, the rooms are modern with flat-screen TVs.

The Pirita Monastery. Featuring ski-to-door access, garden, terrace free WiFi and parking.

Barons Boutique Hotel. The hotel is in an old bank building and features and overdose of pretentiousness for what are essentially quite simple rooms.

Hotel Euroopa. The rooms are spacious and comfortable and perhaps the only downside to it all are wildly clashing textures and patterns throughout the hotel.

My City Hotel. The hotel in the conspicuous 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.

Hotel Palace. Operated by the local company Tallinn Hotels, the Hotel Palace is stuated in a 1937 building 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.

Radisson Blu Hotel Olumpia, Tallinn. 390 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.

Tallink City Hotel. Tallink'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.

Tallink Express Hotel. The 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.

Tallink Spa & Conference Center. Tallink'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.

Hotel Ülemiste. With 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.

Baltic Hotel Vana Wiru. The 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.

The von Stackelberg Hotel Tallinn. The 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.

Merchants House Hotel. 31 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.

Nordic Hotel Forum. A modern hotel at Viru Väljak square in the city center. Good and generous breakfast buffet.

Olevi Residents. Really 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.

Radisson Collection Hotel. 287 rooms

Savoy Boutique Hotel. The 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.

Schlössle Hotel. Old 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.

Sokos Hotel Viru. This 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 grey facade has been whitewashed.

Solo Sokos Hotel Estoria. The 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 views.

St. Petersburg Hotel. The 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.

Swissôtel Tallinn. Tallest 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.

Hotel Telegraaf. Located 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 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.

The Three Sisters Boutique Hotel. A 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.

Respect

During the Soviet period the city's name was rendered in English as Tallin, a transliteration from the city's name in Russian: Таллин. That spelling should be avoided today.