Tallinn Travel Guide
Perched on the southern shores of the Gulf of Finland, the Estonian capital Tallinn boasts the kind of stunning, chocolate box Old Town that Disney executives can only dream of.
It revels in cobbles, castles and church spires, laced with an eye-catching smorgasbord of medieval and baroque architecture. But it’s not all pretty palaces and pleasing courtyards, the city is swiftly becoming a modern force to be reckoned with as gleaming new hotels and elegantly designed towers spring up in and around the centre.
Nevertheless, history looms large in the city that was known as Reval from the start of the late 13th century until it and the rest of Estonia were ceded to the fledgling Soviet Union in 1918. The city then changed its name to Tallinn. Today, Tallinn is home to one of the best preserved medieval Old Towns in Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also a forward-looking city with an attitude accelerated by independence in 1991 and its accession to EU membership in 2004.
Some may argue that not all of the change has been positive for the city as its enduring popularity as a place for stag parties is a continuing source of concern. However, as a thriving tech start-ups location with a burgeoning art scene, an eclectic collection of restaurants and excellent bars, there’s more good than bad to be found. For all its glittering new buildings and partying stags, some traditions remain – not least its passion for gingerbread which Tallinn is thought to have presented to the world somewhere around the 13th century.
Markets crammed with quirky antiques, fabulous handicrafts and lethal homemade vodka make Tallinn a shopping experience to be reckoned with, while its golden sandy beaches come into their own during the summer.
Whether you’re after a party weekend or a week getting to grips with one of the oldest cultural centres in Europe, Tallinn most definitely delivers.
Although there is evidence that the area around Tallinn was first settled around 5000 years ago, the city was never truly noteworthy until a wooden fortress was built upon Toompea hill in 1050. The fortress served as defence against King Valdemar II of Denmark, who led the Northern Crusades to Tallinn in 1219. Despite the best efforts of locals, the city was defeated and Denmark took control.
However, it didn’t hold Tallinn for long. By 1285, the city (then known as Reval) had become the most northerly point of the Hanseatic League and was sold off to the Teutonic Knights by the Danes in 1346. The grip of the Teutonic Knights loosened around 1561 and Estonia placed itself under Swedish rule, hoping for protection from Poland and Russia.
When Great Northern War erupted in 1700, the Tsardom of Russia took control of the city and much of the city’s population fled to Finland. Centuries of Russian rule followed, with Tallinn getting its first taste of independence in 1920.
Unfortunately, freedom didn’t last long. After World War II, Estonia was ceded to the Soviet Union in 1940. A year later, Nazi Germany came and occupied from 1941 to 1944 during which many Jews died in the Holocaust. After the Nazi left, the Red Army of the Soviet Union arrived, setting the scene for the second period of Russian occupation in Tallinn’s history, this time with the city made the capital of the Estonian SSR.
Under Communist rule, culture and the arts were suppressed while ordinary Estonians went about their lives watched closely by the State. There were however lighter moments, with the 1980 Olympics partly staged in the city.
Tallinn’s real renaissance came when Estonia declared independence in 1990, making the city its capital in the process. Today Tallinn has returned to its mercantile roots and is one of the hubs for European trade, as well as a popular tourist destination to boot.
Tallinn’s public transportation system is one of Europe’s oldest and dates back to 1888.
During the Soviet period, the KGB used the metal spire of St Olav’s Cathedral as a radio transmission tower.
Tallinn claims to have erected the world’s first Christmas tree in 1441.
Tallinn sits on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland and has a humid continental climate.
Spring (March to May) often starts late with temperatures rising slowly. In May, the average high is 17°C (63°F) while the average low is 5°C (41°F). Spring is the driest season so it is a good time to visit.
Summer (June to August) is when the city comes alive with pavement cafes and restaurant tables spilling out on to the cobbled streets and festivals bursting into action. This is peak season so naturally hotel prices are higher than other seasons. Please note that summer can be rainy so bring a raincoat with you.
Autumn (September to November) sees temperatures drop rapidly and the tourist crowds dissipate. September is still a good month to visit but by November, the average high is only 4°C (39°F) while the average low dips to -2°C (36°F). November is also the wettest month.
Winter (December to February) is long and cold, but winter snows lend the city an almost impossible sense of romanticism as the Christmas Market sparkles in the enchanting Old Town. February is the coldest month with average high around -2°C (36°F) and average low at -9°C (16°F).
Getting around Tallinn
Tallinn boasts a comprehensive network of trams, buses and trolleybuses, all of which are operated by the
Local authorities
Telephone: +372 603 1345
Website: www.soiduplaan.tallinn.ee
The network uses a single smartcard which you can pick up from post offices, R-kiosks and Maxima stores all over the city. You need to add credit before travelling and top up extra credit as needed.
The Pilet (
website: www.pilet.ee ) offers online top ups. Paper tickets are also available for single journeys and can be bought direct from the driver. Children under seven and adults travelling with children under three go free, as do those in possession of a Tallinn Card. Public transport usually runs from 06:00 until 23:00, although some lines stay open until midnight.
You can hail taxis on the street or at ranks at the railway and bus stations. Pre-booked taxis can be ordered from a number of local companies such as
Reval Takso
Telephone: +372 601 4600
Takso24
Telephone: +372 640 8927
Taxofon
Telephone: +372 650 5520
Ensure the meter is either switched on or agree a price in advance for all journeys. For those who like to order a taxi using a smartphone, Uber, Taxify, Taxigo, Taxofon and Yandex.taxi are popular apps to order a taxi or share a ride.
Driving in Tallinn is east with Tallinn’s compact centre keeping journey times low and minimising the chances of getting lost. Headlights must be kept on at all times and traffic drives on the right.
City Bike
Address: Vene 33, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 511 1819
Website: www.citybike.ee
Rattaosad
Address: Paldiski mnt 67, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 528 3038
Website: www.rattaosad.ee
Organises tours as well as hourly and daily rentals. Thanks to its small size, Tallinn is fairly easy to get around by bike, though it’s best to avoid the busier parts of town where traffic can be heavy.
Things to see in Tallinn
Attractions
All the winding cobbled streets in Tallinn lead onto the Raekoja plats (Town Hall Square), which is dominated by the imposing facade of the Raekoda (Town Hall). The building was constructed in the 14th and 15th centuries and is the only surviving late Gothic town hall in Northern Europe. Its soaring steeple bears a 16th-century weathervane portraying ‘Old Thomas’, the guardian of the city. Open-air concerts are held here in summer and its many cafés and eating places make it a bustling meeting place for both tourists and Tallinners alike.
Address: Old Town, Raekoja Plats 1, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 645 7900
Opening times: Mon-Sat 10:00-16:00.
Website: www.raekoda.tallinn.ee
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: Yes
- Tallinna Linnamuuseum (Tallinn City Museum)
Occupying a quaint old building within the Old Town, the Tallinn City Museum takes you on a whistle-stop tour through the city’s lengthy and fascinating history. Starting with the earliest days of the city, it swiftly hustles visitors through to the German and then Soviet occupations and contains scores of artefacts and photographs arranged in easily comprehensible clusters. But it isn’t all about ancient history, Estonia’s recent post-independence years also get a look in and are brilliant for anyone who doesn’t know much about the country.
Address: Old Town, Vene 17, Tallinn, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 615 5180
Opening times: Tue-Sun 11:00-17:00.
Website: www.linnamuuseum.ee
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Tallinn’s UNESCO-listed old quarter is one of the most attractive in Europe and it is easy to see why it has been dubbed a ‘mini Prague’. Boasting pretty cobbled streets, a smattering of museums and plenty of peaceful squares, it’s easy to spend hours simply wandering around. Buildings that were badly damaged during WWII and the Cold War have been lovingly renovated, and the Old Town now boasts cafés, restaurants, hotels and touristy shops.
Address: Old Town, Tallinn.
Opening times: Daily 24 hours.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: Yes
- Vabamu Museum of Occupations
Tallinn’s history includes wave after wave of occupation, with sovereignty ping-ponging back and forth between Germany and Russia. However, neither the Tsars nor the crusaders proved as lethal to the locals as the Nazis and the Soviets who followed. As a result, the dark days of both occupations have been given their own museum, which brings those years chillingly back to life. Old uniforms, photos and audio-visual displays illuminate the tortuous decades of oppression and privation that Estonia endured before the country eventually managed to win independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Address: City Centre, Toompea 8, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 668 0250
Opening times: Wed-Sun 11:00-18:00.
Website: www.vabamu.ee
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Designed by Finnish architect Pekka Vapaavuori, Kumu is the striking main building of the Art Museum of Estonia and is famous for the contents. An impressively high-tech facility, it serves both as a national gallery and a contemporary art museum. While you won’t find many of the Great Masters here, there are plenty of Estonian classics, as well as a carefully-curated series of contemporary pieces. The Kumu is located next to Kadriorg Park and near Kadriorg Palace.
Address: Kadriorg, Weizenbergi 34, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 602 6000
Opening times: Tue-Sun 1000-1800.
Website: www.kumu.ekm.ee
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
The unflatteringly named Paks Margareeta (Fat Margaret) might, if you squint, resemble a seated full-figured lady, but this tower’s real purpose was considerably less benign than the name suggests. Part of a network of defensive structures facing out over the sea towards Finland, Paks Margareeta was built in the early 16th century and got its name, depending on who you listen to, from a large cannon or a chubby cook who worked there. Today, it houses the Estonian Maritime Museum that charts the history of Estonia’s lengthy sea-faring past. Not that it is all navy cannons and elaborate ships’ prows – one of the most touching exhibits is a set of Neolithic fishing gear.
Address: Old Town, Pikk 70, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 673 3092
Opening times: Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00.
Website: www.meremuuseum.ee
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Despite its name, which translates as ‘Peek into the Kitchen’, there’s not much of a culinary bent to see during a visit to Kiek de Kok. Instead, the former defensive tower, which was given its nickname thanks to its loftiness (enabling soldiers living there to peer into the kitchens of the Old Town houses below), is packed with military artefacts as well as a top-floor café and an art gallery. Beneath it is a network of defensive tunnels that extend out into Toompea Hill below. Since being built in the 1470s, the tower has been called into action on numerous occasions, not least during Ivan the Terrible’s assault in the late 1500s.
Address: Old Town, Komandandi tee 2, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 5386 8873
Opening times: Daily 11:00-18:00.
Website: www.linnamuuseum.ee
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Dominating the Toompea hillside, this striking orthodox cathedral is crowned by instantly memorable black onion domes. Despite looking as though it has been in situ for centuries, the cathedral was actually commissioned by Tsar Alexander III, first opening its doors in 1900. Inside, it is an elaborate labyrinth of gold gilt and lavish frescoes and also houses an impressive collection of icon paintings.
Address: Old Town, Lossi Plats 10, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 644 3484
Opening times: Daily 08:00-18:00.
Website: www.nevskysobor.ee
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: Yes
- Metsakalmistu (Forest Cemetery)
Tallinn’s answer to Pere Lachaise in Paris or Copenhagen’s Assistens Kirkegård, the beautiful Metsakalmistu is easily Estonia’s most famous cemetery. Dotted with towering fir trees, it houses the earthly remains of some of the country’s most famous names, among them writer Eduard Vilde and Estonia’s first president, Konstantin Pats. Established in 1933, it nevertheless has a slightly Gothic feel thanks to the odd tumbledown gravestone and the overarching firs. Other big name inhabitants worth looking out for as you wander its shady paths include poet Lydia Koidula, writer Anton-Hansen Tammsaare and chess champion Paul Keres.
Address: Pirita, Kloostrimetsa tee 36, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 623 9917
Opening times: Mon-Fri 09:00-16:00.
Website: www.kalmistud.ee
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
- Church of Our Lady of Kazan
Built in 1712, this striking Russian Orthodox Church is the oldest wooden structure in Tallinn and remains in surprisingly good shape. Built in the wake of the Great Northern War which saw Estonia pass into Russian hands for the umpteenth time, the church was designed to cater for the increasing number of Russian émigrés then making their home in the city. Today, it still fulfils that function and although the Soviet Union is gone, worshippers still belong to the Moscow patriarchate.
Address: City Centre, Liivalaia 38, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 660 7990
Opening times: Daily 10:00-15:00.
Website: www.kaasanikirik.ee
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Tourist Offices
- Tallinn Tourist Information Centre
Address: City Centre, Niguliste 2, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 645 7777
Opening times: Daily 09:00-18:00.
Website: www.visittallinn.ee
The tourist office is open daily. Come here for Tallinn Cards, free maps and walking tours.
Tourist passes
The Tallinn Card, available from the tourist office in 24-, 48- and 74-hour variations, gives free access to 40 museums and sights, and includes tours and public transport, as well as discounts in shops and restaurants.
Things to do in Tallinn
Given its long mercantile history, it remains a mystery as to why Tallinn’s seaside location still comes as a surprise to many. In any case, its Baltic setting means beaches; Pirita, Stroomi, Harku and Kakumäe are the main public ones and all come with vast stretches of welcoming golden sand.
- See the sights from a balloon
Blue Sky Balloons (
Telephone: +372 501 1268 ) has regular hot-air balloon flights outside Tallinn in Harjumaa or Raplamaa.
Each flight is about 45-60 minutes and needless to say, the views are spectacular.
- Take a Kayak on the Pirita River
Along with sandy beaches, Tallinn is also blessed with a river that cuts through the centre of town and flows to the sea. Before the Baltic, it passes through gorgeously green marshes that are easily explored by kayak or traditional wooden rowing boat. Ask
Telephone: +372 5686 4634
Website: www.360.ee to get you afloat.
- Tuck into the local gingerbread
Though the Finns might dispute it, Estonia lays claim to being the source of many a Christmas tradition including gingerbread. As a result, the sticky brown biscuits are taken so seriously they’re an art form. Every December, the
Design and Architecture Gallery
Website: www.disainigalerii.ee hosts an annual Gingerbread Mania art exhibit where everything is made out of gingerbread.
- Whack your back with a birch twig
Estonia’s sauna culture dates back to the 13th century and there’s no shortage of places to unwind in Tallinn. Smoke saunas (heated with pungent pine logs) are the best, though more modern varieties like those at
Kalma Saun
Telephone: +372 627 1811
Website: www.kalmasaun.ee are equally good. Be warned: ‘whisking’, or beating yourself with birch twigs, is expected.
Tallinn tours and excursions
Tallinn tours
The Tallinn Tourist Office can organise guided group tours and guides for individuals, though booking ahead is recommended.
Telephone: +372 645 7777
Website: www.visittallinn.ee
Tallinn City Tour offers hop on and off bus tours on three routes around Tallinn with trips free with the Tallinn Card.
Telephone:
+372 5301 5623
Website: www.citytour.ee
City Bike
Offers tours of Tallinn on two wheels.
Telephone:
+372 511 1819
Website: www.citybike.ee
Tallinn excursions
Commissioned by Russian Tsar Peter the Great in honour of his wife, Catherine, this elegant baroque palace is the highlight of sights outside the Old Town. Designed by the Italian architect Niccolo Michetti, the building was inspired by Italian villas and stands as one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Northern Europe. In addition to Italian and Russianartists, the best local craftsmen from Stockholm, Riga and Tallinn were brought in to create this lavish palace. It is also home to the Kadriorg Art Museum and an expanse of beautifully laid-out gardens.
Telephone:
+372 606 6403
Website: www.kadriorumuuseum.ekm.ee
About 80km (50 miles) outside Tallinn is a once mighty Soviet naval base (the last Soviet forces left in 1994). Today a ramble of ruins and leftovers offer the chance to peek behind the old Iron Curtain. Taking a bike or car is recommended as the various things to see, such as Peter’s Fortress, the Pakri lighthouse, the naval graveyard and the old submarine training base, are quite spread out.
Website: www.visitestonia.comShopping in Tallinn
With everything from department stores to major fashion chains and plenty of quirky boutiques, Tallinn has no shortage of places to shop. While many of the bigger stores sell much the same as shops anywhere else in Europe, its delightful markets are crammed with Soviet memorabilia and local crafts, while the upmarket shops of the Old Town are worth your time too.
In the Old Town you’ll find interesting shops selling knitwear, Vana Tallinn (the city’s most famous alcoholic tipple) and hand-painted marzipan, among others. A few minutes’s walk from the Old Town is the hipster-cool area of Kalamaja with an eclectic mix of old and new products.
The Old Town is home to the best markets, many of which specialise in particular items – the knit market on Müürivahe for instance. Keskturg (Central Market) at Keldrimäe 9 is good for local colour and tasty fresh produce, while Sadama Turg (Harbour Market) at Kai 3 also has good food and craft shops. Another great choice is Balti Jaama (Baltic Station) which has an enormous range of products on sales, from fresh fruit and vegetable, organic products, to arts and crafts.
There are a number of large malls such as Kristiine Keskus (Endla 45) and Ulemiste Centre (Suur-Sõjamäe 4) which are now very popular with the locals. Within the city centre, Viru Keskus (or Viru Centre) at Viru väljak is another popular choice.
Shopping hours in Tallinn are Monday to Friday 10:00-18:00. Some shops open on Saturday 10:00-17:00. Department stores are open daily 10:00-20:00.
Like neighbours Russia and Finland, Estonia is famous for its handicrafts with hand-knitted jumpers, carved wooden beer mugs and limestone candle holders among the highlights. Soviet antiques are also popular. All Baltic ambers come from Lithuania and Kaliningrad (the small Russian province between Lithuania and Poland) but it is worth buying if you see a design that you like.
Estonia’s VAT is set at 20%.
Restaurants in Tallinn
Tallinn is a popular city-break destination and naturally you will find a very vibrant dining scene with restaurants offering modern Estonian and international dishes with a focus on locally-sourced produce. There are a few vegetarian restaurants too, although old-fashioned favourites (all washed down with plenty of beer) will never go out of style. The Tallinn restaurants are grouped into three pricing categories:
Expensive (over €120)
Moderate (€60 to €120)
Cheap (up to €60)
These Tallinn restaurant prices are for a three-course meal for one excluding alcohol. VAT (20%) is always included, and it is custom to leave another 10% tip.
Expensive
Cuisine: Eastern European
Great place inside the market! For the Pierogi lovers its a must! We have the duck and thyme and beef and pork, both delicious!
We have been operating in Tallinn since November 2018. In shopping center T1, Balti station market and Vana-Viru 4, old town. Our dumplings are handmade. We immediately freeze freshly made dumplings in our deep freezer to maintain freshness and quality. Our dumplings contain no artificial flavors or fragrances, no preservatives, no GMO or E-substances.
Address: Kopli tn 1, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 5805 1852
Website: www.pelmen.ee
Cuisine: French, Russian
Once you step inside Gloria’s capacious 1930s dining room, it’s not hard to see why it’s long been considered one of Tallinn’s most glamorous dining spots. Elegant muted gold walls, crisp white table linen and vast Baccarat crystal chandeliers scream old money, while the unobtrusive waiting staff would do Jeeves proud. The fare is equally exalted – an unusual mixture of high French and Russian cuisine, all served up perfectly cooked and glamorously presented.
Address: Old Town, Müürivahe 2, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 640 6800
Website: www.gloria.ee
Cuisine: European
A favourite with visiting businessmen, local celebrities and politicians alike, this classy Tallinn restaurant is located within one of the city’s finest luxury hotels and is famous for its 13th-century vaulted ceilings and huge log fireplace. Welcoming and cosy, the fare is comprised of European classics, largely from France and Italy, although the tasty bit of Estonian cuisine does creep in. In summer, lunch and dinner are also served in the courtyard garden.
Address: Old Town, Schlossle Hotel, Puhavaimu 13/15, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 699 7780
Website: www.stenhusrestaurant.ee
Moderate
Cuisine: Eastern European
a lively restaurant in the old town with a new lease of life. We serve food with a simple and bold signature, made from local ingredients and inspired by international flavors. We work closely with local organic farmers – most of our raw materials come from them. All our wines are eco or natural style.
Address: Old Town, Rataskaevu 8, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 5858 3229
Website: www.peetruut.com
Cuisine: European
Easily one of the cosiest restaurants in Tallinn, Munga Kelder (which translates to ‘Monk’s Cellar’) is a period gem of a place. Decked out in dark wood and boasting austere white walls, colour comes courtesy of mediaeval stained glass and old-fashioned plaits of garlic that hang from its beams. The menu is equally antediluvian and takes patrons on a tour of European favourites past with French frog’s legs and German potato salad jostling for space with chateaubriand steak and Estonian classics.
Address: Old Town, Vene 12, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 644 4614
Website: www.mungakelder.ee
We spent long days like this. An atmosphere developed around us that we had all longed for in our own way, but could not describe. This means food we like, people we like and spaces we like to be in. That’s how it is to this day. In modern art, this is called “work in progress”. You are welcome!
Address: Rataskaevu tn 16, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 642 4025
Website: www.rataskaevu16.ee
Cheap
Cuisine: Fast food/International
Classic, long-running fast-food chain known for its burgers & fries. Great food & service giving you a break with all the expensive tourist restaurants nearby. First McDonald’s in Estonia after the collapse of the USSR. Circa 1994. Nice McDonalds it’s modern and a quite small. It got very busy with tons of children. Big Mac Meal costs €8.60 for a large with southern fried chips.
Address: Viru 24, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 5561 7011
Website: www.mcdonalds.ee
Cuisine: Fast food
This place sits on a quiet street and has an authentic and local vibe. Some say it has the best fast food and vegan food also falafel in town and after trying a few, we agree wholeheartedly. Try the hummus falafel wrap for 7.90€, it is pretty good, nothing too fancy but it satisfied my needs, they have an english menu and also vegan options.
Address: Kopli tn 1, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 623 7772
Website: www.vrapikohvik.ee
Cuisine: European
A juicy burger made from local organic Angus beef in a homemade bun, what’s not to love? The Vegan burger with grilled tofu is equally delicious too.
Address: Pärnu maantee 41a, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 5908 2626
Website: www.ebf.eeTallinn Nightlife
Bizarrely, the Tartan Army (the football fans who faithfully follow the Scottish national side) are credited with kick-starting Tallinn’s nightlife in the 1990s after decades of Soviet dreariness. As a result, Tallinn is now as popular for its lively and cheap watering holes as it is its sights. But it’s not all bars and pubs – the city also has a year-long, bustling arts scene, with everything from small-scale alternative creations right through to grand opera performances and classical music recitals. Many shows are only in Estonian as the country celebrates the return of the local language after decades of Soviet-era suppression.
Bars in Tallinn
Depeche Mode Baar was originally opened in 1999 by devoted fan. But it was in 2001 when DM really hit the big time – on the 27th of August Depeche Mode members Martin L Gore, Andy Fletcher and Christian Eigner partied the night away in DM Bar before their Tallinn concert. Depeche Mode might be eccentric but that doesn’t mean it isn’t great fun. As the name suggests, there’s only one band you’ll hear blaring from its sound system. If you’re a fan of 80s electro, you’ll feel right at home.
Address: Old Town, Voorimehe 4, Tallinn.
Website: www.depechemode.ee
The place to be if you want to get away from noisy stag dos and enjoy a romantic evening with great views over the city and the harbour. At the top of Swissotel Tallinn, this place offers spectacular views and serves excellent cocktails. It also has a separate Cigar Lounge for aficionados.
Address: Tornimäe 3, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 624 3000
Website: www.horisontrestoran.ee
Labor means ‘lab’ in English, so this bar is inspired by all things scientific and looks like a fantasy laboratory. The drinks are served in test tubes with some come emitting puffs of liquid nitrogen smoke. The lower level is also a nightclub from Wednesday through Saturday.
Address: Old Town, Suur-Karja 10, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 5699 4160
No town is complete without a decent Irish bar and the huge and comfortable Mad Murphy’s is one of the best. Like fellow Dublin-style pubs elsewhere in the world, it boasts classic Irish décor and a wood-panelled bar, as well as the inevitable Guinness on tap. More pleasingly, it also does an excellent line in Irish whiskey (not just Jameson’s) and hosts big football crowds on match days when it switches on its numerous televisions and pipes in games from all over Europe.
Address: Old Town, Mundi 2, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 601 1070
Nimeta, or as the Estonians say, ‘the bar with no name’, has a strong passion for football with the big screen drawing huge, enthusiastic crowds on match days. The rest of the time it’s a nice cheerful pub with good beer and live DJ sets on Saturday nights that’s popular with locals and expats alike.
Address: Old Town, Suur-Karja 4, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 641 1515
Website: www.nimetabaar.ee
Clubs in Tallinn
Perched incongruously in the Old Town, Club Hollywood is one of the most popular spots in Tallinn and is the place where the glitterati come to party. Thanks to a steady diet of techno and a rotating roster of Estonian and international DJs, it nearly always attracts big crowds come Friday and Saturday night. World-famous names have performed here, including Bob Sinclair and Basement Jaxx, and the management is justifiably proud of it – as you’ll notice should you venture in.
Address: Old Town, Vana-Posti 8, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 5912 4200
Website: www.clubhollywood.ee
Arguably the coolest club in Tallinn, Club Privé is hugely popular with the city’s smart set and it has the upscale décor to match. Bathed in ambient lighting, it feels like a high-tech New York speakeasy and has a pleasingly large range of spirits as well as an extensive cocktail menu. On weekends, Privé gets packed and serves club-goers a diet of progressive pop and seriously cool house tunes.
Address: Old Town, Harju 6, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 5333 3539
Housed within a historic two-storey firehouse, the Venus Club has long been a stalwart of Tallinn’s social scene thanks to its convivial clientele and cheap drinks. But it’s not all booze and babes: the club has a well-deserved reputation for top-quality live music and excellent DJs too.
Address: Old Town, Vana-Viru 14, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 551 9999
Website: www.venusclub.ee
Live music in Tallinn
As the name suggests, Chicago 1933 is an American-inspired bar, with the years of the Great Depression and the slick speakeasies of Prohibition proving particularly fertile ground. Inside, it boasts modern industrial chic décor enlivened by a huge bar and decadent crystal chandeliers. But of all its many Americanisms, it is its embrace of live music that is the best sell with regular jazz performances interspersed with the odd dash of blues and country.
Address: Old Town, Aia 3, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 627 1266
Website: www.chicago.ee
Theatres in Tallinn
The Estonian Drama Theatre is an important cultural venue in Tallinn, housed in a fabulous art nouveau building that was erected in 1910. Today, the theatre is the nearest equivalent to an academic (or national) theatre in Estonia, and stages both Estonian and world drama classics and contemporary plays.
Address: City Centre, Päarnu Maantee 5, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 680 5555
Website: www.draamateater.ee
- Estonian Theatre for Young Audience
Puppet theater founded in 1952, with puppet museum & expanded repertoire of plays & musicals. The Estonian Puppet Theatre, is one of Tallinn’s quirkiest venues. It specialises in a colourful roster of plays, short stories and performances that are aimed at delighting adults and children alike. Most of what’s on offer is based on Estonian fairytales and folklore (not all of it as cosy as it sounds), while more grown-up pieces by national authors are also popular. The theatre also has a quaint museum dedicated to puppets that is well worth a look.
Address: Old Town, Lai 1, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 667 9555
Website: www.eestinoorsooteater.ee
Culture in Tallinn
The first private theatre to open in Estonia, the Von Krahl is popular with up-and-coming playwrights, composers and choreographers, and has built a reputation for championing young talent. Tiny inside, it offers an intimate theatre experience that’s a must-do for anyone with an eye for contemporary performing arts. Tickets are on sale at the theatre from 10 every day and also at Piletimaailm outlets in Tallinn.
Address: Telliskivi tn 60a-9, Tallinn.
Telephone: +372 5635 9309
Website: www.vonkrahl.ee Tallinn Food and Drink
Food In Tallinn
- Sült (a terrine or meat jelly made with meat from the head of a calf or pig).
- Täidetud vasikarind (roast stuffed shoulder of veal).
- Rosolje (potato salad).
- Leib (rye bread).
- Mulgipuder (grain and potato porridge).
- Verivorst (blood sausage).
- Pirukad (pastries filled with meat or vegetables).
Drink In Tallinn
- Vana Tallinn (Old Tallinn) A robust, rum-based liqueur, is Estonia’s best-known alcoholic beverage and a local favorite.
- Kali is made of fermented bread. It has little alcohol and very tasty.
- Alcohol Drinking alcohol in public in Tallinn is prohibited. Alcohol sales from stores in Tallinn are prohibited from 22:00 until 10:00.
- Tap water is clean and safe to consume in Tallinn. From spring until autumn, public drinking water taps can be used in various locations around the city.