Your future holidays in Europe

Tallinn [1], the capital of Estonia, lies on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland, only 70 km (43 mi) south of Helsinki. At the historical heart of the city is the hill of Toompea, covered in cobbled streets and filled with medieval houses and alleyways. The lower town spreads out from the foot of the hill, still protected by the remnants of a city wall. Around the city wall is a series of well-maintained green parks, great for strolling.

While the old town has been astonishingly well preserved and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997, it is now in better shape than ever, with the bigger roads converted into fashionable shopping streets reminiscent of Zürich or Geneva, the new town sprawling all around is largely built in typical concrete Soviet style. The new center of town is Vabaduse väljak (Freedom Square) at the edge of the old town, and nearby is the giant matchbox of Hotel Viru, the former Intourist flagship and notorious den of Cold War intrigue (every room was tapped and monitored by the KGB!). Recently, Tallinn has received a boom in tourism, especially by daytrippers which visit it from its sister city across the Baltic Sea, Helsinki.

Understand

Tallinn is a historic city dating back to the medieval times and it was first recorded on a world map in 1154, although the first fortress was built on Toompea in 1050. In 1219, the city was conquered by Valdemar II of Denmark, but it was soon sold to 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 center was built at this time.

Tallinn then became a pawn in the geopolitical games of its big neighbors, passing into Swedish hands in 1561 and then to Russia 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 eventually annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940, only to be conquered by Nazi Germany (1941-44) and then retaken by the Soviets. In World War II, the city was quite extensively bombed, even though luckily the medieval town remains. The Soviet Union undertook a program of massive Slavic migration, and just over 40% of Tallinn's current inhabitants are Slavic (compared to an average of 28% for the entire country). On Aug 20, 1991, Estonia declared independence and Tallinn became its capital once again.

Today, Tallinn is a bustling, gleaming metropolis of 400,000 people. However, among the tall glassy buildings and corporate headquarters, Tallinn retains an inner charm seldom found anywhere else. Estonia considers itself a Northern European/Scandinavian country, with very close ties to Finland (ethnic, linguistic, and cultural), and visiting Tallinn you will find a mix of at least three architectures in this very visual city -- old Europe (the city walls and rustic buildings), Soviet brutalist (crumbling apartment blocks), and modern Europe (including McDonald's next to the city walls!).

• Tourist Information Center, Niguliste 2 / Kullassepa 4, Phone: +372 645 7777, (Email: turismiinfo@tallinnlv.ee), [2].

Get in

By catamaran or ferry

As in other parts of Baltic Europe and Scandinavia, sea is the easiest and most common way of reaching Tallinn.

The most common ferry shuttle route is the short journey from Helsinki in Finland to Tallinn. The basic choice is between fast hydrofoil or catamaran, which complete the trip in 1.5 hours but cost more (€20-50 one way) and are susceptible to poor weather, and slow ferries, which plod for 3.5 hours in rain or shine for half the price (starting at €20). Exact pricing depends on operator, season (summer costs more), day of week (Fri and Sat cost more) and even time of departure (to Tallinn in the morning and back in the evening is popular and hence more expensive). Tallink and Viking Line now also have large fast ropax ferries, which take about 2-2.5 hours to complete the journey. Ticket prices start from about €16.

As of June 2008, the list of operators is:

• Eckerö Line [3] – Large ferry (Nordlandia).
• Linda Line [4] – Small catamaran (Merilin).
• Nordic Jet Line [5] – Fast catamarans (Nordic Jet, Baltic Jet).
• SuperSeaCat [6] – Fast catamarans (SuperSeaCat Three, SuperSeaCat Four).
• Tallink [7] – Large fast ferries (two hrs)(Star, Superstar, Superfast) and a slow ferry (Baltic Princess).
• Viking Line [8] – Large fast ferry (Viking XPRS).

Note that large catamarans and all ferries can also carry cars. There are also several ferry options to Stockholm.

All ferries except Linda Line dock at Reisisadam port, to the north of the center. From here, there is a direct bus (No. 2) to both the city center and the airport. Alternatively, you can take a leisurely 15 minute walk, first east to Mere pst and then down to Viru Square. The journey from the port to the city center is not all that impressive but don't be shocked - this isn't the real Tallinn!

• Traffic schedule for bus No. 2: [9]
• Autobussijaam - Bus station; Lennujaam - Airport; A.Laikmaa - City Centre stop.

By plane

Tallinn Airport (or "Ülemiste Airport") (IATA: TLL) (ICAO: EETN), about 5 km from the city center, Tallinn Airport [10] is increasingly becoming an airport hub of the Baltics. Estonian Air [11] provides good quality services to a series of European cities, including London, Brussels, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin, Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Riga, Vilnius, Kiev and Moscow. If you live in or near these cities, air travel is the best way to get to Tallinn. Fares are also fairly cheap. Amsterdam to Tallinn is from €67. In a code-share agreement with SAS Scandinavian Airlines, there are now a whopping 18 flights per week to Copenhagen and Stockholm. Another Estonian carrier, Finnair-owned Aero Airlines, operates right aircraft and offers 48 flights a week (seven a day on weekdays) to Helsinki. From there they have very good and flexible connections to 36 destinations all over Europe and to 10 destinations in Asia. Between Tallinn and Warsaw flights are provided through the years by LOT Airlines [12]. Since 2004 the newest major air carrier EasyJet offers connections to London and Berlin at low prices.

Detailed information is available at Tallinn Airport timetable [13].

A taxi to the city center should cost between 100 and 150 EEK (ca. 16 EEK = 1 €). The initial fee for taxis varies from 25-75 EEK and you shouldn´t necessarily get into the first taxi in the row.

Bus line 2 comes in front of the airport and goes to the city center in just a few minutes. The bus stop (A. Laikmaa) is located between Hotel Tallink and the Viru Center shopping mall/Bus terminal. The bus does not stop in the Bus Terminal itself. Be careful, because line no. 2 buses also go to the Mõigu area from the same stop, but today almost all buses have electronic displays. To get to the city centre, take the bus on route "2 Reisisadam". You can buy tickets at the R-Kiosks all round the city, in the Bus terminal or in the Bus itself.

By helicopter

Copterline's [14] on-again, off-again helicopter service from Helsinki has again been suspended in December 2008.

By train

There are limited train services to Latvia, Lithuania and Russia (Moscow by Go Rail [15]. Therefore, train is not a good option to get into Estonia. If you're visiting from Russia, take the plane; if you're in Latvia or Lithuania, consider the bus; if you're in Poland, fly to a European hub and transfer to Tallinn, or catch a bus. A good opportunity is flying to Helsinki and then taking the ferry to Tallinn.

By bus

There are a series of fairly frequent bus routes that radiate out from Tallinn and serve other countries. These particularly go to Riga in Latvia, Vilnius in Lithuania, and Saint Petersburg in the Russian Federation (about €20 for an eight hour ride) as well as other parts of Estonia. Even though not always the best of comfort, they are usually much better than the train if you live in one of Estonia's neighboring countries. Increasingly, the buses are also servicing Russia, Germany and Poland.

• Eurolines [16]
• Ecolines [17]

Distances

Approximate over-land distances to other cities:

• Kaliningrad: 580km
• Minsk: 635km
• Moscow: 810km
• Riga: 300km
• Stockholm: 380km
• Saint Petersburg: 320km
• Vilnius: 500km
• Warsaw: 790km

Get around

The Old City 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.

By public transport

Buses, trolleys and trams operate regularly between 6AM and 12AM. Make sure that you have a valid ticket when riding on public transportation. You can buy tickets from newsstands or from drivers.

For ticket prices see: [18]. The Tallinn Card [19] holders may use unlimited public transportation free.

Timetables in English can be found here: [20].

Map: [21] (pick Ühistransport)

One-day ticket (24h)- 40 EEK; Three-day ticket (72h) - 70 EEK; 10-day card - 125 EEK

By bus

The bus network covers the whole city from southeast to northwest. You can buy a one-time ticket from a newsstand for 13 EEK (buying from a driver is 20 EEK). Discount tickets are respectively 6 and 12 EEK and you must have your ticket punched after entering.

By tram

The tram network covers the city centre. There are 4 lines and they all meet at Viru Center, at stop Hobujaama. About 15 vehicles have a lowered middle-section, which makes trams wheelchair-accessible. These vehicles are marked in the schedules with yellow background behind the departure time. Usually these vehicles serve the lines 1 and 4. Tickets also 13 or 20 EEK.

By trolleybus

All trolley lines have a direction to south or west. There are eight lines, 1-7 and 9. Trolley no. 8 was closed in 2000 and replaced with bus no. 22. The fleet is relatively new, though there are some old Škoda-s. Tickets 13 or 20 EEK.

By taxi

Taxi tickets have a base price of €3 and have an additional €.50 a km (€.80 a mile), although this depends on the particular taxi company. All licensed taxis will have a list of fares in the window.

If possible, order a taxi by phone and avoid using the taxis standing at the Tallinn Port taxi stop. These taxis are called "the sleeve-taxis", because usually they have exorbitant prices and the taximeters seem to go a bit faster than normal. Always remember to ask for a written receipt, as they detail the distance and time travelled. If the taxi cannot provide a receipt you have the legal right not to pay. Also, if you find "jootraha" on the receipt, keep it. "Jootraha" means tip in Estonian. If they've added a tip, keep the receipt and report it. Legal taxi companies operating in Tallinn can be found at [22]

The dodgy taxi situation in Tallinn is improving rapidly due to a crackdown from the government, and these days legit ones clearly marked with the company logos are abundant. Remember to always ask for a receipt as when the cab driver can't provide one, you aren't required to pay.

By car

Like other large cities, Tallinn has its fair share of traffic jams and therefore is not for the faint-hearted. The road rules and driving style can be confusing to tourists. The one and two way roads change frequently and some signposts are not . That being said, traffic jams in Tallinn clear very quickly and if you are from a large city, they will seem like speed-humps rather than traffic jams.

Speed limit in Tallinn is 50 km/h, except some bigger streets like Laagna tee, Pärnu mnt., Paldiski mnt., Peterburi tee etc., which have the speed limit of 70 km/h.

There is an abundance of parking, but you have to pay for it. Ticket machines, and other methods for paying for parking, aren't always However, you might notice a lack of ticket machines, or other obvious methods for paying. The ticket machines are not posted clearly. Here are a few helpful tips to avoid being fined:

1. Each rental car should come with a plastic clock on the dashboard that should be clearly visible from the outside of the car. Every car in Tallinn gets 15 minutes free parking in paid parking areas. Indicate the time of your arrival, e.g. if you park at 5:30, your plastic clock should show 5:30. You will have free parking until 5:45.
2. Find a bright-orange vested parking inspector in order to determine what type of parking ticket you need.. Ask for a parking ticket, "Palun, üks parkimispilet" in Estonian. It will help to use a combination of sign language and a phrasebook if your Estonian is limited or non-existant. You may want to simply take the 24EEK parking ticket to be safe.
3. Scratch the correct date and length of time you'll be parking. When you get your parking ticket, it will look more like a lottery ticket. 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.
4. Mobile phone payment [23] is very popular, but you will need a local mobile contract to use it.

On foot

The Old Town of Tallinn is very comfortably covered on foot.

Take the Tallinn Chill Out Walking Tour [24]. This tour is an off beat alternative to regular walking tours in the old town with musicians for guides and interesting commentary. It takes about two hours and visits places not normally frequented by tourists. It also covers the usual sights in the Old Town. The tour is usually conducted in English and starts at the Tallinn Traveler Information Tent (located on the square in front of the official Tallinn Tourist Information Center). The tour also includes a snack at the end.

If you have a mobile phone, mobile tours in English have recently become available [25]. Audio guides in several languages are available at no charge at the tourist centers. Bus tours (look for the red-colored buses) are also available at designated stops in the Old Town.

See

The Old City

Tallinn's prime attraction is the excellently preserved Old City, built in the 15-17th centuries. This compact area is best explored on foot.

• Start your walk from Viru Gate, the entrance to the street of the same name, which is now Tallinn's trendiest shopping street.

• Head to Raekoja plats, the square in the heart of the Old City, ringed with cafes and restaurants. The Raekoda (Town Hall [26]), built in 1371, dominates the square.

• From the square, continue up the hill along Pikk St and Pikk jalg through the gate tower (1380) to Toompea, the site of the Danish castle that founded the city in 1219. Rebuilt in the 18th century, part of the castle now houses the Riigikogu, Estonia's Parliament. Other notable buildings in the area include the distinctive Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Lutheran Toomkirik, the oldest church in Tallinn.

Outside the Old City

• Museum of Occupations, Toompea str. 8, [27] features the life conditions under Soviet and Nazi regimes.

• Tallinn Zoo, Paldiski mnt. 145 (stop "Zoo"), [28]. 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 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.

• City Center with 19th century and modern structures.

• Kadriorg is a beautiful and rich seaside resort district with mostly wooden buildings from the 18th to 20th centuries, as well as 20th century Art Deco and Functionalist structures. It also includes the baroque pearl of Estonia, the Kadriorg Palace and Garden.
  • The Kadriorg Palace, Weizenbergi 37, [29] is an imperial Russian summer residence built by Italian architect Niccolo Michetti for Tsar Peter the Great in 1718. It is situated in a 90 ha (222 acre) park in the eastern part of the city. The tsar himself, 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. Currently the palace is housing some paint collections and other art. A portion of the complex is now occupied by the Office of the President and not available to the public.

• Open Air Museum, Vabaõhumuuseumi str. 12 (stop "Rocca al Mare"), [30]. 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 about the life and its hardship in the old times.

• Holy Birgitta Monastery, [31]. Situated in picturesque Pirita beach area, some 5 km (3 mi) from the city center, is 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.

• Patarei (Battery) Prison, Kalaranna 2, [32]. This is the most recent and least-developed historical attraction in Tallinn. It is both a cannon fortress and a notorious USS prison. It was built around 1840 to protect the city from the sea-born attacks. The prison ceased operations only in 2004. Prison tours are currently available and are up to five hours in length. The tour includes viewings single cells and torture cells, prison meal and, of course, execution.

• Tallinn TV Tower, Kloostrimetsa 58a (stop "Motoklubi"), [33] is a 314-metre high, free-standing structure with an observation deck on the 21st floor, which with its 170 metres, is the highest in Northern Europe. It offers spectacular views across Tallinn and, on a clear day, you can see Finland. Unfortunately since late 2007 this tower has been closed to the public because it does not conform to fire safety regulations.

• Kalamaja, northwest from Old City. 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, prior to the Soviet occupation.

• The Rottermann quarter is 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 Historitsism.

• National Art Museum KUMU, Weizenbergi 37/Valge 1 (stop "Kumu"), [34]. Opened in February 2006, this is the largest government built building since the liberation and it is an almost 50,000 m² (538,196 ft²). The museum houses a cyclopic house, partly cut out of limestone rock.

• Song Grounds (stops "Oru", "Lasnamägi" or "Lauluväljak"), [35]. A huge Modernist structure where the Song Festival, which is held every four years, features 34 ,00 singers and dancers (2004) in addition to a massive audience.
• Pirita district includes forest parks, Botanic Gardens and Metsakalmistu (the last resting place of well-known Estonians).

• Tallinn Botanical Gardens, [36].

Do

• Pirita was the yachting venue for Moscow Olympic Games. It features a large sandy beach and in the summer it's full of locals and tourists. Look for the massive Soviet architecture located 5 km (or 3 mi) from the centre. Walk or take the bus 1A, 8, 34A or 38.

• The Saku Suurhall of Tallinn was the venue for the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest. The hall and its facilities include an excellent shopping centre that can easily be reached in Rocca al Mare by trolleybus 6.

• City bike [37] organizes a few-hour-long bicycle tours around Tallinn. It is also possible to rent bicycles and tour independently.

Beaches

• Stroomi Beach is at Northern Tallinn and a popular place to visit. The water is clean and warm.

• Harku Lake is in West Tallinn it is a small lake that draws a lot of people. The lake gets dirtier by the year and swimming is not recommended.

• Kakumäe beach is one of the youngest beaches in Tallinn. The water is almost the purest of all Tallinn beaches. Bus 21 from Balti jaam (where the trains arrive), bus 21A from Väike-Õismäe. Stop Kakumäe tee. Walk back to the city until you see a sign that shows a swimming area.

• Pikakari Beach is the newest in Tallinn, opening in May 2006. The water quality isn't very good, so swimming is not advised.

• REMEMBER, there is 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.

Learn

• Tallinn University of Technology, [38].
• Tallinn University, [39].
• Estonian Academy of Arts, [40].
• Estonian Business School, [41].
• Baltic Film and Media School, [42].

Work

Estonia has become a hive of activity in IT. CV Online - Töö [43] has a lot of advertisements for speakers of Estonian or English in this field. Jobs for non Estonian speakers are less common in other fields.

English language teachers are also in demand, and if you have a TEFL certificate or equivalent you ought to be able to find a job.

Buy

The main shopping hub is on the Viru väljak. There are big department stores like Viru Keskus, Foorum, Kaubamaja and Melon. For heavy-duty shopping check out the Kaubamaja [44] and Stockmann [45] department stores, off Vabaduse väljak. The big shopping centre on the Viru väljak is Viru Keskus. The area around the port has also sprouted an ever-increasing array of mini markets, supermarkets and hypermarkets catering to the tax-free alcohol brigade. The biggest shopping centre in Tallinn near Zoo is Rocca al Mare kaubanduskeskus in the Õismäe. Take trolley 6 or 7 or bus 21 or 22 to get there. There is also big Ülemiste kaubanduskeskus near the airport. Take bus 2 or 15 to get there.

For boutiques and souvenirs, your best choice is Viru street in the Old City and its side streets. There are many stalls selling traditional items like woolen pullovers and crystal. Prepare to haggle.

• Ilusalong Felicia, Pronksi 7/9, ☎ 6485433, [46]. 9.00-19.00. Beauty salon , Tallinn edit

Eat

The Old City is packed with restaurants claiming to offer authentic Estonian food, particularly on and around Raekoja plats. Prices are steep by Estonian standards, but still much cheaper than neighboring Helsinki, which explains why on weekends they're always packed with day tripping Finns.

• Aed (Embassy of Pure Food), 8 Rataskaevu., ☎ 626 9088. 12-22. Excellent organic/biodynamic/Demeter food. Beautiful interior, very charming and romantic, wonderful service. Lower-than-tourist prices. edit
• Bar Fish and Wine, Sakala 20, ☎ +372 6623013, [47]. 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. Mon-Fri 8AM-11PM, Sat 11AM-11PM. edit
• Bocca (restaurant bocca), Olevimägi 9 (in oldtown, 5min from townhall square), ☎ + 372 611 7290, [48]. 12-24. . This is 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. 20€. edit
• Cafe EAT, Sauna 2, [49]. Dumplings with different fillings and really delicious doughnuts. This is probably the most reasonably priced cafe in the Old Town. 10 EEK for 100g of dumplings and 30 EEK for a 0.5L beer. It is very popular among local students and backpackers. You can also play free foosball, exchange books or play one from many board games at this cafe. edit
• Chedi (chedi), Olevimägi 11 (next to restaurant Bocca, in old town), ☎ +3726461676, [50]. 12-24. Modern Asian kitchen supervised by famous Alan Yau from Hakasan, London. The modern and warm interior make you feel like you're in Singapore. Reservations recommended. 20€. edit
• Controvento, Katriina Käik, [51]. 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 its hard too get into and is most often completely full, even on off-season weeknights. You may want to call ahead and make a reservation. Pizzas and pasta dishes are around €6-7. edit
• Kohvik Moskva (Moscow Café), [52]. Vabaduse Plats. A more upscale coffee shop. The decor plays with the nostalgia of the "good old" Soviet times. A cafe with the same name existed at the same spot during the Soviet period. edit
• Kompressor, Rataskaevu 3 (Just few minutes walk from Raekoja plats.). This place offers an assortment of huge and delicious pancakes. Good deal. edit
• Kuldse Notsu Kõrts, Dunkri 8, ☎ +37 2'' 6286567, [53]. This is the most interesting menu of the huge, tourist-friendly "traditional" Estonian restaurants surrounding the main square. Try the Piglet beer or vodka and fresh pumpkin apertif with your blood sausage or vegetarian mushroom and leek dish. The traditional desserts are also worth a try. Mon-Sun noon to midnight. €20-30 including drinks and desert. edit
• Mauruse Pubi, (Near the city library.), [54]. A great local pub, featuring cheap food with hearty portions. edit
• Olde Hansa, [55]. The ruling king among Tallinn's restaurants with some of them trying to copy its style. The place is simply medieval, not just in terms of food but also in the sense of performance - no electricity, no music except live and authentic, no modern inventions. The house special is bear meat "marinated in rare spices and cooked over a fire in honour of Waldemar II, the brave King of Denmark" costing no less than €40. Try one of the extraordinary beers, such as the honey beer. edit
• Ö (restaurant o), mere pst. 6E (close to old town, near harbour), ☎ +3726616150, [56]. 12-24. . This was voted the Best Restaurant in Estonia in 2007. Award winning Chef Roman Zastserinski has made a seasonal menu using only Estonian ingrdients. Good view of old town. 20€.
• Troika, Raekoja plats 15, [57]. One of the better options in the area, 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 misnamed "small" zakuski appetizer plate. It's big enough for three (61 kr), then dip your pelmeni dumplings (49 kr) in smetana or the other sauces provided and wash it down with a shot of vodka (20+ kr). edit
• Vanaema Juures, Rataskaevu 10/12, ☎ 626 90 80. Translates as "Grandma's Place", which gives you an idea of the warm welcome you can expect here. Friendly and attentive staff are happy to explain the traditional dishes. Excellent value for money. Reservations are essential in the high season. edit
• Viikingite küla (Viking village), Saula küla, Harjumaa, [58]. Just a few kilometers from the city, next to Pirita river and Tallinn-Tartu highway, but in a deep forest is a scenic place with a tavern, accommodation and its own small lake, from where everyone can catch their own fish and let it cooked. Foods are traditional Estonian and prices very reasonable. (59.221022 N,25.034065 E) edit
• Musi, Niguliste 6, ☎ 6443100, [59]. 17-24. 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. Glass of wine ca. 60 EEK. Small dishes from 80 EEK. A good place for a relaxed meal, or with your friends before or after dinner. edit
• TEXAS Honky Tonk & Cantina (TEXAS), 43, Pikk Str, ☎ +3726311755, [60]. 12-24. No-one does Americana quite so well in Tallinn. The menu is mostly Tex-Mex (the burritos are superb), and the atmosphere lively and yippee-ayo-ta-yay fun. edit

Drink

Tallinn's nightlife is extensive enough to be notorious. 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. Drinking is still cheap in Tallinn, you can get a beer in a bar for 2€. A beer in Old Town (bar) costs around 3EUR (2008).

• Hollywood nightclub, located in old town [61].
• Bonbon nightclub [62].

• Hell Hunt ("The Gentle Wolf") is a comfortable and homey pub in the Old Town and offers a wide selection of beers and some pretty decent food.

• Parlament nightclub

• Terrarium nightclub [63].

• Prive nightclub [64].

• Vibe, [65]. Their techno parties are legendary for throwing parties in venues like abandoned Soviet chemical factories. Scheduling is inconsistent, so keep an eye on the website and be sure to attend one of their upcoming event.

• DM bar, [66]. A small and somewhat dingy bar entirely dedicated to Depeche Mode, it even has all-Depeche Mode playlist and video screens displaying Depeche Mode clips and concerts.

• Kompressor. Four words: hip, minimalist, trendy, pricey.

• Von Krahli, [67]. An avant-garde theatre/bar.

• Kuku klubi, [68]. Founded 1935 by local art community and claiming to have had the best accessible cuisine in whole former USSR since 1958 during the Russian occupation.

• Stereo Lounge, Harju 6, [69]. A trendy but surprisingly inexpensive bar and cafe with a futuristic all-white interior.
• Club von Überlingen, Madara 22A, ☎ +372 6608805, [70]. Trendy nightclub with frequent guest DJs. edit

• Texas Honky Tonk & Cantina, 43, Pikk Str, ☎ +3726311755, [71]. 12-24. Texas-style cantina is a casual place to knock back a Corona or a Bud, or even to try out the frozen margaritas churning in the electric mixer behind the bar. More serious drinkers can try the ‘tequila flights’ - 3 or 5 shots of different tequilas to give you a sampling, not that you’re likely to remember which was which next time around. edit

Sleep

Apartment rental :

- Europapart : info@europapart.eu

Stay safe

Overall, Tallinn is a safe town if you don't go out of your way to court trouble. Look out for pickpockets in crowded areas, especially on public transport.

Get out

• Soomaa National Park is about 100 miles south of Tallinn and is known for its swamps and bogs (Soomaa means "land of bogs" in Estonian). Surprisingly, swimming is popular and is said to rejuvenate the skin.

• Lahemaa National Park is about 50km east of Tallinn and is a place to find some nice forests, seaside and swamps and bogs. One of the most suggested place to go there is Viru raba (Viru bog), that has 5km foottrack and watching tower. You can also start and finish in same location if You go to tower and back or take a round trip back to start around the bog. There are good maps and information tables at the track.

Credits to Wikitravel. Based on work by Sergey Kudryavtsev, Andrus Lepik, Jani Patokallio, Peter Fitzgerald, Andres Ello and Stefanie Hanisch, Wikitravel user(s) Texugo, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.

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