Tallinn

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.

History

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.

Present day

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!

Getting there

By boat

All ferries dock at Reisisadam port, to the north of the centre. Tallink uses 1 Terminal D at the south-eastern side of the bay and Eckerö and Viking the 2 Terminal A/B 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. Prices average €16–30 one way, depending on operator, season (summer costs more), day of week (Fridays and Saturdays cost more) and time of day (to Tallinn in the morning and back in the evening is popular and hence more expensive). Particularly popular are day cruises, which can go for as little as €19 return. All ferries also carry cars, from €25 one way. Bicycles can be taken for around €5 one way. Bikes on car ferries must go through vehicle check-in, which closes earlier than passenger check-in, so plan for extra time.

The following companies operate ferries between Tallinn and Helsinki:

Getting around

The Old Town is best navigated on foot, not that you have much choice. A network of buses, trams and trolleybuses covers the rest of the city. There is an abundance of relatively cheap taxis. Before you jump in a random taxi car make sure you check the price on the window of the car. In Tallinn there are more than 20 taxi companies and some can be a rip-off.

By public transport

TLT operates frequent bus, trolley and tram services daily 06:00-23:59. Timetables and maps are available in English. It is possible to use a contactless payment card (Mastercard, Maestro, Visa and Visa Electron) to buy a one-hour (60 min) ticket for €2. 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. The system tracks your daily usage and automatically bills your bank account for the cheapest ticket you are entitled to for the day, meaning the maximum you will pay in a single day for an unlimited amount of trips is the price of a one-day ticket (€5.50). Rechargeable "green card" (Ühiskaart), which is a brand new, cash-free, and smart way of payment. Use your card to touch a bright orange box every time you enter the bus: a single 1-hour ticket (€2, transfer allowed) will be charged automatically and on each day individual tickets will total until the price of the day ticket (€5.50) is reached (as of August 2026). Alternatively, the card can be charged for unlimited travel for 3 days, 5 days, or one month. Get this card from one of the abundant R-kiosks for €2, a refundable deposit which is only refundable in limited locations. Refund is available at the R-Kiosk of the Tallinn Airport, Old City Harbour Terminal A and D, Balti jaam and the service desk of bus station (details). You can charge the card immediately or do it later on-line (major credit cards accepted). If you have internet access, you can purchase a single ride for €2 or day ticket for €5.50 online by debit/credit cards (multiple rides/passengers can be purchased at the same time) using Pilet.ee website or mobile app. 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.

By taxi

Tallinn has many different taxi companies and independent taxis. There is no standardised base price or price per km. 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 as the locals do, and order a taxi by phone. 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. Usually you will proceed to have a few drinks there without asking for the price and will then be presented with a huge bill. Taxis hanging out in front of nightclubs often have the highest prices. Ride-hailing services (Bolt, Uber, Yandex.Taxi) are very common in Tallinn, see Estonia#By taxi. Some reputable local taxi companies are (rates as of July 2020):

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.

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).

1 Toompea Castle (Parliament of Estonia), Lossi plats 1A, ☏ +372 6316357, ekskursioon@riigikogu.ee. 10:00–16:00. 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. (updated Aug 2021) 2 Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Lossi plats 10, ☏ +372 644 3484, nevsky@hot.ee. 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. 3 St. Mary's Cathedral (Tallinna toomkirik), Toom-Kooli 6, ☏ +372 644 4140, tallinna.toom@eelk.ee. 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. 4 Stenbock House (Stenbocki Maja), Rahukohtu 3. 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. 5 Estonian Knighthood House (Eestimaa rüütelkonna hoone), Kiriku plats 1. The green Renaissance revival building was erected in mid-19th century as the fourth consecutive home of the Estonian Kinghthood, a congregation of essentially German nobles who pratically controlled Estonia up to its independence in 1920s. Since 1920s, it played host to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, National Library, and the art collections on display at Kumu. As of 2014, it is home of the Estonian Academy of Arts. The building is not open to the public as it is used for instruction and faculty work.

Do

1 Medieval Days (Keskaja Päevad), Raekoja plats (in the Old Town), ☏ +372 660 4772, +372 518 7812 (Estonian Folk Art and Handicraft Union), +372 5364 8854 (Costume rental), info@folkart.ee. July. 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. 2 Kultuurikatel (creative hub), Põhja pst 27a, ☏ +372 56 2011 15. A former industrial site, it now Tallinn's main creative hub, site of many events (see website). (updated Oct 2018) 3 Energy Discovery Centre (for youngsters), Põhja pst 29, ☏ +372 620 9020, info@energiakeskus.ee. Daily 12:00–18:00, public holidays 12:00–17:00. (updated Jul 2020) 4 PROTO Invention Factory (PROTO Avastustehas), Peetri 10, ☏ +372 627 6661. Indoor amusement park where amusements take place with the help of VR glasses. (updated Jun 2021) 5 Kalev Spa, Aia 18, ☏ +372 649 3300. One of the largest water parks in Northern Estonia. (updated Jun 2021) 6 Atlantis H2O Aquapark, Randvere tee 11, Viimsi (Buses 1A, 114, 174), ☏ +372 666 7045, info@aquapark.ee. 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. 7 Vembu-Tembumaa, Keskuse tee 2, Kurtna, Saku (Bus 219, 2 km walk from Kiisa railway station), ☏ +372 671 9155, info@vembu-tembumaa.ee. The oldest and largest amusement park for the whole family. €18.

Beaches

A flag system that regulates swimming. A green flag means it is safe swim, a yellow flag means you can swim, but it isn't recommended and a red flag means swimming is not advised, go in at your own risk.

8 Pirita Beach (Pirita rand) (take bus 1A, 8, 34A or 38. to stop "Pirita", or walk by the sea 5 km northeast of centre). A large sandy beach which in summer is full of locals and tourists. 9 Stroomi Beach (Stroomi rand, Pelgurand) (take bus 40 to stop "Supelranna"). The water is clean and warm, and it is the gay friendliest beach of Tallinn. 10 Lake Harku (Harku järv) (take trolley 6, 7 or bus 16, 36 to stop "Väike-Õismäe"). 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! 11 Kakumäe beach (Bus 21 from Balti jaam (where the trains arrive), bus 21A from Väike-Õismäe. Stop Landi (21) or Sooranna tee (21A & 21B); from Landi stop keep walking (1 km) until Sooranna tee stop, there you'll find helpful signs). The water is one of the purest in all of Tallinn beaches. 12 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.

Shopping

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.

Department stores & shopping malls

1 Viru Keskus, Viru väljak 6. 09:00-21:00. 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. 2 Foorum Keskus, Narva maantee 5. 3 Kaubamaja, Gonsiori 2. Opened in 1960, this is the grand old department store of Tallinn. Unsurprisingly a lot has changed since the Soviet times. 4 Melon Kaubanduskeskus, Estonia puiestee 1/3, ☏ +372 630 6500.

5 Stockmann, Liivalaia 53, ☏ +372 633 9539. Part of the Finnish department store chain, here since 1996. Close to the port and popular with Finnish tourists. 6 Rocca al Mare kaubanduskeskus (take bus 8/41/41B/42 from the center), ☏ +372 6659 345, info@roccaalmare.ee. M-Sa 10:00-21:00, Su 10:00-19:00. 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. (updated Dec 2024) 7 Ülemiste Keskus (near the airport; take tram 4 or bus 2 to Ülemiste linnak). 8 Kristiine Keskus, Endla tn 45 (Take trolleybus 3 or bus 21, 23 or 42), ☏ +372 665 9100, info@kristiine.com. One of Estonia's biggest malls with dozens of clothing and shoe outlets, nearly 20 cafés and restaurants, and countless other shops and services. 9 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.

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.

In the Old Town

1 Maiasmokk, Pikk 16, ☏ +372 64 64 079, maiasmokk@kalev.eu. Mostly 09:00–21:00. 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. (updated May 2022) 2 Pub Kompressor, Rataskaevu 3. Very tasty and varied pancakes. There are also other dishes. Fantastic place with great food and drinks, especially kvass! (updated May 2022) 3 III Draakon, Raekoja plats. 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. (updated May 2022) 4 Pizza Grande, Väike-Karja 6a. Very cozy place. Delicious pizza, affordable prices, pleasant service. Great environment. (updated May 2022)

Near the Old Town

5 Loca, Tatari 1, Tallinn (Located near Vabaduse väljak, right next to Söögiplats), ☏ +372 555 15 235. 11:00–07:00. Pizza, falafel, hummus, soup, beer. Fast food joint with wild staff and increasing customer service. €3-8. 6 Borsch j Varenyk, Endla 56, ☏ +37257571015, borschvarenyk@gmail.com. M–Tu 14:00–23:00 W–Th 11:00–23:00 F–Sa 11:00–12:00 (?) Su 11:00–23:00. Great place to enjoy home-made Ukranian food €10–20. (updated Jul 2026)

Drink

Cafés

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

1 Café Mademoiselle (Kohvik Mademoiselle), Toompuiestee 27 / Paldiski mnt 4 (in the Kelmiküla district; at the Meriton Grand Conference & Spa Hotel), ☏ +372 62 88 155, pastry.meriton.tallinn@parkinn.com. Daily 08:00–22:00. A café with the high quality confectionery products. (updated Jun 2023) 2 Wabadus Kohvik (Café Wabadus), Vabaduse väljak 10, ☏ +372 6604019. M-Th 9-23; F 9-1; Sa 11-1, Su 11-22. 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. (updated Oct 2018)

Nightlife

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. In local places, beers cost €2.50-4.

Sleep

Hostels

1 16EUR Hostel, Roseni 9 (Old Town), ☏ +372 501 3046, info@16eur.ee. Dorm bed: from €10; Single: €16-25. 2 Alur Hostel, Lai 20 (Old Town), ☏ +372 646 6210, contact@alur.ee. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. Friendly staff, small kitchen and large common room. Wi-Fi available in all of the rooms. Dorm bed: from €9. 3 Euphoria, Roosikrantsi 4 (Old Town), ☏ +372 5837 3602, euphoria@traveller.ee. 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. Dorm bed: from €9. 4 Fat Margeret's, Põhja puiestee 27 (north-east border of Old Town), ☏ +372 510 0916, info@fatmargarets.ee. Hostel with a big living room, kitchen and a lot of clean toilets and showers. Free Wi-Fi. Bed from €10. 5 Flying Kiwi Backpackers, Nunne 1 (Old Town), ☏ +372 5821 3292, info@flyingkiwitallinn.com. 20 beds 6 GIDIC Backpackers, 31 Tartu Mnt (Just outside Old Town), ☏ +372 646 6016. Australian-owned. 7 Zinc Old Town Hostel, Väike-Karja 1 (Old Town), ☏ +372 5781 0173. Changed owner a couple of times and also the name but still on the same place. Clean, friendly and flexible staff. (updated Oct 2018) 8 Knight House, Rüütli 18 (Old Town), ☏ +372 5550 1001, Ilya@knight-house.eu. 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. Dorm bed: from €7; Single: €16-25. 9 Monk's Bunk, Tatari 1 (Old Town), ☏ +372 636 3924, info@themonksbunk.com. 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. Dorm from €11. 10 Old House Hostel, Uus 26, ☏ +372 6411 281, hostel@oldhouse.ee. 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. Double rooms from €30. 11 Tallinn Backpackers, Olevimägi 11 (Old Town), ☏ +372 644 0298, info@tallinnbackpackers.com. Includes a sauna. Dorm bed from €9.

Hotels

12 Hotel Dzingel, Männiku tee 89, Nõmme (5 km from Old Town and easy to reach by bus No 5), ☏ +372 610 5201, +372 610 5300, hotell@dzingel.ee. Double: €45. 13 Park Inn by Radisson Central Tallinn, Narva mnt 7C, ☏ +372 633 9800, info.tallinn@rezidorparkinn.com. This is not the best Park Inn in the world, but with some luck you can get a super low room rate compared to its sister hotels under the main Radisson brand. €48. 14 GoHotel Shnelli, Toompuiestee 37 (near the medieval Old Town, close to Snelli Park and the Baltic Railway Station.), ☏ +372 631 0100. Double: €38. There are discounted rates for guests arriving after midnight - €32. 15 Hotel St. Barbara, Roosikrantsi 2A (Get off at Vabaduse väljak stop), ☏ +372 6400040, reservations@stbarbara.ee. 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. €40-60. (updated Mar 2019) 16 Citybox, Laeva 1 (Near D terminal and Nautica shopping center), ☏ +372 660 6630, tallinn@citybox.ee. Self-service hotel. Guests handle booking, payment, check-in and check-out themselves. Single €40, double €45. 17 St. Olav Hotel, Lai 5 (In the heart of the Medieval merchants district within three minutes walk form the Old Town Square), ☏ +372 6161180, olav@olav.ee. An old building with an interior that is also antique. However, the rooms are modern with flat-screen TVs. Double: €45. 18 Gotthard Residents, Pikk 66 (Just over 0.5 km to the old town and about 1 km to the ferry port), ☏ +372 611 8080, gotthard@gotthard.ee. Double: €44. 19 Meriton Old Town Garden Hotel, Lai 24, ☏ +372 664 8800, booking@meritonhotels.com. Double: €37. 20 The Pirita Monastery, Merivälja tee 18 (Pirita district, near Pirita beach), ☏ +372 605 5000, pirita@osss.ee. Featuring ski-to-door access, garden, terrace free WiFi and parking. Single €42, double €58, triple €77, quadruple €99.

Mid-range

21 Barons Boutique Hotel, Suur-Karja 7, ☏ +372 699 9700, barons@barons.ee. The hotel is in an old bank building and features and overdose of pretentiousness for what are essentially quite simple rooms. €94. 22 Hotel Euroopa (formerly Clarion), Paadi 5, ☏ +372 6699 777, info@euroopa.ee. The Euroopa has a first-rate location overlooking the marina basin of the Old Town Port of Tallinn, and is generally a very modern hotel. The rooms are spacious and comfortable and perhaps the only downside to it all are wildly clashing textures and patterns throughout the hotel. €95. 23 My City Hotel, Vana Posti 11/13, ☏ +372 6220 900, info@mycityhotel.ee. 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. €80. 24 Hotel Palace, Vabaduse Väljak 3, ☏ +372 680 6655, palace@tallinnhotels.ee. 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. €92. 25 Radisson Blu Hotel Olumpia, Tallinn (formerly Reval Hotel Olümpia), Liivalaia 33, ☏ +372 631 5333, info.olumpia.tallinn@radissonblu.com. 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. €76. 26 Tallink City Hotel, A. Laikmaa 5, ☏ +372 630 0800, cityhotel@tallink.ee. 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. €92. 27 Tallink Express Hotel, Sadama 9, ☏ +372 667 8700, expresshotel@tallink.ee. 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. €68. 28 Tallink Spa & Conference Center, Sadama 11a, ☏ +372 630 1000, spahotel@tallink.ee. 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. €92. 29 Hotel Ülemiste, Lennujaama tee 2, ☏ +372 603 2600, sales@ylemistehotel.ee. 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. €80. 30 Baltic Hotel Vana Wiru, Viru 11, ☏ +372 66 91 500, vanawiru@baltichotelgroup.com. 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. €95. 31 The von Stackelberg Hotel Tallinn, Toompuiestee 23, ☏ +372 66 00 700, fom.vsh@uhotelsgroup.com. 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. €79.

Local customs

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.

Stay safe

Tallinn is easily among Europe's safest capitals, with violent crime being rare and petty crime being negligible compared to other cities. However, various governments warn against the risk of being pickpocketed, particularly in the Old Town. Watch your valuables closely, especially on public transport and at Viru Street. The stigmatized neighbourhoods of Kopli and Lasnamäe – both predominantly Russian-speaking areas known as hotbeds for the notorious "Gopnik" culture – are probably best to be avoided after dark, although they are a lot safer than the "bad neighbourhoods" in Western European or North American cities. In suburbs of the city it is always best to avoid heavily drunk people. The biggest trap to tourists in Tallinn is getting ripped off by taxi drivers or in "gentlemen's clubs". Many of the latter are known for their exorbitant prices and hidden "fees". Credit card skimming and other similar scams are common practice in those establishments. Stay away, unless you particularly enjoy losing your month's pay in a few hours. People who arrive to Tallinn by camper van or just by car should be careful and not leave valuables in their vehicles. Unfortunately it's not rare that cars with foreign plates are looted. Those crimes are committed mainly in the area of Tallinn's passenger port and nearby streets where many camper vans stop. There are safer official car parks, but they are often harder to find, their location might not be very good, and you have to pay quite a lot of money. Winters in Tallinn, indeed all of Estonia, are milder than in Scandinavia and Russia, but slippery roads are common. Be careful of icy pavements in the winter which can be a hazard especially outside of the central areas.

Go next

Maardu – A neighboring town 15 km east. Jägala Falls – 20 km east, is Estonia's largest waterfall. Lahemaa National Park – About 50 km east, a place to find some nice forests, coast, swamps, beautiful bogs, and 4 interesting manors. Good for a day trip or even hikes with overnighting at the park. Soomaa National Park – About 60 km south and second largest national park in Estonia, known for its swamps and bogs (Soomaa means "land of bogs" in Estonian), and its "fifth season". Surprisingly, swimming is popular there and is said to rejuvenate the skin. Kaberneeme – A village about 40 km east on the coast. The village has a 2 km long beach area with pine tree forests edging right up to the shore. Viljandi – A beautiful, ancient and hilly city, known for its annual Viljandi Folk Music Festival, beautiful old town and overwhelming and picturesque park around the old castle. Tartu – 2 hr by car, 2 hr 30 min by bus, south east. Museum-rich and hanseatic city on the banks of the Emajõgi River. Also, Estonia's second-largest and oldest city, intellectual hub famous for its universities, and a lively student city. Paldiski – 40 km west, this former Soviet closed city is a great place to see remains of Soviet military and industrial infrastructure. Hop on the ferry and you are in Helsinki, Finland in 2 hours. Remember to bring your passport (for citizens of the European Union a national ID card will suffice). There are convenient long-distance busses that travel in four hours to Riga, Latvia. Especially those by Lux Express have seats similar to airplane seats, including screens for watching media.