Tallinn
Estonia
- Cityscape
- Turrets on the Baltic
- City life
- Mystery and modernity
A maze of merchant houses, spires and red-tiled roofs, Estonia's seaside capital is a living history book where vodka-fuelled nocturnal fun is as typical as festivals of modern dance, cinema and contemporary music.
The Baltic is teeth-shatteringly cold in winter, so defrost in cockle-warming cafés with motherly service and flavoured coffee. In summer, swap hot chocolate for Havaianas, and visit the beach, a 30-minute drive away.
Pictured: Three Sisters
Boutique hotels in Tallinn
Our round-up of the hippest hideaways and boutique hotels in Tallinn
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Getting there
Planes, trains, automobiles, or maybe even helicopter – we tell you the best way to go.
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Worth getting out of bed for
Highlights the best Tallinn has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.
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Eating, drinking & dancing
We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Tallinn. All you have to do is make sure you've packed your favourite threads…
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Smith Maps
Here is the map of Tallinn; each Mr & Mrs Smith hotel is marked by a flag; click it for more details.
moreLocal knowledge
- Taxis
- They are cheap. Go to the taxi rank on Vabaduse Väljak, or hail one on the main road.
- Tipping culture
- Optional, but ten per cent is usually expected.
- Packing tips
- An Estonian (Eesti Keel) phrasebook – although more and more people speak English. Warm clothing in winter.
- Recommended reads
- The Compromise by Sergei Dovlatov; The Conspiracy and Other Stories by Jaan Kross; The Autumn Ball by Mati Unt.
- Cuisine
- Cabbage or pea soup. Our favourite was served at the simple, traditional Eesti Maja (Estonian House) on Lauteri (645 5252).
- Currency
- Kroon (EEK).
- Dialing codes
- Country code for Estonia: 372. No city code.
- Do go/don't go
- Though it’s very pretty in the snow in winter, it gets very cold and in February the temperature can drop to –25ºC.
