Photos of Tallinn always show a medieval walled city of ethereal spires and fairy-tale towers topped with conical red roofs—and so they should. It's a beautiful place, with a UNESCO-listed Old Town and a rich heritage formed from the mixing of native Estonian culture and the influences of all those who governed here in the past: Danes, Germans, Swedes and Russians.

But within these historic walls there also lies the beating heart of the Baltic Sea's own Silicon Valley. The Skype communication app was created here, and today, Tallinn is a major hub of information technology. It boasts a lively cultural scene, a contemporary vibe and a sustainable ethos, too. Add in its all-year-round appeal and it's easy to see why Estonia's capital is a favourite with business and leisure visitors alike. Luckily, if you want to join their ranks, it's easy to get here.

Travelling to Tallinn

Small, cosy Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport is just 5 km from the city centre, easily reachable in 20-25 minutes by frequent buses and trams. While it's not the greenest option, Tallinn Airport does have sustainability certifications and is working towards being carbon neutral by 2030. There are direct flights from over 40 destinations, including Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, Helsinki, Istanbul, London, Oslo, Paris, Rome, Salzburg, Stockholm, Warsaw and Zurich. Airlines include Ryanair, easyJet, airBaltic and the national carrier Nordica.

Tallinn's Eco-Friendly Credentials

If you're planning a break or business event that's kinder to the planet, Tallinn will tick the box. From expanding its green spaces to creating ambitious climate action plans, it's a city where sustainability is taken seriously.

The Tallinn 2035 Development Strategy

Tallinn has a long-standing commitment to climate adaptation and sustainable measures, and in 2013 it became the first European capital to make public transport free for its citizens. To prepare for climate change, it's remodelled its streets and introduced new stormwater management systems. It's also Estonia's first (and currently, only) city to sign the Green City Accord, a commitment by European mayors to make their cities cleaner and healthier.

Unsurprisingly, then, its recently-adopted 2035 Development Strategy is wide in scope and bold in aim. Linked to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, it covers carbon neutrality, climate adaptation, innovation, health, mobility, biodiversity, circular economy, sustainable energy and food production.

Climate-neutral Tallinn: Tallinn Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan 2030

This Plan specifies the action plan for working towards:

• the 2035 Development Strategy goals for achieving climate neutrality by 2050
  
  
• the Covenant of Mayors commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030.

The Plan is closely linked to the EU's 'A Clean Planet for All' vision. It covers the political, economic, technological, educational and administrative actions needed—by the private sector, residents, and the state—to reduce climate impact and adapt to climate change. EU European Green Deal funds will be used for projects such as developing climate-neutral public transport and mobility, improving the energy efficiency of buildings, developing green and blue infrastructure, implementing green technology, and environmental education.

European Green Capital

Tallinn is the only European capital to boast a bog, and protected green areas make up over a fifth of the city's footprint. The European Environment Agency rank it seventh for urban green space and eighth for urban tree cover. It's also praised the Garden of the Senses in Tallinn's Botanical Gardens: a space designed to attract and accommodate people with mental and physical disabilities.

This commitment to green space has won Tallinn the title of European Green Capital 2023. However, the city isn't resting on its laurels. It's determined to further increase its protected areas, biodiversity, and green space accessibility, and the Tallinn 2035 Development Strategy has set a target for at least 65% of Tallinn's land surface to be natural.

Sustainable Transport

One of Tallinn's goals is to ensure that all citizens will be able to reach all necessary infrastructure within 15 minutes via soft transport by 2035.

At present, half of the trains run by government-run railway company Elron are environmentally friendly electric trains. Ambitious plans will see a new 870 km electrified railway, Rail Baltica, connect Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius and link them to the European high-speed rail network. The Tallinn section should be complete by 2026. Tallinn's terminus, due for completion by 2030, will be built to high sustainability standards at Ülemiste train station. The station will become a hub for national, international and local rail services, buses, trams and coaches, right next to the city's airport.

As for the city's buses and trams, all diesel buses will be retired by 2025, and all vehicles will be electric by 2035.

Purchase a Tallinn Card: Your All-In-One Pass for Attractions and Transport

Like many other cities, Tallinn has an all-in-one pass card to help you get the most from your stay. The Tallinn Card offers:

• free transport on Tallinn's buses (up to No 73), trolleys and trams
  
  
• three hours' free bike rental with City Bike
  
  
• free access to over 50 museums and attractions
  
  
• discounts on numerous sightseeing tours, activities, shops and restaurants
  
  
• skip the lines at top attractions such as the Tallinn Zoo

You can buy your 24, 28 or 72 hour Tallinn Card online or from one of its participating attractions or stores. The validity period begins the first time you use it. It's the perfect way to help save the environment while saving money.

Tallinn has strongly focused on sustainable re-use of old areas and buildings, giving new life to neighbourhoods like Rotermanni, Telliskivi and Noblessner. These industrial areas stood neglected for decades but have now transformed into vibrant, versatile city districts with amazing architecture. They have become hubs of creativity, community and innovation, all in a relatively small area around the Old Town. They're great places to hold events or to spend time soaking up the atmosphere before or after your event.

Last but not least, it's a hub of technology, trade and enterprise, providing the ideal location for networking, demonstrations, and utilising local expertise and academia.

Technology

Tallinn is the home of the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (EU-LISA), and the Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence of NATO. Tallinn's main specialisms are tech-based and include cybersecurity, robotics, smart fabrics, personalised medicine, electronic prescriptions, genetics studies and e-health.

Tehnopol, Tallinn's Science Park, is a research and business campus working to make Estonia's economy sustainable via tech. It offers companies premises, test solutions and business development experts to help them launch, grow, and expand to foreign markets. Its focus areas are smart city tech, green tech, health tech and knowledge-intensive technological solutions. Over 300 companies have graduated from the Tehnopol Startup Incubator programme.

Ülemiste City is a 36-hectare smart city next to Tallinn Airport, founded in 2005. It has the largest and fastest-growing business campus in the Baltic States, with nearly 500 businesses. Their total turnover is over 2 billion per year—making Ülemiste City Estonia's third most productive 'city' (behind Tallinn itself and Tartu).

Enterprise

Estonia has one of the highest concentrations of start-ups per capita, partly because setting up a business here is so simple online (it takes around three hours). This is largely thanks to Estonia's e-Residency programme, which allows non-Estonians to form an EU-based company from anywhere in the world. In doing so, e-Residents have access to Estonia's transparent business environment and the all-important European markets. It's the first such programme of its kind in the world and is yet another example of how Estonia has geared itself towards the future, providing progressive services that meet the demands of today's businesses. Over half of Estonia's businesses are based in and around Tallinn, which generates over half the country's GDP. It attracts start-ups and international businesses alike.

The Tallinn Business Incubators Foundation has helped over 1000 companies develop since its launch in 2006, and 50 businesses participate in the Tallinn Creative Incubator programme every year, from tech start-ups to designers. There are also 100 Estonian designer brands represented in the city's Tallinn Design House, such as Reet Aus, a sustainable designer with a passion for upcycling.

Tallinn also offers:

The Song Festival Grounds

This is one of the largest venues for outdoor and indoor events in Estonia, offering beautiful views towards Tallinn Bay. Indoors, it frequently hosts banquets, conferences, and exhibitions, while the outdoor area has proven ideal for international concerts. Every five years, the venue is home to the Estonian Song Festival, listed in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Tallinn Creative Hub (Kultuurikatel)

The former Tallinn City Central Power Station is now a unique venue for events, and one of the main conference venues when Estonia held the presidency of the Council of the EU in 2017.

Seaplane Harbour

Accommodating one of Europe's largest maritime museums, the Harbour also offers:

• the Hangar for large evening events (gala dinners for up to 700 guests, receptions for up to 1500)
  
  
• the deck of the icebreaker Suur Tõll for receptions or open-air concerts for up to 100 guests
  
  
• the Officers' Mess-Room on the Suur Tõll for dinner and events for up to 20 guests.

Two venues noted for their sustainability are:

Alexela Concert Hall

Alexela Concert Hall is Green Key certified and can be found next to the Solaris Centre, close to the Old Town. The hall's theatre-style configuration can seat up to 1,829 people, but seating can be removed to provide a larger open space with 717 seats. There are also nine additional cinema halls seating between 72 and 505, two lounges, and other open spaces ideal for exhibitions. With six bars, a café and bespoke catering services too, it's a truly versatile venue.

The Tallinn University Conference Centre

Located in central Tallinn, the centre offers 36 meeting rooms, accommodating 20 to 400 people. It also has a contactless studio--the BFM Television Studio—for virtual and hybrid events.

Break Out Programmes

There are plenty of more eco-friendly activities available in and around Tallinn. They include mushroom and berry picking trips, nature tours, bog walking, golfing, sailing trips, stand-up paddleboarding sessions, street art tours, marzipan-making, and visits to breweries, cider farms and vineyards.

Sustainable Stays in Tallinn

Green Key Hotels

Hotels that have earned the Green Key sustainable certification include:

Radisson Blu Olümpia Hotel

Olümpia is centrally located, with 26 floors of comfortable rooms. There's a top-floor gym with sauna and pool, plus a café, restaurant, and bar. The versatile conference centre, with 13 well-equipped meeting rooms, accommodates up to 500 people.

Oru Hub Hotel

This modern, stylish hotel has a coworking area with a meeting room for up to 10 people, plus a bistro and yoga room. There's also a lounge with board games, books and a TV, and a DIY room where you can get creative with the supplied craft materials or iron and mend clothing.

Park Inn by Radisson Central Tallinn

Just a 5-minute walk from the Old Town, Park Inn Central Tallinn has 245 rooms, four well-equipped meeting rooms and a restaurant. It offers bespoke catering for meetings and events.

Park Inn by Radisson Meriton Conference & Spa Hotel Tallinn

Only 10 minutes from Telliskivi Creative City, this city centre hotel offers 465 rooms plus a café, bistro, restaurant, and fitness centre. Its conference facilities offer 12 spaces, with the largest theatre-style hall accommodating up to 380 people.

Tähetorni Hotel

Lying 9 km from the city centre in the green and quiet Nõmme district, the Tähetorni is a small, quirky hotel with multiple round towers and winding steps! Guests staying in one of its 38 rooms can enjoy its restaurant, bar and sauna. There's also an event space with room for up to 50 people—from which a winding staircase leads to a meeting room suitable for six!

Nordic Hotel Forum

Currently applying for Green Key certification renewal, the Nordic Hotel Forum is located on the edge of the Old Town. It's a modern business and conference hotel with two restaurants, a bar, a leisure centre and seven meeting spaces. The largest, Sirius, is a hall that can accommodate 250 guests. It's also Tallinn first, and currently only, hotel to keep bee hives on its roof. A live feed lets guests watch the daily activities of the 360,000 bees in their six hives!

Enjoy Tallinn All Year Round

Whatever time of year you visit, Tallinn has plenty to offer, whether you're here for a day or a fortnight. While it's a great summer break destination, it also welcomes an influx of people

for Christmas and winter breaks.

Tallinn in Spring and Summer

Make the most of the longer days and warmer weather by enjoying the great outdoors. In June, you can experience the Nordic' white nights' when it doesn't get dark at all. Nightlife with a difference!

Discover Nearby Beaches

Pirita, Stroomi and Pikakari seaside beaches and Harku Lake Beach are all within half an hour from the city centre by road.

Pirita Beach: This 2-km-long Blue Flag beach is the longest and busiest in Tallinn. Just 15 minutes from the city centre, it offers water sports, ball courts, playgrounds, lockers and sunbeds, plus lovely views of the Old Town. Parallel and close to the beach you'll find Pirita Adventure Park, with tree-top adventure trails through the pine forest.

Stroomi Beach: With ball courts, trampolines, playgrounds, and electric cars for children, Stroomi is a great starting point for a walk or cycle along the 2.5-kilometre Rocca al Mare promenade.

Pikakari Beach: This Blue Flag beach is less developed than Tallinn's others and the water gets deep quickly here, so it's more suitable for serious swimmers.

Harku Lake Beach: on the western edge of the city, this beach offers slightly warmer waters than the coastal beaches. It's a great place to row, surf, play mini-golf or hire a paddle boat.

Discover Tallinn's Islands

Tallinn's three largest offshore islands are all reachable by ferry in an hour or less. Naissaar and Aegna have summertime services, while Prangli can be visited all year. If you only have time to visit one of these peaceful havens, make it Naissaar.

Naissaar is only an hour by ferry (May-Oct) from Seaplane Harbour. Just 8 km long and 3.5 km wide, it was used for military purposes for centuries and was completely off-limits during the Soviet occupation. Today, it's a protected nature reserve with many points of interest, including mines and military installations.

Come here in July to enjoy the Nargen Festival, featuring local classical and folk music. Wander through the forest, picking blueberries and lingonberries for your picnic. Enjoy the sandy beaches, with their wild roses and barbecue areas. Explore the abandoned buildings or ride on the narrow-gauge railway between Männiku village and the harbour. Climb up to the lighthouse observation platform for amazing, far-reaching views. Book a digital tour by bike or military car. Or just follow one of the island's three circular hiking trails, each taking you to various themed points of interest.

Take a Boat Trip

There are many different boat trips on offer from Tallinn, including island trips and themed cruises. You can also rent a rowboat, yacht or kayak near the Pirita River. The ferry Tõll has been retrofitted into a hybrid passenger vessel, allowing partial travel on electricity while reducing some 1,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

Plans to develop a zero-emission ferry in conjunction with Finnish engineering company Deltamarin and between the mainland and the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa are also

well underway.

Walk Through History

The Old Town

Historic churches, cobbled streets, grand old merchant houses, towers with their signature conical, red-tiled roofs, picturesque pastel houses, winding passages, medieval walls and charming courtyards… a walk through Tallinn's magical Old Town really is like travelling back through time. That's why it has earned a place on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

    In the middle lies Toompea Hill, where, it's said, lies the grave of Kalev, the legendary ancestor of the Estonians. Today, the Danish fort built in 1219 is gone; the newer Toompea Castle, now home to the Estonian Parliament, stands in its place. While you're here, go to the lookout platforms for spectacular views over the city, and visit the impressive domed Aleksander Nevsky Cathedral.

    At the foot of the hill, you will find Raekoja plats, the historic marketplace, and the Town Hall with its gothic arches. Inside is a museum, only open in summer, depicting life in Tallinn through the ages. The Old Town's historic churches aren't to be missed either: St. Olaf's, St. Nicholas', and the Holy Spirit Church are all particularly magnificent pieces of medieval architecture. To keep the historic vibe going, stop for refreshments at Maiasmokk, Tallinn's oldest café, dating back to 1864.

Towers and Tunnels

The Kiek in de Kök Fortifications Museum includes:

• the Kiek in de Kök artillery tower
  
  
• the underground bastion passages, originally built by the Swedes for defence and used as bomb shelters during World War II
  
  
• the Carved Stone Museum
  
  
• the Maiden's Tower, Stable Tower and Gate Tower

Walk the fortified city walls, explore the tunnels and towers, and learn more about the history of Tallinn. You can also visit the Nunna, Sauna and Kuldjala Towers on the north-west side of the Old Town.

Fair Weather Festivals

Enjoy some festival fun in the sun (hopefully!) by attending some of Tallinn's many spring and summer festivals:

Jazzkaar Festival: mid-April. Featuring big names in jazz from around the world.

Kalmaja Days: mid-May. A street party with street food, markets, sports competitions, puppet shows, dance performances and live music.

Old Town Days: late May-early June. Old Town's biggest festival focuses on the local cultural heritage and community. Enjoy several days of music, theatre, art, and sports events.

Midsummer/St. John's Day: 23rd June. Many people go to the Estonian Open Air Museum, where the day is celebrated traditionally with bonfires, folk music, dancing and traditional Estonian games.

Song and Dance Festival: end of June-beginning of July. It takes different formats and isn't held every year, but in 2023, the Youth Song and Dance Festival will take place on 30th June to 2nd July.

Medieval Days: early July. Held in the Old Town, it includes jousting demonstrations and a costumed carnival.

Maritime Days: late August. People flock to Tallinn's harbours for boat trips on the many guest boats that arrive to take part, and there are markets, children's activities, music and plentiful seafood.

Tallinn in Autumn and Winter

As the days get chillier, bundle up to enjoy autumn colours, winter sports and Christmas lights—or stay warm inside indoor attractions, covered markets, saunas, and cosy bars and cafés!

Wander Through Colourful Woods

Autumn is one of the best seasons to enjoy Tallinn's wooded green spaces.

Kadriorg Park is 2 km east of the Old Town and designed by Peter the Great. The Park is beautiful in its own right: its elegant Swan Pond has a fountain and island pergola, and it has manicured gardens, and an abundance of trees and meadows. But it's also home to Kadriorg Palace, a Baroque building built for Peter's wife Catherine, which houses the Kadriorg Art Museum. In September, the Park hosts the Wandering Lights Festival, which sees the palace gardens turned into a beautiful, illuminated wonderland.

Other great places to appreciate autumn colours are:

• Kalamaja Park, to the west of the Old Town
  
  
• Viimsi Open Air Museum in northeast Tallinn. Here, you can walk around a carefully preserved 19th-century farm and seaside village and learn more about the area's coastal and farming history before walking the woodland trails
  
  
• The Estonian Open Air Museum on the coast of Kopli Bay, where you can wander around 72 hectares of countryside, explore dozens of preserved and reconstructed buildings, or enjoy a carriage or sleigh ride.

Winter Festivals and Christmas Festivities

Black Nights Film Festival: mid-November. One of the biggest film festivals in Northern Europe, with over 1000 guests, showing around 250 films and 300 shorts and animations every year.

Winter Sports

Nõmme Snow Park and Sports Centre

Nõmme is just 10 minutes from central Tallinn and easily reachable by bus or train. The Snow Park, with the pine forest as a backdrop, is a stunningly picturesque place to ski (or snowboard, or snowtube!). It has 20 km of varied ski trails and equipment can be hired from the Sports Centre. The Sports Centre offers a range of year-round activities and an ice rink if snow sports aren't your thing.

Viimsi Mountain Park, Vimka

Just 20 minutes from the city centre by road, Viimsi Mountain Park is on a smaller scale than Nõmme, but still offers skiing, snowboarding, snowtubing and equipment hire.

Other Indoor Attractions

Pohjala Brewery offers tours of its new state-of-the-art facilities and tasting sessions in the attached Tap Room, which carries 24 different beers. Just the thing to give you a warm glow!

The Proto Invention Factory

Once a submarine factory, the colourful Proto Invention Factory in Port Noblessner now offers a fantastical and entertaining look at science and inventions. A mix of physical interaction and virtual reality make it a truly immersive and engaging experience for people of all ages.

Teras Beach is an indoor beach hall where you can pretend it's summer! The temperature is kept at +26 °C, and there's a white sand beach, saunas, and beach volleyball and tennis.

Get a Taste for Tallinn

If you get thirsty while exploring the city, you're never too far from a public drinking water tap, but of course there are plenty of bars too. Try lagers and beers from local brands Saku and A. Le Coq, and local craft beers such as Lehe, Põhjala, Õllenaut and Pühaste. Unsurprisingly, vodka is a popular choice here, but take the time to also try Tallinn specialties like hõõgvein (mulled wine) and Vana Tallinn, a dark liqueur.

Traditional Estonian foods include dark bread (leib), herring (heeringas), blood sausage (verivorst), sauerkraut (mulgikapsad), potato and groats porridge (mulgipuder) and smoked fish, particularly eel (angerjas). For dessert, if you're visiting around Shrove Tuesday, try vastlakukkel, a sweet roll that's cut and filled with almond paste and lots of whipped cream. For an all-year-round treat, try kama, a traditional finely milled flour mixture. Once eaten as a plain or savoury dish, these days, this porridge-like meal is often served with fruit or syrups as a dessert. Of course, there's no need to eat traditional Estonian food every night! The city has a great range of international cuisine available in its restaurants, and there's a taste to suit every palate and every occasion.

Lee Restaurant

Lee Restaurant in the Old Town is Green Key certified and holds a White Guide Masters Level award. It focuses on using local ingredients from small producers to create high-quality international dishes, including vegetarian and vegan options. The restaurant is involved in Estonia's Green Tiger initiative, producing videos on using common leftovers. Sustainability is baked into every aspect of the restaurant's identity and operation. Recycling and minimising waste are high on the agenda, and they have strict protocols for biowaste in place, while the entire restaurant runs on 100% renewable energy.

Restaurant Munga Kelder

Tucked beneath a medieval archway in Old Town, the rustic Restaurant Munga Kelder is Green Key certified and offers tasty European dishes.

Senso

Located in the Radisson Blu Hotel Olümpia in the city centre, Senso is a sophisticated restaurant offering Mediterranean-inspired dishes made predominantly with local, seasonal ingredients.

Café Boulevard

Also located in the Olümpia Hotel, the Café Boulevard offers light meals, pastries, cakes and coffee.

Olde Hansa

Olde Hansa in the Old Town offers a traditional and medieval-inspired dining experience, including game dishes and homemade schnapps. It mainly uses fresh ingredients bought from local farmers and hunters. The local hunters take habitat conservation and predator management very seriously, while the local farms are renowned for their minimal use of pesticides.

Vegan Restaurant V

Cosy, rustic Vegan V was Tallinn's—and Estonia's—first vegan restaurant when it opened in April 2014. Located in the Old Town, it offers a variety of international dishes.

Oasis Restaurant

Sitting in the Rotermann quarter, Oasis serves international but predominantly European vegan dishes. A shop next door sells a range of vegan foods, some of them made by the Oasis team.