Tallinn, what to see/do even where to stay?
Discussion
So our summer city break this year will be Tallinn, any tips of what to see and do would be most welcome. It doesn't look a big place so should be able to cover a fair few things.
Also still choosing hotel, Telegraaf, Merchants House, St. Petersbourg, Radisson Blu have all been looked at but having difficulty choosing - any pointers?
Also still choosing hotel, Telegraaf, Merchants House, St. Petersbourg, Radisson Blu have all been looked at but having difficulty choosing - any pointers?
I went last year with a bunch of students from the College I teach at.
Link below may start the ball rolling...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Link below may start the ball rolling...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Mark. said:
Cheers - for a moment I thought we were sharing holiday destinations - aren't you in Kalkan this summer? We are there 19th August. 
to Kalkan...flying out next Monday 
Tallinn was really enjoyable. We went in Feb and around a foot of snow fell whilst we were there so it was thermal underwear/coats/hats etc all around. I would go again in sunnier times and take Mrs O
I'd also maybe do a day trip to Finland as well as the fast boats run out of Tallinn across to HelsinkiThings I found out
- Customs blokes don't like it when you try and stroke one of their dogs! A (stupid) student tried to do this; then walked off when they were admonishing him so got pulled into a room and searched/told off. Berk!
- Drinking alcohol in the streets is banned/frowned upon. Yep, another student got pulled for this...
NB It's not the fact that the students do stupid things tbh...it's the fact that they take offence and then argue and moan about it! You were in the wrong: get over it!!
- Food and drink cheap in supermarkets and bars. Don't expect every bar to have all they say on the menu in terms of food availability
- We did a 2 hour walking tour which I would recommend as away to see the city as it isn't that big and the benefit of having a guide is fantastic
- Our hotel was near the seafront and were happy to take a big bunch of students in multiple share rooms. I wouldn't recommend it for a couple on that basis. There seemed to be a good choice of hotels in the centre of town which looked modern
- I cant remember the name of the bars we drank/ate in but if you do some research on possibles I'll take a look and see if I can remember them. They were all really nice and I would recommend them.
- It felt really safe walking around at night (mind you it was cold and snowy) and as with ,most places the locals brighten up if you have a go at their language
Serious head on for a moment, you'll find everything you need to know here:
http://www.inyourpocket.com/estonia/tallinn
There's even an app for it.
I love Tallinn and have been many times because family live there.
The Old Town is pretty easy to navigate, and there are literally hundreds of restaurants and bars within a square mile serving every kind of cuisine imaginable.
I'd say the 'musts' were:
1. Restoran 'Gloria' - old school Imperial Russian glamour, very luxurious, and has the best wine cellar in the Baltics.
2. Balthasar (the garlic restaurant). Everything has garlic in - even ice cream.
3. That curry house on the main square opposite the Town Hall (sorry, I can't remember the name), which uses local ingredients to dish up such gems as wild boar korma, and moose vindaloo.
4. Olde Hansa / The Peppersack for a medieval experience (try the stewed bear at Olde Hansa).
5. The Hell Hunt (it means 'gentle wolf') pub. Very laid back, and popular with all ages. Try the herrings.
Pack your stamina. There are literally hundreds of bars, dozens of nightclubs, and Tallinners like to take in as many as possible in a session. Going out in summer starts late - before 10PM you'll think "Where is everyone?"
There's quite a bit to see outside the City as well - the beach at Pirita, and the Lahemaa National Park are all within an easy drive of Tallinn. Pack weapons-grade insect repellent for the latter, but it is worth seeing.
Like any city, it has its grimy underbelly: usual pickpocketing and stuff. If you hire a car, do not go into the Soviet-built apartment block suburbs Kopli, Mustamae and Lasnamae (no reason to really). If flagged down on the E20 Tallinn to Narva highway, do not stop for anybody other than the police. Robberies / hijackings are rare, but they do happen.
http://www.inyourpocket.com/estonia/tallinn
There's even an app for it.
I love Tallinn and have been many times because family live there.
The Old Town is pretty easy to navigate, and there are literally hundreds of restaurants and bars within a square mile serving every kind of cuisine imaginable.
I'd say the 'musts' were:
1. Restoran 'Gloria' - old school Imperial Russian glamour, very luxurious, and has the best wine cellar in the Baltics.
2. Balthasar (the garlic restaurant). Everything has garlic in - even ice cream.
3. That curry house on the main square opposite the Town Hall (sorry, I can't remember the name), which uses local ingredients to dish up such gems as wild boar korma, and moose vindaloo.
4. Olde Hansa / The Peppersack for a medieval experience (try the stewed bear at Olde Hansa).
5. The Hell Hunt (it means 'gentle wolf') pub. Very laid back, and popular with all ages. Try the herrings.
Pack your stamina. There are literally hundreds of bars, dozens of nightclubs, and Tallinners like to take in as many as possible in a session. Going out in summer starts late - before 10PM you'll think "Where is everyone?"
There's quite a bit to see outside the City as well - the beach at Pirita, and the Lahemaa National Park are all within an easy drive of Tallinn. Pack weapons-grade insect repellent for the latter, but it is worth seeing.
Like any city, it has its grimy underbelly: usual pickpocketing and stuff. If you hire a car, do not go into the Soviet-built apartment block suburbs Kopli, Mustamae and Lasnamae (no reason to really). If flagged down on the E20 Tallinn to Narva highway, do not stop for anybody other than the police. Robberies / hijackings are rare, but they do happen.
Edited by Mobile Chicane on Monday 1st July 15:12
Mobile Chicane said:
5. The Hell Hunt (it means 'gentle wolf') pub. Very laid back, and popular with all ages...
Great advice all round I reckon Edited by Mobile Chicane on Monday 1st July 15:12
Can recommend no5 above - it was one of the places we went to and enjoyed. They had a large back room where all the students went so we could sit out the front and have a drink/eat/chat with the locals. V nice indeed
Get a cab from the rank at the airport. Check it has a meter and the driver is using it. It's only 3Km from the airport to the Old Town, but drivers will try and take the longest route if they think they can get away with it. My tip would be to say that you're a regular visitor.
Hotel wise, I'd go for the newest as hotel rooms in Tallinn have a hard life. Radisson Blu ought to be ok and has a nice view of the Old Town.
All young people speak English and quite a few of the older ones do too. People often say the Estonians are cold and unfriendly, but they're not, it's just their manner. It takes a bit of getting used to, and their sense of humour is so dry, you might miss it.
Hotel wise, I'd go for the newest as hotel rooms in Tallinn have a hard life. Radisson Blu ought to be ok and has a nice view of the Old Town.
All young people speak English and quite a few of the older ones do too. People often say the Estonians are cold and unfriendly, but they're not, it's just their manner. It takes a bit of getting used to, and their sense of humour is so dry, you might miss it.
_Nathan_ said:
I went last May.
Restaurants were awful and most of the bars were average.
Nice place though.
You probably went to the wrong ones Restaurants were awful and most of the bars were average.
Nice place though.
Tallinn has its fair share of crap tourist traps like anywhere else: 'Beer House' being one of them. We only went in because it was the only place open. The greasiest bratwurst I have ever eaten, to the accompaniment of blaring oompah music.
Any 'Irish' pubs, and the 'Nimeta' sports bar are also truly awful and best avoided.
Restaurant food is not of UK standard, I agree. They don't have the skill in cooking, or access to the range of ingredients that we have here. There's also the mindset that Estonians go to a restaurant for a night out with entertainment, rather than for the food per se.
But, it's getting there in some places where overseas-trained chefs are developing a modern take on traditional Estonian ingredients. Try 'Ö'.
Edited by Mobile Chicane on Monday 1st July 17:19
Mark. said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Take the ferry over to Helsinki for the day.
This is definitely on the list.Mobile Chicane said:
Get a cab from the rank at the airport. Check it has a meter and the driver is using it. It's only 3Km from the airport to the Old Town, but drivers will try and take the longest route if they think they can get away with it. My tip would be to say that you're a regular visitor.
Hotel wise, I'd go for the newest as hotel rooms in Tallinn have a hard life. Radisson Blu ought to be ok and has a nice view of the Old Town.
All young people speak English and quite a few of the older ones do too. People often say the Estonians are cold and unfriendly, but they're not, it's just their manner. It takes a bit of getting used to, and their sense of humour is so dry, you might miss it.
Thanks mate - appreciate the info.Hotel wise, I'd go for the newest as hotel rooms in Tallinn have a hard life. Radisson Blu ought to be ok and has a nice view of the Old Town.
All young people speak English and quite a few of the older ones do too. People often say the Estonians are cold and unfriendly, but they're not, it's just their manner. It takes a bit of getting used to, and their sense of humour is so dry, you might miss it.
Radisson was top of our list (get Friends & Family deal there) but I did wonder about having something less corporate.
Got the tip about Taxi's too so will keep an eye out, thanks again.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Mark sure you have a bowl of fish soup from one of the market stalls on the dockside in Helsinki. And have a long walk up the the Olympic stadium, and climb the tower for great views over Helsinki.
I'll advise the family on the soup - sea food doesn't really do it for me Tower sounds fun though.
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