I have wanted to be a bike tour guide for as long as I can remember. So now, at the age of one hundred and twenty six, I've pretty much achieved 50% of all my goals in life (the other 50% being the unquenchable thirst to punch a walrus in the face). When not found cycling through the dodgier parts of Tallinn or leading pub crawl groups to their inevitable demise, I can be found pursuing other hobbies which include (but are not limited to) reinventing the wheel, un-discovering the Americas and disproving the General Theory of Relativity.
African Kitchen
Taste another continent
Mart Virkus /
Well, we Estonians also want to have an exotic experience sometimes. This restaurant ...
Alur Hostel
Cheap stay in the heart of the city
Mart Virkus /
Alur boasts a superb location – only a minute's walking distance from the Town Hall square ...
Balti Jaam Market
Shop like a Soviet
Mart Virkus /
In the context of the bygone Soviet times, the market could be considered an ...
Baltika Quarter
A runway for all things design
Mart Virkus /
Estonian fashion retailer Baltika opened a new business centre that isn't limited to the ...
Bastion Passages
Tumble down the rabbit hole...
Mart Virkus /
In the old days, the tunnels were used for various purposes. In the 17th and 18th centuries ...
Boat Rental
Get a sping on the Baltic sea
Mart Virkus /
Rowing boats and paddlers require no license to operate and anyone can take one for a quick ...
Bogapott
Coffeehouse in a workshop
Mart Virkus /
Look, what's that thing up on the hill? Is it a cafe? Is it a workshop? It's neither, and it's both ...
Boheem
A little local place
Mart Virkus /
Many who visit Tallinn never leave the Old Town, and we can't understand why. Walk out of the ...
Bonaparte Cafe
French cuisine & cafe
Mart Virkus /
Started by two (actual!) French chefs, you know you'll be getting the right stuff. It makes sense ...
Butterfly Lounge
Cocktail champions united
Mart Virkus /
If you fancy yourself a cocktail lover then we're happy to tell you that mixed drinks in ...
Cafe Josephine
Chocolaterie a la Paris
Mart Virkus /
Sometimes a chocolate bar, no matter how decorated or tasty, just doesn't cut it. Enter Cafe ...
Cafe Spirit
Hip to be square
Mart Virkus /
It takes a bit of class to fit in with all the cool places around the Rotermann district. Cafe ...
CAME (EKKM)
Power (plant) to the people
Mart Virkus /
The complex houses the Estonian Museum of Contemporary Art and it's hard to think of a ...
Cat's Well
Well, what a good idea!
Mart Virkus /
It was believed that the water spirits hold a grudge for Tallinn and that they wish the ...
Chado Tea Shop
Passion for tea
Mart Virkus /
It's the one and only teashop in Tallinn with real soul. This cosy, old-fashioned shop takes ...
Chicago 1933
An overdue wake for prohibition
Mart Virkus /
Why not celebrate the end of prohibition or "the dry law" in the US by naming a bar in Estonia ...
Circular Stone
Five famous spires of Tallinn
Mart Virkus /
Most of us don't even know about it. So if you're a tourist, introduce it to locals :)
Culture Kilometre
The kilometre that's 2.2 kilometres
Mart Virkus /
The Culture Kilometre is the closest thing northern Tallinn has to a promenade. The path ...
Deja Vu
Red carpet extravaganza
Mart Virkus /
Deja Vu definitely attracts the most gorgeous crowd in Tallinn, and it's no wonder, given its ...
Drink Bar & Grill
The beer Mecca of Tallinn
Mart Virkus /
Drink is the beer Mecca of Tallinn. Sorry, is it wrong to say that? Their selection, comprising ...
EAT
Dumpling delights for budget travellers
Mart Virkus /
The mainstay of Eat is the dumplings. There are usually four types available. All you need to ...
Eesti Esindus
Estonian embassy in the Old Town
Mart Virkus /
It is probably the only souvenir shop in Tallinn where locals actually stop by cause ...
Energia Cafe
Back in the USSR
Mart Virkus /
Oh my god - are we still in Soviet Estonia? The only thing that's changed in this cafe in the last ...
Estonian Handicraft
Rural roots
Mart Virkus /
The “Eesti Käsitöö” stores have stayed true to the idea of Estonian culture being deeply ...
Estonian National Library
A fortress of knowledge
Mart Virkus /
The library, the biggest in the Baltic states, was completed in 1993 and it's been a crucial ...
Estonian Open Air Museum
Estonia, condensed
Mart Virkus /
The idea behind this open air museum is fairly simple. They went around the land picking up ...
Estonia Opera Theater
Changing scene, lasting monument
Mart Virkus /
Bombed to the ground by the Soviet air force in 1944, it took decades to get the National ...
Etno.ee Shop
Where traditional meets modern
Mart Virkus /
It might be oh-so-19th century but believe it or not, Estonia is one of the few countries ...
Gallery Kaks
Patron saints of the artisan community
Mart Virkus /
The great thing about this gallery is that it's not just about surviving on your own but ...
Gourmet Coffee
For real coffee lovers
Mart Virkus /
One word: coffee. Absolutely amazing coffee, from freshly ground beans from all around the ...
Hansarent Car Rental
Get away on your own terms
Mart Virkus /
Hansarent is an Estonian car rental, not a big brand one, with a small but varied selection of ...
Harju Hill
Little hill, big legacy
Mart Virkus /
The Harju hill used to be an amazing place where people could grab a beer and browse through ...
Harju street skating rink
Ice skating - yay!
Mart Virkus /
There're two things Estonia has a lot of - ice and space. Ice is a given during a large part of the ...
Hell Hunt
Legendary good times, since 1993
Mart Virkus /
Hell Hunt claims to be the “first Estonian pub”. We can't affirm or disprove that, but indeed, the ...
Hirve Park
Scenic hangout with a secret
Mart Virkus /
Just a stone's throw away from the Pikk Hermann tower on the Toompea hill is... well, another ...
Hotel Bern
Close to the harbour
Mart Virkus /
Hotel Bern is located on the edge of the old town, just a two minute walk away from the main ...
Hotel Kreutzwald
Stay in style
Mart Virkus /
Located in the modern centre of Tallinn, it's a premium choice for people who like to stay in ...
III Draakon
Medieval food, medieval prices
Mart Virkus /
Right in the middle of the Old Town you'll find the old gothic Town Hall, the only one of its ...
Kadriorg Palace
An imperial baroque summerhouse
Mart Virkus /
The Kadriorg palace was built in 1725, as Peter the Great needed a quiet getaway from his ...
Kajsamoor Sail & Dine
Dine like Jack Sparrow
Mart Virkus /
There are many tours around Tallinn but why not go full pirate and hop on a sailboat ...
Kalma Sauna
Get naked and hop in
Mart Virkus /
Seriously, Estonians love sauna. The Kalma is the oldest public sauna in Tallinn, operating ...
Kamahouse
From factory to foodery!
Mart Virkus /
It's definitely a trend in Tallinn to make a cafe in an old Soviet factory building that has ...
Kehrwieder Saiakang
Where coffee meets excellence
Mart Virkus /
Kehrwieder is well known among the locals. They operate several cafes, each ...
Knight House
Intimate hostel
Mart Virkus /
In a 600-year-old house it's a newly renovated cozy little hostel. With only 7 rooms it'll ...
Kodu Baar
Home, sweet home
Mart Virkus /
Kodu has had more names than Estonia its currencies, but fortunately this comfy basement ...
Kohtu Viewplatform
Picture-perfect skyline
Mart Virkus /
The Tallinn Old Town is actually not that big, but that doesn't mean you can't get lost. The ...
Kohvicum
Hidden coffeeshop, crouching poets
Mart Virkus /
Kohvicum is a cafe with a twist. We should say right off the bat that the hot drinks in this ...
Kohvik Noorus
Walk in, crawl out
Mart Virkus /
Aimed specifically at youth, Kohvik Noorus' motto is to keep the youth unspoiled. We're not ...
Kompressor
Pancake heaven
Mart Virkus /
Its windows protected by heavy duty metal bars, this place looks less like a restaurant and ...
Krambude
Ye olde shoppe
Mart Virkus /
Krambude is a shop that walks the line between tourist-trap and traveller-funky. What the ...
Kuku Klubi
Putting the "arr" back in "art"
Mart Virkus /
Kuku is a club that goes waaay back. A whopping seventy years, in fact. We think. We're not that ...
Levist Väljas
An anomaly
Mart Virkus /
The locals call this place “Levikas”, although we prefer “The Black Hole” for reasons we're ...
Lounge 24
Up in the air
Mart Virkus /
Lounge 24 has arguably the best view in the city. In fact, we're thinking the only reason they ...
Maarjamäe War Memorial
A manmade mountain
Mart Virkus /
In the Soviet Union size really did matter. Be it submarines, planes or microcomputers ...
Master's Courtyard
Hidden artisan retreat
Mart Virkus /
One of the most medieval looking alleys in the whole of Tallinn, complete with giant old ...
Matilda
Your daily cake and coffee
Mart Virkus /
If you find yourself in Tallinn, and in the Old Town in particular, chances are that at some ...
Monk's Bunk
The ultimate travellers hostel
Mart Virkus /
Feel welcome from the moment you walk in - the staff are backpackers just like you. The bar ...
Museum of Estonian Architecture
Explore the future, from the past
Mart Virkus /
The Rotermann salt storage – the name of the building says it all, doesn't it? Well, not really ...
Museum of Occupations
Shedding light on the darkness
Mart Virkus /
The Museum of Occupations is a harrowing reminder of the country's not-so-distant past ...
Must Puudel
New age fun with a Soviet feel
Mart Virkus /
A very popular cafe among the locals, Must Puudel started the trend of combining cool ...
Niguliste Museum
A collage of history
Mart Virkus /
It's a church completed in 1230 that nowadays operates only as a museum and concert hall. At ...
OldHouse Apartments
Exclusive flats for reclusive travellers
Mart Virkus /
The Old House Apartments offers flats of various sizes, at various rates. Naturally, they ...
Olympic Village
Moscow Olympics in Tallinn
Mart Virkus /
Looking more like an abandoned cruise ship than a hotel, the Soviet Olympic village ...
Park of Kadriorg
Take a walk in the czar's park
Mart Virkus /
They call Tallinn the green city, and with good reason. Take a wrong turn and you might find ...
Patarei Prison
Welcome to the big house
Mart Virkus /
We're not going to give you the full and terrifying history of the Patarei prison, but inside ...
Pirita Beach
Fun in the sun
Mart Virkus /
Pirita beach is the most popular one in Tallinn, so you shouldn't expect a lot of privacy ...
Pizza Grande
Legendary pizzas at legendary prices
Mart Virkus /
Pizza Grande lacks the fast food joint attire usually associated with cheaper places and ...
Popular & Boheem
Hookah lounge
Mart Virkus /
A favourite of locals since 2003 as the most popular hookah place in Tallinn. In 2012 it ...
Presidential Palace
The prez lives here!
Mart Virkus /
On the other side of the Kadriorg Palace you'll find the Estonian “White House” - that is, the ...
Puppet Museum
Puppetmasters
Mart Virkus /
Occasionally verging on the creepy, this museum works for young and old. It has a ...
Red Emperor Bar & Hostel
Down under, over and out
Mart Virkus /
Australians are primarily known for bestowing upon the world such gifts as the eskie ...
Reval Cafe & Restaurant
A perfect cafe experience
Mart Virkus /
It's a well known brand among locals and there are several locations around the city. The ...
Rocca al Mare Shopping Centre
Seaside shopping heaven
Mart Virkus /
Rocca al Mare is definitely one of the top places for shopping in Tallinn, be it clothes ...
Roof of Linnahall
It's big
Mart Virkus /
The Soviets built this thing for the Olympic regatta of 1980 set to take place in Tallinn ...
Rotermann Quarter
The living, growing, breathing city
Mart Virkus /
Locals love this area as a place to work, shop, eat and relax. There are always a lot of cool and ...
Science Center Ahhaa
All hands on science
Mart Virkus /
In the beginning, the Universe was created. Ten billion years later (give or take a few mill ...
Scotland Yard
Stop, in the name of fun
Mart Virkus /
Right on the edge of the Old Town, on the Mere boulevard, you might run into a peculiarly ...
Seaplane Harbour
Terror of the seas
Mart Virkus /
The museum is located inside the seaplane hangars. It's truly unique as the first shell ...
Seegi Church
The little church that could
Mart Virkus /
There are some monuments that stand the test of time, and the test of modernisation. This ...
Sfäär Store
Up to the shopping stratosphere
Mart Virkus /
In a sense, Sfäär has given the whole restaurant business a spin of its own. Combining food ...
Shooters
Shoot your way to immortality
Mart Virkus /
Wildly popular among locals and foreigners alike, Shooters claims that five shots on a ...
Solaris Shopping Center
A shopping centre with a twist
Mart Virkus /
The Solaris shopping centre has been subject to controversy ever since the old Soviet era ...
Square Kebab
Free coffee with your meal!
Mart Virkus /
Tallinn has its share of fast food joints, the biggest and best known of which are far too ...
St. Catherine’s Passage
The real medieval street
Mart Virkus /
St Catherine's passage is a small medieval street with things on the... uh... nevermind, you'll ...
St Olaf's Church Viewplatform
Tallest building in the world!
Mart Virkus /
Today, the church is home to a Baptist congregation, but its list of former operators ...
St. Patrick's (Suur-Karja)
Estonia inside a little of Ireland
Mart Virkus /
Did you know that Tallinn has more Irish pubs per capita than Estonia has cell phones? Ok ...
St. Patrick's (Vana-Posti)
Estonia inside a little of Ireland
Mart Virkus /
Did you know that Tallinn has more Irish pubs per capita than Estonia has cell phones? Ok ...
Studio
Iconic clubbing experience
Mart Virkus /
It's totally found a sweet spot with Estonian clubbers and other folks as it offers ...
Sushi Cat
The playful sushi place
Mart Virkus /
If we had to pick three things that we like about Japan, they'd be robots, sushi and those ...
Taanilinna Hotel
Historical charm
Mart Virkus /
This small and cosy hotel situated right next to the city wall sits perfectly with Tallinn ...
Tallink Express Hotel
Flexible accommodation solutions
Mart Virkus /
Being a two star hotel, it's relatively cheap, yet convenient for people who prefer a ...
Tallinn Backpackers
The ultimate party hostel
Mart Virkus /
You can easily see where we're going with this. Perhaps it's got something to do with the ...
Tallinn Botanic Garden
Tropical Tallinn
Mart Virkus /
Biologists would argue that Estonia is incredibly diverse with millions of different ...
Tallinn Free Tour
They way the youth see it
Mart Virkus /
Coming to Tallinn for the first time can be confusing. There are grumpy, antisocial old ...
Tallinn Harbour
Gateway to Scandinavia
Mart Virkus /
There's a lot of ferry traffic on the Baltic sea. Taking a ferry is a super easy, cheap and ...
Tallinn Zoo
It's a zoo
Mart Virkus /
It's a zoo. Like, with animals and all that. It has... let's see here. Elephants, seals, buffaloes ...
Tavid Currency Exchange
No-nonsense currency exchange
Mart Virkus /
The rates there are more than fair and the service is always friendly! Since it's behind the ...
Telliskivi
City secrets
Mart Virkus /
Telliskivi can be considered an umbrella organisation for everything creative and ...
The Ruins of Pirita Monastery
An iconic gothic giant
Mart Virkus /
Today, as you're walking around the Pirita district, the old monastery ruins might seem a bit ...
Tops
Tongue in cheek soviet chic
Mart Virkus /
The novelty of Soviet retro design still runs strong in Tallinn. Tops is another bar that ...
Tourist Information Centre
Official Tallinn info
Mart Virkus /
The staff are helpful and they provide information on not just Tallinn, but the entire ...
Ukrainian Church
The smallest openable window in Tallinn
Mart Virkus /
This has got to be our favourite church in Tallinn. The building itself looks just a little ...
Uus Maailm
A state of mind
Mart Virkus /
Uus Maailm, or the “New World”, is sometimes referred to as “the hippie district”, but it's really ...
Väike-Õismäe
Concrete jungle
Mart Virkus /
Back in the day, the Õismäe district used to be that hi-tech ultra-modern neighbourhood ...
Valli Baar
The Noah's Ark of local pubs
Mart Virkus /
We are forced to believe that this local pub pre-dates even the medieval city walls and ...
Vanaema Juures
Homecooked meal in a homely environment
Mart Virkus /
Grandmothers quite like cooking for their grandchildren. And while it can take some time ...
Venus Club
Party six days a week
Mart Virkus /
Venus Club is arguably one of the most popular places to dance in Tallinn, so you won't be ...
Von Krahl
The mecca of all things underground
Mart Virkus /
Not everybody is content with Tallinn's mainstream club scene, and those people have long ...
Walk around the city wall
Alternative walk through the old town
Mart Virkus /
We love the Tallinn Old Town. It's a marvel of medieval architecture and we love its snaking ...
Western Coast & Paldiski Daytrip
The secrets of the Western Empire
Mart Virkus /
Heavily militarised during the Soviet era, Estonia isn't exactly in short supply of ...
Westmann 24 Store
Anything and everything, 24/7
Mart Virkus /
We remember the days when you could go to that store at four in the morning and get yourself a ...