A Digital Nomad Guide to Tallinn

Estonia Visa for Tallinn

Estonia is very welcoming and you will find that entry is fairly simple. It is always advised to contact your embassy to check specific visa requirements as they do vary between countries, however Estonia does offer many visa programs to encourage people to relocate to Estonia. As it is part of the EU and the Schengen area, anyone from these areas has free movement and the right to enter and stay in Estonia.  A full list of countries that don’t need a visa before entering Estonia can be found here vm.ee/en/who-does-not-need-visa-visit-estonia.

Most tourist visas allow you to remain in Estonia for up to 90 days within a 180 day period, so if you plan on being in Estonia for longer then you may want to consider looking into obtaining a long stay visa.

If you are a non EU passport holder then you might be eligible to apply for Estonia’s new Digital Nomad Visa scheme. The concept behind the visa is to grow Estonian economy by bringing in creative entrepreneurs from around the world. More information can be found at e-resident.gov.ee/nomadvisa/.

Culture and Food in Tallinn

Estonia is known for its rich hearty diet and home cooked meals and you will not be disappointed when you eat out in Estonia. Estonia has had a mixed history and its cuisine reflects this blend of Russian, German and Scandinavian cuisine. Tallinn has some of the best restaurants in the country serving up a mixture of traditional and new dishes.

You will find different style restaurants in different areas and there is an enthusiastic youth promoting Tallinn’s food culture. You will find some Russian style bars and restaurants amongst the Old Town, as well as traditional restaurants serving Estonian delicacies. In the Kalamaja district you will find the hip fusion restaurants where the creative experiments with food are shaping the future of Estonian cuisine. 

As a whole the country is very traditional with its food, mostly due to climate. The harsh winters mean that high fat, rich foods are eaten for survival. Many dishes contain local produce and Estonians love their foraging, especially for mushrooms. Some of the most common things you will find are pickled mushrooms, or any pickled vegetables for that matter! Rich meat based soups such as borsch and delicious hearty stews. 

Traditional specialities include dark rye bread, Mulgipuder, Verivorst which is a kind of blood sausage, potato salad, smoked herring, sprat sandwich, dumplings, Seljanka and Kirju Koer which is a dessert. Tallinn Old Town is the best place to find traditional restaurants serving some of these treats. Some of the top rated are Farm, III Draakon, Rataskaevu16, Leib Restaurant, and Von Krahli Aed. A common form of entertainment to find in Tallinn is the medieval restaurants, where you dine and are entertained medieval style! This can make for an interesting evening with friends and gives you a true experience of medieval life in Estonia. 

There are a number of fusion and experimental restaurants popping up around Tallinn. 

One of my favourite alternative restaurants was fhoone. They offer a great variety of dishes, with Estonian influences but with modern twists. It is located in Telliskivi Creative City and you will find other hip restaurants here serving up some of the best fusion food in Tallinn. 

Although many dishes are meat and dairy based, it is possible to eat comfortably as a vegetarian or vegan. There are plenty of vegan and vegetarian restaurants and some of the best in town are Vegan Restoran V, Restaurant Chakra, Veg Machine and Elevant Resto.

Tallinn Nightlife

Tallinn has a buzzing nightlife scene with lots of clubs and bars to choose from. You will find different energies and vibes in different corners of the city and here are some of the most popular and unique places to be.

Kalamaja and Telliskivi Creative City

These are both popular for an alternative evening in Tallinn. Kalamaja is the hipster district of Tallinn and you will find some unique nightlife activities here. Pada is an outdoor venue which is popping during the summer hosting a variety of music events. Another popular venue is Tops which is a hit with the locals and has a good vibe during the day and night. Telliskivi just south of Kalamaja is another hip hub and has some great nightlife options. Punane maja is a popular summer venue in this district, with creative drink choices and chilled vibes. Both areas have multiple bars to choose from offering a variety of relaxed vibes.

Tallinn Old Town

If you are wanting a full on club night then Tallinn Old Town is the place to be. This is where you will find most of the mainstream nightclubs playing popular tunes to dance away the night! Some of the top rated nightclubs are Privé, Pank, Club Hollywood, Venus and Club Studio. Most nightclubs in the Old Town only open on Friday and Saturday night. Studio and Privé are the best places to go for electronic music and to listen to international DJs. One smaller venue, which still attracts a good crowd is Must Puudel. You will find in Tallinn that the party moves from venue to venue.

LGBTQ Scene

Estonia is still warming to the LGBTQ community and public displays of affection from same sex couples are still often frowned upon. But nonetheless there are some hotspots to visit in Tallinn such as Club 69 and X-BAAR. You may find that entrance fees are high for special events and bookings might be needed.

Bars

There are many cocktail bars, breweries, wine bars and pubs in Tallinn and there is a lot of choice. The main factors are price, vibe and location, and you will find something to suit your wants. Top rated bars across the city include NoKu, Drink Bar and Grill, Hell Hunt, Sigmund Freud Bar, Whisper Sister and Valli Bar. 

Things to do in Tallinn

There is a wide variety of things to do in Tallinn, with activities to suit every need. From low budgets, to luxury experiences, Tallinn has it all. The fairy tale city is fully of history, tradition and craft, as well as boasting a modern and contemporary creative scene. No matter what your interests are, you will find something captivating in this romantic city.

Before heading to the city it is worth checking out some things to do as this may shape or influence your projected budget. Researching can help you plan things like buying the Tallinn Card. The Tallinn Card is a pass that gives free entry into a number of attractions across Tallinn. You can choose how long the pass lasts for; 24 hours, 48 hours or 72 hours. If you have a long to do list of expensive attractions then it might be cheaper to buy the three day pass and smash them out in a weekend! More information can be found here visittallinn.ee/eng/visitor/tallinn-card/tallinn-card/online-shop.

• Museums

  Tallinn has a number of museums, showcasing a variety of historical elements of the country’s past. Some of the best museums are Estonian History Museum and Tallinn City Museum which showcase some of the traditional history of Estonia. Vambamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom, tells Estonians history of control and occupation during the Soviet Union. Lennusadam naval museum is also a great option if you are into naval history. You can look at the boats in the harbour and even go on some too!

• Art Galleries

  Tallinn is a creative city and has a great selection of art and design museums and galleries. Entrance fees vary and many have limited time exhibitions on, so it is advised to check their website before you go to see what is on. Some of the best art galleries are Tallinn Art Gallery, Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design, Tallinn Portrait Gallery, Tallinn Art Space and Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia. 

• Old Town of Tallinn

  The Old Town of Tallinn is a UNESCO World Heritage site and it is a must see when you are in the city. The beautiful Old Town exhibits some of the traditional architecture of Estonia which houses shops selling local crafts, traditional restaurants and historical monuments. The best way to see the Old Town is to spend an afternoon wandering the streets admiring its beauty. You can also visit the Kohtuotsa viewing platform located on of Toompea hill to get some great views of the rooftops of the Old Town.

• Tallinn Tower

  Tallinn TV tower is a great place to visit for skyline views of the city with a total height of 314 metres (1,030 feet). The tower was built in the 1980s and is the main TV entertainment hub for Estonia. You can use the Tallinn card to enter, or you can purchase a ticket from the booth nearby or kiosk at the Botanical Gardens.

• Beach Day

  Tallinn is a coastal city and during the summer, the beach makes for an excellent day out. Although Tallinn is on the Baltic Sea, which isn’t known for being particularly hot or tropical, it is still refreshing to swim in the summer when Estonia has its best weather. The top beaches near Tallinn are Pirita, Stroomi,Pikakari and Kakumäe.

• Visiting the Bogs

  In Estonia a trip to the swamps or bogs makes for a unique day out and shows some of Estonia’s true natural beauty. The most visited bog from Tallinn is Viru and you will find many tours to go and explore this natural site. However Viru can become crowded as it has become very popular with weekend visitors from the city to relax in nature, so getting a hire car and driving to some of the quieter bogs might be more relaxing. It is common to go swimming in the bogs as their water is said to have health properties, so don’t forget to take your towel for a dip!

• Prangli Island

  Of the thousands of Estonian islands, this is the only permanently inhabited island on the north coast of Estonia. You can take day trips from Tallinn or if you prefer a self-guided trip then you can take a ferry from Leppneeme which is north of Tallinn. The ticket will cost around $7 USD each way. If you are looking for a different experience then this is a great day out and is full of rich culture and nature.

• Lahemaa National Park

  The great thing about Estonia is that it is a small country which means you can easily take a day trip without the journey eating too much into the day. There are a number of national parks in Estonia, with a large variety in the south that are only a few hours’ drive from Tallinn. Estonia is fairly flat, so you won’t be finding any mountain ranges; you will however find endless forests and parks where nature blooms. The closest national park which is only a short drive from Tallinn is Lahemaa National Park. A trip in summer is best for seeing the bears, lynxes and wildlife. Best of all it is free to enter too, so you can hike, walk and explore without having to buy a ticket or permit. 

• Foraging and Cookery Classes

  Foraging is a huge part of Estonian culture and if you happen to be there the right time of year, then you can book a foraging guided adventure. Cookery classes vary dramatically in price depending on what you are making. You can go to a marzipan cookery class for around $20 USD; however there are some cooking classes costing up to $100 USD. Use the Estonia Tourism Board website to see what is on offer before you book. For foraging tours sooma.com is one of the best companies offering mushroom picking and wilderness guided tours. Mushrooming often takes place in September and costs around $25 USD for a guided tour.

• Brewery Tours

  Estonia is known for its crafts and its long history of brewing beer. A popular thing to do in Tallinn is to go to a brewery for a tour and tasting session. There are multiple breweries across the city all offering various packages at different prices and there is something to suit every beverage lover. Brewery tours cost around $40 USD and include tastings too! Check out visitestonia.com for more information. As well as brewery tours there are distillery tours, the best being Nudist Winery.

Best Time to Visit Tallinn

Weather is a really important factor to consider when planning a trip to Estonia. The summers are very pleasant with warm temperatures; however the winters are harsh and very cold. If you want to make the most of being outdoors, then spring, summer and autumn are the best times of year to visit. 

Estonia is located in the northern hemisphere so the winter in Estonia runs from December to March with the coldest months being January and February. Temperatures at night can fall to as low as -35°C and there will be snow and ice. Equally this can be a really pretty time of year to visit as the country will often be covered in a blanket of snow and sometimes the sea freezes and the ice roads open up. 

July is usually the hottest month and average temperatures are around 20.9° C (69 F) and they can occasionally reach as high as 30° C (86 F). Most days will be sunny and warm which means you can really enjoy the nature of Estonia. Visiting the forests and camping with friends is a common weekend activity in Estonia during the summer months so this is another reason why you should visit at this time of year. Sometimes if you are lucky you can even see the aurora borealis from the northern parts of Estonia too! However it isn’t always guaranteed but is a nice surprise if you catch it off hand.

Tallinn for Families

Tallinn is a great city for families as it is a very active place with lots of convenient facilities as well as forms of entertainment. The fairy-tale buildings in the Old Town and selection of entertainment options will keep the kids learning and engaging in a new city. Some of the top things to do with kids are ride the city train, use the hop on hop off bus service to tour the city, visit Tallinn zoo and splash around the Kalev water park.

As Tallinn is the capital of Estonia, you will find a good selection of international schools here and one of the best is the International School of Estonia. Another highly rated is Tallinn European School. More information can be found on their websites. There are also many kindergartens and day-cares and one of the top rated is International Kindergarten OÜ. 

Finding accommodation in Tallinn for families can be quite difficult so it is best to look at as many options as possible. There are plenty of apartments on Airbnb and prices start at around $1,000 USD for a family of four. Another consideration is the possibility of booking a large hotel room, as you could benefit from additional access to facilities such as private pools, day-care services and on site activities for children.

There is an expat forum on Facebook which is a great way to discuss any concerns or thoughts before choosing to live in Tallinn with your family. The settle in Estonia programme is a great way to obtain more information about life in Estonia, and even if you are only looking to stay for a month or two, it still provides helpful information to help your family settle. More information can be found here settleinestonia.ee/en.

Living in Tallinn

Tallinn Transportation

Tallinn is a very pedestrian friendly city, with lots of reasonably priced public transport options and the ability to walk from one side of the city to the other in around one hour. Public transport in Estonia is free for Estonians and costs a small fee for foreigners and Tallinn has bus networks, as well as a tram system.

When you arrive at Tallinn airport you will be just a short ride out of the city and it is very easy to get into town. There are buses or it is very affordable to book a taxi to take you to your accommodation. A taxi from the airport to Tallinn Old Town will be around $12 USD. Taxis are widely available in Tallinn and you can either use local taxi services or taxi apps. Apps such as Uber, Lyft, Cabify, Bolt, Curb and Gett all work in Tallinn.

In order to use the public transport in Tallinn, you will need a green wallet card which can be purchased from any R-Kiosk for around $2.50 USD and then you can top the card up for use. The best offer is the month pass which costs around $27 USD and will give you unlimited use on all the city buses and trams; however you can get just one day and one week passes. You can also return the card to any R-Kiosk for a refund of your $2.50 USD when you leave Tallinn.

If you are in Tallinn during the summer months then hiring a bicycle is a great option for transport. Citybike.ee rent bicycles starting at $12 USD per day if you keep the bike for five or more days. City Bike have a huge selection of bicycles and gear so if you want to rent one just for a day to go out into the countryside, then that is also possible. 

Another option for transport is to hire a vehicle. You can hire a basic car in Tallinn from around $20 USD per day, depending on size. This is a great option if you want to head out into the countryside in your own time or go for a weekend camping trip.

Fitness and Health

Tallinn has a wide variety of ways to keep fit, with a good selection of gyms, fitness classes and leisure centres. If you are there in summer then you also have the option of exercising outside too in the form of swimming and hiking.

Some of the top rated gyms in Tallinn are MyFitness, 35 Fit, and Gym! There are often offers and packages for monthly memberships and prices can range from $20 USD to $70 USD upwards. It is all dependent on location and services offered, so the best option is to look in the area of your accommodation or workspace to see what is on your doorstep.

For fitness classes such as Yoga and Pilates then Fitness Formula and City Yoga are the best places to go. Always check before you book to see what language classes are taught in as not all studios offer foreign language lessons.

In the summer months, bicycle rides, sea swimming, hiking and walking are all great ways to keep fit and healthy whilst seeing some of Tallinn’s beautiful sites. There is also the option to take day trips out to some of the bogs and forests for full day hikes and swimming in natural springs.

In the winter, sports such as ice skating on the frozen lakes, snow shoeing and hiking are popular ways to exercise and enjoy being out in the snow.

Tallinn People

The people in Tallinn vary dramatically depending on generation, wealth and origin; however the city has a very welcoming vibe. Estonia is a very complex country with a dramatic history and this is sometimes seen through its people. Estonia was once ruled by the Germans and you will find many people have German surnames and there is a large German influence on cultural traditions. 

Estonia was also part of the Soviet Union and therefore has had a large Russian influence on its people of that generation. Estonia was hard hit during the takeover of the Soviet Union, with all Estonian patriotic items such as flags being banned. This has caused a sense of pride amongst its citizens, now that Estonia has been free from the Soviet Union since its collapse in the early nineteen nineties.

Those who grew up during the Soviet Union were taught Russian and you will find some of the older generations speak Russian as well as Estonian, whereas the youth have more diverse language skills. In more recent years it has become very popular for the youth of Estonia to learn multiple languages, as well as Estonian. This includes a variety of European languages such as German, English, Spanish and French.

People in Tallinn are very friendly and welcoming and you may find that you are more welcomed by the youth. You can sometimes feel the difference in how you are welcomed by different generations and older generations or those of Russian heritage may be less friendly and appear more stern, however this is quite normal and purely a difference in culture. Any opportunity to meet foreigners and practise another language is cherished in Tallinn and you will feel very at home in the Kalamaja district. 

As for routine it is common for many people living in Tallinn to visit the countryside and smaller towns on the weekend. Many locals work in the city during the week but have family back in remote villages or have second homes in the form of cabins in the woods. 

Spending time with family and friends in nature is important in Estonian culture no matter if it is summer or winter. Estonians love their saunas and every home will have one. A common activity, especially in winter is to spend some time in an outdoor hot tub with friends and when you overheat you simply jump in the snow to cool off. Once you have cooled down you return to the tub. Many friends and families will do this together as a social activity during the winter.

Another wholesome activity is to forage and make homemade goods. Foraging for mushrooms and berries is often passed down from generations and many families will make a day of foraging and pickling together.

Tallinn Insurance and Medical Care

When visiting somewhere new it is always advised to have relevant insurance for both your belongings and for medical emergencies. Estonia has good healthcare with the best being in Tallinn and Tartu. In the rural areas access to healthcare is reduced and is most of the time at a low standard. Many locals will visit Tallinn for medical care as the facilities are better, more advanced and readily available. Language may be an issue when obtaining healthcare treatment, so make sure to look for an international clinic or take a translator with you. There are English speaking surgeries in Tallinn. 

If you are an EU resident visiting Estonia then you can use your EHIC card to access healthcare in Estonia. There is both standard and private healthcare in Estonia and if you are travelling to Estonia with insurance you will be treated for anything you need. Travellers without healthcare insurance can still be treated at cost, but they will most likely receive the standard treatment which can incur long waiting times, non multi lingual clinics and it will cost the same as private healthcare.

Doctors’ appointments usually cost around $40 USD but they can vary dramatically depending on the clinic or institution you visit and the services available 

Although petty crime is fairly low in Estonia, it is always advised to have relevant insurance for your belongings as you never know what can happen, and accidents can occur. Having insurance on your belongings will help you have peace of mind whilst travelling. Most insurance providers will cover Estonia for both medical and personal items.

Make sure you are fully covered by reading our full Digital Nomad Travel Insurance guide.

Jobs in Tallinn

There are many jobs available in Estonia, from volunteering roles, teaching English, hospitality roles and tourism work as well as full time office roles. If you are an EU resident then signing an Estonian work contract is legal, however for other countries you may need to obtain a work permit before you enter Estonia.

Non-EU residents will need to obtain a residency permit before they can take on a paid job role. This can be done by your employer when you accept the role.

Finding a job in Estonia is fairly easy, especially in the capitol Tallinn. This does however depend on your language skill set, as there are many jobs for native English speakers. English is on high demand, especially within the tech industry and many companies don’t require you to speak Estonian. Jobs can be found online from websites such as workinestonia.com, cv.ee and cvkeskus.ee. You will find English speaking jobs advertised on these sites. ec.europa.eu/eures/public/jobseekers-dashboard is a great website that is run by the European Union advertising jobs in every country that EU citizens can work in.

Teaching English in Estonia can be a great way to earn a decent monthly wage, meet locals and meet other international English teachers. Websites such as teachaway.com and tefl.org advertise teaching jobs in Tallinn. English is becoming a popular language to learn in Estonia and the demand is ever growing, so this is a great place to pick up English teaching work, even if it is just a part time position.

The best place to find volunteering experiences is on workinestonia.com as you will find local non-profit companies to help and give your time to.

Check out our in-depth Digital Nomads Jobs Postings to find the best jobs available for Digital Nomads.