Tallinn city info
Money
The currency in Estonia is Euro (1 euro = 100 cents).
Most of hotels, stores and restaurants accept Visa, MasterCard, Eurocard, Diner’s Club and American Express. However, it is advisable to carry some cash with you. Currency exchange is available at all transport terminals, exchange bureaus on major streets, the post office and inside all banks and major hotels.
Prices
Alcohol
The prices are pretty similar in all the bars, pubs and clubs in the city center, the differences depend on the location, offered drinks & meals and type of pub/bar. The average prices of alcohol are:
- a pint of beer from 2 Eur / GBP 1,80 to 2,50 Eur / GBP 2,30.
- a shot of vodka or whiskey (usually 40ml or 50ml) from 2 Eur / GBP 1,80 to 2,50 Eur / GBP 2,30.
Meal
A tasty steak or a nice Italian pizza: you will get anything you wish in Tallinn's restaurants. And the prices are definitely lower then what you are used from your place:
- a pizza is usually between 5 Eur / GBP 4,50 and 10 Eur / GBP 9 depending on size of the pizza and service level of the restaurant.
- if steaks are your favourite, then be ready to pay 8 Eur / GBP 7,20 and in a good restaurant the price can lead up to 15 Eur / GBP 13,50.
Public Transport
You can catch either a bus or a tram that are available between 6 a.m. and 12 p.m. The tickets for public transport are sold directly in the public transport vehicles or in newspaper kiosks. There are also 24-hour ticket, 72-hour ticket and 10-day ticket available.
- one way ticket price (bought at a newspaper kiosk all over the town) is 1 Eur / GBP 0,90, when you buy the ticket from driver in the vehicle a surcharge applies.
Taxi
If you take a taxi you better ask the driver for the approximate price before departing. The taxi can be either hailed on the street or called in front of the pub/club.
- driving around the city is usually 5 Eur / GBP 4,50.
Weather
Tallinn has a temperate climate, influenced by the Baltic Sea, with moderately warm summers and severe winters. In winter, the temperature is below 0⁰C, even dropping to -8⁰C. The average temperature in summer is approximately 20⁰C, in July & August reaching even 30⁰C.
Time difference
Tallinn and whole Estonia is in East European time zone, that means a time difference of +2 hours comparing to the United Kingdom and from April to October due to daylight saving it is +3 hours.
Visa
There is no-visa entry to Estonia for citizens of all EU member states (inclusive UK and Ireland), nor for the citizens of the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. The only required travel document for entry is a passport (or national ID card for EU citizens).
Visa are required for citizens of many countries inclusive Russia and the United Arabian Emirates.
Public Holidays
- 1 January - New Year's Day
- 24 February - Independence Day (the anniversary of the declaration founding the Republic of Estonia in 1918)
- April/May - Easter
- 1 May - Spring Day
- 23 June - Victory Day
- 24 June - St. John's Day
- 20 August - Day of Restoration of Independence (Estonia regains independence after Soviet times)
- 25 December - Christmas Day
- 26 December - Second Day of Christmas
Embassies
British Embassy
Wismari 6, 10136 Tallinn
Phone: (+372) 6674700
(+372) 6674716
The United States Embassy
Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn
Phone: (+372) 668 8100
Voltage
Even there is the same voltage as in the United Kingdom (230 V with the electrical frequency of 50 Hz), a different electrical socket is used (type F).
Telephone
The international telephone code to Estonia is 00372
The phone contact to the medical emergency is 112
Language
The official language is Estonian. Russian, Finnish and English are also widely spoken. English is overtaking Russian as the second most widely spoken language. However, picking up some Estonian phrases make a good impression on local Estonians.
Tallinn Travel Guide
Orientation
Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is a truly enchanting city lying in the northeast corner of the Baltic Sea with population of around 400 000 inhabitants. The city is a mixture of medieval and modern, with narrow cobbled streets, old churches, palaces and well-known Alexandar Nevski Cathedral, in contrast to many restaurants, cafés and nightclubs hidden in the carved stone walls.
Sightseeing
The old town that is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites attract tourists by its historical atmosphere. Walking from Parliament Square which is the most highest point of the city to Municipal Square you will feel like being in the Middle Age. At the historical heart of the city is the hill of Toompea surrounded by medieval houses and alleyways, protected by the remnants of a city wall. The city also offers many museums including open air museum, galleries, so it is no wonder that Tallinn was ranked as a European Capital of Culture for 2011.
Nightlife
After dark, the city is alive in many pubs and clubs with all night entertainment located inside the ancient walls of the Old City. The majority of nightlife is concentrated in a small area that makes easy to explore it. Estonians are very friendly and hopeless "party animals" so don't hesitate to join them.
Opening Hours
The most of museums, galleries and castles are regularly opened from 9-10 a.m. to 5-6 p.m. and many of them are closed on Monday. The night clubs stay open until 4 or 6 a.m. at the weekends and some of the local bars will never close the doors if there is a customer inside.
