Tallinn
Estonia is best known for its medieval capital Tallinn, one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe, situated at the southern part of the Finish Bay of the Baltic Sea. It is famous for the narrow winding streets, cobbled pavement and towering ramparts. You can find many concerts, art exhibitions, antique shops and fine art museums which all together I really enjoyed when being there.
You can get into Tallinn by plane, boat, or over land. Tallinn's airport, harbours, bus and train stations are all located within the city.
Ferries and catamarans arrive at one of four terminals in the passenger port (reisisadam), also known as the Old Town Port, while smaller hydrofoils arrive at the Linnahall Speedboat Harbour (Linnahalli Kiirlaevade Sadam). The Linnahall harbour offices are located inside the enormous Linnahall sporting arena and concert hall.
There are four individual terminals (lettered A through D) of the Passenger Port. Terminals A - C are mostly for different ferry companies for going to and coming from Helsinki, Finland. Terminal D (for going to and coming from Stockholm, Sweden) is located across a small neck of water from the other three, which share many facilities. There are many exchange offices, but not necessarily economical, although they do take credit cards and travellers' cheques. Exchange rates are ok, but in the banks you get excellent rates when exchanging DM (German Marks) into EEK.
Store your luggage in the small lockers located to the left of the main entrance for two 5 EEK coins/24hrs, or in the luggage room on the opposite side of the building (open 08:00 - 23:00).
To get into town, look for the minibus outside marked City Transfer (though it is so near, that it is not necessary, I think), or walk south past the petrol station 500m to Old Town. A taxi to the Viru Hotel should cost about 35 -
40 EEK.
Buses arrive at the bus station (autobussijaam), just off the main highway from Tartu. Left luggage is located in the basement. The cash-only currency exchange takes all major currencies, including Russian roubles, but has the worst rates in town. The city centre is just 1km away, down Juhkentali t?v from behind the station. Buses No16, 17, 17A, 23 and 23A leave directly from the station to Vabaduse Place in the centre, while trams No 2 and 4 run from Tartu maantee to the Viru Hotel on Viru Place. A taxi to Old Town should cost about 50 EEK.
If you want to eat as a really bargain price, try the university cafeterias. Typical estonian food is served for prices from 24 - 34 EEK, a drink comes for 4 - 8 EEK. Besides, there are lots of supermarkets and kiosks in the city where you can buy food. The kiosks really offer everything from snacks over beer and alcohol to tickets for public transport.
My personal favorite! It is located near the townhall square. One can eat the world largest pizzas with a tremendious amount of flavors (38 to 60 EEK), delicious Fish from the Baltic Sea (for 65 to 90 EEK stil a bargain), Kebab plates (40 EEK), while watching German music television (VIVA). In the first floor is a bar and dancing floor. On the weekend you should arrive early because later in the evening an entrance fee of up to 20 EEK is charged.
Both Irish Pubs are located on the opposite sites of the street ... in the oldtown of Tallinn. They have (of course!!) great Guiness and Kilkenny, but also provide a wide range of Lagers from all over the world. The food is very good, but more expensive as at Raekook. If you are looking for an international audiance and having nice chats, here you can find it. We always met British, Dutch, Danish, Fins, Hungarians and US people.
Another Irish pub located at the entrance of the old town at Harju 6 (I was told that the owners who opened the pubs shortly after the independence from the USSR in 1993 made millions with it). The bar is more frequently used by business peolpe than by students and therefore is more expensive than the others. Personally, I prefer Nimiga or Nimita.
Another cool Irish pub with lots of students and international people, a map of Irland and many Irish souvenirs on the walls.
Restaurant in the walls of the town. From this restaurant, one can walk within the wooden part of the walls of Old Town for about 500 meters.
Located at the first square when coming from Mustama to Nomme. Restaurant/bar with delicious Estonian traditional food and Saku in all variations. I personally loved the collection of beer bottles and rugby plates from all over the world. When we had international guests, we always took them to this bar!
Finally, if you want to eat at McDonalds, look for gas stations of Statoil (Norwegian oil company). They somehow have a contract with McDonalds, so McDonalds restaurants are only located with these gas stations.You shouold start your visit in the Oldtown. After the renovation which lasted untill 1999, Tallinn is really one of the mostb beautifull towns along the Baltic Sea. I always enjoyed being in the town center with its old buildings, restaurants and museums. If you want a picture from teh whole town, you should go to teh upper part of town. From there, you can have a real scenario view. Picture
Taxis are not expensive as well. A drive from the harbor to the city costs only 20 EEK, to the technical university (where I lived, which is almost the end of town, 70 EEK).
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