RevalTallinn then became a pawn in the geopolitical games of its big neighbours, passing into Swedish hands in 1561 and then to Russia under Peter the Great in 1710. By World War I and the ensuing brief Estonian independence (starting 1918) Tallinn's population had reached 150,000.
Estonia was eventually occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940, only to be conquered by Nazi Germany (1941-44) and then retaken by the Soviets. In World War II, the city was quite extensively bombed by the Soviets, even though luckily the medieval town remains. The Soviet Union undertook a program of massive Slavic migration, and just over 40% of Tallinn's current inhabitants are Slavic (compared to an average of 28% for the entire country). On Aug 20, 1991, Estonia declared independence and Tallinn became its capital once again.
Today, Tallinn is a bustling, gleaming metropolis of 400,000 people. However, among the tall glassy buildings and corporate headquarters, Tallinn retains an inner charm seldom found anywhere else. Estonia considers itself a Northern European/Scandinavian country, with very close ties to Finland (ethnic, linguistic, and cultural), and visiting Tallinn you will find a mix of at least three architectures in this very visual city -- old Europe (the city walls and rustic buildings), Soviet brutalist (crumbling apartment blocks), and modern Europe (including McDonald's next to the city walls!).
Tourist Information Centre in Old Town, Niguliste 2 / Kullassepa 4, Phone: +372 645 7777, (Email: ), .
Tallinn Traveller Info, Vana-Posti 2, Tallinn Old Town, Phone: +372 5837 4800, (Email: ), . The permanent office of the alternative tourist information center that is run by local youth and provides you with best insider tips about Tallinn. They can also assist with booking bus and ferry tickets, different day trips, tours and other activities. Open every day from 10am to 6pm.
Tallinn Traveller Info tent, on the corner of Harju and Niguliste street, Tallinn Old Town, Phone: +372 5836 9200, (Email: ), . A summer-only stand of the alternative tourist information center that provides you with best insider tips about Tallinn. Run by local young people, it is the best place to start any stay in Tallinn, no matter the length. They know all the best restaurants, cafes, pubs, clubs, cool secret places and phone numbers of every hostel in Tallinn. Besides that they also organize different alternative tours. Open only in summer, June 1 to August 31 from 9am to 9pm.
Tallinn Tourist Information Centre in Viru Keskus, Viru väljak 4, Phone: +372 610 1557, 610 1558 (Email: ), .
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Tallinn
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Tallinn - updated Apr 2024
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Tallinn Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
