Essentials
- City
- Tallinn, Harju County, Estonia
- Population
- 454,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 100 Mbps (Fiber available up to 1 Gbps), widespread free public Wi-Fi
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (EUR). 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major cards accepted everywhere.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and high quality across the city.
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C and F sockets
- SIM Card
- Telia, Elisa, and Tele2. Super SIM (Telia) start at €3.95 for 5GB.
- Banking for Expats
- LHV (highly recommended for tech-forward banking), Swedbank, SEB, and Revolut.
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and local site KV.ee for long-term rentals.
- Cashless Friendly
- Highly cashless; even small kiosks and markets accept contactless payments.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (average apartment €900-€1,400/month), Bob W (boutique serviced apartments) starting at €70/night.
- Budget Accommodation
- Fat Margaret's Hostel (€25/night), Capsule Hostels near Telliskivi (€30/night).
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Vanalinn (Old Town) for medieval charm and proximity to landmarks.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Kalamaja (hip, wooden houses) and Telliskivi Creative City for community and cafes.
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Lift99 (Telliskivi 60a) - €150/month for hot desk; Palo Alto Club (Telliskivi 60a-B) - €200/month.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Fika (Telliskivi 60a), Reval Café (Müürivahe 14), and Paper Mill Coffee (Masina 20).
- Networking Events
- Latitude59 (annual tech conference), Startup Wise Guys events, and Refresh Conference.
- Social Events for Expats
- Tallinn Digital Nomads Facebook Group, International House of Estonia meetups (Valukoja 8).
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bolt (Tallinn is the headquarters, very cheap and efficient).
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Bolt Scooters (starts at €0.20/min), Tuul electric scooters.
- Best Beach Nearby
- Pirita Beach (6km from center), Stroomi Beach (shorter commute from Pelgulinn).
- Top Regional Airline
- AirBaltic (connecting to Riga, Vilnius, and Europe).
- Top International Airline
- Finnair, Lufthansa, and LOT Polish Airlines via Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport (TLL).
- Highway Access
- Route 1 (Tallinn-Narva), Route 2 (Tallinn-Tartu), and Route 4 (Via Baltica toward Riga).
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Balti Jaam (Central Station) for regional trains to Tartu and Narva.
- Public Transport Passes
- Free for registered residents; €30 for 30-day non-resident pass via Ühiskaart paperless card.
- Regional Travel
- Lux Express or Elron Trains (Tallinn to Tartu in 2 hours for approx. €12).
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- East Tallinn Central Hospital (Ravi 18) or North Estonia Medical Centre (Sütiste tee 19).
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- City Yoga Studio (Niine 11), It's Yoga Tallinn (Kalamaja).
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- MyFitness (multiple locations, €55/month), Gym! (Self-service, 24/7, €19/month).
- Laundry Services
- PesuPanda (Tartu mnt 73), OceanWash self-service laundromats.
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Bolt Food, Wolt.
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Kiluvõileib (Sprat sandwich with egg), Kohuke (sweet curd snack), and Verivorst (Blood sausage).
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Vegan Restoran V (Rataskaevu 12) - arguably the best in the Baltics.
- Best Dessert Spots
- Maiasmokk Kohvik (Pikk 16) - oldest cafe in Tallinn; Pierre Chocolaterie (Vene 6).
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Balti Jaama Turg (Market) for fresh produce and street food.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Kaup24.ee, Hansapost.ee, and Amazon.de (ships to Estonia).
- Grocery Delivery
- Selver Drive, Barbora.ee, e-Prisma.
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Telliskivi Creative City (F-Hoone, Pudel Bar) and Noblessner district.
- Local Brewery
- Põhjala Brewery & Tap Room (Peetri 5) - world-class craft beer.
- Wine Bars
- Pazzo Wine Bar (Pagari 1), Time to Wine (Kopli 6).
- Street Food Stalls
- Balti Jaama Turg street food court (VLND Burger, Baojaam).
- Popular International Cuisine
- Rataskaevu 16 (Modern Estonian), Salt (Bistro), Kaja Pizza Köök (Sourdough pizza).
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Kohtuotsa viewing platform, Town Hall Square.
- Museums & Art Venues
- Kumu Art Museum (Weizenbergi 34), Seaplane Harbour (Lennusadam).
- Historical Sites
- Toompea Castle, St. Nicholas' Church, Estonian Open Air Museum.
- Religious Sites
- St. Olaf's Church (once the tallest building in the world), Holy Spirit Church.
- Annual Events
- Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF), Tallinn Music Week, Medieval Days.
- Cultural Districts
- Noblessner (seafront redevelopment), Rotermann Quarter (industrial chic architectural hub).
- Theater Venues
- Estonian National Opera, Draamateater, Von Krahl Theatre.
- Local Markets
- Keskturg (Central Market) for authentic local vibes, Balti Jaam for trendy shopping.
- Music Scene
- Alexela Concert Hall, Sveta Baar (alternative/industrial scene).
- Street Art
- Telliskivi Creative City - sprawling murals and urban graffiti.
- Cooking Classes
- Toiduakadeemia (Food Academy) at Lootsi 8.
- Art Galleries
- Fotografiska Tallinn (Telliskivi 60a-8), Temnikova & Kasela Gallery.
- Historic Buildings
- Great Guild Hall, Kadriorg Palace (Baroque palace built by Peter the Great).
- Local Heritage
- The Song Festival Grounds (Lauluväljak) - site of the Singing Revolution.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Lahemaa National Park (1 hour drive from Tallinn).
- National Parks Nearby
- Lahemaa (Viru Bog trail), Soomaa National Park (canoeing).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Reidi tee promenade (seaside), Pirita-Kose cycling paths.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Patkuli viewing platform, Tallinn TV Tower (Teletorn) at 314m.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Paljassaare Peninsula (special conservation area).
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- RMK (State Forest Management) designated sites in Aegviidu or Laulasmaa.
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Omniva, Itella SmartPOST, DPD (automated parcel lockers are everywhere).
- Tech Repair Services
- iDeal (Apple Authorized), Arvutiabi (Gonsiori 5).
- Table Tennis Spots
- Pinksiklubi (outdoor tables in parks), hill and knowlton (various bars in Telliskivi).
- Language Classes
- Settle in Estonia (free state-funded courses), Tallinn University Language Centre.
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Tallinn Central Library (Estonia pst 8), National Library of Estonia.
- Community Centers
- International House of Estonia, Telliskivi Hub.
- Gaming Lounges
- MängudeÖÖ events, Level1 Gaming Lounge.
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Olympic Park Casino (Pronksi 19).
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,500 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €135,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €90,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,200 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €210,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,800 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €140,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,000 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = €300,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,600 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = €195,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 0% on reinvested profits; 20% on distributed profits.
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- Generally 20% (can be 14% for regular distributions).
- Tax System
- Flat tax system for residents (20% income tax).
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 20% (Flat rate).
- VAT
- 22% (Increased from 20% in 2024).
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, EU-aligned anti-tax avoidance rules apply.
- Property Tax
- Land tax only (usually very low, 0.1% to 2.5% of land value), no tax on buildings.
- Property Transaction Tax
- State fee approx. 0.3% + Notary fees.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- E-Residency program and Digital Nomad Visa ($100 per year) allow for easy remote business management.