In addition to all the films and festival events, there are also a lot of interesting and beautiful places to discover in Tallinn. Here are some recommendations.
If you are planning on having a full day or two for sightseeing, then you might consider buying Tallinn Card, which gives you free access to more than 50 museums and attractions and lets you travel with public transport for free.
Tallinn’s Old Town, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is probably the most famous sight in Tallinn. With its well-preserved medieval architecture, it is a good place to have a walk on the old cobbled streets and visit some interesting churches, museums and courtyards. In the centre of Old Town, there is also the Town Hall and the Town Hall Square, which in December is the site of one of Europe's best Christmas markets. Find out more.
Kadriorg Palace is a baroque palace, where you can see the Estonian Art Museum’s collection of foreign art. The palace is surrounded by beautiful gardens. You can also visit Kumu - the main building of the Estonian Art Museum - which is a five minute walk from the Kadriorg Palace. Find out more.
Rotermann Quarter, located just next to Nordic Hotel Forum, Metropol Hotel and Apollo Cinema Coca-Cola Plaza, is a neighbourhood full of modern architecture. As well as just walking around and taking in all the beautiful buildings, you can also find a range of shops, cafés and restaurants there. Find out more.
Telliskivi Creative City is a former factory site that is now home to numerous restaurants, bars, design shops, and cultural institutions, such as Fotografiska Tallinn, a photographic art centre and satellite-gallery of the photography museum founded in Stockholm, or The Juhan Kuus Documentary Photo Centre. It is also the place where PÖFF’s offices are located, PÖFF being one of the first ones to move here during the start of the district’s development. Find out more.
Noblessner seafront quarter, a former submarine factory, is now a place for art galleries, such as Kai Art Center, and many great restaurants. A good place to visit with children is the Proto Invention Factory, where you can experience Jules Verne era inventions through virtual reality and hands-on technology. You can also take a stroll by the marina, have a sauna and a dip in the sea in Iglupark or look around in the Seaplane Harbour, one of Europe’s grandest maritime museums. Find out more.
In Maarjamäe History Centre you can visit Maarjamäe Palace, which has exhibitions about the history of the Republic of Estonia, or something for film enthusiasts - The Film Museum - that tells a story about the history of cinema. A short walk away is also the Memorial to the Victims of Communism. Find out more.
To get more information you can visit Tallinn Tourist Information Centre (Niguliste 2), which is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., call them +372 6457777 or send an email to info@visittallinn.ee.
(information is coming soon!)
Photo: Visit Estonia, Alari Teede
Even though there is already a lot to do in Tallinn, a real fan of PÖFF and Estonia will not stop here. You should also definitely go to Tartu, where you can see most of the films in PÖFF’s programme and discover the beautiful city, which will be the European Capital of Culture in 2024. And if you want to discover East Estonia, then KinoFF together with the cities of Kohtla-Järve, Narva and Jõhvi are also waiting for you.
Lux Express is a good way to travel between most of the bigger cities in Estonia, and in fact you can also use it to travel to Riga, Vilnius or even Warsaw. The buses are comfortable and every seat has a screen, where you can watch films during the ride - something that is definitely appealing to all the PÖFF visitors. You can look up the schedule and book your tickets here.
If you are more of a train person, then this is also a good option and again you can travel to most of the bigger cities or discover all the smaller ones in between. You can find the schedules and book your tickets here.
For more ideas and plans:
PÖFF is Co-funded by the European Union