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Estonia

Estonian landscape is as diverse as the birds and animals that call it a home with every passing season presenting the country in a new light. Deserted beaches, deep forests, picturesque lakes and rivers, and mysterious swamps hide a hidden and vibrant life of birds, seals and bears.

Estonia is a real treat for busy city dwellers looking to stretch out their limbs and breathe in a lung-full of the world’s cleanest air. About 50% of Estonia’s territory is covered with forest. This makes Estonia a great place for hiking and exploring the well-kept wildlife which is by now extinct in most other European countries. The winter snow is ideal for animal tracking and makes the wildlife that lives in Estonia’s forests far more noticeable. Even when viewed from a distance, the majestic moose is a sight to behold against the white backdrop of the frosty season.

Estonia’s air is among the cleanest in the world, and the freedom to roam is codified in law. Pick berries, mushrooms, or herbs. Go hiking. Or sit still and take inspiration from the sounds of nature. A short ride is all that’s required to experience Estonia’s full natural diversity. Little distance separates cities and nature. Our versatile cultural heritage and seasons of the year make every visit unique.

General information

Republic of Estonia In Estonian: Eesti Vabariik
Area: 45 339 sq km
Population 1 258 545
Capital City: Tallinn (440 000 inhabitants)
Currency: Euro
Time Zone: sGMT / UTC +2
Language: Estonian
Religion: Lutheran, Orthodox, other Christian
Government: parliamentary democracy
The Independence Day 24th of February

 

Tallinn

Estonia’s capital, and with a population of just over 440,000, it’s by far the nation’s largest city. The first mention of Tallinn in recorded history was in 1154. Tallinn’s Old Town was entered on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1997 as an „exceptionally complete and well preserved example of a medieval northern European trading city“.

Apart from fantastic, historical ambience, it offers the widest choice of hotels, conference venues, activities and incentives. Tallinn is a rapidly developing compact city, with major landmarks, convention facilities and hotels within walking distance.

Tallinn has good daily flight connections and Tallinn Airport is only 15 minutes’ drive from the city centre. With so much going for it, it’s no surprise that Tallinn has been among Europe’s fastest-growing conference destinations for the past several years running, particularly for small and medium-sized events. Local MICE service providers are highly professional, personal and creative.

 

Top reasons to choose Tallinn for your next conference, event or incentive

A fresh, undiscovered destination
Most of your delegates have already travelled the well-worn conference circuit and seen the same old sights. Now you can impress them with a novel destination that’s still mostly undiscovered – a city that’s edgy and exotic, yet attractive, affordable and safe! Estonia’s fairytale capital offers a fantastic blend of medieval charm and modern sensibilities and is guaranteed to wow your guests with unforgettable new experiences.

Amazing, historic atmosphere
The city is best known for its stunning Old Town, a centuries-old neighbourhood of cobblestone lanes, gabled houses, Gothic churches and charming squares, all surrounded by a system of sturdy defensive walls and towers. The area, which is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the spiritual heart of the city as well as the hub of its dining and nightlife scene. There are, quite simply, very few cities in the world that can rival Tallinn for its well-preserved medieval buildings and timeless atmosphere.

Perfect size
Tallinn’s population is just 440,000. This small size is a huge advantage when it comes to navigating your way around with ease. In fact, its city centre so compact that most hotels, venues, restaurants and sights are within easy walking distance of one another. Instead of hassling with buses, taxis or transfers to get from A to B, you’ll most likely be taking a quick – and economical – stroll. A taxi ride from Tallinn’s airport to the city centre takes a mere 10 minutes, so in most cases organisers don’t even have to bother with transfers.

Top quality conference hotels
Tallinn offers a great mix of 3- to 5-star conference hotels with quality/price ratio that’s far better than the European average.  Conveniently, a majority of the hotels are clustered in the city centre close to the popular sights and meeting places. There are around 7,300 hotel rooms in all, with the largest in-hotel conference hall seating 530. Thanks to the recent rise of the city as a travel destination, nearly all of its hotels are new or freshly renovated and offer free Wi-Fi as a rule. Incentive groups will appreciate the high-class boutique hotels, such as the Telegraaf, set right in the heart of the medieval Old Town.

Unforgettable venues
Imagine hosting your gala dinner or social event in the opulent Kadriorg Palace, built in 1718 for the Russian emperor, or alongside the hull of the 1930s-era Lembit submarine at the Tallinn Seaplane Harbour, or under the vaulted arches of the medieval House of the Brotherhood of Black Heads guild hall. Given Tallinn’s long history, it’s no surprise that the city offers some truly amazing venues for unforgettable events. Other choices include the city’s 600-year-old Town Hall, a century-old power plant revamped as the Tallinn Creative Hub, the Tallinn TV Tower, the Estonian National Opera house , the Estonian Open Air Museum and many more.

Inspiring social programmes and team-building activities
If you want your group to discover this fascinating city and get to know one another at the same time, there’s no shortage of options here. Try an Old Town sightseeing tour where you meet entertaining, historical characters along the way, or combine the tour with a medieval banquet, beer tasting, marzipan painting or sampling Estonian cuisine. You can also practice sculpture making under the guidance of a famous local artist, take a ride on old wooden sailing ship, enjoy a private organ concert in a medieval church… The list goes on.

Loads of sights and adventures just outside Tallinn
Nature is always at your doorstep in Tallinn – not only is this a seaside town, the wild countryside is just a half-hour’s ride away. This opens up possibilities for sea-related activities, coast and island cruises, mushroom picking, bog walking, touring beautiful manor houses and catching a glimpse of the traditional Estonian  way of life. More action-oriented visitors can try a Lada rally or a retro jeep safari. Or why not take a daytrip to Finland’s capital, Helsinki? It’s just 2 hours from Tallinn by ship.

Amazing cuisine and lively nightlife
Tallinn’s dining scene offers gourmet experiences at far lower prices than elsewhere in Europe and covers an enormous spectrum of tastes. The trendiest restaurants specialise in Estonia’s own brand of modern cuisine (decidedly Nordic, emphasising local, seasonal ingredients) while popular eateries and bars in the ultra-hip Kalamaja district are perfect for a bite and a drink with the locals.

Capital of E-Estonia
Estonia is known for the numerous cutting-edge solutions it has given to the world, everything from e-government to mobile parking to Skype. Tallinn’s IT solutions are modern and innovative, and free Wi-Fi is widely available with good quality. This makes Tallinn the destination of choice for any IT-related event.

Well-connected universities
Tallinn has become a prime destination for scientific and research conferences thanks to its many internationally-connected academic institutions. These include Tallinn University, Tallinn Technical University, the Estonian Academy of Art and the Estonian Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. The universities’ halls and other facilities can usually be rented out for conferences as well.

 

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