Tallin Song Festival Grounds by Tavi Grepp/Tallinn Tourism

Estonia is set to party as Õllesummer 2011 is just around the corner.  Õllesummer is billed as one of the largest festivals in the Baltic region, attracting thousands to Tallinn to enjoy live music and lots of beer.

Õllesummer 2011

Õllesummer runs from July 6 – 9 and will be held in the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds.

Yes, there’ll be plenty of beer at Õllesummer (beer summer), but this festival has also evolved into a mega music festival with international headline acts like the Cranberries and Killer Queen and a host of Estonian performers.

There will be lots of different tents filled with food stalls and beer, fun and games for the young, and live entertainment .  Whether it’s a beer festival or an art festival depends on how you choose to spend your time at Õllesummer!

Tickets cost 10 € for a one-day ticket and 25 € for the four-day pass.  For more information about buying tickets, see the Õllesummer Festival website.

If you’re planning on attending this festival, don’t forget to book your Tallinn hotel early.

Event :  Õllesummer Festival 2011
Venue: Tallinn Song Festival Grounds
Date   :  July 6 – 9, 2011
Website:  Õllesummer Festival

© Estonia Travel, 2011. Written by Helen Page

Post tags: estonia festival, estonia music, estonia tallin, Õllesummer, tallinn song festival in Categories: News & Events

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Estonian National Opera Ballet By Harri Rospu/Tallinn Tourism

As European Capital of Culture 2011, Tallinn takes centre stage for Europe’s cultural happenings this year. There are heaps of events taking place in this city of culture everyday including festivals, operas, classical concerts, ballets and musicals.

Classictic brings you events at the following venues which easily can be booked online:

Birgitta Festival

During the month of August, the Birgitta Festival gives opera, classical music and ballet lovers the opportunity to be entertained in the mysterious ruins of this medieval convent in Tallinn.

Founded in 1407, St. Bridget’s Convent was part of a Swedish religious order and was the largest convent in the Livonian territories. It operated here until the forces of Ivan the Terrible destroyed it during the Livonian war in 1577.

Estonian National Opera

At the Estonian National Opera is a full repertoire of operas and ballets. From Tchaikovsky’s most popular “Swan Lake”, Bizet’s fiery “Carmen” to the ever-popular Strauss operetta “Die Fledermaus”, there’s something to suit every taste. Children have not been forgotten. Pippi Longstocking is the most popular children’s musical in Estonia.

Noblessner Foundry

To celebrate Tallinn’s achievement as the European Capital of Culture in 2011, the Estonian National Opera will present Wagner’s “Parsifal” in August. What would Wagner be thinking, if he knew that his epic masterwork is being staged in Tallinn to mark an important event for this fascinating city.

Tallinn Methodist Church

A special Christmas Concert by the Estonian National Opera in the biggest modern church in Estonia. The church is known for the great acoustics of its church hall and with performance by ENO soloists, chorus and orchestra, Chirstmas music doesn’t get better.

For events outside of Tallinn, see HERE.

Search for Tallinn hotels, read hotel reviews and book your Tallinn hotel HERE.

© Estonia Travel, 2011. Written by Helen Page

Post tags: city of culture, concerts in tallinn, european capital of culture, european culture capital, Tallinn, tallinn opera in Categories: News & Events

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Estonia Euro Coin

Estonia became the 17th member of the Euro-zone on January 1, 2011 and so from this date the Euro replaced the Kroon as the currency for Estonia.

Estonia’s eight Euro coins (1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent, €1 and €2) all feature a single design which is a silhouette map of Estonia together with the word Eesti (Estonia). The twelve stars surrounding the map are symbolic of the EU.  On the obverse side is the common EU image.

Banknotes are in denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500, as is common in other Euro-zone countries

History of the Kroon

Prior to the Euro, Estonia’s national currency, the Kroon, was introduced on 20 June 1992 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Kroon is abbreviated as EEK and it comes in the following denominations:  1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 100 and 500.   1 Kroon is divided into 100 sents.

The kroon was pegged to the EURO at approximately 1 EUR = 15.65 EEK.

Currency Exchange

Foreign currencies can be easily exchanged in banks and exchange offices which can be found in several hotels, at the airport, in the port of Tallinn, the railway station and several other places.

Amex, Thomas Cook and Eurocheque are the most widely accepted travellers cheques in Estonia.  You can exchange money at the following services:

Bureaux de Change:

Monday to Friday: 9.00 – 18.00
Saturday              : 9.00 – 15.00
Sunday                 : Some are open.

Banks:
Monday to Friday: 9.00 – 16.00.  Closed Saturdays & Sundays.

The main banks in Estonia which serve tourists are: Hansapank, Ühispank, Sampo Pank.

Credit Cards

Credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard/Eurocard, Diner’s Club, American Express etc. are accepted at most of the major hotels, restaurants and shops, but to be safe, ask first. Most banks will give cash advances on credit cards supported by a valid passport. Check with your credit card company for further details before travelling. Be aware that when you take a cash advance on your credit card, interest generally accrues immediately, i.e. you won’t have the benefit of the interest free period.

© Estonia Travel, 2011. Written by Helen Page

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Estonia National Opera by

The Estonian National Opera (Rahvusooper Estonia) is housed in a theatre complex which is also home  to the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and the State Concert Institution (Eesti Kontsert) .

In Estonia, the advancement of the country’s national theatrical and musical culture locally and abroad is governed by an act of parliament.  The National Opera Act was passed in 1997 (amended 2002).

A Brief History of Estonian National Opera

The original Estonian theatre building was designed in Jugend-classicistic style by Finnish architects Armas Lindgren and Wivi Lonn.  The two-winged building in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia,  catered for theatre on one side and a concert hall in the other.  When it was inaugurated on August 24, 1913, the theatre and concert building was the largest structure in Tallinn during that time.

With the outbreak of World War 1 in the following year, part of the building was used to house a military hospital and the balcony side of the concert hall was used as an Orthodox church. The theatre hall had not been taken over by the military and this allowed the actors to continue performing here, although at their own expense.

A new era began in the theatre’s history when the first Estonian Parliament assembled in the concert hall and the building was subsequently reconstructed in 1934.

A Change in Building Design

During the Soviet aerial bombardment of March 1944 the Estonian theatre was destroyed, together with many other buildings. When the building reconstruction took place in the second half of the 1940s, a change in style occurred. One of the new architects Alar Kotir was inspired by the neo-classicism of the 1930s and by the post-war Stalinist-classicism. He tried to preserve the look of the Estonia Avenue facade of the building but totally changed the other facades. The interior was also re-modelled to a more sombre classicist design. Although the reconstruction was completed in 1951, parts were not completed till 1991.  Between 2003 and 2005, further improvements were made to the building.

Today the Rahvusooper Estonia has a full programme of operas, ballets and concerts throughout most of the year.

You can see their full programme of cultural events and book tickets online here.>

Address:

Estonian National Opera
Estonian Avenue 4
10148 Tallinn

© Estonia Travel, 2010. Written by Helen Page

Post tags: culture estonia, estonian national opera, estonian national symphony orchestra, estonian opera, national opera, rahvusooper estonia, tallinn opera, tallinn opera house in Categories: Sightseeing

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Finding an Estonia phone number or phone code is pretty easy, not just because most numbers are in Tallinn, but because in Estonia, every call is a local call, there are no area phone codes.

Landline phone numbers have 7 digits, mobile (cell) phone numbers can have either 7 or 8. The country calling phone code for Estonia is 372, so all you need is the subscriber number and you’re set.

Free telephone number search

INFOPLUSS KONTAKT
http://www.infopluss.ee/kontakt.php?lang=en&pohi=on: Yellow pages type directory for business or residential phone numbers in Estonia. Includes reverse search (search by phone number). In English, Estonian, Russian. (choose link top left).

INFO ATLAS WHITE PAGES
http://www.infoatlas.ee/eng/_era.cgi: You need at least a surname or the full phone number, and the letters s or z with caron ( ˇ ) are in database as sh and zh.

INFO ATLAS YELLOW PAGES
http://www.infoatlas.ee/eng/: From the same people as the White Pages.

TELEMEDIA
http://www.telemedia.ee/telemedia.php?&lang=en: People and business search, reverse search by number. English link top right.

EESTI ETTEVõTTED
http://www.ee.ee/: Estonian telephone directory, for businesses only. In Estonian and Russian. The Google toolbar will translate OK, use the Russian version: link is the little flag on right below search box.

© Estonia Travel, 2009. Written by Tony Page

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Oviesse Department store

OVS Industry, a leading Italian fashion retailer has opened another store in Tallinn, making this their second store in Estonia. The new Tallinn store is inside the Rocca al Mare Keskus shopping mall at Paldiski mnt 102.

The Tallinn store is on one level and covers a floor space of over 250 sqm.  It’s set inside a large, factory-like, brick walled loft with vintage detailing.

OVS Industry provides high quality Italian fashion for men, women and children at very affordable prices.  Its business model is to offer its customers the best products at the best prices with fortnightly changes in their collections.

Colours and natural materials set the scene for collections created by OVS Industry fashion designers, capturing both the Italian and international emerging fashion trends. OVS prides itself as a Socially Responsible manufacturer, following the strictest compliance standards. For 37 years, OVS industry has been a reference point in the Italian clothing industry due to its capacity for constant renewal and for capitalising on market evolution.

The new Tallinn store is part of an massive expansion plan which includes almost 40 new openings overseas, taking its total number of stores abroad to 70 by the end of 2009.

Address:
Oviesse Tallinn
Rocca al Mare Keskus
Paldiski mnt 102
13522 Tallinn
Järve Keskus

© Estonia Travel, 2009. Written by Helen Page

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Looking over Tallin's mediaeval skyline

Travelling to Estonia and its capital, Tallinn, is easy. There are direct flights from Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, Frankfurt, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Helsinki, Kiev, London, Milan, Minsk, Moscow, Munich, Oslo, Prague, Riga, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna, Vilnius and Warsaw to Tallinn. About 25 ferries, hydrofoils and catamarans cross between Helsinki and Tallinn daily. You can catch a ferry from Stockholm to Tallinn or arrive by coach from many European cities.

So why is Tallinn so ‘connected’ and why has this tiny Baltic city become such a popular travel destination?

It’s unfortunate that Tallinn’s reputation as a travel destination has been tainted by stag nights, drunken marauding soccer crowds and its nightclub and steamy strip club scenes. Whilst cheap flights, cheap alcohol and the raging nightclub scene have brought masses of young Europeans to Tallinn, this World Heritage city and the rest of Estonia has a lot more to offer travellers and culture seekers.

Most tourists who visit Estonia arrive first in Tallinn, the capital and business centre. This city has so much to offer and its major cultural events each month such as concerts, operas and jazz festivals can be experienced against a medieval Hanseatic backdrop. It is a very popular weekend destination for Finns who can get here from Helsinki by ferry in about 2½ to 3½ hours or by hydrofoil in just over an hour. The cost of living is much lower here than in Scandinavian countries, making dining out a more affordable activity.

Tallinn’s Old Town centre is dominated by the soaring steeple of its 14th to 15th century medieval Town Hall which is the oldest in northern Europe. More than two-thirds of the original City Wall still stands. From the Toompea Castle, situated on top of a cliff, you will have an amazing view of the narrow streets, the gabled roofs and the towers and spires of old Tallinn. Then there’s Kadriorg Park which contains the palace built for Peter the Great and is a favorite recreation area. And, if you’d like to see what rural life was like in the 18th and 19th centuries, visit the Open Air Museum.

Special Events in Tallinn include:

• Tallinn Jazz Festival – celebrates the arrival of Spring (April)
• Admiralty Sea Days – a maritime-themed event at the city’s passenger port (May)
• Old Town Days – a medieval-themed festival in the Old Town which is popular with locals (June)
• Midsummer’s Night Celebration – to mark the longest day. This must be some celebration with bonfires and all things pagan in a medieval city (June 21)
• Beer Festival – the biggest beer festival in the Baltic. Be prepared for lashings of beer (July)
• New Year’s Eve Celebration – celebrations in the city to welcome in the New Year in style (Dec 31)

Of course, Estonia is more than just Tallinn:

Although it takes just four to five hours to travel from one end of the country to the other, there is variety in its landscapes, flora, seasons and weather. It’s rich tapestry of medieval architecture, ancient monuments, romantic fishing villages, unspoiled national parks, etc., make this a fascinating destination.  Some of the interesting places outside of Tallinn include:

Haapsalu, a small town on the west coast, has been a well-known resort since the 19th century. If you’re looking to get away from the city, this is the ideal place, with its romantic wooden houses and tree-lined avenues.

Pärnu is about two hours’ drive from Tallinn. It is a small town situated on the banks of the Pärnu River and was established in the 13th century. Pärnu is well known as a seaport and a health resort. Its long sandy beaches are very popular with Estonians.

Tartu, Estonia’s second-largest city, is situated along the Emajõgi River and is approximately 176km from Tallinn. Tartu is an old university town with a bohemian-academic ambience. Its other attractions include the Vyshgorod Cathedral (13th to 15th centuries), the Town Hall (18th century) and the university’s Botanical Garden.

Narva is one of the oldest towns in Estonia. Situated on the western banks of the River Narva, it was first mentioned in the chronicle of Novgorod. The Herman Castle is the oldest architectural monument. Well worth seeing is the city museum, which is situated in the castle.

Saaremaa and Hiimuaa are the largest and second largest islands in Estonia, respectively. On these two islands you’ll see old windmills, stone churches, fishing villages and a restored Episcopal castle dating back to the 13th century.

Mustvee is the site of the only functioning convent in Estonia and is also well worth a visit. It is situated on the shores of the scenic and vast Lake Peipsi and Kuremäe.

© Estonia Travel, 2009. Written by Helen Page

Post tags: concerts, direct flights, Haapsalu, Herman Castle, Hiimuaa, jazz festivals, medieval Old Town, Mustvee, Narva, Old Town Kadriorg Park, operas, Parnu, Saaremaa, Tallinn, Tartu, Toompea Castle, Travel to Estonia in Categories: Destinations, Featured

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Colourful cloth flowers

If you think your credit card is safe in Estonia and that there’s nothing to buy here, think again! Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the shopping scene in Estonia has morphed beyond recognition. There’s been an explosion of shopping malls, shopping centres and department stores in recent years. For this small country and population, the number of shopping outlets is amazing.

Whilst the shops do not have the range and big names that you’ll find in Paris, Rome and London, you can nevertheless find some international brands here. At the Stockmann department store in Tallinn, men will find Giorgio Armani waiting to adorn you to its style and elegance. Take a look at the websites of stores like Kaubamaja and Stockmann and it’ll give you an idea of where Estonians are at in the fashion scene.

If you’re keen on shopping, Tallinn is the city to start with! Most shops in the Old Town and department stores throughout the city are open seven days a week, and major credit cards are widely accepted.

At the elegant boutiques along the Old Town’s Viru and Müürivahe Streets you will find quality fashion, shoes and perfumes. The best places to try are also the large department stores and malls that have recently sprung up all over Tallinn. At Stockmann, there is also a delicatessen where you can try some local foods.

For something more local and colourful in Tallinn, a visit to the outdoor knit market on Müürivahe Street is a must. Here you’ll find local women selling their knitted products. For a quaint shopping experience, head for Katariina Passage off Vene Street. Here, in medieval buildings, Katariina Guild’s artists run workshops in medieval-style and you can watch glasswork, ceramics, leather goods, quilts and other items being created right before your very eyes. If you’re on the hunt for good quality souvenirs, this place is a must. Lühike jalg also has a range of tasteful craft stores featuring the work of Estonian artists.

What souvenirs can you buy from Estonia?

• Handicraft items to look for include hand-knitted woollen sweaters with traditional Estonian folk patterns, wood carvings, beer mugs, fun felt hats, juniper coasters and limestone candle holders.
• Original art such as graphic prints, handmade jewellery, colourful glassware and fine ceramics
• CDs of famous Estonian composers (look out for Tormis, Pärt, Tubin and Tüür)
• Trinklets from the Soviet-era (sold in antique shops)
• Dark, bittersweet Estonian chocolate and other local sweets produced by the Kalev confectionery
• Hand-painted marzipan – I can see myself buying this!

© Estonia Travel, 2009. Written by Helen Page

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Black Rye bread is an Estonian basic food!

Hearty, simple, country food is how traditional Estonian cuisine can be described.  Like many countries in Europe, Estonia’s cuisine has been influenced by foods from the neighbouring countries as well as the cuisines of the countries that used to rule Estonia, i.e. Germany, Russia, Denmark and Sweden.  The German influence is predominant as Germany ruled Estonia for centuries.

Food here is seasonal and relies heavily on pork, potatoes and garden vegetables. During the cold winters, heavier foods like pork, potatoes (kartulid) and thick heartwarming soups are consumed. The summer diet is totally different and typically consists mainly of green salads and barbecued meat, wild strawberries and other forest berries.

So what are some of the traditional Estonian foods?

Ask any Estonian about their national dishes and invariably their bread soup and curd cheese are mentioned. Many will claim that their ‘leib’ or black bread is the best in the world. So serious are they about their breads that the Estonian version of bon appetit is ‘jätku leiba’ which translates to “may your bread last”.

Other typical foods include:

• hamburger patty with onions (kotlet)
• blood sausage (verivorst) and sauerkraut at Christmas time
• jellied meat (sült) – this sits in the same category as haggis where it’s best not to know what’s in it
• sweet German-style bread knotted and sprinkled with nuts and raisins (kringel), typically served at Estonian birthdays
• cottage cheese cakes and pastries (kohupiim)

Pancakes, beet salad, honey, herring, pickled pumpkin and crayfish are other foods that you’ll commonly see in Estonia. If you’d like to try some traditional Estonian food, have a go at Grandma’s Place or Vanaema Juures where wild boar roast is a regular feature on its menu.

What if blood sausage and jellied meat don’t turn you on?

You needn’t fret because the restaurant scene is quite developed, especially in Tallinn where you have a choice of Argentinian, Brazilian, Caucasian, Chinese, International, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese and many others. The prices are quite reasonable too.  A quick glance at the menu of the classy and highly rated Stenhus Restaurant in the Schlössle Hotel shows a four course meal at 44.72 Euro.

Tallinn is a favourite destination for stag parties and week-end booze-ups, so there are plenty of bars and pubs to drink the night away if that’s your pleasure!

© Estonia Travel, 2009. Written by Helen Page

Post tags: Dining out, drinking, Estonia cuisine, Estonia food, What to eat in Estonia in Categories: Featured, Food

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• Festivals and Events
• Public Holidays
• Visas
• Climate
• Health
• Time
• Electricity
• Weights & Measures
• Money, Banks, etc.
• Useful Telephone Numbers

Festivals and Events:

Estonia has many festivals, operas, concerts and events that are worth seeing if you have the chance: Calendar

Public and Bank holidays for 2009:

1 January – New Year’s Day
24 February – Independence Day: the 91th anniversary of the declaration founding the Republic of Estonia (1918)
10 April – Good Friday
12 April – Easter Sunday
1 May – Spring Day
31 May – Whitsunday
23 June – Victory Day
24 June – St. John’s Day
20 August – Day of Restoration of Independence: Estonia regains independence after Soviet times
24 December – Christmas Eve
25 December – Christmas Day
26 December – Boxing Day

Visas:

• None required for EU nationals.
• Nationals of the following countries do not need a visa to enter Estonia for stays of no more than 90 days in a 6 month period: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Israel, Japan, Macau Special Administrative Region, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, USA, Uruguay and Venezuela. Everyone else needs a visa.

Climate:

Fairly cold winter, a cool spring with little precipitation, a moderately warm summer and a long and rainy autumn. Summers temperatures can occasionally reach around +30°C and a warm, sunny summer can keep autumn at bay until mid-October.

Average temperature in July +16.7°C
Average temperature in February -4°C. See our Estonia Weather page

Health risks:

Excessive consumption of alcohol, drugs, increase in HIV

Time:

Estonia is in the Eastern European Time Zone: GMT + 2 hours. In summer: GMT + 3 hours.

Electricity:

220V, 50Hz, European-style 2-pin (round) plug

Weights & measures:

Metric

Metric Weights and Measures and their equivalents

Clothing and shoe sizes conversion: US, UK, Europe

Money:

The Kroon, see our Estonia Money page

Check out the current exchange rate with your currency here (close the new window to return): 
TRAVEL SIGNPOSTS CURRENCY CONVERTER

Useful telephone numbers :

Calls to Estonia: The international access code for Estonia is +372. Dial +372, then the area code and the subscriber’s number.

Some area codes:

(*) for call to Tallinn and Harjumaa within Estonia, just dial the number as described above, without area code.

Calls from Estonia: Dial 00 + the country code + area code + the subscriber’s number.

Local calls: Pay phones accept phone cards. If you wish to make a call within Estonia, first dial the area code and the number. Phone cards may be purchased from hotel reception desks, tourist information offices, post offices, newsstands and some shops.

Emergency numbers are the same from all phones, including mobiles, anywhere in Estonia.
For police: dial 110
For the Fire Department: dial 112
For ambulance services : dial 112

© Estonia Travel, 2009. Written by Helen Page

Post tags: banks, electricity, Festivals, health, money, public holidays, time, useful telephone numbers, visas, weights & measures in Categories: Useful facts

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