Discover Estonia and Tallinn
Coming to study at TalTech – even for one or two semesters – is a meaningful step, especially if it’s your first time in Estonia. To help you feel at home from your very first days, we’ve gathered useful resources that introduce you to Estonia’s culture, nature, everyday life, and the city of Tallinn.
These links give you a quick and friendly overview of what to expect and what to explore during your stay.
Get to know us
Estonia is a small but innovative country known for its digital society, clean nature and friendly communities. These resources help you discover the essentials:
- Visit Estonia – explore travel tips, landmarks, events, and insider recommendations
- ERR News – English-language national news to stay up to date
- Culture.ee – cultural events, festivals, exhibitions, and creative activities
- Estonian Cuisine – discover local food, traditions and dining culture
- Weather in Estonia – check the daily forecast and seasonal overviews
- Nature Calendar – live cams and daily updates from Estonia’s wildlife and natural habitats
- Keeleklikk – a fun and simple platform to start learning basic Estonian
Support Services for International Visitors
These organisations provide useful help with settling in, paperwork, and practical questions related to living in Estonia.
- International House of Estonia – consultations on residence permits, employment, adaptation, and community activities.
- Integration Foundation – language programmes, cultural events and support for integrating into Estonian society.
Explore Tallinn
Tallinn combines a modern digital city with medieval Old Town charm, seaside promenades and green neighbourhoods. Here are some areas and maps to help you start exploring:
- Tallinn city map and Old Town map – use Visit Tallinn’s map to find attractions, food places, museums and useful city services.
- Urban nature and beaches – discover parks, beaches, forests and green areas across the city.
- Kadriorg & Pirita – visit historical parks, museums, seaside promenades and the Pirita beach area.
- Kalamaja & Telliskivi Creative City – explore Tallinn’s creative hub with street art, design shops, cafés, restaurants, galleries, small businesses and regular cultural events.
- Rocca al Mare & Nõmme – enjoy quieter green districts, the Estonian Open Air Museum, forest trails and local cafés.
- Cycle road map – plan safe bike routes across Tallinn using the city’s bicycle roads web map.
Public transport and getting around
Tallinn and the rest of Estonia are easy to explore by public transport. Here are some useful links for planning your trips:
- Tallinn public transport – information about buses, trams, trolleybuses, tickets and travel cards in Tallinn.
- Tallinn route planner – plan your route by bus, tram or trolleybus in the city.
- Elron trains – train connections from Tallinn to cities such as Tartu, Narva, Viljandi, Rakvere and others.
- Tpilet bus tickets – search and buy long-distance bus tickets around Estonia.
- Praamid ferries – ferry information and tickets for travelling to Saaremaa and Hiiumaa.
- Travel around Estonia – Visit Estonia’s overview of public transport, driving, cycling and other ways to get around the country.
Explore Estonia beyond Tallinn
Estonia is compact, so many cities are easy to visit during a free weekend or even as a day trip. Here are some student-friendly ideas:
- Tartu – Estonia’s second-largest city and a lively university town, known for museums, cafés, student life and cultural events.
- Pärnu – Estonia’s best-known summer resort city, famous for its sandy beach, spas, restaurants and relaxed seaside atmosphere.
- Narva – a fascinating border city for history lovers, with Narva Castle, the river promenade and a unique mix of cultures.
- Haapsalu – a calm seaside town with romantic wooden houses, a historic castle, spa traditions and a peaceful promenade.
- Viljandi – a charming South Estonian town with castle ruins, a lake, cafés, festivals and a strong folk music and craft culture.
- Kuressaare / Saaremaa – visit Estonia’s largest island for island nature, spas, Kuressaare Castle, windmills, cliffs, beaches and a slower pace of life.
- Rakvere – a good choice for medieval history and a fun castle visit.
- Otepää – ideal for active students who like nature, lakes, hiking, skiing and hilly landscapes.
For planning trips, check Visit Estonia’s destination guide and travel information for getting around Estonia.