Make your visit to Tallinn sustainable

Biogas-powered buses stop right next to or in front of the airport building, and in about 15 minutes you will be in the heart of Tallinn. You can also take a bus from the bus station in the city center to the border of the heart of the city and the old town. When you buy a Tallinn Card, public transport is free for you!

 

If you arrived in Tallinn by ferry, you can walk to the Old Town from the port in about 15 minutes. Getting from one end of the Old Town to the other also takes about 10-15 minutes.

 

Read more about transport options when arriving in Tallinn and the public transport system in Tallinn.

Tallinn is small enough for everything to be within walking distance but also big enough to always offer something new to discover. The popular sights, hotels and restaurants of the city centre and the Old Town are just a short walk away. The city is also built on a relatively flat area, making walking even more easy. Tallinn is also perfect for going on longer walks, as there is a lot to discover and pleasant places to stop and rest. There is also a lot to discover outside the city centre: Rocca Al Mare, Nõmme, Pirita, Kadriorg and Kalamaja. You could visit the exciting former industrial area of Kopli or explore the many urban nature areas of Tallinn.

 

Although it is convenient to walk around the city centre and Kalamaja, hopping on a vehicle may be required in order to reach more remote areas. Most of Tallinn's public transport vehicles run on electricity or gas. By 2025 we plan on eliminating buses running on diesel fuel completely. Therefore, using public transport for longer routes is a more sustainable option. If you wish to use a ridesharing service, but still want to be responsible about it, order an electric car from the Bolt application.

In the warmer months, you can also rent an electric scooter powered by 100% renewable energy using the Bolt app. The local service provider Tuul also offers electric scooter rental. Gas-powered vans are used to collect the scooters from the streets to further reduce their footprint.

 

Several hotels in Tallinn have joined the international eco-label Green Key, which gives companies an operating model for developing an environmentally friendly and sustainable workplace. The label indicates that the company is committed to reducing its environmental impact. By choosing companies with the Green Key label, you are being more responsible during your stay in Tallinn.

Regardless of which hotel or accommodation you choose, you can also save the environment with your own personal choices. For longer stays, we recommend that you do not use the daily cleaning service if possible. If you do not need to wash your towels and bed linen every day at home, you probably do not need to do that in a hotel either. Do not leave electrical devices plugged in all day and keep the temperature of the air conditioner stable if possible.

Restaurants in Tallinn are brilliant in terms of their high quality and versatility. Most fine dining restaurants in Tallinn use mainly local ingredients and it is commonplace for restaurants to change their menu seasonally so that the ingredients for the food are freshly available. Do not be afraid to ask a restaurant where they source their ingredients from!

We also recommend that you choose tap water over bottled water. Estonian tap water is clean and safe to drink. The vast majority of Tallinn’s residents drink tap water.

There are also several vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Tallinn for those who want to avoid animal products. Choosing a vegetarian option from time to time also helps to preserve the planet.

Did you know that Tallinn also has a zero-waste restaurant? The Fotografiska restaurant aims to make the most of raw materials in cooking and if anything does go bad, it is used as compost.

In many parts of Tallinn, both in the city centre and in the surrounding areas, there are public drinking taps that you can use to quench your thirst and refill your water bottle. So, instead of buying bottled water from the store, take your favourite reusable bottle along with you on your journey around Tallinn. The locations of the water taps are marked on an interactive map.

The Tallinn Card can be used to visit 50 museums and sights around Tallinn free of charge. In addition, you can use Tallinn’s public transport for free with the card. When buying a ticket from the Tallinn Card e-shop, you will receive a digital ticket so no paper will be used.

A good way to explore Tallinn is to take a tour. Find local tour organisers or guides and book a city tour through them! This way you can have an authentic experience by seeing the city through a local guide. In addition, you will be supporting the local communities and people.

An easy way to support Tallinn's culture is to visit its museums. Most of Tallinn's museums also support research related to the museum. 

 

The Estonian Open Air Museum, where you can learn about Estonians’ living conditions and folk traditions from the 18th to the 20th centuries, is an important institution for preserving Estonian cultural heritage. The museum aims to represent the views of sustainable development in the museum’s collection, research and preservation principles as well as in exhibitions, events, educational programmes and other activities. Learn more about the sustainable principles of the Estonian Open Air Museum.

 

The Estonian Maritime Museum contributes to the research of maritime archaeology and naval warfare. Tallinn Zoo contributes financially to preserving species around the world, including the survival of the Amur leopard and the Amur tiger. Find out more on what your ticket money is used for from the museums' websites.

 

If you are interested in Estonian design and fashion, look for brands like Reet Aus or Stella Soomlais. We recommend visiting the Katariina Guild and the Master’s Courtyard, where craftsmen and designers make their products on site. You can also find larger shops dedicated to Estonian design and cosmetics in the city centre and the Old Town: TALI and Estonian Design House.

If you are interested in local Estonian markets, you can find some in the city centre. The Baltic Station Market (Balti Jaama Turg) is located between the Old Town and Kalamaja, in the centre of Tallinn. There, in the food market, you can find fruit, vegetables, cheese and meat products from Estonian farms. On the second floor, there are several exciting vintage and antique shops for clothes, ceramics and art.

There is also the legendary Central Market, where you can find a wide range of food from meat to vegetables as well as interesting handicrafts. Local groceries and more can also be found just outside the city centre, in the Nõmme Market.

It is definitely also worth visiting the Telliskivi Creative City and Kopli's new community centre, the Põhjala Factory.

Although you are supporting our communities and economy by buying local products, it is worth thinking over your purchases. In order to reduce consumerism, we recommend that you consider whether a product is absolutely necessary before purchasing. Maybe you could use that money for some unforgettable experience instead?