Car Hire in Tallinn - Mini guide to Tallinn

Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, has been invaded, sacked and pillaged many times over the centuries, yet despite this turbulent history it still retains more remnants of its past than many other European cities. These range from the charming old town of Tallinn with its cobbled streets and medieval houses, to the Lasnamae apartment district which is a grim legacy of the Soviet era.

Vanalinn, the old town, is surrounded by walls with several historic gates. The most notable of these is Viru Gate which is the main portal between the new and the old parts of town. The three oldest towers, the Nunnetorn, Saunatorn and Kuldjalatorn are open to the public, whilst Paks Margereta and Klek de Kok are museums and the Neitsitorn is a cafe. The Town Hall square Raekoja Plats, once a place for public executions, now attracts people with its beautiful architecture and cafes. The Town Hall itself is a stylish gothic building erected in 1404; its weather vane, Old Thomas, is the symbol of old Tallinn. The interior can be viewed by appointment only.

The Adamson-Eric museum houses the works of one of Estonia’s leading artists of the 20th century, Adamson-Eric. The exhibition includes paintings, jewellery, ceramics and other works.

The Kadriorg Palace is to be found in one of Tallinn’s most attractive suburbs. In 1718 Peter the Great commissioned the Italian architect Nicolo Michetti to design a palace and grounds for his wife Catherine. Today the palace houses the Estonian Modern Art Museum. Most of the palace’s rooms are only sparsely decorated, but the two-storey main salon is spectacularly ornate. Behind the palace is a small wooden cottage which houses the Peter the Great Home Museum.

Estonia has many islands and two that are close to Tallinn are Aegna and Naissar. Aegna’s, pine woods, beaches and walking paths make it ideal for picnics and quiet relaxation. Naissar has more to offer, including a café, a hostel, the remains of a Red Army barracks and the ruins of the village Lounakula.

Viinistu Art Museum is forty miles from central Tallinn and houses the collection of the Estonian entrepreneur and art patron, Jaan Manitski. The collection spans several centuries and consists of over 300 paintings.

There are several international companies offering car hire in Tallinn. Rates can be expensive and it is often cheaper to either hire a car in Parnu, or if you are visiting several Baltic countries you can hire a car in Vilnius and drop it off in Estonia. A wide variety of packages and weekend deals are on offer so visitors should shop around to get the best deal.

Car hire deals in: Estonia

We rent the following types of cars: Economy (Vauxhall Corsa or equiv.), Mini, Small family (Ford Focus or equiv.), Medium family (Toyota Avensis or equiv.), large family (BMW 5 series), 4x4, SUV, Convertible, Van, Sports car, Luxury cars.

Hire cheap cars from the following suppliers, Ebookers, Opodo, Avis, Expedia, Sixt, Thrifty and budget rental prices from EasyCar, Budget, Holiday Autos, Economy, 121carhire.