What to do with your team in Tallinn?
There's so much happening in the Estonian capital that everyone's guaranteed an entertaining time, whatever their interests – and a trip abroad is always that little bit more exciting than a day out in your own country.
What to do with your team in Tallinn? Here are a few things that have been tried, tested and heartily recommended by Team Viru.
HEAD TO THE THEATRE OR GO TO A CONCERT
Tallinn is a cultural mecca where there's always a wide range of events to choose from. For example, you can't go wrong with the Estonia Opera and Ballet Theatre and Concert Hall, just a short stroll from the hotel, which attracts the biggest names and best known shows from around the world. The jewel in its crown in 2023 is Verdi's Jeanne d'Arc, which is being performed there for the first time.
www.opera.ee
www.concert.ee
A STROLL THROUGH THE OLD TOWN
Tallinn's UNESCO-listed medieval Old Town will be familiar to anyone who's ever set foot in the city, which is why it needs no recommendation as a unique destination in its own right. That said, we do suggest wandering through it on your way to exploring other parts of the city. You'll discover something new every time! And that's true of people who live here as much as it is of visitors to the city. As an alternative to the main thoroughfare, Viru Street, we suggest taking a parallel route, traversing Katariina käik or Catherine's Alleyway, which is one of the most fairytale-like streets in the whole of the Old Town. It's lined with handicrafts workshops and cafés, some with summer terraces.
POTTER ABOUT AND GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY!
If you have a little more time and fancy doing something as a group, why not head for the ceramics workshop in the aforementioned Catherine's Alleyway to take a team class? www.keraamikakoda.ee
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE WORLD OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Very few countries can boast of being home to the photographic museum Fotografiska – in fact Tallinn is one of just three offshoots from the original in Stockholm (the other two being in New York and Berlin). So make the most of it! Head for the exciting Telliskivi district and explore everything Fotografiska has to offer: world-class photography, Michelin green-star cuisine and an open outlook on the world. www.fotografiska.com/tallinn
THE FLAGSHIP OF ESTONIAN MARKETS
The creative hub that is Telliskivi is worth taking a stroll around in any event, and is a great place to eat. It has a hipster vibe, colourful buildings and, on top of everything else, Balti Jaam Market! In addition to the variety of street food it offers, the market offers everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to luxury outerwear and from recyclables to works of art. If you don't have the time or inclination to walk there, you can catch tram no. 1 or 2 from one of the stops close to the hotel.
ESCAPE FROM IT ALL WITH EXITROOM
If you and your colleagues are feeling slightly more adventurous, nothing says team-building like making escape plans together! Are you smart enough as a group to get out of the room before the hour winds down and Dracula awakes? The tasks you have to solve will be a true test of your ingenuity! www.exitroom.ee
ON YOUR BIKES!
Tallinn's a compact city, making it perfect for touring on two wheels. If you want to get in a good bit of exercise while exploring, head out along the waterfront promenade to Pirita. If you want a more relaxed ride, try Kalamaja or Kadriorg. If you choose Kadriorg you can turn your bike ride into a cultural day out, taking in the stunning Kadriorg Palace, its verdant park and Japanese garden, the local cafés and picnic spots, the neighbouring Kumu Art Museum and the nearby Song Festival Grounds – all within a 5 km ride of the city centre! Bike hire and guided two-wheeled tours are available from www.citybike.ee.
THE TIMELESS CLASSIC THAT IS KUMU ART MUSEUM
The aforementioned Kumu Art Museum in Kadriorg is somewhere we always recommend to visitors, who never fail to enjoy it. You'll be thinking about everything you see there long after your visit. www.ekm.ee
OUR VERY OWN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: THE CLASSIC VIRU HOTEL & KGB MUSEUM
By choosing to stay with us in Tallinn you'll find that one of the city's most unique attractions is just a short lift ride from your hotel room! Step back in time to the fascinating parallel worlds of the Soviet hotel industry – one which mostly only existed on paper and the other, the real world, which was a much more complex beast. So much so that some people today struggle to get their head around it! Tickets are available from www.viru.ee and group bookings can be made by e-mailing viru.reservation@sok.fi or calling +372 680 9300.
EXPLORING BEYOND TALLINN – A CULINARY JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
Good food and good drinks go together. We all know that. But how often do you really experience it? Food Sightseeing Estonia offers a two-in-one opportunity to do just that – simultaneously exploring a particular part of the country and discovering its food culture in the process. Each tour takes you to different markets, cafés and restaurants. www.foodsightseeing.ee
Pamper yourself!
If you're in no hurry to head home...
LOOK BETTER THAN EVER WITH ILUSFÄÄR AND ILUSTUUDIO
While you're in Tallinn you should make the most of the high-quality health and beauty services on offer, since they're still more affordable than in the Nordic countries. The 4th floor of the Viru Hotel is home to the new Confido beauty clinic, a skin clinic, the Make Your ID and NailSpa beauty salons and Padel Company, who do everything to leave you looking and feeling great. Then there's Ilusfäär, the most convenient beauty, health and well-being centre in the heart of the city. And on the 3rd floor you'll find Ilustuudio, which offers everything from classic and on-trend treatments to Thai massage.
www.virukeskus.com/en/health-and-beauty/
www.viruilustuudio.ee
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST... SHOPPING!
Going home with something new is an integral part of any trip abroad. Luckily, the hotel is directly linked to the city's most popular shopping centre, Viru Keskus, which has recently undergone an incredible makeover and boasts more than 100 shops and service points. It's home to the only stores in the Baltic States and Nordic countries of some big-name brands, and also has a very popular street food market.
Enjoy your stay at the legendary Viru Hotel as part of your team's trip to Tallinn! By choosing Viru, all the sights are near. The hotel locates at the very heart of Tallinn. Information about happenings www.visittallinn.ee and www.visitestonia.com.
Ask also for the group prices for both accommodation and dining directly from Original Sokos Hotel Viru's Sales office +372 680 9300 tai viru.reservation@sok.fi.