Old-meets-new urban event venues in Tallinn

Ranging from original and unusual places steeped in history, Tallinn’s facilities will delight you as they have marked the city as a prime destination for conferences and events.

When it comes to venues you can literally find everything in Tallinn, from medieval to baroque to rural and urban. Below is a selection of four venues with a true WOW factor that will undoubtedly offer an unforgettable event experience, and are also a great example of revitalized former industrial buildings and areas that had before stood empty and without purpose.

Tallinn Creative Hub (Kultuurikatel) is the former Tallinn City Central Power Station, located between the Old Town and the sea. The original complex with its alternative look was built in the 19th century and was in operation from 1913 until 1979, providing electricity to households in Estonia. After major renovation works this building, listed as a heritage monument, opened its doors also for meetings, conferences, and events. Tallinn Creative Hub was selected as one of the main conference venues in 2017 when Estonia held the presidency of the Council of the EU. It’s a fabulous location! Today, it’s hosting about 300 events on a yearly basis. The multi-functional space within the complex gives organisers a wide range of options for planning events. There are eight halls in the Creative Hub and a total of 16 rooms – all with an inspiring industrial atmosphere.

The Seaplane Harbour is one of the most stunning places in Tallinn: it accommodates one of Europe’s largest maritime museums. Here you can admire an authentic submarine from the 1930s, a century-old steam-powered icebreaker from 1914 or a seaplane replica dating back to 1915 (the wings of that plane are almost 20 metres long!). The Seaplane Hangar, which is the heart of the building, was constructed in 1916-1917 as part of the sea fortress system. Between 1918 and 1940, the hangar was used by the Estonian Air Force and seaplanes were stored and repaired in the Seaplane Harbour. This building is one of the most significant engineering and technical accomplishments of the 20th century. It was one of the first buildings in the world that was this large and it has concrete domes with no internal support pillars. The central hangar of this unforgettable venue can be privatized for special evening events – for a gala dinner of 700 persons and for a reception of up to 1500 persons. It is a truly impressive event place!

Another great example of an old and abandoned industrial area starting a new life can be found in Noblessner, the heart of which – as well as the building that sparked the renovations of the whole area – is the Noblessner Foundry. Half of the building is home to the PROTO invention factory – a fun centre for both young and old, where VR technology meets 19th-century innovations, such as flight and steam power. With its steampunk interior and fun interactive exhibits, the invention factory has proven to be a popular venue among organisers who want to hold receptions with an added incentive element. The second half of the building is a large space intended specifically for events – it has amazing acoustics and is a great venue for concerts, but it’s also a popular place for conferences, seminars and parties.

Telliskivi Creative City is located in the former industrial complex of Tallinn, which houses galleries, small shops, various creative companies, start-ups, venues and restaurants. It is a truly creative atmosphere or as they themselves describe the essence of this vibrant area – a combination of creative pulse and industrial bones. It is the home of a funky small venue called the Club of Different Rooms. The rooms are furnished in a cosy living-room style, with the main hall divided into 12 seating sections, each equipped with sofas, screens and interactive tables. The smaller rooms can be rented separately or together with the main hall for bigger events. The combination of stylish rooms, state-of-the-art technical solutions and a personalized approach to customers make it a go-to venue for those seeking a memorable setting for their live or hybrid events.