Most of the world’s revolutions have involved barricades and protests, street battles and bloodshed. In Estonia, it involved singing. Not just any singing, though, but that of patriotic songs and hymns. Songs so powerful, that when 300 000 Estonians gathered in Tallinn to sing them, they helped bring about independence from the Soviet Union. The Singing Revolution may be nearly twenty years old, but there are still plenty of reasons to sing in Tallinn.

Hotels in tune with luxury

Tallinn is packed with wonderful hotels. If you have a bit of extra cash to splash, check out the city’s first boutique hotel, The Three Sisters. At the end of a cobbled street in a corner of the medieval old town, three 14^th century merchants’ houses have been joined to create the city’s most stylish place to stay. Comfortable with loads of character, this place has a breakfast to sing for (with chilled prosecco on offer to help loosen your vocal cords).

Bars that hit all the right notes

Tallinn’s reputation as a party town might explain why there’s a bar on almost every corner. One of the best is Kaheksa where fashionistas get together for a smoothie, a margarita or Mediterranean nibbles. It’s comfy sofas and fine cocktails hit all the right notes.

Opera worthy of an encore

Tallinners are very proud of their Opera House. Culture vultures can feast on a season packed with classics, such as Mozart’s Don Giovanni, as well as several operatic productions of Estonia’s finest artists and some scintillating ballets. The Opera House itself is a splendid building, originally built by Finnish architects in 1913 and restored after the war to its former glory.

Chart topping restaurants

It seems like there are almost as many restaurants as there are bars: you can try everything from sushi to medieval fare. But one place that will always have you coming back for more is Elevant, the best Indian restaurant in Tallinn. Although 10 years old, Elevant is still as charming as ever. It’s cozy décor, friendly service and great food (including an imaginative list of vegetarian dishes) make this a real chart topper every time.

A band of beaches

Tallinn boasts five public swimming beaches: Pirita, Stroomi, Harku, Kakumäe and Pikakari. The oldest, largest and most popular is the 2-km-long Pirita beach, which has a fine view of the Old Town and the ships cruising into the Gulf of Finland. You’ll find ballgame courts, playgrounds for children and a café in the beach house. If you feel like getting closer to nature, there’s also a separate area for nude sunbathing, at the far end of the beach.