Forget Prague. Tallinn is the New Cool Kid on the Block.

Checking In: Tallinn
Checking Out: Prague

Prague is so 2002. When I was in college, one of the pre-requisites for cool was a summer vacation to Prague, but like every other indicator of cool, Prague eventually lost its edge. It was as if the capital of the Czech Republic were an indie rock band that had finally made it to MTV. Sure, everyone knew about it, but it was no longer a secret between friends—something that the cool kids could claim for their own. Prague was co-opted by the man, and the young and hip were forced to find another place to hang their skinny jeans.

Tallinn, Estonia might seem like an unlikely home for cool, but its nightlife and restaurant scenes, combined with a killer conversion rate, have solidified it as the next destination for the international party set. The New York Times named it the “Party Capital of the Year” in 2006, and Laurence Shorter dedicated an entire volume of his Hedonist’s Guides to the city. Over the past few years, Tallinn has become known as much for its medieval architecture as it has for its club scene.

Brits and Finns pour in daily to take advantage of the nightlife here. The cheap liquor and anything-goes attitude have established the Estonian capital as the go-to party town of the Baltics. There are Irish style pubs like Molley Malone’s and O’Malley’s; lounges like Pegasus and R.I.F.F.; and dives like the bar in the experimental Von Krahl theater. There’s even a Depeche Mode themed pub, aptly named Depeche Mode Baar.

For those who like to cram a little culture between pints, Tallinn touts a UNESCO-listed Old Town and an impressive roster of museums and galleries. Along with a slew of medieval landmarks, the city is home to the Museum of Applied Art and Design, The Estonian Architecture Museum, and the Haus Gallery, which specializes in Estonian art from the 19th Century. It even has its own Opera House.

So if you’re dying to one-up all the folks who’ve sworn their party allegiance to Prague, hit Tallinn. It might not have the same name recognition, but isn’t that the point?