On 1 January 2011, Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, will become a European Capital of Culture, and to celebrate, the country will be hosting a range of celebratory events throughout the year.

To kick off the celebrations, Tallinn will be hosting a spectacular festival on 31 December 2010 in Theatre Square with fireworks at midnight to bring in the New Year and a programme of music concerts.

As Tallinn becomes European Capital of Culture, Estonia will continue to celebrate with various events throughout 2011. In fact, Tallinn will host an event every day in 2011, making next year the best time to visit Estonia for a holiday.

Some of the events on offer that should prove to be the most popular include a production of the Odyssey at the Cultural Cauldron in June and the Riddle of Hieronymus Bosch exhibition at the Kadriorg Art Museum from October 2011 to April 2012.

Estonia will also host the Open Tallinn 2011 acrobatics championships, which will combine athletics with art. The championships will be held at the Cultural Cauldron and at other venues around Tallinn from 21 May to 29 May.

For a full programme of events in Estonia that celebrate Tallinn becoming the European Capital of Culture, visit the Tallinn 2011 website.

In addition to celebrating becoming European Capital of Culture, Estonia will adopt the euro on 1 January 2011, making it the 17th country to start using the currency.

Estonia’s capital is a great place to enjoy a holiday. Tallinn’s old town is picturesque, with many quaint restaurants and cafes to visit in cobblestoned streets and courtyards. There are also plenty of workshops, handicraft shops and local markets to wander around. To get to Estonia, easyJet has affordable flights that fly directly to Tallinn.