Greetings from Tallinn, Estonia! After a ferry ride from Helsinki, I arrived in the city ready to see everything from the old town to the nightlife scene. I’ve covered a lot of ground since then, and today I want to share my Tallinn travel guide with you.
Tallinn Travel Guide
The capital of Estonia, Tallinn is situated on the Baltic Sea. It’s known for its walled Tallinn Old Town, a charming area with cobblestone streets and historic architecture. From towers to churches and squares, there’s a lot to see.
But Tallinn also has its share of modern attractions, from contemporary art museums to hip bars. My Tallinn travel guide covers both in equal measure.
Where to Stay in Tallinn
My hotel room in Tallinn was on the top floor of a 450-year-old merchant house in the Old Town. Despite its medieval origins, the room was nothing short of contemporary design at its best.
From the steeply pitched roof with exposed timber beams to the larger-than-life bathtub in the middle of the living room, the place felt more like a contemporary art gallery than a space to sleep for two nights.
The Three Sisters Tallinn hotel was just the first of many pleasant surprises to meet me in Estonia. All over the city, external facades concealed interiors that were completely different from what I would have guessed.
Tallinn Travel Guide: The City
I’ll start my Tallinn travel guide with a look at the city. It had as many contrasts as the hotel.
From the communist-looking shopping mall that housed chic Scandinavian chairs to the plain black exterior of the swanky boutique Hotel Telegraaf that concealed a modern day-spa with all the amenities, I was constantly coming across things that weren’t as they seemed.
Tallinn Old Town
No Tallinn travel guide would be complete without the famous Tallinn Old Town, and I found a lot to love there.
I visited the Kiek in de Kok, a 15th-century canon tower that now houses a museum complete with secret tunnels.
I walked through the main square in Tallinn, too. The 13th-century Town Hall had a stunning Gothic tower, and I was impressed with the architecture all around.
I also loved St. Nicholas Church. Like the Town Hall, it was built in the 13th century. It now houses the Niguliste Museum, which focuses on ecclesiastical art.
And speaking of churches, I climbed to the top of St. Olav’s Church to take in the views of Tallinn Old Town below. They were stunning.
Tallinn Nightlife
My Tallinn travel guide continues with a look at Tallinn’s nightlife scene.
One evening my boyfriend and I wandered down a flight of stairs to find ourselves in Gloria Wine Cellar, a maze of low-ceilinged caves lined from roof to floor with wine bottles from all over the world.
Heavy wooden chairs with red velvet cushions made us feel like medieval kings as we sipped our wine by candlelight.
The next night we found ourselves drinking local Estonian beer in the bowels of the Depeche Mode Bar, an establishment set up by some die-hard fans of the band by the same name.
Upon leaving, my boyfriend dryly remarked “That was nice, but I could have used a bit less Depeche Mode in there.”
Things to Do in Tallinn
No Tallinn travel guide would be complete without a look at the areas outside Tallinn Old Town. There’s a lot to see and do beyond the city walls.
One afternoon we took the tram out to Kadriorg Park to find ourselves in the middle of swan-filled lakes, Baroque palaces, and a trendy museum of contemporary art. The museum, Kumu, was the main building of the Art Museum of Estonia.
Further along the road, we drove through an enchanting pine forest that opened into a sprawling botanical garden. Inside the Tallinn Botanic Garden was a futuristic glass house crammed with every plant species imaginable.
In the distance loomed a giant Soviet TV tower and the ruins of an old convent.
Tallinn Travel Guide: The Verdict
The one thing I didn’t see in Tallinn was a stag party. It was the only thing I had expected to see too much of, and I couldn’t have been more pleasantly surprised. I hope the same is true for my next destination, Riga.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this Tallinn travel guide and that it’s inspired you to travel to Estonia. There’s a lot to see and do here, and I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I did.
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