The medieval capital of Estonia, Tallinn is tucked away in the east of the Baltic Sea with Helsinki just 70 km away. This Estonian town has a rich history, which still manages to visibly thrive as you walk through the old town that has a history of trading by Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Russia. Just a small town on the northeast of continental Europe, Tallinn is now starting to gain recognition due to the slowly growing tourism.
This small city has a population of about 4,00,000 people only. No matter how small, this city invites you to do countless things that will surely be fun.
So let us check out the various things to do in the town of Tallinn.
1. Visiting the Tallinn Old Town
As you know that this European town still has a rich medieval history attached to it. To know more about its medieval times, it is best to visit the old town. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Old Town, this is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in all of Europe. With buildings as old as 500 years, the streets are filled with historic houses that give you a glimpse of the medieval age. The Old Town Tallinn has an intriguing history that is worth knowing by talking a free walk across the town. Amongst all these historic buildings, you will come across an apothecary in Town Hall Square, which is the oldest constantly running pharmacy in the world and has a small museum that showcases various but strange medieval cures. Of the many showcased medieval cures you will find a jar full of medicinal sun bleached dog faeces, which will make you think of the development of modern medicine repeatedly. Make sure to enter the Old Town through the Viru Gate, which was once a part of the city’s 14th-century defence system. A part of the gate had to be torn down for horse-drawn traffic, the majestic towers still stand tall. The area around this gate now serves as a market that sells various produces like woolen mittens, roasted nuts and a couple of restaurants.
2. View from the Toompea Hill
Tallinn is divided into two parts- Lower Town (All-Linn) and Upper Town (Toompea). When still excursion through the Old Town, visit the famous Toompea hill. This place will give you an entire glimpse of the small city of Tallinn where you can see how the historic side merges beautifully with the modern side. All in all, Toompea consists of many viewing platforms such as the Estonian Parliament building, the Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Dome Church, and a number of odd statues and alleyways. Built-in the 1700s, the Toompea Castle is also worth visiting, which has a salmon pink coloured exterior wall, white detailing work and a National flag on the roof. You can visit the castle on weekdays with prior bookings to be done.
3. Visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Located on the Toompea hill, this Russian Orthodox Church was only completed in 1900, thus, being an addition to the medieval town. This Church is beautiful and yet begs to be different from the rest. You can see the domes of this Church in an onion shape and painted in black. The Church is painted in such a way that it looks as if a black outline has been given to its silhouette with white and orange colours painted filled inside.
4. St. Olaf’s Church
City’s largest medieval building and one of its important structures, St.Olaf’s Church was built in the 1200s and is still well preserved. This Church has a high tower, which since its conception has been struck by lightning a number of times. Not open for visitors during the winters, that is, between April to October, you can choose the other months for a visit. You can climb the narrow stairs of the Church to reach the top for a picturesque view of the Old Town.
5. Viru Hotel and Museum
Estonia was forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1940 due to which, tourism was heavily controlled by the Soviets. There was only one hotel in the Soviet-occupied Estonia where tourists could accommodate themselves- The Viru Hotel, which was obviously run by the Soviet travel agency Intourist. A KGB post occupied the entire 23rd floor of the hotel. It was when the Soviet Union began to crash, the 6 person KGB team fled overnight, taking whatever they could while destroying whatever left behind. The Viru Hotel now houses a KGB museum, which displays a selection of propaganda, uniforms, surveillance devices, documents, and artefacts from the Soviet period. An entry of 11 Euros is charged per person for those who wish to know about Soviet history in Estonia.
6. Telliskivi Creative City
In contrast to the medieval Old Town of Tallinn is the Telliskivi Creative City, which is nothing short of creative, innovative and fun. Being one of the best sights of Tallinn, it is a hub within the capital that pulls in artists and shoppers. The industrial buildings are a far cry from being boring as they are decorated in murals. Various warehouses are now turned into beautiful and artistic looking cafes, restaurants, boutiques and live music venues. Over 250 businesses thrive in Telliskivi. With various shops selling products that lure you, make sure you do not overindulge in your shopping expedition.
7. Kalamaja
Going hand in hand with the Telliskivi Creative City is Kalamaja where artsy residences and small businesses have made their mecca. The buildings here are painted with breathtaking murals and weird-looking graffiti while it is also a paradise for street food lovers. It is better to explore this neighbourhood on legs so that you can fulfil your wish of taking the best Instagram pictures by leaning against the graffiti painted walls. Tiny, cosy cafes and a herd of restaurants will be your cure for the hunger pangs that you will get while exploring this place on your feet.
8. Visit the Seaplane Harbor Museum
Tallinn has a huge past and after visiting the Old Town and the Viru Hotel, you can visit the Seaplane Harbor Museum. This museum is set up in an old seaplane hangar, which is worth visiting. There are more than 200 versatile artefacts to explore, ranging from the oldest ship in the country to an actual submarine. The best part is that you get to board the submarine for real, even though it is lodged on the land permanently. Learning about Tallinn’s history will now seem so real.
9. Visit Kadriorg Park and Palace
The 18th-century Kadriorg Palace was built for Catherine the Great and has a classical Russian design style. Once used by the Russian Royal family, this palace was also a summer residence for various Estonian rulers, the house of the first Estonian president, and is now home to a branch of the Art Museum of Estonia. There is no dearth of museums in Tallinn and this one too showcases the medieval period of the city with an entry fee of 8 Euros per person.
The small town of Tallinn will not be taking much of your time for a visit. With these mentioned places to view, you will surely enjoy your stay in this little capital of Estonia where medieval and contemporary times are balanced in harmony.
If you want to know more or go on a trip to the town of Tallinn, write to us on support@adventourist.in or send us a WhatsApp and we will help you plan a trip
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