WHERE IS TALLINN, ESTONIA?
Estonia is located on the Northern part of Europe on the eastern coast. It is also one of the Baltic countries along with Latvia and Lithuania. Estonia is surrounded by Finland on the North, Latvia on the South. Russia on the East and Sweden on the West.
Tallinn is Estonia’s capital and the largest city in the country. Tallinn is renowned for its best preserved medieval city around Europe which is listed in UNESCO World heritage.
Interesting fact…
Did you know that Skype was invented by Estonians? Also, they are sometimes dubbed as the Silicon Valley of Europe due to its high number of Startup companies per head of population. Check out more facts here.
HOW TO GET THERE?
There are a variety of options on how to get to Tallinn, Estonia
BY AIR – Plane
Tallinn’s main airport is called Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport which is 4km away from the city centre, for more details click here.
BY LAND – Bus
From Riga (Latvia), Vilnius (Lithuania) and St. Petersburg – check out ECOLINES here.
BY LAND – Train
From Moscow (Balti Jaam) check Go Rail’s website here.
BY SEA – Ferries
From Helsinki (2-3hrs) and Stockholm (15hrs) check out Tallink’s website here
WHAT TO DO?
Tallinn’s Old Town is fairly small compared to the other Baltic states like Riga, Latvia and Vilnius Lithuania. This means spending a day or two will be enough to get around the Old Town.
Before embarking on your quest do note that…
The old town has an uneven road and steep slopes, especially when visiting the upper town. Make sure to wear appropriate walking shoes for your own safety.
Let’s move on…
Town Hall Square
When visiting Tallinn you should not miss out the town hall square as this is located at the heart of the Old Town. This place transforms dependent on the season, during the summer the square is filled up with cafe’s, open market and festival/local band concerts which we were lucky to have witnessed.
St. Olav’s Church
One of the most iconic churches in Tallinn due to its tall structure. This church is located on the lower town of the Old town but the tower itself still is visible from afar. When facing the Church’s door entrance on your left is the Marriot Old Town Hotel which is located on a quiet corner a few minutes away from the busy old town centre.
St. Nicholas Church
Just before reaching the old town centre from our accommodation, St. Nicholas Church is one of the few churches that you will come across on your way. Unfortunately, I have not been able to view the interiors of the church but was able to take quite a few photos of the exterior as it is located in a sloping hill making it ideal for picture taking.
St. Catherines Passage – Katariina Kaik
This was included in my list of must visit as I have an article from VisitTallinn’s website that this is one of the most picturesque lanes around the old town. Instead of just reading an article about it I decided to make it a priority to visit it. This passageway is not that long however the history and set up of the lanes dates back to 15th-17th century.
Master’s Courtyard
This is one of Tallinn’s hidden courtyard which you should add on your list of must visit. This is a fairly small compound where the famous cafe chocolatier called The Pierre Chocolaterie is located at. The interior and exterior of the cafe has a bohemian and gypsy-inspired feel and so are the staff. Around the courtyard there a couple of small arts and crafts shops worth looking at. Make sure to prepare your camera’s as this place is picturesque.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Toompea Hill
This Orthodox Cathedral sits on top of the Toompea hill along with Cathedral of St. Mary the Virgin. This church has a Russian inspired architecture and the only grandest Orthodox church located around Tallinn. This was built during the Russian empire dating back in 1900. The Cathedral was named after Prince of Novgorod, Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky to learn more about the history of the church check out VisitTallinn’s website here.
Next to Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is the Cathedral of St. Mary the Virgin which had a tall tower that you can visit and have a bird’s eye view of the entire city. One of my most memorable experience in Toompea hill was climbing the Tower.
This was no easy climb…based on my experience
I don’t like climbing towers especially if it is narrow and circular. It may be because I am somewhat claustrophobic but luckily I was able to overcome my fear. Apparently, the Sagrada Familia tower steps were much steeper and much higher compared to this one (this was based on my Mom and Aunts experience). Hence do not worry much about going up the tower as the views were spectacular.
Note: Climbing up the tower will cost you 5.00 euros each click here for any updates
Tallinn Town Wall (Nunna, Sauna and Kuldjala towers)
Your Tallinn experience would not be complete without visiting Tallinn’s town wall. Getting to go around the three towers and absorbing the history of the city and its culture makes you feel like you are in a different era. The three towers can be visited just make sure to again wear suitable shoes for climbing steep and narrow stairs. The experience was worth it and the views on the tower we’re mesmerizing. The Toompea hill can be viewed on one of the towers. Make sure to take your time on each tower and relive the history to make the most of your visit.
Note: Visiting the tower costs 2.00 euro per person. They do give student discounts so have your ID ready.
EXPERIENCE THE LOCAL CUISINE
PEPPERSACK
When in Tallinn you should stop by at Peppersack Restaurant. The restaurant is located at the heart of Tallinn’s World Heritage old town, near the town hall square. The building alone dates back to 1370s making it one of the Best Medieval Restaurant in Tallinn’s Old Town. For more info about the detailed history of Peppersack check out their website here
The exterior has a medievally inspired construction where they have coated the structure with thick clay or plaster creating an uneven surface. This type of construction is common during the medieval period is called ‘daub’. The uneven surface adds character and mimics the medieval period perfectly.
One of the most striking features of the restaurant is its high pitched gable and the iconic Pepper sack. A pepper sack can be seen hanging on a pulley in its storefront. This restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating which can accommodate large groups as well as couples and singles easily.
WHAT MAKES PEPPERSACK DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS?
During my stay at Tallinn Peppersack was not the first restaurant I have visited I was able to visit Olde Hansa another Medieval Inspired Restaurant. Olde Hansa has a somewhat Gothic and dark interior compared to Peppersacks cosy and regal interior. To be honest I have visited both restaurants at different times Olde Hansa Lunch-Dinner Time and Peppersack Late Brunch. But the interiors still retained its features.
Whichever vibe you prefer both Restaurants can cater to your needs. Olde Hansa offered eccentric menus compared to Peppersack. If you are a picky eater make sure to check the menu’s first before making a decision.
*Disclaimer – This post is in collaboration with Peppersack Restaurant. I was lucky enough to have been offered to try out their brunch menu and get to experience some of Estonia’s local cuisine.
Hopefully, this post helped you get a feel of how Tallinn is like and would entice you to visit the place. Make sure to visit the places mentioned and don’t forget to get lost in the old town and discover more of their secrets. Share your experiences down below if you have visited Tallinn or Estonia in general.
Till my next adventure,
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