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Jan

11

Tallinn Travel & Sightseeing Guide

Filed Under Baltics

A trip to Tallinn

Tallinn is the capital and largest city in Estonia. It has historically been part of an important trading route between East and West. Today, many visitors use Tallinn as a starting point for visiting other Baltic countries. The port remains a major transportation and cargo hub, and many visitors come to Tallinn via ferry. Access by air is via Tallinn International Airport, which services both domestic and international flights.

Flights to Tallinn
Tallinn International Airport is located only a few miles from the city centre. Estonia’s proximity to Scandinavia means that there are plenty of connections to countries such as Norway, Sweden and Finland. Domestic flights to Kuressaare and Kärdla also depart and arrive here. There is a local bus connection (bus number 2) to downtown which takes less than 30 minutes. There is a rail link into the city, but the railway station is about one mile from the airport terminal building. Taxis are also available.

Public transport is well developed in Tallinn and buses, trolleys and trams are abundant in the city centre. Note that tickets needs to be purchased prior to boarding buses or trams. Tickets can be bought at newsstands. There are one and two-hour tickets as well as day tickets to suit your travel needs. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Tallinn try lastminute.com.

Tallinn

Sightseeing in Tallinn
Tallinn has many sights and attractions to keep visitors enthralled for at least a week. The key attraction in Tallinn is the old town. Here visitor can stroll along cobblestone streets and see the city’s historic centre. The old town is walled and divided into two sections: Toompea Hill and Lower Town. The Town Hall, St Olav’s Church and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral are important buildings here.

Also worth visiting are Kadriorg Palace and Park, and the art museum within the palace. The palace used to the summer residence of the Russian Tsar Peter I. For those travelling with children, Tallinn Zoo boasts over 6,000 animals and is a fun day out. The Botanical Garden is also well known, covers 110 hectares and is home to more than 8,000 plant species. For a thrilling day out, head to Rocca al Mare Tivoli, Estonia’s largest amusement park.

Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
Tallinn has a vibrant nightlife scene with plenty of wine bars and pubs, live music venues, nightclubs, pool halls, cigar lounges and casinos to choose from. Bars and pubs are open until midnight and later at weekends. Don’t miss out on the local brews Saku Originaal and A le Coq Premium. Seek out Karja Kelder or Seiklusjutte Maalt ja Merelt if you want to experience a local Estonian pub. Live music is popular in Tallinn and Café Amigo is known to attract the best of Estonian acts.

Fun by day - shopping and activities
Estonia has great handicrafts, such as wool sweaters, felt hats and wood carvings. There are plenty of shops and boutiques in the old town. Stroll along Viru and Müürivahe streets for a nice selection for outlets. Katariina passage has a row of medieval-style shops where guild artists ply their trade; a great place to buy ceramics, glasswork, leather good and quilts. There are also department stores and malls in the city centre. For great hand-knit items, head to the outdoor knit market on Müürivahe street.

Daytrips
One popular daytrip option from Tallinn has long been the ferry trip to nearby Helsinki, Finland, with boats leaving the city in the morning and returning in the evening. Recently, however, tour operators have tailored a number of one-day excursions suitable for those interested in exploring the culture, history and natural beauty of Estonia both in and around Tallinn.

The Laheema National Park takes visitors through quaint fishing villages and forested trails. Estonia’s most well-known manor house is along the way, as well as a walk across a bog. The Saku Brewery provides an interesting daytrip outside of Tallinn, surrounding one of the country’s icons and allowing visitors a few samples of Estonia’s famous beer.

Must-see attractions
Popular in its own right as an energetic city with abundant nightlife, excellent restaurants and interesting historical landmarks, Tallinn offers the traveller a number of must-see attractions. Foremost remains Tallinn’s medieval old town, complete with cobbled streets, tiled roofs and numerous towers. Only 19 of the original 66 spires remain. There is so much to see and do in the old town that many visitors stay within its ancient walls.

Somewhat sinister sounding Communist Estonia, just outside of the city, is an interesting escape from the modern city centre. The remains of what was once a secret Soviet naval base, excluded from any map, can now be visited. The Tallinn Zoo and the Botanical Garden are equally popular sights for families travelling with children. The zoo houses more than 6,000 animals while the garden covers a 110 hectare area boasting over 8,000 species of plants.

Not least of the unique places to see during your trip, the 15th century Niguliste Church is home to one of Estonia’s most famous pieces of art, Bernt Notke’s unsettling Dance of Death (Danse Macabre) which depicts a fragment of the artist’s religious masterpiece. Tourists who are easily made uncomfortable should be forewarned of the work’s graphic nature.

Best time to go
Except for the hardiest of vacationers, or those intent upon skiing and snowmobiling, Tallinn is best visited during the summer months. Average temperatures peak around 22°C between June and August, and fall to near -10°C from November to February.

Because of the extreme weather conditions experienced in winter the summer months can get busy in Tallinn and hotel prices escalate at this time.

Rainy day suggestions
Tallinn occasionally received precipitation but the city boasts an impressive number of museums and historical sights perfect for rainy days. The Kadriorg Palace is a beautiful 18th century, Baroque bright red residence surrounded by landscaped gardens and built by Tsar Peter I for his empress, Catherine. The Art Museum of Estonia is also located on the grounds while the Tallinn City Museum, located in a 14th century merchant’s home, depicts the city’s history from medieval beginnings to present day.

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