Located at the crossroads between Scandinavia and Russia, Estonia has been influenced culturally by both East and West. Its relatively small population (just over 1.2 million) is concentrated in its beautiful capital city of Tallinn, which partnered with Turku, Finland in 2011 as the European Capital of Culture – a tradition that fosters cross-cultural exchange. While Tallinn boasts a strong tech sector, its Old Town is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The view of Tallinn from the Toompea Hill is nice one. Tallinn is a quaint town. I enjoyed walking and biking around, and stopping occasionally for A. Le Coq, an Estonian beer that I especially enjoyed. I met Kalev and Ulane, the partners from Tallinn Traveller Tours, who are nice and can help point you to some good local spots.
There's not better place to romp and have a good time than a wheat field on the side of the road.
Halfway between Tallinn and Tartu, Põhjaka mõis (in English, Põhjaka manor) is a rustic manor house that serves fantastic Estonia food in a completely unassuming location. Servers were friendly, the food sourced locally, and the restaurant completely unassuming and inexpensive – the perfect stop after several hours of harried driving. Highly recommended.
The Dome Church, the Church of Holy Ghost, St. Nicholas Church, St Olaus Church, the Town Hall-all of these are major architectural achievements of medieval master builders. The narrow cobbled streets and lanes, quaint corners and tiny courtyards are marvellously evocative of the past.
I visited this village and castle one cold winter's day with a couple of Estonian friends a few years ago. The town had a nice quasi-eastern european feel to it and the castle in the distance was quite impressive. It's located about 100 km east of Tallinn, the country's capitol.
Of all of the signs that could be posted, this was considered the most important.
It,s located just few km from the centre of Kohtla-Jarve. Behind is Baltic Sea. This kind scenes are common every year in winter time.
Tallinn is the capital of Estonia and was first mentioned in historical records in 1154. Tallinn have major attractions , ancient streets lined by stone dwelling-houses with beautiful ashlar portals. Tallinn is big shopping and entertainment centre with quality hotels and restaurants. All the information and maps you can get in information centres in the city, they free.
We took a quick stop by the beach in Parnu. These little kiosks are everywhere.
Tallin's old town walls have stood for over 700 years, guarding a maze of streets and a fantastic cobblestone square that comes alive every lunchtime with the clatter of coffee cups and the mumble of meetings. You can take a walk along part of the walls and into the towers, loving restored and now with pride of place amongst Estonians.
I was able to take advantage of an extended business trip in Helsinki to visit Tallinn, Estonia. The medieval Old Town section has some great sights and is a must for tourists, but after a hard day of sightseeing it's nice to kick back and relax a bit, perhaps with a 12-year old Scotch and a "puro." That's where La Casa del Habano comes in.
In the context of the bygone Soviet times, the market could be considered an entrepreneurial experiment of sorts. A far cry from the modern city centre, it's still very alive today and frequented by locals seeking better deals on food or clothes. Pork chops, fresh apples, second-hand clothes, bullet cases or Soviet medals – you name it. If you're looking for a spicy experience in Tallinn but are too lazy to wander far from the Old Town then this flea market right by the central train station is for you.
Katariina Quai is something totally different to the bustling theme-park that is the old town and you deserve a medal if you've manage to get here on your own, cause it's a lot of zig-zagging through a Soviet-looking industrial area. Biking or driving are the best options, walking can take you at least an hour. Though it's pretty far, there are plenty of reasons to visit this lovely spot on the other side of the bay. Listen to the waves sliding by, enjoy a different view of Tallinn, have a picnic with friends, look at the ferries passing by or join local Russian-speakers for a swim.
Canoeing in the forests is an extraordinary experience, that happens during Fifth Season. It is a time of the year in Soomaa national park, which follows the thawing of snow and heavy rains. During this flood season, all low-lying forests, roads and even yards are flooded and people can only get around by boat.
When the clocks change and the year creeps into the late months of the year, the leaves dive off the trees (Estonians call maple leaves falling from trees, "Canadian kamikazes") in the Estonian capital city and turn the once bright city into a misty chilly, then freezing, landscape,.
One of the best restaurants in Tallinn, and there are many, is Olde Hansa, where the customers eat like vikings! In front of the restaurant young women in national dress sell nuts and if you ask nicely, give a blow on the olde horn,m which IS a horn!
Things were quiet and somewhat quaint in the old city of Tallinn until we came across a gentleman in medieval garb slinging lit torches in ever-increasing difficult patterns.
The Soviets built this thing for the Olympic regatta of 1980 set to take place in Tallinn. The idea was to demonstrate to the Western powers the superior concrete pouring skills of the Soviet Union. This would've been a great idea, if everybody wasn't so busy boycotting the games. The roof of the building is a popular place among the local youth for enjoying the sunset. So grab a bottle, hide it well and head out to explore the concrete jungle on the seaside. In summer you can also head there straight from a nightclub as the sun rises at about 3.30-4am.
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