A Trip Around the Baltic: Tallinn, Estonia

Hello again, it’s Gabe here and this week we are visiting Tallinn, Estonia as our last stop along our Trip Around the Baltic series!

Tallinn Overview

Tallinn is the charming capital city of Estonia; the city is located just across the Gulf of Finland from Helsinki, meaning these two cities are very connected both in terms of history and ferry service. Tallinn’s old town is very walkable, and is one of the highlights of a visit to the city. Within the old town is the old city wall, which still stands tall to this day in parts of the old town. Tallinn is also a fascinating place to learn about Estonia under Soviet rule, which is something that is still very much on the minds of locals. 

Tallinn Must-do

Top Left: Outlook at Tallinn skyline
Top Right: Alexander Nevsky Church
Bottom Left: A door, reminiscent of those from the Hanseatic Days, in the old town
Bottom Right: A portion of the city wall

The most prominent must do in Tallinn is visiting the old town, which as stated above features portions of the old city wall that make for some great photo opportunities. Within the old town, the Alexander Nevsky Church is also worth a visit, the church is located across the street from the Estonian parliament building, and is very much a tourist attraction, so I would recommend visiting first thing in the morning, or in the late afternoon or early evening time. Another must do is talking a leisurely stroll through the old town area, as there are many little picturesque areas where you can catch a glimpse of the city wall, or an overview of the town below. 

Off the radar Tallinn

While some of the more known sites in Tallinn are wonderful to visit, this section will go into some of the more off the radar sites. One of the most rewarding off the radar sites in Tallinn is the museum of the occupation, which goes into the history of the Soviet occupation of Estonia. This fascinating museum includes several relics of the Soviet period, including some preserved Soviet propaganda posters, retired examples of Soviet-era machinery. The museum is really a great option for those visitors who wish to know more about Estonia’s role in more recent history. Other more off the radar sites include the various independence monuments and statues that are situated throughout the newer parts of the city; Estonians are very proud of their new role as an independent nation, and this is reflected in the various monuments that are located in Tallinn. 

Tallinn is an absolutely wonderful city to visit, with a plethora of draws for visitors. As always, leave a comment below regarding Tallinn!