The Estonian capital is a real pearl on the Baltic Sea that deserves to be discovered in all its aspects. Many know about Tallinn’s Soviet past, but few know that this piece of history is
The Estonian capital is a real pearl on the Baltic Sea that deserves to be discovered in all its aspects. Many know about Tallinn’s Soviet past, but few know that this piece of history is in fact covered with medieval roots which, fortunately, are still present and visible in many parts of the city. Interested to know which places that you should not miss in Tallinn? You’ve reached the right spot; below, we list some of the absolute must-sees in the capital of Estonia. And if you haven’t read the first part of this article yet, you can do it here.
The Viru Gate
One of the best places to getting to know and enter the old town is the magnificent Viru Gate, which impresses with its two huge medieval red-roofed towers. Dating back to the 14th century, the Viru Gate is one of the oldest parts of the city walls and one of the best places to visit in Tallinn.
Once through the gate, you’ll find Viru Street, the city’s most commercial street, full of souvenir stores and restaurants, which will lead you to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
Toompea Viewpoints
The best view of Tallinn’s historic center, surrounded by the city wall and its towers, is seen from the various viewpoints of Toompea Hill. To get to the top of the hill, where the castle district is located, we recommend walking up the beautiful Pikk Jalg street, to enjoy the walk in a unique way.
In Toompea, you will find the cathedrals of Alexander Nevsky and Santa María, but for us, the highlights of this area of the city are the viewpoints of Kohtu, and especially the Patkuli, one of the most essential places to visit in Tallinn.
While from the Kohtu viewpoint the medieval city tours contrast with a backdrop of modern buildings, it is at Patkuli from where you can appreciate the entire old city, with its red roofs and a part of the wall with its towers in the foreground.
If you visit the city in winter, we can assure you that seeing the snow-covered city from the viewpoint of Patkuli would be one of the most beautiful views you have ever seen.
Town Hall Square
Raekoja plats or Town Hall Square is the heart of the historical center and one of the most beautiful places to visit in Tallinn . This square-shaped square is surrounded by beautiful colorful facades belonging to the medieval buildings of prosperous merchants of the time.
The jewel of the square is the fantastic Gothic town hall, built in 1404 and with a 64 meter high tower from which you have a privileged view of the square and the old town.
Another interesting building is located at number 11 of the square. This is the Burchart or Raeapteek pharmacy, one of the oldest pharmacies in the world, which still has many artifacts from its early days and is highly recommended to visit. If your visit is in winter, this is where one of the best Christmas markets in Europe is held. In summer, depending on the day of the week, you will find another market with stalls selling local crafts and products.
Olde Hansa
To complete a visit to the Estonian capital, you cannot miss a lunch or a dinner in the most famous restaurant in Tallinn, Olde Hansa.
When you enter this old tavern, you will be transported back to the medieval times thanks to the decoration, the candlelight and the clothes of the waiters.
Despite the fact that it is still a very touristy place and the price of food is higher than usual in Tallinn, it is completely worth it. Moreover, it is a good opportunity to try the most delicious local food.
With those places, you are now ready to plan your trip to Tallinn. Don’t forget to leave a comment below to share with us what are the places from our list that you definitely want to visit.
Have a wonderful trip!