One of the most beautiful cities in Northern Europe is considered to be the Estonian city of Tallinn. Many years have passed since Estonia left the USSR, but the city still keeps the spirit of old Europe and is always glad to see guests.
Tallinn: History
Tallinn is located about eighty kilometers from Helsinki, on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, and presumably dates back to 1154, when the Arab geographer Al-Idrisi mentioned it in his notes as a fortress city. Tallinn has a rich history, having been part of Denmark, Sweden and the Russian Empire.
The city had a hard time during World War II. After fierce fighting, the Nazi troops occupied the city, and in order to liberate it from the invaders, Soviet military aviation had to drop about three thousand bombs of various effects on Tallinn. The settlement was half destroyed, about 20 thousand inhabitants were left without a roof over their heads. After the end of the war, the city became part of the Soviet Union.
Architectural buildings from the early and middle Middle Ages have been preserved in Tallinn. A large number of churches aresights and face of the city. The old part is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Bus tour from St. Petersburg
If you decide to take a little vacation and want to change the situation for a couple of days, a trip to Tallinn will be the best solution for the whole family. It is most convenient to choose St. Petersburg as a starting point, since the distance between cities is only 320 kilometers.
Experienced travelers say it's best to get a short tour. The bus St. Petersburg - Tallinn is in no way inferior to an airplane in terms of comfort, with the only difference being that magnificent views of Russia and Estonia will be before your eyes. Various travel agencies offer bus tours for every taste and budget. You can always choose the tour that suits you.
This kind of travel has a lot of advantages. Firstly, in a short time you can see a lot of sights. Guides accompanying the tourist group will conduct various mini-excursions, tell interesting stories and show amazing places. Secondly, there are no problems with luggage. All your personal belongings remain on the bus while you enjoy the views outside the window. Of course, money, keys and documents should always be with you. Thirdly, if you especially liked an interesting place, you can always return for a longer time by planning a vacation.
But this option, judging by the reviews, has a significant disadvantage. Bus St. Petersburg - Tallinn is designed for a large number of passengers. Severaldays you will have to be around the clock in the company of strangers. So if crowds are bothering you, think twice.
City tours
When you arrive in Estonia, do not rush to buy expensive guided tours around the city. You may like alternative options and choose what to see in Tallinn yourself.
Classics of the genre are undoubtedly bus tours. In this case, you can comfortably ride through the main attractions of the city, take a photo as a keepsake. But from the bus window, all city landscapes will remain in memory only a flashing picture.
Bike tours are a great alternative. You can rent a light city bike through your smartphone. Such transport makes it possible to see the city, have a cup of coffee in a cozy cafe that you like. In addition, a bike ride is not as tiring as, say, walking, and by the evening you will still have the strength to sit in a nice restaurant and get acquainted with the masterpieces of local chefs.
Hiking is not for the lazy. If you are confident in your abilities, feel free to put on your favorite comfortable sneakers, take a map and go explore Tallinn. A city tour of this format will enrich your experience.
Holidays and festivals
If you want to time your tourist trip to some national holiday, Tallinn will surprise and delight you. The largest and most significant events for the people are celebrated on a grand scale. They striketravelers with their bright colors, customs and traditions. There is always something to do in Tallinn during the holidays.
The most famous holiday is the Day of Tallinn. He reminds the citizens of the country that in 1248 the Law of Lübeck made it possible for the townspeople to become full members of Europe and European society. The holiday has been celebrated annually since 2002. On this day, not only official events are held, such as the awarding of honorary citizens, but also various entertainment programs that have many positive reviews. Tallinn loves entertainment: all over the city you can see magnificent medieval processions, watch street performances, sports tournaments.
Most of all holidays are connected with music. All sorts of multi-genre festivals and street concerts are held, which are rushed to visit not only by the indigenous people, but also by guests of the city. Sports competitions are held every month: skiing, park skating, cycling and water sports. You can hear about Tallinn as a unique sports ground from every person who not only watches sports news, but also takes an active part in the life of the city.
Winter Tallinn
Winter lovers find the capital of Estonia beautiful. Tallinn in winter is both picturesque and fabulous. Throughout December, a huge Christmas tree stands in the center of the city, surrounded by bright illumination. Children's towns have been created, Christmas markets have been opened.
Travelers with children will be pleased to walk alongold zoo. In winter it is just as interesting as in summer. Due to the fact that the flow of visitors decreases during the cold season, the animals become calmer and behave naturally.
One of the days off can be spent in the water park. In Tallinn, the largest is Atlantis H2O. The complex is interesting not only for its magnificent slides, but also for its own underground water city, where truly rare and unique inhabitants of the deep sea live. In addition, the water park in Tallinn will be of interest to adults as well. Judging by the reviews, they will also have something to do. Time spent in the spa and relaxation area will remind you that even in winter Tallinn is a hospitable and hospitable host.
Observation decks
From travel, each person tries to bring not only a sea of impressions and vivid emotions, but also photographs that remind of the rest. Tallinn is a city of extraordinary beauty: the old tiled roofs of houses, towers and views of the B altic are simply magnificent. And there is no better place to see the seaside city in all its glory than the viewing platforms. There are four of them.
A very popular observation deck in Tallinn is located between the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Dome Cathedral. This is the eastern part of the wall of Toompea Castle, which has been preserved since the Middle Ages. Having risen to the platform, you can admire the eastern part of the city, and then go down to the cafe and drink a cup of aromatic coffee under the medieval arches. Many mention this in their reviews.
Very close, within walking distance, you can findanother lookout. It is located at the bell tower of the Dome Cathedral. From this point, you can see the park with many small ponds, which used to be a medieval moat.
The observation deck and the Patkul stairs break all records of popularity among tourists. The staircase, which has 157 steps, was built in 1903. Previously, there were wrought iron gates at its end, which made it possible to freely visit the site only in the daytime. They were open from 8 am to 5 pm. Residents could watch working hours by the flag that was hoisted above the gate. In reviews of Tallinn, an observation deck is often mentioned, which offers magnificent views of the B altic Station, the Old Town and the seaport. You can buy various souvenirs on the spot if you did not have time to buy them during the day.
Old Town Hall
One of the main decorations of Tallinn is the Old Town Hall. It was built in the distant 15th century and to this day serves as a reminder of the former power and we alth of the city. Old houses built of stones and clay keep a particle of the medieval spirit, and the tower of the Old Town Hall helps them in this. A slender building with a high spire leaves no one indifferent.
A bell is installed on the tower. Nowadays, it beats time, and in the old days, its resounding blows told the inhabitants: "Glory to the Almighty. Let everyone keep their fire and hearth, so as not to cause any loss to the city." Tallinn experienced a fire more than once, so the fire safety rules were treated with special trepidation in the city, and the bell was constantlyreminded of possible danger.
The Old Town Hall hides under its vaults the so-called Burgher Hall. It was a place for a pleasant pastime, where street theater troupes and traveling musicians performed. To get into the hall, it was necessary to go through the first floor, where the shopping gallery was located.
Amazing fact. On one of the doors leading to the hall, there is a wooden plaque with an inscription in gold letters. It contains words of instruction for those entering the hall, who call to leave their personal problems and hardships behind the threshold. Wise instructions were also seen in front of the entrance to the Small Hall of the City Hall. Several centuries later, the words have not lost their relevance and still serve as a reminder of good deeds.
Church of the Holy Spirit
The map of the capital of Estonia is dotted with ancient temples and churches. The Church of the Holy Spirit is one of the oldest - the people of Tallinn built it around the 13th century.
The old church looks unremarkable. But if you go inside, you will be amazed by the splendor of decoration and interior decoration. The church owns a large art collection. The most valuable exhibit is the altar made by the famous master Bernt Notke. The altar has a complex sliding structure and is decorated with paintings on biblical scenes.
An amazing item that the Church of the Holy Spirit cherishes to this day is the clock. They were created in 1688 by Christian Ackermann. The clock is made in the Baroque style and decorated with wooden carvings. It is noteworthy that they continue their work today. ForFor decades, the church was the center of the spiritual life of the townspeople. It works as usual today. A large bell calls the parishioners to the service, on which the words are engraved: "I call everyone the same, and no one can condemn me for this."
Kik-in-de-Kek Tower
If you are a fan of the mysteries of history and choose what to visit in Tallinn, be sure to pay attention to the Kik-in-de-Kek tower.
The structure is 38 meters high and was originally conceived as a place for cannon shooting. By medieval standards, the tower is quite high, so there was a popular joke among the soldiers that they could spy on the hostesses in other people's kitchens. The construction of the tower took place in 1470, after a while it was much expanded, the thickness of the walls was increased to four meters. This improvement was very useful during the war with the Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible. His troops made a hole in the wall, but this did not become a critical destruction for the tower and it survived. A few years later, during the reconstruction, four cannonballs were inserted into it in memory of the war. They can be seen if you enter from the east side.
The tower had one secret: it opened the way to the Underground passages of the bastion. Numerous secret passages were built in the 17th-18th centuries and served as defensive objects. Underground paths served as secret passages for the operational transfer of soldiers, for the delivery of food and weapons. From the middle of the 18th century, some of them began to be used as warehouses, and in the middle of the 19th century they were completely excluded from the list.military installations. In place of the bastions, the city authorities laid out several beautiful parks. During the Second World War, underground tunnels were still used as points for anti-aircraft guns. In 2007, by decision of the city administration, the underground passages of the bastion were open to the public, but they can only be visited with a guide. Judging by the reviews, the walk is worth the time spent on it.
Souvenirs and memorable gifts
When going on a trip, we often think about what souvenirs we will please relatives and friends. Often this is a rather difficult choice, and we resort to a proven tool - reviews. What to bring from Tallinn? Here are the most popular solutions:
1. Alcohol. Each country is famous for its own recipes for intoxicating drinks. Estonia has excelled in the production of liqueurs. Here they are worth paying attention to. For example, liquor "Old Tallinn". It is produced in three types: weak, medium and strong. Strong varieties are suitable for men. Low alcohol will be appreciated by girls. Another popular liquor is Rooster on a Stump. This is a sweet liqueur of bright red color, presented in various flavors: raspberry, strawberry and cherry. If you are not confused by the bright red color, the drink will be a great present.
2. The famous Estonian confectionery factory "Kalev" produces a wide range of desserts and sweets for tea. All kinds of candied fruits in chocolate, sweets, marzipan, waffles … You can buy sweets by weight, a little of everything. But if you want to presenta gift that will be remembered for a lifetime, choose options in a colorful gift box. As a rule, such products are sold in iron or glass jars so that the product is not damaged on the road.
3. Amber. The B altic states are famous for their reserves of this magnificent stone. Amber jewelry has always been considered a sign of good taste. Craftsmen make earrings, bracelets, beads, pendants, hairpins. If you look carefully, you can find sets of hair combs inlaid with amber, as well as caskets and smoking pipes. Amber jewelry invariably collects excellent reviews. Tallinn does not skimp on beauty.
4. Ceramics. Local manufactories have long supported the secrets of handicraft production. Tourists are offered souvenirs made of colored glass, clay and wood. It can be dishes, household utensils, vases. Products made from juniper wood, which retain their amazing sweetish aroma for a long time, are especially loved.
5. There are a lot of souvenirs in Tallinn - for every taste and budget. However, if you plan to return home light, get regular magnets. The cute little thing will easily fit in a small travel bag and will remind you of a wonderful trip.
