When it comes to travelling and exploring new corners of the world, I can admit that Tallinn was never a place that appeared at the top of my list. Heck, I hadn't even heard of it until I moved to Finland; although I do fall into the category of those who are geographically challenged so it's probably not a huge shock to some. For those that aren't sure, Tallinn is the capital city of Estonia, and at around two hours by ferry from Helsinki, it's a popular destination for touring Finns - or so I'm told!
Scott and I decided to head over early Saturday morning and explore the beautiful old town of Tallinn. Neither of us had much idea of what to expect but we sure weren't disappointed. This is going to be a very picture heavy post, you have been warned!
The streets of the old town are paved with cobbles and steeped in history and culture. Built between the 13th and 16th centuries, Tallinn's old town is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and it's easy to see why. The architecture is simply stunning. The minute Scott and I stepped foot in the old town, we were literally blown away by its beauty. There's so much to take in and plenty of nooks and crannies to explore.
Tallinn's old town houses a number of differing market stalls, selling products ranging from hand-made shawls and jumpers to a variety of souvenirs. The fresh flower stalls were my favourite. The smell was incredible and Scott had to hold me back from snapping up a tonne of the little pots. I was amazed at how cheap they were seeing as they were some of the prettiest flowers I've seen - Around 6-8 Euros a pop, Bargain!
Finding a good spot to eat and drink is a doddle in the old town. The streets are lined with little terraces and outdoor seating areas that belong to various cafes and restaurants. We discovered a place called Al Bastione, set back from the main streets in a courtyard nestled between buildings. We took a pit stop and filled up on pizza and french fries. Compared to Finland, the price for food and drink in Estonia is as cheap as chips - quite literally. We paid around 16 Euros for lunch and a couple of soft drinks. Not bad.
Enormous pizza!
After stuffing our faces we headed back into the bustling streets to explore and ended up at The Highlander. A typically Scottish pub tucked away almost out of sight. Being the true Scotsman that he is, Scott wasted no time in locating it and pulling up a bar stool to chat with the owner, (a Glaswegian chap) over a cold pint of Tennent's.
And yes, we did return the next day so that Scott could have a can of Irn Bru and a Scotch egg. No stereotyping here folks!
As well as the old town, there's plenty to do elsewhere in Tallinn. We spotted a shopping centre just a stone's throw from the old town and decided to have a quick browse. Low and behold - There's a River Island!! Now, it's probably quite difficult to put into words how Scott and I felt at the very moment that we clapped eyes on the huge, glowing sign, but put it this way, we were pleased. The shopping in Finland leaves a lot to be desired and I haven't stepped foot in the likes of Topshop or River Island since April, which for a girl who likes her shopping, is a very, very long time! So naturally, we picked up a few bits and pieces which I will stick in a haul post soon.
Unfortunately, we were short on time and never had the chance to explore as much as we would have hoped to but we have already spoken about returning soon to cast a wider net and see what else lies beyond the old town walls.
Tomorrow I will be posting about where we stayed in Tallinn, the incredible Hotel Telegraaf located right in the old town. There will be pictures of food. Need I say more?
Finally, I shall leave you with this:
This is not in Tallinn, we actually spotted it in the port in Helsinki. I swear it's new as neither Scott nor I have ever seen it before and well, it's not exactly one you'd miss in a hurry. Please do correct me if I'm wrong though. Amazing!
Thank you again to the incredible city of Tallinn for completely exceeding my expectations and blowing me away with your medieval charm. Until next time...
