While writing about the Nordic countries at work back in October, I wrote about a day trip to Tallinn for clients and I got really inspired. It looked so nice and I wanted to visit it, so I looked it up. Ryanair had cheap tickets from Edinburgh (£32 return if you were wondering) so I convinced a friend to join me and off we went to spend a weekend in Tallinn!
I absolutely loved our trip! We got a wee Airbnb 10 minute’s walk from the town centre and visited during the day before spending our evenings in delicious restaurants and drinking wine between sauna stints. Yes, there was a sauna in our flat, it was brilliant!
My biggest recommendation for food is Rataskaevu 16. I’d seen it recommended so we got a table on our first night and it was amazing! Delicious local food and amazing service, and at not too high a cost either. If you go to Tallinn you HAVE to eat here!
My recommendations of things to see in Tallinn include:
- Tallinn Castle, which houses the parliament of Estonia. You won’t miss it it’s a beautiful pink building on top of the hill which makes up the old town, also called Toompea. It’s a lovely place to go for a wander. The streets snake up the hill and it’s great for unforeseen discoveries and hidden gems. Here you can also visit the old Town Wall which is very impressive.
- Kalamaja is a historic neighbourhood at the north of the old town. We were recommended this by our waiter at R16 as it’s renowned for its old wooden houses. Kalamaja means fish house in Estonian because historically that’s where the fishermen and fishmongers used to reside. It’s again great for a walk, with its very bohemian and residential feel.
- Telliskivi is again north of the old town, near Kalamaja, and again a recommendation from our waiter. It is kind of a cultural centre, though it is called the Telliskivi Creative City, and is located in a former industrial complex. This is basically the Camden of Tallinn. It was very cool and quirky, with some bars and cafés, high end designers as well as artefacts and antiquities shops (some of it disturbing from the second world war and Soviet Union era).
- Lastly, don’t miss the two viewing points on the far side (north) of Toompea for a great view over the city. It’s beautiful and perfect for a photo stop!
Have you been to Estonia? What did you think?xx
