Estonia - Tallinn
Hello!
This time I thought I will not write about where I have been, but rather where I'm from. Estonia is a small country in Eastern Europe and is one of the Baltic States. When people ask me where is that?? I usually tend to say that it is in Scandinavia, next to Finland...and Russia. Tallinn is the capital of Estonia and it is also the biggest city in the country. I love Tallinn because of its old town that was first mentioned in the 14th century, and it has so many great museums, and restaurants. There is plenty to see in Estonia, but if you are visiting just for couple of days I rather suggest to explore Tallinn because it has the most to offer. I will list some favourite places where I go every time I'm back home and what I believe are a must see.
Old Town - this is historic centre of Tallinn that dates back to the mediaeval times and is a UNSECO world heritage site. What is great about this place is that Tallinn has managed to preserve the medieval and Hanseatic origin and you will be able the experience what it was like to live back in the 14th-15th century. You can walk around the old town, try some local Estonian food, enjoy little cafes that are hidden or visit various galleries. A lot of houses are open to the public and there are guided tours through the old town, which you should take if you are more interested in the history - and trust me, it is pretty fascinating. Some of the best restaurants in old town are Olde Hanse, Tchaikovsky, Von Krahl, and Kompressor. These are just some of them, but there are so much more and every year the city presents a list of the best restaurants, which I suggest you take a look if you are visiting. If your are in Tallinn in the winter time, the city has a Christmas market in the middle of the old town that is listed by various publications to be one of the best and most beautiful markets in the world.
Kadriorg - this beautiful neighbourhood is home to our president and is loved by the locals and tourists. You can get there by taking metro number 1 or 3 from the old town and it takes only about 10min. Kadriorg is famous because of its palace and art museum that is surrounded by the Kadriorg park and which was established by Tsar Peter the Great as a manifestation of love. The 18th century park includes fountains and streams, a roe garden, and is also surrounded by historical wooden houses. Kadriorg is such an elegant place and it attracts people because of its local charm and sophisticated art scene. Estonia's largest art collection is also exhibited in Kadriorg - KUMU art museum of Estonia, Adamson-Eric museum, and Kadriorg Art museum which are all located close together at the edge of the park.
Depending on which season you decide to visit Tallinn, there is always something to do - in the summer time you can take a break and go to the beach or in the winter enjoy a cup of hot wine while wondering around in the old town or even spend couple of hours in a spa. Tallinn has also some great shopping, but if you are looking for something unique there are a lot of local design and fashion stores. For more detailed information I suggest to check out this site - www.visitestonia.com