Tallinn independent travel. What else to see in Tallinn? Toompea Castle and Long Hermann Tower

We left St. Petersburg on an Ecolines bus at 10:30 p.m. and were already in Tallinn at 6 a.m. The Estonian border is crossed somehow quickly and painlessly. At least no one checked us. We got out, quickly put down stamps and moved on. When we were driving back to St. Petersburg, we didn’t even get off the warm bus, a girl came in, collected our passports and ten minutes later returned them already stamped.

So, at 6 a.m. On October 17 we arrived in Tallinn. In the morning everything is closed in Tallinn. I must say that on October 17th in the morning it was not so warm outside. But there is nowhere to warm up and drink coffee (we didn’t find any). Finally we made it to some kind of stall with hot dogs and coffee; you couldn’t get warm inside, but at least we drank hot coffee.

Having come to our senses, we reached the old city. Old city beautiful - medieval cobbled streets, toy houses, all covered in yellow leaves and fallen chestnuts.


And here is Town Hall Square, still completely empty.





1. Find five spiers from the “zero mark” on Town Hall Square.

Of course, like ordinary normal tourists, we decided to find five spiers from the “zero level” and make a wish. But instead, we somehow ended up standing on another rock, which, as we later found out, used to be a pillory. Coincidence? Don't think!


In the Old Town, no matter where you turn, you will stumble upon something interesting.




You go on your way and end up at the observation deck.




Or you find some scary street art.



2. Enjoy coffee and pastries with marzipan in one of the cozy cafes in Old Tallinn

So we walked around the Old Town for 2 hours until we were completely frozen. But... at 9 am everything is still closed (We came across the only cafe open from 9 am. God, Tallinn pastries are something!

There will be no photo. So you'll have to take my word for it.

Having refreshed ourselves and warmed up, we decided to find a local flea market. Friends told me that you can find a lot of interesting things there. Of course, we didn’t look in advance where everything was. So we went intuitively.

3. Visit the Kalaturg fish market

And, oh gods, we ended up at the Kalaturg fish market. It turns out that this market is very old. This place has been trading fish for several centuries. There is fresh, smoked and salted fish. The sellers speak Russian. We bought a piece of some fish that was smoked right there at the market, still hot. It's amazingly delicious.






Not everyone in Tallinn knows where they have swap meet. So we had to wander around a bit until a kind girl from a hostel told us how to get there and even gave us a map and drew a mark)

We came to the flea market. And here’s the thing: we live next to Udelka in St. Petersburg. Therefore, the Tallinn flea market completely disappointed me. One Soviet junk that can be found in almost any apartment. Prices are higher than on Udelka, but the choice is much smaller(




Finally we reached the hotel. We had a room booked at Go Shnelli Hotel. Superior room overlooking the old town. Of course, when I booked, I didn’t even look where it was. And the hotel is located right next to the station. The cafe where breakfast is served has windows facing directly onto standing trains. Personally, I was even amused by this, but if you don’t like trains, then it’s better to choose another hotel.

We were checked in at about 12.30 - which couldn’t help but make us happy, because by that time we were already pretty tired. The superior room on the 12th floor turned out to be very small, with a small TV, a table and a large bed. But the view from the window was stunning.

4. Have lunch at the III Drakon tavern

Of course, we couldn’t help but go to the famous III Drakon.


This restaurant maintains a medieval atmosphere. There are earthenware dishes, the stew is being poured from some kind of barrel, it’s twilight inside, everything is lit only by candles. I must say that despite the fact that the restaurant is located right on Town Hall Square, the prices there are very reasonable and the food is tasty and filling, and the mulled wine is simply divine) For two stews, a couple of pies, sausages, a pint of beer and mulled wine, we paid about 15 euros (I don’t remember exactly how much). The only problem is the free seats. You may have to wait a little while waiting for a table or you can eat outside on the street.

5. Touch the chimney sweep's button for luck

To be honest, I am a fan of places where you can make a wish. Even if you don’t believe in the power of such places, you can feel the special energy there. After all, thousands of people share their deepest desires there. So, on Karyavyarava Square there is a statue of a chimney sweep. Be sure to touch his button for luck. By the way, in Tallinn the profession of a chimney sweep is still in demand and relevant.

6. Climb to the observation deck of St. Olaf's Church.

On the second day, after having breakfast with a view of the trains, we went to the highest observation deck in Tallinn - St. Olav's Church (Oleviste Church).


A visit to the observation deck costs only 2.5 euros per person. Honestly, I thought I wouldn't make it upstairs. I don’t know how many steps there are, but it seems like you’re going on forever. There are also other visitors coming down from above, and it is very difficult to separate on the tiny steps. But when you go out onto the site, you realize that everything was not in vain. This is such a view! Simply breathtaking!



7. Try roasted nuts, washed down with hot wine at one of the observation platforms.

Having descended to the ground, we decided to simply wander around the city aimlessly. There were still a couple of hours left before the bus. We were already hungry and we came across these trays with nuts and hot drinks.


We tasted the nuts, which were roasted right on the spot, and drank some hot wine, finally enjoying the medieval beauties of Tallinn.




In general, if you are thinking about where to go on the weekend, choose Tallinn and you definitely won’t go wrong. Beautiful city, low prices, an abundance of bars, restaurants and spas. And it’s still very close to it.

It seems like, well, Tallinn, well, no particularly haute cuisine, and according to this logic of mine, food in Tallinn cafes should be quite affordable in price. However, like Riga and other Baltic tourist cities, the price tag for food in Tallinn is very decent. But if you know where to eat cheaply in Tallinn, and know this in advance so that you can plan your route, you can save a lot on this point of your trip.

Let me make a reservation: for me, eating is basically taking something edible and putting it in my mouth. Everyone has their own criteria and for someone to eat it is necessarily the first, second and compote, and preferably all three should contain meat. For tourists, the mosquito in the soup is already meat and protein) So everything is relative, and the price tag may be higher in the end, but the fact is that these are really the cheapest cafes in Tallinn, and in fact tourist center city, that's a fact.

Even knowing the address and looking at Maps Me, I managed to not immediately find this place. It looks like a very inconspicuous place from the street, these bars and you can’t see anything through the windows. And even when you go inside, you first find yourself in some strange waiting room, and the cafe itself will be further away.

Large hearty pancakes the size of a plate, soups, tea and coffee, at very reasonable prices. In fact, the size of the pancake is such that it can really satisfy your hunger. They don't skimp on the filling either. I was hungry and took some soup and a pancake and the soup arrived very quickly. The pancake had a hard time finishing. And at the same time I was very hungry and chilled.

The mushroom soup is normal in this size.

See prices and menu for yourself. Pancakes are around 5 euros. Even at the current exchange rate, this is quite budget-friendly, considering that many food items in cafes start at 10 euros per serving.

The prices for soups are even more modest, but at the same time it is a soup, and not just broth with croutons.

The fillings in pancakes are very varied, so if you are a fan, then in principle you can eat here every day, if you are in the city for more than a day and have a limited budget. Well, or if you came by ferry just for the day and don’t want to run far from the center in search of an inexpensive cafe. After all, as a rule, in the center where there are many tourists, prices for food are very decent.

There is a lot of space in the pancake house, but there are also enough people at lunchtime. There may not be a free table.

In the interior there are different pancake pans with prints)

Address of the pancake house Kompressor

Rataskaevu 3, 10123 Tallinn. Open from 11 am to 10 pm. The landmark is the street where you need to turn right before the arch leading to Pikk Jalg (Long Leg) to the upper city. Facing the exit, turn left. The pancake shop will be in the second house on the left.

Cafe Third Dragon

This is perhaps the most famous place among tourists who are not afraid to go into the very center in search of food. The Kolmas Draakon cafe is located in the very heart of Tallinn - in the Town Hall building.

I don’t have a photo of the cafe itself from the outside, but I’m sure that once you’re in the center you’ll immediately find this place. At least if you walk through the arches you will see the third dragon and these tables outside at the entrance. They stand here all year round.

This is a tavern in itself, but here you can generally eat inexpensively in Tallinn. You definitely won't find it cheaper. Elk stew 2 euros and pies for 1-3 euros, alcoholic drinks such as mulled wine, schnapps and the like, from 2.5 euros, pickles, which you catch for yourself from a barrel for free. Well, meat on the bone or sausages, depending on the season, that is, something more filling from 3 to 10 euros. The perfect morning hangover spot.

Candlelight and what comes in from the barred windows.

A medieval tavern in all its glory.

Clay dishes and even a bowl of soup come without a spoon; you need to drink the soup over the edge, smacking your lips and wiping with your sleeve as they did in ancient times)

Address of the Third Dragon Tavern

Town Hall Square building 1.

Self-service cafe Lido

I already wrote about the Lido restaurant in Riga, but it turns out there is one in Tallinn. Moreover, even if it is not in the very center, it is very close. You just need to go beyond the fortress wall and reach shopping complex Solaris Keskus. And go up to the second floor.

Inside, everything is the same as in its Riga brother - you take a tray and serve yourself whatever you like. You pay on the way out.

I didn’t have an appetite, but I needed to eat, so I limited myself to soup for 2 euros, potatoes and sauce with mushrooms for 5. And beer. But even meat items here are around 5 euros.

The full seasonal menu and prices can be found on the bistro website http://www.lido.ee/ru

Bistro Lido address

Estonia puiestee 9

Tip No. 1 - Cheap roaming abroad Buy a SIM card for the Internet and calls. I have the main one card Orange and additional Drimsim. Tip No. 2 How to find a hotel 20% cheaper It’s very simple - First, choose a hotel at Booking. They have good base, many real reviews and a convenient search map. And then go to the RoomGuru website and compare prices there. At a minimum, you will pay the same, but most often you will find a cheaper price for the SAME hotel.

Hello friends! Today is a gastronomic post, so I warn you right away, if you are hungry, it is better to close the page immediately, otherwise your stomach will be offended by you, and although you will find out where to eat deliciously in Tallinn, it will no longer be a joy))

If you have a Schengen visa in your passport, you live in Moscow/St. Petersburg and love the Baltic countries or Scandinavia, and would love to spend a weekend in, say, ; and also, if for you food is a kind of cult, or, at least, an additional impression from the trip, and not just fuel for the body, then my selection of atmospheric, authentic and simply pleasant places, with the most varied and excellent cuisine Tallinn - from truly Estonian, to Indian, raw food, and of course, high French, you will definitely need it!

I think many will agree that many neighboring capitals - Stockholm, Riga, and especially Tallinn - are ideal for weekend trips.

This is exactly how we used to travel most often. But last fall something inexplicable happened - we came to Tallinn for 3 days, and despite the fact that we had already been there before, we stayed for a whole month, it charmed us so much!

During this time, we visited many interesting cafes and restaurants - both with haute cuisine and Asian cuisine, we visited both vegan and raw food ones, and those specializing in meat delicacies, from venison to bear meat, and in some establishments we even visited more than once, We liked them so much, so now we know exactly where to eat in Tallinn.

I know from myself that St. Petersburg residents with multi-Schengen travel to Helsinki and Tallinn are very spontaneous, you can literally decide in a day to buy a train/bus ticket, fortunately it is very cheap and there are often sales. Either take a car (or use a "bla-bla car") and spend the weekend in a Finnish or Estonian capital. Or you can do both at once, because the ferry between these cities runs 6 times a day in each direction and takes only 2 hours :)

By the way, they wrote about ferries here:

If you decide to visit both capitals, then also read our gastronomic selection of Helsinki in this article:

Read about what to see in Tallinn, where to go and what to do, as well as where to stay here:

And now about the most important thing - where to eat deliciously in Tallinn! Let's move on to the restaurants and cafes that we can confidently recommend, and where we will definitely visit when we find ourselves in Tallinn!

An amazing restaurant right on Town Hall Square - from May to November there is a summer terrace, the tables are right on the square, so you can devour the chef’s delicious creations (I say this without embellishment) and admire the city’s beauties!

We have been to Kaerajaan a couple of times, tried a variety of dishes, and liked everything very much each time. Here you can order duck, lamb, steak, as well as fish and seafood. The cuisine is based on traditional Estonian dishes, but with its own twist.

Among the desserts, our favorite was the hot chocolate fondant with honey mustard sauce and sorbet, it’s simply divine!

Inside the restaurant there is a pleasant stylized interior - there are fireplaces, hanging rugs self made, and in general the building itself is very ancient - in the toilet on the second floor there is even a chimney pipe that you can look into :)

Despite the very touristy location, the Kaerajaan restaurant is popular with the locals, which is undoubtedly a good sign, they certainly know where to eat deliciously in Tallinn!

Read our separate article about what you should definitely try in Kaerajaan:

D.O.M.

D.O.M. - a restaurant in the very heart of Tallinn, located, like the previous establishment on the list, on Town Hall Square.

Aristocratic Provencal style in the interior, exquisite French cuisine with a light piquant twist of Asian influences - all this cannot but attract both tourists and the local elite.

The restaurant is two-story, with an outdoor terrace right on the square, I think you guessed which place at the table we preferred during lunch :)

The hot salad with goat cheese and duck, as well as the baked pike perch and panna cotta turned out to be incomparable, especially with such a stunning view of the old Town Hall.

Prices are above average, but you can definitely afford to go once :)

Read more about the restaurant in our separate article:

Elevant

Well, we love Indian dishes and spicy spices, so almost always, in every city we try to find an Indian restaurant, and Tallinn is no exception.

If you are a fan of Indian spices or just want to diversify your lunch or dinner, then go to the “elephant” - the Elevant restaurant of Indian cuisine.

The originality of the interior lies in its super environmental friendliness; the walls here, for example, are covered with natural paints based on eggs and cottage cheese.

The menu at Elevant is extensive - from classic Indian vegetarian curries to unusual combinations, for example, curry with wild boar or elk :) Moreover, the portions here are huge in Indian style.

As for drinks, there are, of course, Indian classics - lassi and masala tea. Although we love traditional Indian cuisine, at the same time we like to experiment with food, so here we couldn’t refuse original combinations, and as the main dishes we chose 2 curries - one with salmon, the other with elk meat, this is what they have in India It's unlikely to be found. At least we didn’t meet them, and in total we spent a little less than a year in India.

Read more about Tallinn's "Little India" in our article:

The medieval restaurant Olde Hansa is perhaps the No. 1 place in Tallinn where you should definitely have dinner at least once. The selection on the menu itself is impressive, especially the various sets of game, poultry and fish, and if you believe the chef, all the dishes are prepared according to ancient recipes, which are still preserved on parchment paper.

The medieval hunting interior, the mysterious twilight, the perky manner of communication among the waitresses, serving food in clay pots and canvas bags, specific music and the lack of Wi-Fi - all this really immerses you in medieval times, a couple of centuries ago.

Olde Hansa is a place not only for tourists; city residents also come here for a glass of beer or kvass in clay cups. We visited here for the first time about 8 years ago, on the advice of friends who always come here every time they find themselves in Tallinn. No, there is no special haute cuisine here, it’s just a very unusual and atmospheric place.

At Olde Hansa we tried a variety of variations of game - from bear and elk meat to venison and wild boar, and I also really remembered the onion jam for cheese, after the first spoon I asked for an additional portion :)

In general, it’s worth coming here at least once!

Vegan Restaurant V

And the following recommendation will appeal to all vegans and raw foodists! Vegan Restoran V is also worth a look for those who are just thinking about becoming a follower of this diet, but doubt that it is possible to eat very varied, and even incredibly tasty.

This small cozy restaurant, where there is almost always no free seats, is located in the very center of the Old Town, next to the “cat well” attraction. By the way, it’s better to book a table in advance, because you won’t find such specialized places with fire in Tallinn during the day, and Vegan Restoran V also has very reasonable prices.

Oh, the menu here is very appetizing, you definitely won’t leave hungry! Among the interesting things we tried, there are, for example, beet ravioli with cashew cheese, raw carrot soup with ginger, vegetarian lasagna, black beans with tofu, and also home-baked bread.

For those who don’t eat dairy, there’s even cappuccino with almond milk :) and of course, a variety of desserts!

We will definitely come here again and again. If you don't eat meat, then now you know the place where you can eat in Tallinn, but even if you are not a vegetarian, we still recommend coming here!

Read more about what we tried in our separate article:

The CRU restaurant offers simply amazing cuisine from a Russian chef who has the title of best chef of the year. Meals are served here at top level- both the serving and the interior of the Middle Ages of the 15th century, divine appetizers and desserts, original main courses - everything corresponds to haute cuisine.

By the way, the chef himself brought us snacks, introduced himself, talked about the dish, where and how the products were grown/purchased; this approach, of course, was pleasant.

And another highlight of CRU is the presence of its own bakery, the bread they bake here is simply excellent, with seeds and nuts, after dinner we ordered another loaf to take with us :)

The restaurant is located very close to the Virus Gate, it is impossible to miss it, the place is very accessible and within the Old Town.

Kohvik Moon

The Kohvik Moon restaurant, unlike the previous establishment, is not located in tourist place, and despite this, it is almost always sold out. And all because there is high-quality cuisine from two Russian chefs who previously worked as chefs in best restaurants Tallinn. It is to them that people come, and it seems to me that they are satisfied, just like us :)

To get here during the annual restaurant week, we had to book a table well in advance, the place was absolutely packed all week, which is undoubtedly a great sign.

Since the restaurant specializes in Russian cuisine, we didn’t deny ourselves pickles with honey and sour cream :) But as appetizers and main courses we preferred the following chef’s creations – stewed eel, baked goat cheese with pumpkin pesto, deer fillet and fish whitefish, we were delighted with all the dishes.

And of course, dessert! We've had our eye on sea buckthorn for a long time, so when I saw meringue with sea buckthorn on the menu, the choice was clear! You can see photos of the above mentioned delicious dishes and the interiors of the establishment, and also find out what the name of the restaurant means (no, it’s not “moon” at all, as you might think), as well as the names of the magician chefs, in our separate article dedicated to Kohvik Moon:

Bordoo

The interior of the Bordoo restaurant is made in an aristocratic style, and in accordance with it, haute cuisine reigns here.

Bordoo is located in the old historical landmark building “3 Sisters”, which now houses a 5* boutique hotel The Three Sisters Boutique Hotel with exquisite rooms in an interior with a focus on medieval style. The Bordoo restaurant has unusually shaped windows, ancient beams on the walls and ceilings, candles in silver medieval candlesticks on the tables, and a grand piano in the corner.

The menu at Bordoo is small and at the same time exquisite - only those dishes that the chef prepares masterfully. Unusual appetizers, for example, ravioli with meat from foie gras and porcini mushrooms and “for the main thing” – venison fillet.

The chef's signature style is pansies, although even without them such a dessert as “hot lava” with sorbet is very good.

This establishment is perfect for a romantic dinner or simply for connoisseurs of refined taste.

Peppersack

Peppersack is an iconic restaurant right 50 meters from the Welcome Square. Probably the fact that it is located in an ancient building of the 14th century undoubtedly influenced the concept of the restaurant. To match the medieval interior with high beamed ceilings, chic ancient chandeliers, an antique fireplace, the kitchen here is also truly medieval, but not for mere “mortals” as in Olde Hansa, but with sophistication :)

Even the menu is unusual, for example, you can order something from the “catch sea ​​travel Adam Olearius" or other delicacies from merchants. I really liked the hot salad with duck fillet in a spicy currant sauce and the tender juicy grilled rack of lamb with garlic and cherry sauce.

There is also a good selection of soups, various appetizers, excellent desserts and an extensive list of wines and drinks.

In general, Peppersack is 2 restaurants under one roof, with different menus, we went to the traditional one, but there is also Kolme Konna Grill with open kitchen, where the grill menu is a priority, next time we will visit there too :)

PULL

The new fashionable restaurant PULL in the Rotermann quarter, it opened quite recently - in 2016, and has already become very popular. We recommend reserving a table in advance, the place is always sold out, and if you come just for the sake of it, you might stumble upon a sign saying “Sorry, we are full.”

The restaurant was opened by famous grill chefs, famous not only in Estonia, but also abroad. Here are excellent steaks, cooked directly on coals, with a bright rich taste and a subtle aroma of smoke,

as well as amazing delicious snacks, unusual salads and desserts, a cool super smoothie menu made from a variety of ingredients.

I was pleased with the interior - stylish, thought out to the smallest detail, elegant dishes and cutlery, in general, you can get not only pleasure for your taste buds, but also experience aesthetic pleasure.

After this restaurant we were very impressed; read everything we tried in our separate article:

Spot

The Spot restaurant is located in an old house with a centuries-old history, very close to the Welcome Square. The interior is quite pleasant, the restaurant has 2 rooms, suitable for cozy dinners for two and for meetings with a group.

The Spot restaurant is pleasant, but at the same time, I would not put it on the “must visit” list in Tallinn, like Olde Hansa, CRU, Moon, Peppesack, Pull or Kaerajaan.

We write about what we chose for main course and what desserts we preferred in a separate article:

Leib Resto ja Aed

It’s very difficult to get to the Leib Resto ja Aed restaurant for lunch or dinner without prior reservation of a table, and this already says a lot :) The restaurant is located in the Old Town, although not in a public place, but tourists go there, and the main contingent is still locals . The interior of the restaurant is very stylish and cozy, as if you are coming home, I managed to photograph it after closing, when all the visitors had left 🙂 You can come to Leib Resto either for lunch from 12 to 15, or in the evening for dinner from 18 o’clock, but during the day it is closed.

The main concept in creating the menu is the use of exclusively fresh, seasonal, traditionally Estonian ingredients to create interesting menu. As you might guess, it is seasonal, for example, you will find mushrooms on the menu only in the fall, but we tried dishes from the winter set, including the special Christmas menu!

Definitely want to mention the bean hummus with salted nasturtium berries and crunchy vegetables and the unusual dessert - dried egg yolk with cherry cream and yoghurt sorbet.

The restaurant is also proud of its extensive map wines and beer, there are also “homemade” drinks on the alcoholic menu. IN summer time at Leib Resto ja Aed you have the chance to take a seat on the open terrace; the restaurant has its own garden-yard, very cozy!

Senso

Cozy Senso restaurant, with a pleasant interior, good service and a varied selection of dishes.

They serve salmon sashimi, beef carpaccio, and grilled veal entrecote. It may not be worth going here specifically, but if you are staying nearby, then why not have dinner at Senso :)

The restaurant is located on the ground floor of the Radisson Blu Olumpia Hotel. By the way, there is a white grand piano in the dining room, so it is possible that live music is played here on special days.

More detailed review about the Senso kitchen with photographs of what we ordered, read in a separate article:

III Draakon

III Draakon is a kind of old tavern, very popular, and recommended to us by friends and relatives, and this is the only place on the list where we have not been, but since we have heard a lot of flattering reviews, we also recommend it.

III Draakon, like Olde Hansa, is a medieval tavern, only with more affordable prices, a kind of light version :)

The food here is simple but tasty, especially the excellent pies, and there is also a tub of cucumbers, from which anyone can catch as many as they want. The cafe is located in the town hall building, right under the tower

– you’ll definitely recognize this place by the cheerful people inviting you to the light, colorful waitresses and wooden benches on the streets; the tavern is located 5 meters from the Kaerajaan restaurant.

This place is simpler, but here you can also have a tasty and inexpensive, and at the same time varied lunch or dinner in a modern setting, not far from the old town.

The main dishes are soups, salads, pizza, all this is prepared by the chefs right in the hall, everything is fresh and tasty!

We came here several times – we liked the soups and ravioli, salads and pizzas. Prices – 4-9 euros per dish!

This place reminded us very much of the St. Petersburg Market Place. The restaurant also has a children's room.

I’ll tell you about another interesting restaurant-tavern Altja Kõrts, it is not located in Tallinn, but it is convenient to visit if you go to see the sights outside the city, it is located not far from the fishing village.

The originality here is not only in the rustic interior, but also in the dishes themselves; I recommend rich soups and stews and an unusual appetizer made from potato peels and a local drink made from bread crumbs.

The cuisine at Altja Kõrts is not very high-quality, but almost all the dishes ordered turned out to be delicious, mostly truly Estonian dishes, and also, the portions here are unusually large, especially in comparison with restaurants in the capital.

And don’t forget to ride on the huge Estonian swing in the yard, which can accommodate 6-8 people at a time!

***

Well, in Tallinn, there are many wonderful coffee shops and pastry shops where it is so pleasant to spend time over a cup of coffee and a cake. Usually, when choosing such establishments, we focus on the rating on tripadvisor, or we go to the place where we like the interior or the selection of cakes through the window!

Also, in Tallinn there is oldest museum marzipan and the popular Estonian chocolate shop Kalev, where all those with a sweet tooth should definitely visit! The Old Town is full of cart shops selling nuts in various coatings and spices, the most colorful cart is next to Olde Hansa, be sure to try their signature roasted almonds in caramel with spices :)

I’m sure there are many more wonderful atmospheric and delicious places in Tallinn that we don’t know about yet, so if you have your own favorite coffee shops or restaurants, tell us about them in the comments, thank you!

But if you are going to Estonia, you are probably interested not only in where to eat in Tallinn, but in addition to bread, you will also want spectacles, more about them below :)

All the sights of Tallinn - the most full list most interesting places:

If you go by car, do not miss the natural beauty:

Excursions in Tallinn

Well, if you prefer to explore the sights in an organized format, then we offer a choice of excursions in Tallinn.

Where to stay in Tallinn?

Luxury hotels located in historical buildings within the Old Town:

  • Hotel Telegraaf
  • Savoy Boutique Hotel
  • The Three Sisters
  • Hotel Schloessle
  • St Petersburg Hotel

Hotels outside the Old Town with stunning views:

  • Swissotel Tallinn
  • Radisson Blu Sky Hotel
  • Radisson Blu Hotel Olumpia

Options in the mid-price category:

  • Apartments Rotermanni
  • Olematu Ruutel Guest House
  • Tallink Express Hotel.

The easiest way to get to Tallinn from St. Petersburg is by bus or train, and from other cities you can find inexpensive

Tallinn is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful and well-preserved medieval cities in Europe, and not high prices for food and accommodation, plus good transport connection with Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian cities make it an ideal option for a weekend getaway. During your trip, it’s definitely worth staying in the center of Tallinn - hotel prices here are quite reasonable (you can easily live in the very center of Tallinn with views of Town Hall Square for the same amount as a closet with a broken shower would cost you in Paris). The main hotel feature of Tallinn is perhaps related to the local climate: the winters here are relatively mild, with light slanting rain in spring and autumn, and the summers are quite short, and for some reason it is believed that it is ideal to go here in the summer (how else to explain this fact , that the prices of some Tallinn hotels in the summer become similar to some in Paris?). In my opinion, the city is good at any time of the year. It is unlikely that you are coming here to swim, so for an introductory trip to Tallinn you can easily choose both spring and autumn, when hotel prices drop sharply, and for 50–60 euros per day you can book a four-star hotel in the center, in an ancient building, and in this price will include an excellent breakfast. Tallinn experiences another price peak during Christmas and New Year holidays - in last years it has become fashionable to meet here New Year, so hotels need to be booked in advance for this period.

What is the best area of ​​Tallinn to stay in?

Hotels in the Estonian capital are located quite compactly, and since the Middle Ages they have gravitated towards the hill on which the stern Toompea castle stands (Toompea loss). Literally across the road from the castle hill there is a railway station where trains from Moscow arrive, however, unlike many European capitals, there is no pronounced cluster of hotels near the Tallinn station, because who would live near the station when for reasonable money you can stay in the center in a real old house and listen to the clock strike in the morning, and look at the red tiled roofs and towers from the window.

Old Town (Vanalinn)

Most Tallinn hotels in the center use a medieval theme: the design of the rooms here includes stonework, heavy antique oak furniture, wooden floors, and heavy ceiling beams; there are certainly some details that create the mood and atmosphere, for example, heavy a forged key, a leather-bound guest book and a quill pen, knight's armor, or engravings with views of Old Tallinn. In most cases, hotels in the center are real old buildings, some were hotels already in the 16th–17th centuries, they usually have nice courtyards that are decorated for Christmas and national holidays, and under the very roof in such houses, as a rule, they are equipped attic rooms. Breakfasts in Estonian hotels are traditionally plentiful, varied and satisfying - local fish (herring in various marinades), boiled new potatoes, various pickles and salads are often served (including Olivier). Local grain bread and sprats are especially tasty; for dessert, hotel guests can be treated to “specialties” - for example, marzipan from the Kalev factory. Hotel staff usually speak good Russian and are happy to advise on attractions and restaurants. All these are advantages. But there are also disadvantages. For example, if you plan to travel to Tallinn by car, it is worth checking in advance how to get to the hotel and where to park, since entry into the Old Town is closed for non-residents in some places. Please also keep in mind that many hotels practice depositing a certain amount on the card (as a guarantee in case of damage to the room or an unpaid minibar). This needs to be treated philosophically: if tourists did not often try to deceive the hotel and leave without paying for the minibar, this practice would not exist.

Since Tallinn was one of the Hanseatic cities, a lively and rich trading port, its medieval part quite large and divided into two areas: Upper town, or Vyshgorod, where the hill with the castle is located, and Lower city, separated from Upper by a fortress wall, where, in turn, one can distinguish areas around Town Hall Square, Viru Gate, near the Fat Margaret Tower, at the foot of the castle hill.

Directly in Vyshgorod there are no hotels - they say because almost all the buildings here are protected by the state and changing anything both inside and outside is prohibited, and the arrangement of a hotel is nothing more than a radical re-equipment of the building. The only thing that can be noted is the small guest house Olematu Rüütel. But there are a number of apartments, for example, on Toom-Rüütli street (here, in particular, one of the apartments of the Tallinn City Apartments Old Town Toompea apartment chain is located). The advantage of the apartments here is the location - the atmosphere is especially felt here medieval city, plus there is a couple nearby observation platforms, from where, in clear weather, you can take amazing pictures of Old Tallinn. The downside may be the distance of the castle hill from shopping and parking (entry to the castle hill is prohibited), as well as the very fact that the apartments are located at the top - walking up the hill on foot may not be very convenient, especially if you have luggage. It is also worth considering that early in the morning there is practically no place to have breakfast in Tallinn - everything is closed, and if you do not live in a hotel or have not bought groceries in the supermarket, you can easily be left without food. So, if you are planning an early arrival in Tallinn, it is worth packing some rations, or check with the hotel whether it is possible to have breakfast on the day of check-in for an additional fee (this is a common practice for many hotels).

Alternatively, you can consider hotels located at the foot of the castle hill , for example, Hotel Imperial. From here it’s a stone’s throw from Town Hall Square and railway station, and at the same time there are a couple of grocery stores nearby, including the brand store of the Kalev marzipan factory. The main thing is that with maximum proximity to Vyshgorod, you do not need to climb the hill several times a day.

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Town Hall Square(Raekoja plats) It’s a good place to live if you like to be in the center of city life: for Christmas everyone decorates nicely and puts up a Christmas tree, this is where the Christmas market takes place, and in the summer local artists exhibit their works here. All attractions in walking distance: it’s a 5-minute walk to the castle, about 10 minutes to the Fat Margaret Tower, and the same 5 minutes to the Viru Gate. In the area of ​​Town Hall Square, the majority of the city's restaurants, cafes and beer establishments are concentrated, including the iconic tourist medieval restaurant "Olde Hansa" or the no less iconic cafe "Majasmokk", as well as shops selling Estonian flax, amber products and cute souvenirs. The only disadvantages of the local hotels are the noise coming from the square during any celebrations, relatively high prices and limited parking options. In a number of hotels, the parking lots are small, for 10–20 cars, and spaces need to be booked in advance, plus leaving the hotel is not always convenient - often the garage doors do not open automatically, and you need to get out of the car and call the intercom for the gates to open. An interesting option here, in my opinion, is Hotel Telegraaf, located right in the former telegraph building around the corner from the square. Here you can only complain about the high cost of the restaurant and spa services - in Tallinn you can find cheaper ones.

A nice alternative to the Town Hall Square hotels are the locals apartments, equipped with the latest technology, but at the same time located in ancient buildings, including those with facades directly facing the square. The advantages of apartments are obvious for those who prefer to cook on their own and do not like busy places like hotels: at a minimum, the apartment has a kitchen, dishwashers and even washing machines are often found. The apartments are good for large groups or families to stay in - there are apartments with 2-3 bedrooms. In this area, I advise you to pay attention to the Raekoja Residence apartment complex.

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The divergence from Town Hall Square in all directions is amazing. authentic streets of the Old Town , where merchants once lived. The main advantage of living here is the atmosphere: you can feel like a traveler who has arrived in Tallinn on some Hanseatic business. If you're lucky, the views from the window will be appropriate: maybe the Oleviste Church, or a narrow alley with curved walls and an arch, or a fragment of a fortress wall, at least, it will be a nice courtyard or a string of picturesque roofs. Near Fat Margaret Tower stands perhaps the most famous Tallinn hotel - The Three Sisters Boutique Hotel, located in three adjacent buildings of the 15th century. On Lai Street there is another nice option - St. Olav Hotel, where for reasonable money you can get a wonderful breakfast and an original room with stonework. Possible disadvantages of the local hotels may be the usual problems with parking (familiar to those who have already been to ancient cities) and small rooms, however, quite comfortable, where every centimeter is used effectively. Also, if the hotel is located in several buildings, some loss of orientation is possible, because sometimes the transitions between buildings are on different floors, but you can get used to it.

Viru Gate, or Viru (Viru väravad) is the medieval gate of Tallinn, located a few minutes walk from Town Hall Square. This area is good in its own way: on the one hand, the ancient city wall and buildings have been preserved here - also far from a new building; on the other hand, there are quite a large number of shops nearby, including the Rimi supermarket, where you can buy the same sprats, grain bread, marzipan and Vana Tallinn liqueur (remember that alcohol in Estonia is sold strictly until 10 pm and only from 10 am, and that drinking alcohol in public places is strictly punishable). Coming out of the gate outside the fortress walls of Tallinn, you immediately find yourself in the area of ​​skyscrapers (more about this area will be discussed below), where the main Tallinn shopping begins and where numerous European brands and a few Estonian ones are presented. Here, near the Virki Gate, I advise you to pay attention to the Taanilinna Hotel, which stands quietly and inconspicuously in the depths of the courtyard - this hotel has inexpensive, but very nice rooms and excellent breakfasts.

Spa hotels in Tallinn

One of the first spa hotels in Tallinn, Kalev Spa Hotel & Waterpark, is located a 5-minute walk from the Viru Gate. The hotel has a very good spa and a spacious swimming pool, but the rooms are quite cramped and the hotel itself is large and crowded, so it's up to you to decide whether it's worth your attention or not. Alternatively, you can sign up (in advance!) for various procedures at the hotel, and live somewhere nearby, in the same Taanilinna Hotel.

In my opinion, spa in Estonia– an ideal combination of price and quality for a Russian-speaking tourist: the procedures are inexpensive, they are of high quality, and there is almost no language barrier between visitors and staff (in any spa salon, someone speaks Russian). Considering the popularity of spas in Tallinn, where people come not only from Russia, but also from neighboring Finland for these purposes, treatments such as massages and wraps, as well as beauty services must be booked in any hotel or spa center in advance, immediately after booking the hotel, otherwise, you can be left without spa treatments, content with swimming in the pool.

New spa hotels, built in Tallinn in recent years, are located closer to the port area . These are modern buildings, the construction of which, in most cases, took into account the needs of motorists, so there are no problems with parking here. The center from here is a maximum of 10–15 minutes on foot. True, the choice of nutritional establishments here is much smaller than in the center, but there are a couple nearby shopping centers. An undoubted advantage is the proximity of the passenger port, from where ferries depart to the Scandinavian countries and St. Petersburg. In my opinion, the most interesting accommodation option in this area of ​​Tallinn can be considered another representative of the famous Tallink Spa & Conference Hotel chain.

Hotels outside the historical center of Tallinn

Sadama district: port and skyscrapers

Located east of Tallinn's Old Town ultra-modern skyscraper district : there are a large number of offices and shops located here, at the same time, from here it is only a 10-minute walk to the Viru Gate, and 15-20 minutes to the Town Hall Square. The hotels here are located, as a rule, in modern buildings, equipped with parking lots and one or two restaurants. Here, the chain Tallink City Hotel seems to me to be the most attractive option. The conditional disadvantages of hotels in this area include their crowdedness, especially during the period New Year holidays when many tourist groups come here.

Pirita area: beach and pine groves

Live outside the historical center of Tallinn hardly worth it– despite the fact that the city is small, driving around in traffic jams, wasting precious daylight time (which is especially true if you come here in autumn or winter), is irrational. True, here, as with any rule, exceptions are possible: for example, if you definitely want to live near Pirita beach, in pine forest, you are by car and the distance from the Old Town does not scare you, then interesting options can be found here - for example, the Pirita Spa Hotel i-TicketsFinder.ru: search for air flights, compare prices of airlines and online ticket agencies

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