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Mikko Fritze

Mikko Fritze

Tallinn 2011 Board Member

What would I do if I had not been to Estonia for a long time?

I would fly to Tallinn and would find accommodation in one of the many beautiful hotels. In the evening I would dine in one of the equally numerous excellent restaurants. Afterwards, I would take a nightcap at a medieval wine cellar. Truly medieval! Through all of this I would saunter through old Tallinn, and let the Old Town simply sink into me.

The next day I would take one of those amusing Czechoslovakian-made streetcars in order to conquer other parts of the town – the noble Kadriorg, but also Kalamaja and Kopli; the boroughs with wooden architecture. There is much to discover here! I would simply go with the flow – as stopping points I would use several of the cafés and in Kadriorg of course the KuMu (go ahead, google it!). In the evening I would go to the sauna Kalma. It really strikes my fancy, but is not for the faint of heart. The temperatures in the upper spheres of the amphitheater-shaped steam room may be high enough as to be enjoyable only in a felted hat and a pair of mittens.

On the third day the road would take me to the National Park at Lahemaa, to its woods and its swamps. It may sound strange, but the bogs are some of Estonia’s best features. Their frugal beauty and purity put the soul at rest. Lahemaa, with its beautiful wildlife, is close enough that you can stay overnight in Tallinn. The best thing to do, however, is to stay here several days. In this case: BYOB – bring your own bicycle. (There are ample rental opportunities in Tallinn).

Do not miss out on the Western coast. The dominating factor here is the architecturally balanced wooden city of Haapsalu. Right next to it are the islands. A tip: you can reach Hiiumaa and Saaremaa by airplane for a very reasonable fare. The authentic approach is still with a ferry, while treating yourself to a delicious open-faced herring sandwich.

I am running out of space here, but have still so many ideas left. Lake Peipus, Tartu and Southern Estonian, the museums in Tallinn, the Estonian music festivals, gathering mushrooms in autumn, bird-watching at any time of the year, knowing how many bears and lynx roam the forests here, or the crazy days of the Black Nights Film Festival…

And then there is all of that, of course, which is still wholly unknown to me!

Green and clean Estonia

If you are looking for windmills, forests, and varied weather and seasons, then come to Estonia. Estonia has a coastline of 3 794 km and has 1 400 lakes, 800 islands, and many national parks. The charm of the medieval era lives on in the cobbled streets at the foot of Toompea Hill in Tallinn. Mighty walls surround the old Hanseatic town, and Fat Margaret tower facing the sea protected it against the Germans and Swedes, who now again arrive in Tallinn in large masses. (Salzburger Nachrichten, 4.4)

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have not yet been touched by mass tourism, which is why you should visit these countries soon. The Baltic states are united by the cobalt blue Baltic Sea, which offers you long walks on its white beaches. Here you can find baroque and medieval towns and castles, lakes, long dunes and pine forests, making for the best preserved natural environment in Europe. Each country has its own identity, language and traditions. Tallinn, with its Lutheran and Scandinavian influences, is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the most beautiful view of the town opens from the sea. A sense of history can be felt in the medieval Old Town, alongside a lot of the modern world in the cafés and glamorous bars, the hotel rooms with Wi-Fi connection, and the chic art galleries. (Pleine Vie, juuni 2009)

Estonia’s secret lies in its freshness.
Estonia’s secret lies in its freshness. Photo: Marko Mägi

Picture a country that is so clean that you do not dare to smoke in the streets, a country so green that you believe you are walking on a mountain pasture after a rainfall. Picture a country which is so modern that internet cafés here are a thing of the past and where modern design is on par with that of the Nordic countries. This country is Estonia. The past is a memory and the future is a song. What is the secret of this country? Maybe it is freshness. The national sport of the Estonians is mushroom picking. Being close to nature is nothing new for the people here, and as you go around the countryside you will find it difficult to find a home which does not have a sauna as a natural part of it. The sauna is of deep importance to the Estonians – children were born there, it was a place for cleansing, a place for resting. The importance of the sauna has not disappeared today-- you will find saunas in hotels, town houses, camp sites. But the best saunas are the old ones, which are close to nature. Know that an invitation to a sauna night at home is a sign of respect, which you should not refuse unless you have a good reason. (Metro, 15.9)

Estonia is a country of squirrels.
Estonia is a country of squirrels. Photo: Elvis Kõll

Estonia is a country of squirrels, not hares - here you can live in the treetops, jumping from one branch to another without touching the ground at all, so thick are the forests. The surroundings are quiet, here or there you may spot plain wooden houses with a light in the window and a column of smoke rising into the silent air. The houses in their modesty may remind you of buildings seen in Japan. In winter there is little light, even on the sunniest of days. The people are quiet, winds are icy, and despite the great changes in social life over the last 20 years the memories of the times of the occupation are disappearing only slowly. (Le Figaro, 21.12)

Islands - the best place to relax

The islands are among the most beautiful places in the Baltics. In the middle of Hiiumaa, a massive 36-metre high tower rises. This mighty structure is the Kõpu lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in the Baltic Sea that still operates. The Estonian Lighthouse Society is working towards opening 45 Estonian lighthouses to the public. The lighthouses will retain their old function, but additionally they will become tourist sites, which will attract visitors to the islands of Estonia. The forest paths on Hiiumaa are solitary, the beaches are solitary too. Hiiumaa is enchanting, but more good ideas, initiatives and dynamic people are needed. (Süddeutsche Zeitung, 2.4)

Kõpu lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in the Baltic Sea that still operates.
Kõpu lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in the Baltic Sea that still operates. Photo: Getter Vahar

The Estonian islands are the best place to slow down and relax. Muhu was the westernmost edge of the Soviet empire until Estonia gained independence in 1991, and along with the neighbouring island of Saaremaa, it has retained a rural charm. The result of no industrial development is two time-capsule islands. Here the attractions are simple pleasures such as walking in pine forests, bathing at deserted beaches, or getting treatments at a spa hotel. Even in Soviet times it was a place where artists came. In Koguva village the work of local artist can be admired. The famous Pädaste Manor offers its visitors a luxurious setting. (The Times, 8.8)

The “Eiffel Tower” of Hiiumaa is related to the similar structure in Paris not just by name, but also in the attitude of the public to it. There were many who demanded the ugly monstrosity be demolished during its construction. But now millions of tourists visit it, and it has become a tourism magnet. Jaan, who built the Hiiumaa tower, says that he created it as a memorial to his beloved and having to demolish it would mean betraying his love. Every day dozens of tourists visit Jaan’s yard where the tower stands. (Первый канал, 19.9)

Versatile Tallinn – European Capital of Culture 2011

Bored of Riga and Vilnius? Then hurry on to Tallinn! Tallinn is best known for its beautiful Old Town, surrounded by a well-preserved town wall. Inside the wall, red tiled roofs and narrow church steeples catch the eye. This beauty is only a two-hour ferry journey away from Helsinki, so it attracts lots of visitors from Scandinavia. You seldom meet French people though. They do not know what they are missing out on! The best way to get to know the town is by starting your tour on top of Toompea Hill. The viewing platforms here illustrate for you the different historical periods of the town. Next to the marvellous Old Town you see the port, and beyond that the residential districts full of Soviet architecture. In the town centre you will notice several ultra-modern high-rise buildings. Having admired the Orthodox cathedral, descend to the lower town, where you will discover a real pearl of Tallinn, the Town Hall built at the start of the 15th century. The surrounding historical buildings house several chic restaurants and cafés. Continue your walk along Pikk Street, undoubtedly the most beautiful street in the town. In the building of the Great Guild is the History Museum. And if you still have some time, visit the art museum KUMU in Kadriorg, where you have a chance to see the best of Estonian art. (20 minutes, 27.3)

Kadriorg Palace of the 18th century is certainly worth seeing.
Kadriorg Palace of the 18th century is certainly worth seeing.
© Toomas Volmer, Tallinn City Tourist Office

Tallinn has something for everyone. In our cash-strapped times a tour of the old town’s ecclesiastical sites is perfect-- discover the famous painting Dance Macabre in St Nicholas’ Church or the walls of a Lutheran church splattered with armorial epitaphs. Yet ecclesiastical tourism is far from Tallinn’s only bargain. Snug cafés, cheap museums and bizarre attractions await visitors, such as Tall Herman castle tower, St Catherine’s Passage, Fat Margaret tower, Kiek in De Kök, Long Leg and Short Leg, and the Kalev Spa. The cure for the Baltic cold winter can certainly be found here. (The Times, 24.1)

The excavation work for the underground car-park under Vabaduse (Freedom) Square revealed, to the residents' joy, old defensive walls and the frameworks of two medieval towers. Archaeologists were surprised to find a 4 500–5 000-year-old settlement there. It was not known before then that people had lived in the heart of Tallinn as long ago as the Stone Age. Over a thousand findings from the Stone Age, such as pieces of a dish or tool made of bone or quartz stone have been recovered. The strata of the Stone Age on Vabaduse Square site is separated by a lighter strata of sand. In those days this used to be a beach, in medieval times a suburb. During the Swedish era, preparations for war were made on Vabaduse Square as defensive tunnels and moats were dug and walls were built. The walls and one medieval tower will be left for everyone to view after the car-park is completed. (HS, 3.2)

In medieval times you could buy precious stones and sweets in the pharmacy. Around 600 years ago the Town Council's Pharmacy in Tallinn offered its customers yellow beryl against yellow fever and blue sapphire to treat plague boils. Similarly people believed in the curative power of sweets. The most famous product on the shelves of the Town Council’s Pharmacy was marzipan. Today the Town Council's Pharmacy unites a museum and a pharmacy. (ESS, 20.5)

Tallinn is small enough to get around on foot or in a wheelchair. When visiting Toompea you have to be aware of steep inclines, which can make going uphill difficult. Getting around the old town mostly means walking or rolling down the streets and visiting the cafés and restaurants that have outdoor terraces. Tallinn has a Hanseatic spirit with many cafés, restaurants and shops. Like in medieval times, you can taste bear meat even today. Like in other European cities, when you move away from the centre, the architecture becomes more modern. Moving around outside the old town is easier. A pleasant place to visit is the Open Air Museum, which has free entrance for the disabled. In the museum you can learn about the life of Estonians from the 18th century up to the 1930s. Kadriorg Park and palace and KUMU art museum are also worth seeing, as visiting these sites is easy for people with physical disabilities. (Yanous, aprill 2009)

Kadriorg Palace of the 18th century is certainly worth seeing.
KUMU art museum.
© Karel Koplimets, Tallinn City Tourist Office

In 2011 Tallinn will be the European Capital of Culture. In summertime the historical Town Hall Square is the central point thanks to its cafés and the many concerts taking place on the square. It is a real delight to wander down the narrow streets and taste sweets in the cafés. In Tallinn you can find remarkably well-preserved groups of medieval buildings, which have been skilfully restored. For example, almost half of the medieval town wall still survives. Roaming through the handicraft shops, you might end up in the Dominican Monastery dating from 1246, where 60 monks lived in the 13th century. St. Nicholas Church, built in the 13th century is remarkable too, and is home to the famous Danse Macabre by Bernt Notke. Tallinn flourished thanks to its Hanseatic status. The beauty of the old town is best admired from Toompea Hill, where many of the buildings are state buildings and foreign embassies. (La Croix, 12.6)

The charm of towns that are less well-known lies in the fact that at first you do not know what to expect, but upon arrival you may become excited about everything. The architecture of Tallinn bears the imprint of different eras, and in a strange way the East and the West meet here. Hanseatic merchant houses, tsarist wooden workers' quarters, bland Soviet apartment blocks and the modern city create an irresistible dreamy mood. Here people know how to combine memories of the past and visions of the future to create a brighter present. (Roadbook, juuli-august 2009)

The young people in Tallinn look like those in Paris, but unlike French youth, the younger generation here speaks perfect English and is used to the opportunities offered by wireless internet. The Old Town is like an open-air museum with its narrow, winding streets and houses. Life boils in the lower town; there are shops, cafés and restaurants everywhere. On the other side of the town wall lie old wooden houses, Soviet memorials and new high-rise buildings. At the railway station market the classic scent of Eastern Europe lingers. Here you can buy caramels in a metal box as well as old samovars. (Biba, 6.8)

It is said that Nõmme is the most pleasant district of Tallinn, and it is easy to agree with this. This lovely area is a world of its own, where you get a feeling of local life. The day begins nicely at Nõmme market, which after its refurbishment is nice and well run. Nõmme is an old district of wooden houses, which are now complemented by interesting modern buildings. It is possible to learn more about the history of the area in the Nõmme Museum, located in the railway station. (Kaleva, 9.8)

Lovely summer day in Nõmme market
Lovely summer day in Nõmme market

A pleasant atmosphere of the old times is characteristic of Tallinn markets. There are many small-hold farmers who sell their garden produce. Magda Priinits has arrived from Haapsalu to sell her goods at the Tallinn central market. She offers ripe plums, large beans, tomatoes the size of a fist and small cherry tomatoes. Small-hold farmers are not often well-known, but the Uus-Kongo farm in North Estonia has become famous for its sauerkraut. The famous chanterelles from Saaremaa cannot be found at the central market, but Tartu County is also well represented. Mushrooms, lingonberries and apples are sold. East Estonia provides cucumbers from Mustvee and onions from Lake Peipus. (HS, 12.9)

Cobbled streets, pastel façades, narrow church steeples and red tiled roofs – the Old Town of medieval Tallinn offers a real thrill. Toompea, historically the part of town of the rulers, towers 50 metres above sea level. The lower town was mostly occupied by craftspeople and merchants. This is the main area of the town with its restaurants, pubs and shops. On the Town Hall Square you should make sure to take a look at house number 11, as one of the oldest pharmacies still operating in the world is located in this building. The tower of the Town Hall building is high, slightly reminiscent of a minaret in its shape. Was the inspiration received from the Orient when it was built? You can try the national cuisine in the nearby Kuldse Notsu tavern. Walking along Pikk Street you reach St. Olaf's Church. In the 16th century it was the highest structure in the world with its 159-metre steeple, and the steeple was a landmark for navigators. Now you can climb to the top to enjoy an enchanting panoramic view. In medieval times famous marzipan was made in Tallinn. But surprisingly it was primarily used as a medication. You can get an overview of the history of sweets production at the marzipan museum on Pikk Street. Art lovers should be sure to visit Kadriorg Park and the museums there. (Voyages, oktoober 2009)

The jewel of Tallinn is the best-preserved medieval Old Town in the Nordic countries.
The jewel of Tallinn is the best-preserved medieval Old Town in the Nordic countries.
© Toomas Volmer, Tallinn City Tourist Office

The favourite destination of the Finns, Tallinn offers new attractions for children. In the museum Miia-Milla-Manda you are in a good mood as soon as you step in the hallway. The newest place in Tallinn, intended for children, is much more than a boring and traditional museum. All types of games can be tried, while at the same time everything has a teaching aspect. “It is not just a playroom. We try to make the children think through their games,” says the director of the museum Tanel Veeremaa. (TS, 23.12)

The jewel of Tallinn is the best-preserved medieval Old Town in the Nordic countries. Walking on cobblestone streets gives you the best idea of the flourishing times when Tallinn was an important port town on the Baltic Sea and a member of the Hanseatic League. Small, cosy cafés with a real fire and candles attract visitors. Of local drinks try the famous Saku beer and Viru Valge vodka. On the Town Hall Square the gothic Town Hall towers; it dates back to 1422, 70 years before Columbus discovered America! (Taksidia, 8.11)

Genuine Christmas market in Tallinn

Tallinn Town Hall Square is said to be the site of the world’s first Christmas tree, which formed part of a ritual begun in 1441, when unmarried merchants sang and danced with the town’s girls around a decorated tree. The tree was then burned. Organisers expect 200 000 visitors this year and no tree-burning. (The Times, 8.11)

Forget crowded shopping centres! With their atmospheric squares full of fairy lights, pretty stalls and handcrafted gifts, Christmas markets put the magic back into the season. Tallinn has found a worthy place in the list of the best Christmas markets in company with Dresden, Vienna, Prague, Copenhagen and Strasbourg. Tallinn’s market is set in Town Hall Square in the medieval Old Town. The vicinity of the Gothic town hall gives it an undeniably ancient, fairy-tale feel. Cosy stalls sell traditional crafts such as embroidered quilts, felt hats, stained glass, sheepskin rugs, wooden goods, puppets, candles. Chilly temperatures are kept at bay with mulled wine, spicy sausages and sauerkraut, as well as traditional marzipan and gingerbread. There’s also an open-air ice rink in nearby Harju Street. And don’t forget to send your cards from Father Christmas’s post office. (The Daily Telegraph, 12.11)

Romantic Christmas market in Tallinn Old Town.
Romantic Christmas market in Tallinn Old Town.
© Allan Alajaan, Tallinn City Tourist Office

It is becoming more and more popular for Russian tourists to celebrate the New Year and Christmas in Estonia. In addition to the Town Hall Square, one of the centres for the New Year celebrations is the new Nokia Concert Hall, right next to the National Opera. It is part of the Solaris entertainment centre, which has multiple shops, restaurants and cinema screens. As is customary, many town-centre hotels and restaurants offer special programmes for Russian tourists. Those who would like to get away from the hubbub of the town may select an old, grand manor house converted into a luxurious hotel. (Турбизнес, november nr 16)

Wrap yourself up warm and walk on the slippery, frozen streets of Tallinn Old Town – this is certainly more romantic than spending your winter holidays in the Bahamas! An intimate Christmas market is open around the grand Christmas tree on the Town Hall Square. The pleasant scent of mulled wine lingers around the huts lit with fairy-lights. Santa Claus, wearing a red coat and accompanied by two beautiful elves, is keeping an eye on the bargaining. Unlike most West European Christmas markets, the Nordic countries have been able to preserve the right atmosphere and authenticity. In fact, winter-time is the right time to discover the beauty here. (ViaMichelin, 15.12)

tourism pictures

Mikko Fritze

Mikko Fritze

Tallinn 2011 Board Member

What would I do if I had not been to Estonia for a long time?

I would fly to Tallinn and would find accommodation in one of the many beautiful hotels. In the evening I would dine in one of the equally numerous excellent restaurants. Afterwards, I would take a nightcap at a medieval wine cellar. Truly medieval! Through all of this I would saunter through old Tallinn, and let the Old Town simply sink into me.

The next day I would take one of those amusing Czechoslovakian-made streetcars in order to conquer other parts of the town – the noble Kadriorg, but also Kalamaja and Kopli; the boroughs with wooden architecture. There is much to discover here! I would simply go with the flow – as stopping points I would use several of the cafés and in Kadriorg of course the KuMu (go ahead, google it!). In the evening I would go to the sauna Kalma. It really strikes my fancy, but is not for the faint of heart. The temperatures in the upper spheres of the amphitheater-shaped steam room may be high enough as to be enjoyable only in a felted hat and a pair of mittens.

On the third day the road would take me to the National Park at Lahemaa, to its woods and its swamps. It may sound strange, but the bogs are some of Estonia’s best features. Their frugal beauty and purity put the soul at rest. Lahemaa, with its beautiful wildlife, is close enough that you can stay overnight in Tallinn. The best thing to do, however, is to stay here several days. In this case: BYOB – bring your own bicycle. (There are ample rental opportunities in Tallinn).

Do not miss out on the Western coast. The dominating factor here is the architecturally balanced wooden city of Haapsalu. Right next to it are the islands. A tip: you can reach Hiiumaa and Saaremaa by airplane for a very reasonable fare. The authentic approach is still with a ferry, while treating yourself to a delicious open-faced herring sandwich.

I am running out of space here, but have still so many ideas left. Lake Peipus, Tartu and Southern Estonian, the museums in Tallinn, the Estonian music festivals, gathering mushrooms in autumn, bird-watching at any time of the year, knowing how many bears and lynx roam the forests here, or the crazy days of the Black Nights Film Festival…

And then there is all of that, of course, which is still wholly unknown to me!

Green and clean Estonia

If you are looking for windmills, forests, and varied weather and seasons, then come to Estonia. Estonia has a coastline of 3 794 km and has 1 400 lakes, 800 islands, and many national parks. The charm of the medieval era lives on in the cobbled streets at the foot of Toompea Hill in Tallinn. Mighty walls surround the old Hanseatic town, and Fat Margaret tower facing the sea protected it against the Germans and Swedes, who now again arrive in Tallinn in large masses. (Salzburger Nachrichten, 4.4)

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have not yet been touched by mass tourism, which is why you should visit these countries soon. The Baltic states are united by the cobalt blue Baltic Sea, which offers you long walks on its white beaches. Here you can find baroque and medieval towns and castles, lakes, long dunes and pine forests, making for the best preserved natural environment in Europe. Each country has its own identity, language and traditions. Tallinn, with its Lutheran and Scandinavian influences, is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the most beautiful view of the town opens from the sea. A sense of history can be felt in the medieval Old Town, alongside a lot of the modern world in the cafés and glamorous bars, the hotel rooms with Wi-Fi connection, and the chic art galleries. (Pleine Vie, juuni 2009)

Estonia’s secret lies in its freshness.
Estonia’s secret lies in its freshness. Photo: Marko Mägi

Picture a country that is so clean that you do not dare to smoke in the streets, a country so green that you believe you are walking on a mountain pasture after a rainfall. Picture a country which is so modern that internet cafés here are a thing of the past and where modern design is on par with that of the Nordic countries. This country is Estonia. The past is a memory and the future is a song. What is the secret of this country? Maybe it is freshness. The national sport of the Estonians is mushroom picking. Being close to nature is nothing new for the people here, and as you go around the countryside you will find it difficult to find a home which does not have a sauna as a natural part of it. The sauna is of deep importance to the Estonians – children were born there, it was a place for cleansing, a place for resting. The importance of the sauna has not disappeared today-- you will find saunas in hotels, town houses, camp sites. But the best saunas are the old ones, which are close to nature. Know that an invitation to a sauna night at home is a sign of respect, which you should not refuse unless you have a good reason. (Metro, 15.9)

Estonia is a country of squirrels.
Estonia is a country of squirrels. Photo: Elvis Kõll

Estonia is a country of squirrels, not hares - here you can live in the treetops, jumping from one branch to another without touching the ground at all, so thick are the forests. The surroundings are quiet, here or there you may spot plain wooden houses with a light in the window and a column of smoke rising into the silent air. The houses in their modesty may remind you of buildings seen in Japan. In winter there is little light, even on the sunniest of days. The people are quiet, winds are icy, and despite the great changes in social life over the last 20 years the memories of the times of the occupation are disappearing only slowly. (Le Figaro, 21.12)

Islands - the best place to relax

The islands are among the most beautiful places in the Baltics. In the middle of Hiiumaa, a massive 36-metre high tower rises. This mighty structure is the Kõpu lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in the Baltic Sea that still operates. The Estonian Lighthouse Society is working towards opening 45 Estonian lighthouses to the public. The lighthouses will retain their old function, but additionally they will become tourist sites, which will attract visitors to the islands of Estonia. The forest paths on Hiiumaa are solitary, the beaches are solitary too. Hiiumaa is enchanting, but more good ideas, initiatives and dynamic people are needed. (Süddeutsche Zeitung, 2.4)

Kõpu lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in the Baltic Sea that still operates.
Kõpu lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in the Baltic Sea that still operates. Photo: Getter Vahar

The Estonian islands are the best place to slow down and relax. Muhu was the westernmost edge of the Soviet empire until Estonia gained independence in 1991, and along with the neighbouring island of Saaremaa, it has retained a rural charm. The result of no industrial development is two time-capsule islands. Here the attractions are simple pleasures such as walking in pine forests, bathing at deserted beaches, or getting treatments at a spa hotel. Even in Soviet times it was a place where artists came. In Koguva village the work of local artist can be admired. The famous Pädaste Manor offers its visitors a luxurious setting. (The Times, 8.8)

The “Eiffel Tower” of Hiiumaa is related to the similar structure in Paris not just by name, but also in the attitude of the public to it. There were many who demanded the ugly monstrosity be demolished during its construction. But now millions of tourists visit it, and it has become a tourism magnet. Jaan, who built the Hiiumaa tower, says that he created it as a memorial to his beloved and having to demolish it would mean betraying his love. Every day dozens of tourists visit Jaan’s yard where the tower stands. (Первый канал, 19.9)

Versatile Tallinn – European Capital of Culture 2011

Bored of Riga and Vilnius? Then hurry on to Tallinn! Tallinn is best known for its beautiful Old Town, surrounded by a well-preserved town wall. Inside the wall, red tiled roofs and narrow church steeples catch the eye. This beauty is only a two-hour ferry journey away from Helsinki, so it attracts lots of visitors from Scandinavia. You seldom meet French people though. They do not know what they are missing out on! The best way to get to know the town is by starting your tour on top of Toompea Hill. The viewing platforms here illustrate for you the different historical periods of the town. Next to the marvellous Old Town you see the port, and beyond that the residential districts full of Soviet architecture. In the town centre you will notice several ultra-modern high-rise buildings. Having admired the Orthodox cathedral, descend to the lower town, where you will discover a real pearl of Tallinn, the Town Hall built at the start of the 15th century. The surrounding historical buildings house several chic restaurants and cafés. Continue your walk along Pikk Street, undoubtedly the most beautiful street in the town. In the building of the Great Guild is the History Museum. And if you still have some time, visit the art museum KUMU in Kadriorg, where you have a chance to see the best of Estonian art. (20 minutes, 27.3)

Kadriorg Palace of the 18th century is certainly worth seeing.
Kadriorg Palace of the 18th century is certainly worth seeing.
© Toomas Volmer, Tallinn City Tourist Office

Tallinn has something for everyone. In our cash-strapped times a tour of the old town’s ecclesiastical sites is perfect-- discover the famous painting Dance Macabre in St Nicholas’ Church or the walls of a Lutheran church splattered with armorial epitaphs. Yet ecclesiastical tourism is far from Tallinn’s only bargain. Snug cafés, cheap museums and bizarre attractions await visitors, such as Tall Herman castle tower, St Catherine’s Passage, Fat Margaret tower, Kiek in De Kök, Long Leg and Short Leg, and the Kalev Spa. The cure for the Baltic cold winter can certainly be found here. (The Times, 24.1)

The excavation work for the underground car-park under Vabaduse (Freedom) Square revealed, to the residents' joy, old defensive walls and the frameworks of two medieval towers. Archaeologists were surprised to find a 4 500–5 000-year-old settlement there. It was not known before then that people had lived in the heart of Tallinn as long ago as the Stone Age. Over a thousand findings from the Stone Age, such as pieces of a dish or tool made of bone or quartz stone have been recovered. The strata of the Stone Age on Vabaduse Square site is separated by a lighter strata of sand. In those days this used to be a beach, in medieval times a suburb. During the Swedish era, preparations for war were made on Vabaduse Square as defensive tunnels and moats were dug and walls were built. The walls and one medieval tower will be left for everyone to view after the car-park is completed. (HS, 3.2)

In medieval times you could buy precious stones and sweets in the pharmacy. Around 600 years ago the Town Council's Pharmacy in Tallinn offered its customers yellow beryl against yellow fever and blue sapphire to treat plague boils. Similarly people believed in the curative power of sweets. The most famous product on the shelves of the Town Council’s Pharmacy was marzipan. Today the Town Council's Pharmacy unites a museum and a pharmacy. (ESS, 20.5)

Tallinn is small enough to get around on foot or in a wheelchair. When visiting Toompea you have to be aware of steep inclines, which can make going uphill difficult. Getting around the old town mostly means walking or rolling down the streets and visiting the cafés and restaurants that have outdoor terraces. Tallinn has a Hanseatic spirit with many cafés, restaurants and shops. Like in medieval times, you can taste bear meat even today. Like in other European cities, when you move away from the centre, the architecture becomes more modern. Moving around outside the old town is easier. A pleasant place to visit is the Open Air Museum, which has free entrance for the disabled. In the museum you can learn about the life of Estonians from the 18th century up to the 1930s. Kadriorg Park and palace and KUMU art museum are also worth seeing, as visiting these sites is easy for people with physical disabilities. (Yanous, aprill 2009)

Kadriorg Palace of the 18th century is certainly worth seeing.
KUMU art museum.
© Karel Koplimets, Tallinn City Tourist Office

In 2011 Tallinn will be the European Capital of Culture. In summertime the historical Town Hall Square is the central point thanks to its cafés and the many concerts taking place on the square. It is a real delight to wander down the narrow streets and taste sweets in the cafés. In Tallinn you can find remarkably well-preserved groups of medieval buildings, which have been skilfully restored. For example, almost half of the medieval town wall still survives. Roaming through the handicraft shops, you might end up in the Dominican Monastery dating from 1246, where 60 monks lived in the 13th century. St. Nicholas Church, built in the 13th century is remarkable too, and is home to the famous Danse Macabre by Bernt Notke. Tallinn flourished thanks to its Hanseatic status. The beauty of the old town is best admired from Toompea Hill, where many of the buildings are state buildings and foreign embassies. (La Croix, 12.6)

The charm of towns that are less well-known lies in the fact that at first you do not know what to expect, but upon arrival you may become excited about everything. The architecture of Tallinn bears the imprint of different eras, and in a strange way the East and the West meet here. Hanseatic merchant houses, tsarist wooden workers' quarters, bland Soviet apartment blocks and the modern city create an irresistible dreamy mood. Here people know how to combine memories of the past and visions of the future to create a brighter present. (Roadbook, juuli-august 2009)

The young people in Tallinn look like those in Paris, but unlike French youth, the younger generation here speaks perfect English and is used to the opportunities offered by wireless internet. The Old Town is like an open-air museum with its narrow, winding streets and houses. Life boils in the lower town; there are shops, cafés and restaurants everywhere. On the other side of the town wall lie old wooden houses, Soviet memorials and new high-rise buildings. At the railway station market the classic scent of Eastern Europe lingers. Here you can buy caramels in a metal box as well as old samovars. (Biba, 6.8)

It is said that Nõmme is the most pleasant district of Tallinn, and it is easy to agree with this. This lovely area is a world of its own, where you get a feeling of local life. The day begins nicely at Nõmme market, which after its refurbishment is nice and well run. Nõmme is an old district of wooden houses, which are now complemented by interesting modern buildings. It is possible to learn more about the history of the area in the Nõmme Museum, located in the railway station. (Kaleva, 9.8)

Lovely summer day in Nõmme market
Lovely summer day in Nõmme market

A pleasant atmosphere of the old times is characteristic of Tallinn markets. There are many small-hold farmers who sell their garden produce. Magda Priinits has arrived from Haapsalu to sell her goods at the Tallinn central market. She offers ripe plums, large beans, tomatoes the size of a fist and small cherry tomatoes. Small-hold farmers are not often well-known, but the Uus-Kongo farm in North Estonia has become famous for its sauerkraut. The famous chanterelles from Saaremaa cannot be found at the central market, but Tartu County is also well represented. Mushrooms, lingonberries and apples are sold. East Estonia provides cucumbers from Mustvee and onions from Lake Peipus. (HS, 12.9)

Cobbled streets, pastel façades, narrow church steeples and red tiled roofs – the Old Town of medieval Tallinn offers a real thrill. Toompea, historically the part of town of the rulers, towers 50 metres above sea level. The lower town was mostly occupied by craftspeople and merchants. This is the main area of the town with its restaurants, pubs and shops. On the Town Hall Square you should make sure to take a look at house number 11, as one of the oldest pharmacies still operating in the world is located in this building. The tower of the Town Hall building is high, slightly reminiscent of a minaret in its shape. Was the inspiration received from the Orient when it was built? You can try the national cuisine in the nearby Kuldse Notsu tavern. Walking along Pikk Street you reach St. Olaf's Church. In the 16th century it was the highest structure in the world with its 159-metre steeple, and the steeple was a landmark for navigators. Now you can climb to the top to enjoy an enchanting panoramic view. In medieval times famous marzipan was made in Tallinn. But surprisingly it was primarily used as a medication. You can get an overview of the history of sweets production at the marzipan museum on Pikk Street. Art lovers should be sure to visit Kadriorg Park and the museums there. (Voyages, oktoober 2009)

The jewel of Tallinn is the best-preserved medieval Old Town in the Nordic countries.
The jewel of Tallinn is the best-preserved medieval Old Town in the Nordic countries.
© Toomas Volmer, Tallinn City Tourist Office

The favourite destination of the Finns, Tallinn offers new attractions for children. In the museum Miia-Milla-Manda you are in a good mood as soon as you step in the hallway. The newest place in Tallinn, intended for children, is much more than a boring and traditional museum. All types of games can be tried, while at the same time everything has a teaching aspect. “It is not just a playroom. We try to make the children think through their games,” says the director of the museum Tanel Veeremaa. (TS, 23.12)

The jewel of Tallinn is the best-preserved medieval Old Town in the Nordic countries. Walking on cobblestone streets gives you the best idea of the flourishing times when Tallinn was an important port town on the Baltic Sea and a member of the Hanseatic League. Small, cosy cafés with a real fire and candles attract visitors. Of local drinks try the famous Saku beer and Viru Valge vodka. On the Town Hall Square the gothic Town Hall towers; it dates back to 1422, 70 years before Columbus discovered America! (Taksidia, 8.11)

Genuine Christmas market in Tallinn

Tallinn Town Hall Square is said to be the site of the world’s first Christmas tree, which formed part of a ritual begun in 1441, when unmarried merchants sang and danced with the town’s girls around a decorated tree. The tree was then burned. Organisers expect 200 000 visitors this year and no tree-burning. (The Times, 8.11)

Forget crowded shopping centres! With their atmospheric squares full of fairy lights, pretty stalls and handcrafted gifts, Christmas markets put the magic back into the season. Tallinn has found a worthy place in the list of the best Christmas markets in company with Dresden, Vienna, Prague, Copenhagen and Strasbourg. Tallinn’s market is set in Town Hall Square in the medieval Old Town. The vicinity of the Gothic town hall gives it an undeniably ancient, fairy-tale feel. Cosy stalls sell traditional crafts such as embroidered quilts, felt hats, stained glass, sheepskin rugs, wooden goods, puppets, candles. Chilly temperatures are kept at bay with mulled wine, spicy sausages and sauerkraut, as well as traditional marzipan and gingerbread. There’s also an open-air ice rink in nearby Harju Street. And don’t forget to send your cards from Father Christmas’s post office. (The Daily Telegraph, 12.11)

Romantic Christmas market in Tallinn Old Town.
Romantic Christmas market in Tallinn Old Town.
© Allan Alajaan, Tallinn City Tourist Office

It is becoming more and more popular for Russian tourists to celebrate the New Year and Christmas in Estonia. In addition to the Town Hall Square, one of the centres for the New Year celebrations is the new Nokia Concert Hall, right next to the National Opera. It is part of the Solaris entertainment centre, which has multiple shops, restaurants and cinema screens. As is customary, many town-centre hotels and restaurants offer special programmes for Russian tourists. Those who would like to get away from the hubbub of the town may select an old, grand manor house converted into a luxurious hotel. (Турбизнес, november nr 16)

Wrap yourself up warm and walk on the slippery, frozen streets of Tallinn Old Town – this is certainly more romantic than spending your winter holidays in the Bahamas! An intimate Christmas market is open around the grand Christmas tree on the Town Hall Square. The pleasant scent of mulled wine lingers around the huts lit with fairy-lights. Santa Claus, wearing a red coat and accompanied by two beautiful elves, is keeping an eye on the bargaining. Unlike most West European Christmas markets, the Nordic countries have been able to preserve the right atmosphere and authenticity. In fact, winter-time is the right time to discover the beauty here. (ViaMichelin, 15.12)

tourism pictures

TOURISM

 

Estonian fairytale attracts tourists

Estonia is a beguiling land which back in the 1980s was still peeping out at the Western World from behind the Iron Curtain, hiding plenty of new delights to discover. Estonia is a land of remarkable contrasts, a relatively small nation just below Scandinavia which has successfully made the transformation from a former Soviet bloc country to a modern, forward-thinking 21st century state. It has wasted little time after 1991 in adapting cheerfully to the ways of the West. This is a land which has both embraced the modern world and, at the same time, kept it at bay, some achievement considering the centuries of struggle for its own identity. (Birmingham Post, 09.07)

  • Estonia is a land of remarkable contrasts
  • Estonia is a land of remarkable contrasts.
    Photo: Graham Mitchell

There have not been for years such distinct trends in the tourism industry as there are now. One prominent feature at the Helsinki trade fair, Matka 2010, was the wealth of regional tourism – holiday options for enthusiasts and theme holidays. Toomas Tärk of Enterprise Estonia in Finland says that Estonia continues to be a popular travel destination for Finns – Finns accounted for more than half of the total 2.6 million overnight stays in Estonia. This number has been gradually growing. The most popular destination is Tallinn, although the Finns are starting to realise there is also an Estonia outside Tallinn. “Tourism in Estonia in 2010 was marked by nature tourism and active holidays. Excellent facilities exist in Estonia for playing golf and horse riding. You can ride bikes or enjoy Nordic walking, bird watching or any number of water sports,” explains Toomas, thinking of Finns planning to visit Estonia. (Turun Sanomat, 27.01)

Daily thousands of Finns head across the Gulf of Finland to Estonia. Estonia will adopt the euro on 1 January 2011, and so the Finns are expected to flock to Estonia even more actively next autumn, though many tourists fear that prices will rise. Nevertheless, life will be easier for travellers as there will be no need to convert prices from kroons into euros. (Kaleva, 04.08)

Russians have always regarded Estonia, a former Soviet Republic, as something out of the ordinary, cosy, lovely, tidy and polite. They still do. The small population of Estonia may be the reason why everything is treated with such love and care. Eating out is no problem in Estonia either. Apparently, Tallinn is nothing but restaurants, cafes and hotels. It’s not overwhelmingly exotic, but every hope for a delicious meal can be fulfilled. Nobody will go hungry in this tiny Nordic country. Welcome to Estonia – a small country with great culinary diversity! (Кулинарный Эдем, 18.01)

Tens of Finnish, Swedish, Estonian and Latvian golf clubs have put their heads together to promote golf tourism. "Good ferry and flight connections enable us to extend the network to the Baltic States," enthuses Håkan Nordström, director at Agio Oy, one of the prominent players in golf tourism.
The sale of package deals has already started and by next spring, golf tourism with a touch of culture and cuisine should run at full speed. The Estonian club, Niitvälja Golf, now joins the network bringing together almost 40 golf clubs. (Kauppalehti, 20.09)

Looking for Magic in Tallinn

Take a stroll around Tallinn and you will enjoy all the attractions of a modern, progressive European city, from bustling bars and restaurants to gleaming shops and hotels.
The city is one of the oldest capitals in northern Europe. The Old Town is one of Europe’s best preserved walled medieval cities and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Looking over the skyline at the narrow winding streets and the archways, you can almost smell the history and sense the legacy of the long centuries of the struggle for independence that shaped the city’s destiny. Today Tallinn stands at the cutting edge of the information super-highway which has changed the world beyond all recognition. One of the oldest capitals on the planet is also one of the most hi-tech-friendly. (Birmingham Post, 09.07)

The old town of Tallinn in its quaintness is as if Walt Disney’s wonderland. As if it were taken out from the 16th century and placed neatly in the middle of a grey North European city. Local tourism industry has by now undergone changes, it is more tasteful and offers delights to absolutely everyone. (The Times, 05.11)

  • The old town of Tallinn is as if Walt Disney’s wonderland
  • The old town of Tallinn is as if Walt Disney’s wonderland
    Photo: Allan Alajaan

Tallinn, with the temperatures falling as low as 30 degrees below zero, is holding the 8th place on the list of the lowest temperatures recorded in capital cities around the world. Tallinn is like a winter wonderland, offering a genuine travel experience to its visitor. Glide around the outdoor ice rink in the Old Town before warming up with a hot drink at one of Tallinn’s cosy cafes. (The Independent, 12.01)

For most, a visit to Estonia means a day on the charming streets of Tallinn’s Old Town, but the city, as well as the entire country has plenty of other places worth wandering about on your summer holiday. Visiting sub-terranian bastion passages running under Tallinn may be a whole new experience for many, while the Patarei Prison shakes its visitors with quite different emotions. Left virtually untouched since the early 21st century, the complex is open to the public in summer and a reminder of its grim recent history. (Kauppalehti, 07.06)

The seaside capital of Estonia, Tallinn, is small and full of surprises. Tallinn’s Old Town is the legacy of a glamorous and prosperous past within the Hanseatic League. Inside its walls you’ll stumble across a magical kingdom of twisting cobbled streets, medieval guildhalls and lofty spires. It is hard describe the Old Town without using the word “fairytale”, yet there is real life here, too. This is a city growing out of its grim Soviet past and long history of suppression. And it is the real thing, alluringly intact. Beyond all this you can make out the arc of the song stage. This is the venue of the Estonian Song Festival, held every five years. The stage looms out of Kadriorg Park, which gives Tallinn a delightful oasis, wooded with horse chestnut, lilac and oak trees. The Italian architect Niccolo Michetti designed the gardens, including the Baroque Kadriorg Palace, for Peter the Great, soon after the Great Northern War.
When medieval Tallinn starts to feel too quaint, one unusual museum provides a perfect antidote. Kalev is the Baltic’s largest chocolate maker, and its museum displays chocolate-box covers and sweet wrappers from the past, ranging from 1920s to 1990s.
Tallinn has plenty of cutting-edge dining options, but you might like to sample some local treats. Estonia’s cuisine is derived from Germany and Russia. Meat and game are staples, and potatoes are served with everything. You’ll also come across the black bread, leib, usually eaten with jellied meats. (The Irish Times, 20.03)

  • Estonia – a small country with great culinary diversity
  • Estonia – a small country with great culinary diversity
    Photo: Toomas Tuul

Get past the tourist traps and you can actually have a delicious meal at a reasonable price in Tallinn. Exotic cuisine is also available. There are numerous Caucasian restaurants, specialising in superb shashliks. There is also an African Restaurant and another offering contemporary Estonian cuisine on the edge of the Old Town. And, of course, places popular with the locals are also worth a visit. (Helsingin Sanomat, 20.05)

The price-quality relationship has never been better at Tallinn hotels. Feliks Mägus, chairman of the Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association, estimates that prices at Tallinn hotels have fallen by 30% on average, compared to the boom. The number of hotel rooms has increased rapidly over the past few years, further fuelling the fall in prices. Mägus says that as Estonia became an EU member in 2004, the demand for hotel rooms rose. The construction of several new hotels was initiated over the following years, and the lending policy of the banks only added to the growth. (Talouselämä, 20.02)

Sunbathing in Pärnu

Pärnu has a long tradition as a world-class summer resort. Today welcoming holiday makers from almost 50 countries. The number of Russian tourists is also on the up; they too come for their beauty and health. Local spas offer both relaxation and recuperation. (RATA-News, 25.06)

Pärnu – capital of sailing tourism, is considered the best place on the Baltic Sea for windsurfing and other water sports. Pärnu has been a popular holiday town among the intelligentsia both in the 19th century and during the Soviet years. The old hanseatic town secures its status as the summer capital with numerous cultural events. The town’s absolute jewel is the beach that is several kilometres long. (RATA-News, 23.06)

Hikes in Forests or Bogs, Walks in Historic Nature Parks

Northern-Estonia is full of wonderful experiences. In Lahemaa National Park, founded on the coast of the Finnish Gulf in 1971, you can enjoy rich flora in addition to breathtakingly beautiful manor houses surrounded by magnificent parks, ancient strongholds and authentic old fishing villages. Even if you spend the day being pampered at an eco spa, or splash away in a water park, you can still sense history practically everywhere. The heyday of manors arrived in the 18th century and continued to the beginning of the 19th century. The manor complexes were magnificent with the main building often surrounded by parks dozens of hectares in size complete with smaller residences, lakes and bridges. Palmse offers a glimpse into the culture of the manor houses typical in Estonia. At Vihula Manor, the past is mingled with the present – aristocratic buildings oozing with history, conceal the latest technology within. But history is not only found in the manors. Rakvere Castle is a great destination for the whole family, and the town of Rakvere includes many more attractions. So while Estonians are known as a singing nation, the Estonian men express themselves through dance as well. (Seura, 31/2010)

  • Palmse offers a glimpse into the culture of the manor houses typical in Estonia
  • Palmse offers a glimpse into the culture of the manor houses typical in Estonia
    Photo: Jarek Jõepera

In the parish of Vihula, a beautiful summer paradise, you can find three unique manor beauties – Palmse, Sagadi and Vihula. The best known is perhaps Palmse, built in the Baroque style and completely restored. “Almost a century ago there were more than 1100 manors in Estonia, but gradually they fell into disrepair. An enthusiastic wave of restoration in the 1970s began with Palmse, but by that time, many of the manors were already laying in ruins,” explains Toomas Tärk of Enterprise Estonia in Finland. The adorable pink buildings of Sagadi manor are situated asymmetrically. This is one of the few buildings in Estonia built in the Rococo style, and its history can be traced back to the middle of the 15th century. At the end of the 1970s, Sagadi manor was acquired by the State Forest Management Centre, which has reconstructed and restored 18 buildings altogether. The former gardens and carriage house today accommodate the country’s only forest museum. (Turun Sanomat, 02.06)

The village of Tipu is situated in the middle of Soomaa National Park. Tipu Nature School hosts projects that promote environmentally friendly and sustainable lifestyles. The association known as für Estland e.V from Minden-Lübbecke County in Germany was one of the contributors that made the Tipu Nature School a reality. Cooperation between Minden-Lübbecke and the county of Viljandi has existed for almost 20 years, and will continue on into the future. Further plans to develop the school foresee the restoration of the old school house and the cellar and the construction of a wood workshop. The goal is to help people bond with nature and prevent them from becoming estranged from nature, by introducing them to alternative life styles. (Wochenanzeiger-herford.de, 11.08)

Lazy breeze, piney scents, distant chirping. A decent place for an afternoon stroll with the family. The ground wobbled like soft pudding, as if we were in a fun house attraction. Let other hikes stake their claims on rapturous beauty or rare animals. For sheer wacky family fun, it is hard to top a trek in the peat bogs of Estonia, where nature has bequeathed a waterlogged landscape that makes every stride a mini-adventure.
In Lahemaa National Park, The peat bogs here are essentially a huge mass of decayed vegetable matter that is saturated with water. Often, the peat goes many feet deep. Parts of the park are threaded with walkways that allow you to wander through without actually setting foot on the bogs, but that would be missing the point.
Estonians have long had a spiritual bond with their bogs, coming here to take in the solitude, as well as to collect the wild cranberries. Animals, including turkey, boar and roe deer, inhabit the area. Ms. Ivandi, whose environmentally oriented adventure travel company offers bog tours much of the year, said autumn was the best time to visit because the land offers up a palette of reds, browns and yellows, and the water has not frozen, so the bog remains springy. (New York Times, 19.08)

  • Estonians have long had a spiritual bond with their bogs
  • Estonians have long had a spiritual bond with their bogs

Finland and Estonia have launched a development project for historic parks, with the aim of identifying the current condition of the parks and planning their long-term maintenance from the research. Project manager Antti Karlin from the University of Turku says: “The goal is to develop the parks in Varsinais-Suomi, Häme and Tartu, Saare, and Jõgeva. Cross-border regional cooperation adds synergy to the project work and helps to preserve the values of the several-hundred-year-old historic parks for future generations”. A route will be put together through the most interesting parks in Finland and Estonia, which will hopefully become a part of a chain of historic parks in the Baltic region. (Turun Sanomat 17.01)

Islands – Estonia's very own Bullerbys

The scenery of Estonian islands resembles that of Astrid Lindgren’s village of Bullerby. Those unable to let their hair down here should perhaps seek professional help. The view is divine: luscious pastures filled with fluffy sheep; colourful meadows, pine forests, sand dunes, secluded sandy beaches and the Baltic Sea embracing all this beauty. Haste is unknown on the islands of western Estonia. About a half of the inhabitants of Hiiumaa live in Kärdla, the rest are scattered around villages and isolated farmhouses. Kõpu lighthouse on the westernmost peninsula of the island is the island’s landmark. A ferry leaves from the south of the island to the neighbouring Saaremaa. A dam connects the islands of Saaremaa and Muhu. Muhu captivates with its ancient fishing village and the thatched roofed houses, while the local Future Music Festival attracts more and more visitors every year. (Die Presse, 20.03)

  • The islands of the west coast, firmly off limits during Soviet times, have a special appeal to Estonians
  • The islands of the west coast, firmly off limits during Soviet times, have a special appeal to Estonians.
    Photo: Paavo Eensalu

The tiny island of Muhu goes not unnoticed by the world. The Times of Malta has come up with a list of the world’s top 10 beautiful islands. On the ninth position we can find Muhu. With a population of 2,000, the island still has a working windmill, folk traditions, as well as a small luxury hotel and spa. (Times of Malta, 08.01)

If the beautiful heart of Tallinn has turned into a kind of tourist toytown, seducing the cruise ship parties, then the islands out to the west seem the keepers of Estonia’s rebellious pagan flame. It hits you that Christianity was late coming to these northerly parts. When revolutionaries assassinated the Baron of Pädaste, imperial hunting master to Tsar Nicholas II, in 1919 it froze in time the manor house that was his summer home. Axel von Buxhoeveden’s heartbroken widow left to live in Germany, never to return to Pädaste. And as a turbulent 20th century saw Estonia crushed by war and Soviet domination, Pädaste Manor sank slowly into decay. But like the sleeping beauty in the fairytale it has been magically reawakened. (Manchester Confidential, 20.07)

Kihnu island may be a dot on the Estonia’s map, but it’s the biggest island in the Gulf of Riga and the seventh biggest in Estonia. The island stretches 7 kilometres from north to south and 10 kilometres from east to west. The population of this remote piece of land is about 600 people, but it’s remarkable for its well-preserved cultural heritage. As of 2003 Kihnu is inscribed as a Masterpiece on the Representative List of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Nowhere else in Estonia do women wear national costumes daily and people cherish the national songs dating back over hundred years. There are four villages, each with a village store. Those lovely shops are not just for stocking up on groceries – they are also meeting places, where the villagers can socialise. It takes you back to the good old days, if you choose to ignore the modern options, such as Wi-Fi and credit card terminals. (travel.ru 07.06)

The islands off the west coast, firmly off limits during Soviet times, have a special appeal to Estonians. Saaremaa is the largest and best known island, though still unspoilt. The main town, Kuressaare, has a ruined castle and several modern spa hotels. Otherwise, it’s all about nature: quiet beaches, rare wildflowers and forests. (The Independent, 15.08)

71 Estonian lighthouses tower by the shores of the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea. The very fist was initially commissioned by the Hanseatic League. The lighthouse on Kõpu peninsula was completed in 1531. Chronicles reveal that operating the lighthouse was quite a sacrifice for Estonia. Just the amount of wood required annually to light the beacon was enormous. Such beacons were built on the islands and peninsulas for safer navigation, often to remote inaccessible locations. Lighthouse keepers and their families lived in isolation all year round, taking care of the lighthouse. Once the beacons were automated, the keepers left and the majority of the Estonian lighthouses started to fall apart. Besides Kõpu, only the lighthouses in Ristna and Tahkuna are renovated and open for visitors on the island. The structure of Ristna lighthouse was designed in the Eiffel factory in 1873. Likewise, the Tahkuna framework is made by Eiffel and purchased from the Paris World Exhibition. (Helsingin Sanomat 14.05)

Hiiumaa, an island hidden away behind the iron curtain during the Soviet years, is on the map of European hiking trails, offering everything a passionate wanderer can wish for: isolation, breathtaking landscape and well marked routes. Tahkuna lighthouse on the northern cape of the island is worth a visit. On your way there you see some World War Two structures. The memorial to the worst post-war maritime disaster is only a few meters from the lighthouse. On September 28 1994 the passenger ship Estonia sank on its way to Stockholm. The route then takes you towards Kõpu peninsula and the grand Kõpu lighthouse. It’s the oldest lighthouse in the Baltic Sea region. The hiker’s island of Hiiumaa with its magnificent nature and the remote hiking routes is a definite must. ( RP-online 19.12)

turismi pildid

 

Estonian fairytale attracts tourists

Estonia is a beguiling land which back in the 1980s was still peeping out at the Western World from behind the Iron Curtain, hiding plenty of new delights to discover. Estonia is a land of remarkable contrasts, a relatively small nation just below Scandinavia which has successfully made the transformation from a former Soviet bloc country to a modern, forward-thinking 21st century state. It has wasted little time after 1991 in adapting cheerfully to the ways of the West. This is a land which has both embraced the modern world and, at the same time, kept it at bay, some achievement considering the centuries of struggle for its own identity. (Birmingham Post, 09.07)

  • Estonia is a land of remarkable contrasts
  • Estonia is a land of remarkable contrasts.
    Photo: Graham Mitchell

There have not been for years such distinct trends in the tourism industry as there are now. One prominent feature at the Helsinki trade fair, Matka 2010, was the wealth of regional tourism – holiday options for enthusiasts and theme holidays. Toomas Tärk of Enterprise Estonia in Finland says that Estonia continues to be a popular travel destination for Finns – Finns accounted for more than half of the total 2.6 million overnight stays in Estonia. This number has been gradually growing. The most popular destination is Tallinn, although the Finns are starting to realise there is also an Estonia outside Tallinn. “Tourism in Estonia in 2010 was marked by nature tourism and active holidays. Excellent facilities exist in Estonia for playing golf and horse riding. You can ride bikes or enjoy Nordic walking, bird watching or any number of water sports,” explains Toomas, thinking of Finns planning to visit Estonia. (Turun Sanomat, 27.01)

Daily thousands of Finns head across the Gulf of Finland to Estonia. Estonia will adopt the euro on 1 January 2011, and so the Finns are expected to flock to Estonia even more actively next autumn, though many tourists fear that prices will rise. Nevertheless, life will be easier for travellers as there will be no need to convert prices from kroons into euros. (Kaleva, 04.08)

Russians have always regarded Estonia, a former Soviet Republic, as something out of the ordinary, cosy, lovely, tidy and polite. They still do. The small population of Estonia may be the reason why everything is treated with such love and care. Eating out is no problem in Estonia either. Apparently, Tallinn is nothing but restaurants, cafes and hotels. It’s not overwhelmingly exotic, but every hope for a delicious meal can be fulfilled. Nobody will go hungry in this tiny Nordic country. Welcome to Estonia – a small country with great culinary diversity! (Кулинарный Эдем, 18.01)

Tens of Finnish, Swedish, Estonian and Latvian golf clubs have put their heads together to promote golf tourism. "Good ferry and flight connections enable us to extend the network to the Baltic States," enthuses Håkan Nordström, director at Agio Oy, one of the prominent players in golf tourism.
The sale of package deals has already started and by next spring, golf tourism with a touch of culture and cuisine should run at full speed. The Estonian club, Niitvälja Golf, now joins the network bringing together almost 40 golf clubs. (Kauppalehti, 20.09)

Looking for Magic in Tallinn

Take a stroll around Tallinn and you will enjoy all the attractions of a modern, progressive European city, from bustling bars and restaurants to gleaming shops and hotels.
The city is one of the oldest capitals in northern Europe. The Old Town is one of Europe’s best preserved walled medieval cities and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Looking over the skyline at the narrow winding streets and the archways, you can almost smell the history and sense the legacy of the long centuries of the struggle for independence that shaped the city’s destiny. Today Tallinn stands at the cutting edge of the information super-highway which has changed the world beyond all recognition. One of the oldest capitals on the planet is also one of the most hi-tech-friendly. (Birmingham Post, 09.07)

The old town of Tallinn in its quaintness is as if Walt Disney’s wonderland. As if it were taken out from the 16th century and placed neatly in the middle of a grey North European city. Local tourism industry has by now undergone changes, it is more tasteful and offers delights to absolutely everyone. (The Times, 05.11)

  • The old town of Tallinn is as if Walt Disney’s wonderland
  • The old town of Tallinn is as if Walt Disney’s wonderland
    Photo: Allan Alajaan

Tallinn, with the temperatures falling as low as 30 degrees below zero, is holding the 8th place on the list of the lowest temperatures recorded in capital cities around the world. Tallinn is like a winter wonderland, offering a genuine travel experience to its visitor. Glide around the outdoor ice rink in the Old Town before warming up with a hot drink at one of Tallinn’s cosy cafes. (The Independent, 12.01)

For most, a visit to Estonia means a day on the charming streets of Tallinn’s Old Town, but the city, as well as the entire country has plenty of other places worth wandering about on your summer holiday. Visiting sub-terranian bastion passages running under Tallinn may be a whole new experience for many, while the Patarei Prison shakes its visitors with quite different emotions. Left virtually untouched since the early 21st century, the complex is open to the public in summer and a reminder of its grim recent history. (Kauppalehti, 07.06)

The seaside capital of Estonia, Tallinn, is small and full of surprises. Tallinn’s Old Town is the legacy of a glamorous and prosperous past within the Hanseatic League. Inside its walls you’ll stumble across a magical kingdom of twisting cobbled streets, medieval guildhalls and lofty spires. It is hard describe the Old Town without using the word “fairytale”, yet there is real life here, too. This is a city growing out of its grim Soviet past and long history of suppression. And it is the real thing, alluringly intact. Beyond all this you can make out the arc of the song stage. This is the venue of the Estonian Song Festival, held every five years. The stage looms out of Kadriorg Park, which gives Tallinn a delightful oasis, wooded with horse chestnut, lilac and oak trees. The Italian architect Niccolo Michetti designed the gardens, including the Baroque Kadriorg Palace, for Peter the Great, soon after the Great Northern War.
When medieval Tallinn starts to feel too quaint, one unusual museum provides a perfect antidote. Kalev is the Baltic’s largest chocolate maker, and its museum displays chocolate-box covers and sweet wrappers from the past, ranging from 1920s to 1990s.
Tallinn has plenty of cutting-edge dining options, but you might like to sample some local treats. Estonia’s cuisine is derived from Germany and Russia. Meat and game are staples, and potatoes are served with everything. You’ll also come across the black bread, leib, usually eaten with jellied meats. (The Irish Times, 20.03)

  • Estonia – a small country with great culinary diversity
  • Estonia – a small country with great culinary diversity
    Photo: Toomas Tuul

Get past the tourist traps and you can actually have a delicious meal at a reasonable price in Tallinn. Exotic cuisine is also available. There are numerous Caucasian restaurants, specialising in superb shashliks. There is also an African Restaurant and another offering contemporary Estonian cuisine on the edge of the Old Town. And, of course, places popular with the locals are also worth a visit. (Helsingin Sanomat, 20.05)

The price-quality relationship has never been better at Tallinn hotels. Feliks Mägus, chairman of the Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association, estimates that prices at Tallinn hotels have fallen by 30% on average, compared to the boom. The number of hotel rooms has increased rapidly over the past few years, further fuelling the fall in prices. Mägus says that as Estonia became an EU member in 2004, the demand for hotel rooms rose. The construction of several new hotels was initiated over the following years, and the lending policy of the banks only added to the growth. (Talouselämä, 20.02)

Sunbathing in Pärnu

Pärnu has a long tradition as a world-class summer resort. Today welcoming holiday makers from almost 50 countries. The number of Russian tourists is also on the up; they too come for their beauty and health. Local spas offer both relaxation and recuperation. (RATA-News, 25.06)

Pärnu – capital of sailing tourism, is considered the best place on the Baltic Sea for windsurfing and other water sports. Pärnu has been a popular holiday town among the intelligentsia both in the 19th century and during the Soviet years. The old hanseatic town secures its status as the summer capital with numerous cultural events. The town’s absolute jewel is the beach that is several kilometres long. (RATA-News, 23.06)

Hikes in Forests or Bogs, Walks in Historic Nature Parks

Northern-Estonia is full of wonderful experiences. In Lahemaa National Park, founded on the coast of the Finnish Gulf in 1971, you can enjoy rich flora in addition to breathtakingly beautiful manor houses surrounded by magnificent parks, ancient strongholds and authentic old fishing villages. Even if you spend the day being pampered at an eco spa, or splash away in a water park, you can still sense history practically everywhere. The heyday of manors arrived in the 18th century and continued to the beginning of the 19th century. The manor complexes were magnificent with the main building often surrounded by parks dozens of hectares in size complete with smaller residences, lakes and bridges. Palmse offers a glimpse into the culture of the manor houses typical in Estonia. At Vihula Manor, the past is mingled with the present – aristocratic buildings oozing with history, conceal the latest technology within. But history is not only found in the manors. Rakvere Castle is a great destination for the whole family, and the town of Rakvere includes many more attractions. So while Estonians are known as a singing nation, the Estonian men express themselves through dance as well. (Seura, 31/2010)

  • Palmse offers a glimpse into the culture of the manor houses typical in Estonia
  • Palmse offers a glimpse into the culture of the manor houses typical in Estonia
    Photo: Jarek Jõepera

In the parish of Vihula, a beautiful summer paradise, you can find three unique manor beauties – Palmse, Sagadi and Vihula. The best known is perhaps Palmse, built in the Baroque style and completely restored. “Almost a century ago there were more than 1100 manors in Estonia, but gradually they fell into disrepair. An enthusiastic wave of restoration in the 1970s began with Palmse, but by that time, many of the manors were already laying in ruins,” explains Toomas Tärk of Enterprise Estonia in Finland. The adorable pink buildings of Sagadi manor are situated asymmetrically. This is one of the few buildings in Estonia built in the Rococo style, and its history can be traced back to the middle of the 15th century. At the end of the 1970s, Sagadi manor was acquired by the State Forest Management Centre, which has reconstructed and restored 18 buildings altogether. The former gardens and carriage house today accommodate the country’s only forest museum. (Turun Sanomat, 02.06)

The village of Tipu is situated in the middle of Soomaa National Park. Tipu Nature School hosts projects that promote environmentally friendly and sustainable lifestyles. The association known as für Estland e.V from Minden-Lübbecke County in Germany was one of the contributors that made the Tipu Nature School a reality. Cooperation between Minden-Lübbecke and the county of Viljandi has existed for almost 20 years, and will continue on into the future. Further plans to develop the school foresee the restoration of the old school house and the cellar and the construction of a wood workshop. The goal is to help people bond with nature and prevent them from becoming estranged from nature, by introducing them to alternative life styles. (Wochenanzeiger-herford.de, 11.08)

Lazy breeze, piney scents, distant chirping. A decent place for an afternoon stroll with the family. The ground wobbled like soft pudding, as if we were in a fun house attraction. Let other hikes stake their claims on rapturous beauty or rare animals. For sheer wacky family fun, it is hard to top a trek in the peat bogs of Estonia, where nature has bequeathed a waterlogged landscape that makes every stride a mini-adventure.
In Lahemaa National Park, The peat bogs here are essentially a huge mass of decayed vegetable matter that is saturated with water. Often, the peat goes many feet deep. Parts of the park are threaded with walkways that allow you to wander through without actually setting foot on the bogs, but that would be missing the point.
Estonians have long had a spiritual bond with their bogs, coming here to take in the solitude, as well as to collect the wild cranberries. Animals, including turkey, boar and roe deer, inhabit the area. Ms. Ivandi, whose environmentally oriented adventure travel company offers bog tours much of the year, said autumn was the best time to visit because the land offers up a palette of reds, browns and yellows, and the water has not frozen, so the bog remains springy. (New York Times, 19.08)

  • Estonians have long had a spiritual bond with their bogs
  • Estonians have long had a spiritual bond with their bogs

Finland and Estonia have launched a development project for historic parks, with the aim of identifying the current condition of the parks and planning their long-term maintenance from the research. Project manager Antti Karlin from the University of Turku says: “The goal is to develop the parks in Varsinais-Suomi, Häme and Tartu, Saare, and Jõgeva. Cross-border regional cooperation adds synergy to the project work and helps to preserve the values of the several-hundred-year-old historic parks for future generations”. A route will be put together through the most interesting parks in Finland and Estonia, which will hopefully become a part of a chain of historic parks in the Baltic region. (Turun Sanomat 17.01)

Islands – Estonia's very own Bullerbys

The scenery of Estonian islands resembles that of Astrid Lindgren’s village of Bullerby. Those unable to let their hair down here should perhaps seek professional help. The view is divine: luscious pastures filled with fluffy sheep; colourful meadows, pine forests, sand dunes, secluded sandy beaches and the Baltic Sea embracing all this beauty. Haste is unknown on the islands of western Estonia. About a half of the inhabitants of Hiiumaa live in Kärdla, the rest are scattered around villages and isolated farmhouses. Kõpu lighthouse on the westernmost peninsula of the island is the island’s landmark. A ferry leaves from the south of the island to the neighbouring Saaremaa. A dam connects the islands of Saaremaa and Muhu. Muhu captivates with its ancient fishing village and the thatched roofed houses, while the local Future Music Festival attracts more and more visitors every year. (Die Presse, 20.03)

  • The islands of the west coast, firmly off limits during Soviet times, have a special appeal to Estonians
  • The islands of the west coast, firmly off limits during Soviet times, have a special appeal to Estonians.
    Photo: Paavo Eensalu

The tiny island of Muhu goes not unnoticed by the world. The Times of Malta has come up with a list of the world’s top 10 beautiful islands. On the ninth position we can find Muhu. With a population of 2,000, the island still has a working windmill, folk traditions, as well as a small luxury hotel and spa. (Times of Malta, 08.01)

If the beautiful heart of Tallinn has turned into a kind of tourist toytown, seducing the cruise ship parties, then the islands out to the west seem the keepers of Estonia’s rebellious pagan flame. It hits you that Christianity was late coming to these northerly parts. When revolutionaries assassinated the Baron of Pädaste, imperial hunting master to Tsar Nicholas II, in 1919 it froze in time the manor house that was his summer home. Axel von Buxhoeveden’s heartbroken widow left to live in Germany, never to return to Pädaste. And as a turbulent 20th century saw Estonia crushed by war and Soviet domination, Pädaste Manor sank slowly into decay. But like the sleeping beauty in the fairytale it has been magically reawakened. (Manchester Confidential, 20.07)

Kihnu island may be a dot on the Estonia’s map, but it’s the biggest island in the Gulf of Riga and the seventh biggest in Estonia. The island stretches 7 kilometres from north to south and 10 kilometres from east to west. The population of this remote piece of land is about 600 people, but it’s remarkable for its well-preserved cultural heritage. As of 2003 Kihnu is inscribed as a Masterpiece on the Representative List of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Nowhere else in Estonia do women wear national costumes daily and people cherish the national songs dating back over hundred years. There are four villages, each with a village store. Those lovely shops are not just for stocking up on groceries – they are also meeting places, where the villagers can socialise. It takes you back to the good old days, if you choose to ignore the modern options, such as Wi-Fi and credit card terminals. (travel.ru 07.06)

The islands off the west coast, firmly off limits during Soviet times, have a special appeal to Estonians. Saaremaa is the largest and best known island, though still unspoilt. The main town, Kuressaare, has a ruined castle and several modern spa hotels. Otherwise, it’s all about nature: quiet beaches, rare wildflowers and forests. (The Independent, 15.08)

71 Estonian lighthouses tower by the shores of the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea. The very fist was initially commissioned by the Hanseatic League. The lighthouse on Kõpu peninsula was completed in 1531. Chronicles reveal that operating the lighthouse was quite a sacrifice for Estonia. Just the amount of wood required annually to light the beacon was enormous. Such beacons were built on the islands and peninsulas for safer navigation, often to remote inaccessible locations. Lighthouse keepers and their families lived in isolation all year round, taking care of the lighthouse. Once the beacons were automated, the keepers left and the majority of the Estonian lighthouses started to fall apart. Besides Kõpu, only the lighthouses in Ristna and Tahkuna are renovated and open for visitors on the island. The structure of Ristna lighthouse was designed in the Eiffel factory in 1873. Likewise, the Tahkuna framework is made by Eiffel and purchased from the Paris World Exhibition. (Helsingin Sanomat 14.05)

Hiiumaa, an island hidden away behind the iron curtain during the Soviet years, is on the map of European hiking trails, offering everything a passionate wanderer can wish for: isolation, breathtaking landscape and well marked routes. Tahkuna lighthouse on the northern cape of the island is worth a visit. On your way there you see some World War Two structures. The memorial to the worst post-war maritime disaster is only a few meters from the lighthouse. On September 28 1994 the passenger ship Estonia sank on its way to Stockholm. The route then takes you towards Kõpu peninsula and the grand Kõpu lighthouse. It’s the oldest lighthouse in the Baltic Sea region. The hiker’s island of Hiiumaa with its magnificent nature and the remote hiking routes is a definite must. ( RP-online 19.12)

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