Explore the northern tip of Europe and spend a week in Tallinn, Estonia. Part of the Baltic Region, Estonia is country that takes pride on its rich heritage and flourishing culture. Its capital city, Tallinn, is filled with perfectly restored medieval castles and old merchant villages that will take visiting tourists several centuries back in time. There are just too many awe-inspiring historical landmarks in Tallinn that spending a week in the city is needed to fully explore all its hidden treasures.
Before heading to this Baltic city, you may need to apply for a Schengen visa. Estonia is one out of 26 Schengen member countries that implement the same kind of traveller’s visa for transient tourists. Getting an approved visa is quite easy to do; you just need to complete these requirements:
- Valid passport and copies of the front and back pages
- Current passport-sized photos with white background
- Completed Schengen Visa application form
- Proof of travel such as flight booking, travel itinerary, and hotel booking – You may get a Flight Booking for Visa and Hotel Reservation for Visa just for your visa application without having to pay for the airfare or hotel booking.
- Travel Insurance – It is better to acquire this from Schengen Travel Insurance, an affordable and reliable insurance company.
- Personal Coverage Letter
- Bank Documents
- For employed travellers, a No Objection Letter is highly recommended
A Week in Tallinn, Estonia:
A week is enough time to familiarize oneself to the capital city of Estonia. Prepare to learn new lessons about the medieval times and take a crash course of the real Estonian culture through your daily walks in the city.
Day 1: Live within the Historic Past:
If you are flying to Tallinn, it is best to arrive in the morning so that you can have enough time to check-in in your hotel and be able to spend some down time around the vicinity.
For tourists that want to be in the center of Tallinn’s historic town, The Three Sisters Hotel is the best place for you to stay. This famous hotel is set in a 7-century old structure which is declared by UNESCO as a heritage site. Where else in the world can comfortable stay in a world heritage site and experience the lavish life amidst the center of Tallinn? Only here in Estonia and only with The Three Sisters Hotel!
Day 2: Walk Back in Time:
Since you are already within the vicinity, might as well spend your first couple of days seeing Tallinn’s Old Town. This European Old Town is probably the best restored and preserved medieval town in the continent. As you take a relaxing walk along the cobblestone streets, you will see a lot of pointy spires, red-tiled medieval roofs, and nostalgic structures that boast of Gothic architectures.
Walk southbound from Three Sisters Hotel and make your first stop at St. Olaf’s Church. This medieval, Gothic-inspired church is one of the oldest structures in the Old Town. Take photos of its pointed spires and go inside the church to appreciate the very simple, clean design. Aside from the church, take quick visits to other historic structures like the Fat Margaret’s Tower, the old Town Hall, and the old merchants’ houses.
Day 3: See History from the Top:
The very nostalgic atmosphere of Tallinn’s Old Town is so enchanting when seen from bird’s eye view. After a day of walking along the winding streets of the Old Town and seeings all the medieval structures up close, it is time to venture at the rim of the town and go up the famous Toompea Hill. This limestone hill is located right outside the Old Town which offers tourists the best view of the entire historic compound. Your minutes of hike is worth every step once you see the spires, the roofs, and the towers from a different angle.
Aside from taking in the nice view, explore around the flat top of the hill and visit the Toompea Castle. This sprawling property was a medieval fortress and is now used as the office of the parliament.
Day 4: A Walk in the Park:
After seeing the Old Town from different views, it is time to go farther and see the Tallinn in a more romantic light. Spending a week in Tallinn, Estonia proves to be a great escape from your usual city life.
Devote an entire day at Kadriorg and visit the enormous Kadriorg Palace as well as the vast Kadriorg Park. It is interesting to know the history behind this 18th century palace, which was built during the time of Peter the Great, a Russian Tsar. Once you step foot in the palace, you will feel like you are in Italy because of its pearly white walls, clean cut halls, and intricate ceilings. You will also find many Italian-inspired sculptures and paintings inside the palace.
Day 5: Present Day Tallinn:
If your first to fourth days in Tallinn were spent amidst the glorious past, your fifth day will now introduce you to the hip culture of present day Tallinn. Known as the “hipsterville,” Kalamaja is a melting pot for funky, out-of-the-box artists, thinkers, entrepreneurs, and new-age professionals. Despite its close proximity to the Old Town, Kalamaja was able to veer away from the old and has converted its old, sad factory buildings into restaurants or shops with character.
While walking around the area, make sure to visit the old railroad tracks filled with cafés and bars which is known as The Culture Kilometer. You may also want to visit the Contemporary Art Museum, a gallery for pop visual artists.
Day 6: The Other Side of Kalamaja:
Seeing Kalamaja for just a day is not enough. It is highly recommended that you spend your last full day in your Estonian trip in this very unique area. While one side of Kalamaja features the future of Tallinn, you can still take a short trip back in time while visiting two of Kalamaja’s historic landmarks. First, you need to visit the Linnahall Building. This structure used to be one of the sports venues during the 1980 Moscow Olympics; unfortunately this shell of a structure is left abandoned but its boasting character still remains. Try to go here before sunrise because the view of the Tallinn Bay as the sun rises is inspiring.
Another landmark in Kalamaja that you shouldn’t miss is the Seaplane Harbour. This museum showcases a huge submarine hanging from the structures ceiling. It just shows how important Tallinn’s port is to Estonia and how the culture is directly influenced by the city’s seafront location.
Day 7: No Goodbyes, Just See You Later:
On your last day in Tallinn, make sure to spend time trying some of the famous Estonian dishes. One of the best restaurants you can visit right before you set out for the airport is Leib Resto ja Aed.
This simple and unassuming restaurant promises to serve great local food paired with personalized service. Leib literally translates to bread which is a staple in Estonian households. Ready your stomachs to a full meal complete with bread, meat, and vegetables are complemented by the best wine. This is the best way to complete a week in Tallinn, Estonia.
A Week in Tallinn, Estonia – Go North of Europe:
While a lot of travellers often skip the Baltic Region when touring Europe, you made the right choice in picking Tallinn as your destination. Before you fly north to Estonia, make sure that you have already acquired a Schengen visa. If Estonia is just one of your many destinations, you better make sure you have applied for the correct type of Schengen visa. Should you have more queries about the visa application process, you may contact us through our website or Facebook page.
A week in Tallinn, Estonia is just enough to explore the entire city and to learn about its history and culture.