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You’re on a business trip to a beautiful city and you have a spare hour, maybe less, before your flight. You know that it would be a shame not to take in some of the sights, but then panic sets in when you think about where to go. Often, it can be easier just to stay in the hotel, or nip to the local cafe.
However, in Tallinn it’s entirely possible to walk five minutes from your city centre hotel and see most of the must-see attractions. If you’ve booked yourself into the Kreutzwald Hotel Tallinn or the von Stackelberg Hotel Tallinn for example, there’s no excuse not to spend a little “personal” time exploring the historic Capital of Culture for 2011.
1. Toompea Castle
Set on the limestone hills above Toompea, with a view over the Old Town, Toompea Castle has long been at the heart of Tallinn. It is thought that the castle dates back to a fortification first built on the hill in the 9th century, which was then steadily built upon over the centuries.
Toompea is also now home to the Estonian Parliament (housed in the Riigikogu), a popular attraction in its own right for many visitors to the city because of its unique status as the only expressionist-designed parliamentary building in the world.
Visit tallinn.info/toompea.
2. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
During the country’s long era of Russian rule, this magnificent orthodox cupola cathedral was seen as a symbol of oppression by many Estonians despite its beauty. The cathedral sits close by to Toompea Castle, on the brow of the hill where legend has it that Estonian folk hero Kalevipoeg is buried.
Since Estonia gained independence, the cathedral has been meticulously restored internally and externally and is now one of the true must-see attractions on any trip to Tallinn.
3. The Danish Kings Garden
Tallinn is a city proud of its parks and gardens and few are better than the Danish Kings Garden, situated close to Toompea Castle. The gardens are open to the public and are beautifully decorated with cobbled walkways and thousands of plants and trees in bloom (depending on the time of year).
According to local legend, which gave the area its name, Danish invaders in the 13th century were losing a battle when a flag with a white cross on a red background fell from the sky. Soon, luck turned in their favour and they won the battle.
4. Tallinn Free Tour
You can’t beat local knowledge if you want to find interesting facts about a city’s heritage and history, and that is exactly what you get on the Tallinn Free Tour. The walking tour starts at the Harju/Niguliste crossing and is run by local students. The students deliver a delightful, amusing and above all educational series of stories and anecdotes about the major sights and buildings of this great city, for no charge other than what you decide to tip them at the end.
Visit traveller.ee/tour/tallinn-free-tour.
Where to stay
The von Stackelberg Hotel and Kreutzwald Hotel Tallinn both have excellent room options for city breaks or quick business trips.
Can you recommend somewhere easy walking distance from the city centre? Share your tips with us.
Images by Deniss Jarvis, blind.willow
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