Welcome To the e-travelguide to Hotels, guest houses and attractions in Tallinn

Make the most of your time in Tallinn, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links above to plan your visit.

Sitting majestically on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland, Tallinn is one of Northern Europe’s true tourist gems. Visitors tend to flock to Tallinn for the magnificent Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe. But over the last few years Tallinn’s stature as a tourist destination has grown beyond the Old Town, as this most exciting of Baltic capitals blends the old and the new to stunning effect.

Visitors to Tallinn never fail to be struck by the beauty of the old city. Given Tallinn’s and Estonia’s long and tragic history it is little short of a miracle that the city survived at all. The city dates from 1050 and its great strategic location ensured it was recorded on a world map as early as 1154 by the famous Arab geographer Al-Idrisi. Over the following centuries Tallinn was a pawn in the games of greater powers, passing between Danish, German, Swedish and Russian rule. Estonia enjoyed a brief period of independence following the end of World War I, with Tallinn as its capital. This peace and prosperity was not to last however, with Tallinn being conquered by the Soviets and the Nazi’s, before once more coming under Soviet rule for the next 50 years. Tallinn was extensively bombed during World War II, although thankfully much of the ancient city was undamaged. In more recent history, Tallinn once again became the focus for world attention as Estonia became one of the first republics to break free from Soviet rule.

This long and fascinating history has left an indelible mark on Tallinn. The hill of Toompea is at the heart of the old city and is a maze of cobbled streets lined with medieval houses and alleyways. The main attractions in this part of town are the city walls, various bastions of Castrum Danorum, the Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Lutheran Cathedral. The Lower Town is another of Tallinn’s most beautiful districts, considered to be one of the best preserved old towns in Europe. Spreading out from the foot of Toompea hill, this district is still protected by the remnants of the city wall, with a number of vast parks to be found in the immediate area. Major attractions in the Lower Town include Town Hall Square, the town walls and towers, particularly Fat Margaret and Kiek in de Kök, and St Olaf’s church tower.

But Tallinn is far from being simply a history lover’s paradise, although it most certainly is this as well. In recent years Tallinn has been one of Europe’s greatest success stories, growing from a provincial backwater into one of the most dynamic of Baltic cities. Everything from restaurants to bars and exclusive boutiques can now be found here, ensuring there is something for everyone. And with comprehensive rehabilitation projects going on all the time to restore this majestic city to its medieval prime, Tallinn has never looked so good.

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