Old Town of Tallinn

• Address: Tallinn, Estonia;
• Area: about 118 hectares;
• Sightseeing: Toompea Castle, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Danish Garden, Dome Cathedral, architectural ensemble "Three Sisters", the Church of St. Olaf, House of the Brotherhood of Blackheads and others.

In the capital of one of the developed European states, which is famous for the whole world with the highest level of education, development of modern technologies, mobile communications, GSM-network and cyber security systems, there is a unique place where time literally stopped 500 years ago. It is a magical and enchanting Old Town of Tallinn. Many centuries ago, a mighty fortress wall protected it from enemy invaders. Today, it seems that it protects the Old City from the bustle and fleetingness of the present day. Crossing the other side of the wall, as if you were in the past, the streets cobbled with careless cobblestones, the numerous spiers of churches, the splendid merchants' houses and the handicraft shops that cut through the sky. Here, until now, the chimney sweeps are called to clean the pipes, but to see where the wind is blowing, they are looking not at the smartphone, but at the old Toomas, towering above the Town Hall.

History of the Old Town of Tallinn

The first settlements in Estonia on the territory of the Old Town of Tallinn appeared in 1154, but, unfortunately, there were no buildings of that period. The historical center of the capital is a cultural and architectural monument of the Danish and Hanseatic periods. In 1219 the city was captured by the Danes, and in order to maintain its domination, they began to replace the wooden fortifications with stone ones. At the same time, the foundation of three legendary cathedrals was laid: Domsky, Niguliste and St. Olaf.

After the transfer of Tallinn to the Livonian Order in 1346, the Hanseatic period begins. Favorable location of the city caused increased interest in it from the side of merchants and artisans. Streets are actively beginning to be built up by civilian buildings and residential buildings.

Today the Old Town of Tallinn has almost completely preserved its authentic appearance. Street mesh remained unchanged, buildings in the old neighborhoods, built in the modern era, can be counted on the fingers. The center is still, like many years ago, divided into two parts: Lower and Upper Town (Vyshgorod).

Sights of Tallinn: Old Town

If you are going to visit the capital of Estonia, plan your trip so that you have at least two or three days for a walk in the center. Because the answer to the question "What to see in the Old Town of Tallinn?" Is very unambiguous - "All!" Literally every lane has interesting sights.

In order to orient you a little, we tried to make a selection of the most visited places by tourists, dividing them according to the territorial character.

Top Sights:

• Toompea Castle ;
• Alexander Nevsky Cathedral ;
• Danish garden ;
• Dome Cathedral .

What to see in the Town Hall Square:

• Tallinn Town Hall ;
• Medieval pharmacy of the XV century , where along with traditional medicines, you can buy unusual medications: marzipan from unhappy love, delicious tincture of black currant and liqueur "Claret";
• Yegorov's profitable house ;
• Town Hall prison .

Sights of the Old Town, located in Tallinn on Pikk street:

• architectural ensemble "Three Sisters" ;
• the church of St. Olaf ;
• House of the Brotherhood of Blackheads ;
• Profitable house ;
• the fish market ;
• three buildings under one roof (Pikk St. 4.6 8);
• the church of Pyhavaimu ;
• House with dragons ;
• A beautiful building , built in the Art Nouveau style;
• memorial to the passengers of the ferry Estonia .

Looking at the photo of the Old Town of Tallinn, it should be noted that there are many ancient towers, fortifications and bastions preserved here. It's not for nothing that the capital of Estonia is known for the fact that it has never been attacked in history.

So, the towers and gates of the Old City:

• Tower Epping ;
• Nunn Tower, Sauna and Kuldala ;
• the Viru Gate ;
• the tower Tolstaya Margarita ;
• the Kik-in-de-Kök Tower ;
• bastions of the Tallinn fortress ;
• Maiden's Tower ;
• The Great Sea Gate ;
• the tower of Hellemann .

Walking along the street Vienna, be sure to visit the Old Market, the Latin Quarter and the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

In the southern part of the city there are two more great churches: the church of Niguliste and Rootsi-Mihkli.

To really appreciate all the charm and architectural value of the historical center of Tallinn, climb up one of the viewing platforms of the Old City:

• on Toompea hill ;
• at the end of Kokhtu Street ;
• Before the bell tower of the Dome Cathedral ;
• at the towers of Kik-in-de-Kyok and Maiden .

You can also look down on Tallinn by climbing the tower of the church of St. Olaf. In the Middle Ages, it was recognized as the highest in all of Europe.

Museums of Tallinn in the Old Town

To diversify leisure, walking along the ancient streets of the capital's center, we recommend to visit interesting museums of the Old Town in Tallinn:

• The Maritime Museum (Pikk Street);
• Adamson-Eric Museum (Luhike Yalg Street);
• a museum of nature (near the tower of Tolstaya Margarita);
• Dominican Museum (Vienna Street);
• Historical Museum (Pikk Street);
• puppet museum (Lai street);
• Tallinn City Museum (Vienna Street);
• Museum of Theater and Music (Muirivahhe St.);
• Museum of Photography (in the Town Hall prison building);
• Museum in the Church of St. Nicholas (Niguliste Street).

In the Old Town there is one more place where you have to go to the children. This is a museum of marzipan on Pikk street. Here you can not only look at the unusual exhibits from the sugar and almond mass, but also try to prepare sweet souvenirs for memory and certainly try the famous Estonian delicacy.

Legends of Tallinn about the Old City

Like all folk legends associated with medieval towns, the legends of the Old Town of Tallinn are very similar to the horror stories that are told in a sinister whisper by the fire. But what to do, time was like that. So, the most famous Tallinn legends:

1. "Wedding of the Devil" . Once, to an unfortunate citizen who was in desperation sitting at home, as he squandered all his fortune, a stranger came and asked to celebrate the wedding on the top floor of the building. He had one condition - no one should go up this night. The ruined merchant agreed. At night, music was heard at the top, footsteps and merry laughter. One of the servants still could not stand it and quietly made his way to the second floor. The next day he died suddenly, saying only that he had seen the devil's wedding with his own eyes.
2. "The Cat's Well . " In the XIV century in the middle of the city stood a large well. Local residents believed that it lives a mermaid, who at night hunting for the townspeople. To the evil spirits did not get out of their shelter, people began to throw cats there, trying to cajole the mermaid. Previously, cats were considered messengers from the other world, so they did not feel affection for them. In the XIX century, the well fell asleep, and in 1980, it was put on the prototype. Animals naturally no one throws there.
3. "Skin merchant" . Probably the most creepy legend of the Old Town of Tallinn. It tells that in the Middle Ages there lived one cruel commander Puntas, who ordered to sew in his workshops things of human skin, which he had been ripping from the prisoners. Ironically, he died of a cannonball, which fell into the boat, where the swimmer was floating. And that day the guns were saluted in honor of his victory. They say that when Puntas came to the afterworld, he was not allowed to go there for terrible atrocities. The Angel of Death said that the soul of Puntas will find peace when he sells all the things that were sewn from the people's skin to his order. Since then, in the night Tallinn, a knight in an armor rides on a ghostly horse and offers passers-by to buy boots, saddles and bags from him.

Hotels in the Old Town of Tallinn

Five-star hotels in the Old Town:

• St Petersbourg Hotel (Rataskaevu Street 7);
• Schlössle Hotel (Pühavaymu iela 13/15 );
• The Three Sisters Boutique Hotel (Pikk 71);
• Hotel Telegraaf (Vienna 9);
• Savoy Boutique by Tallinn Hotels (Suur-Karja street 17/19).

Four star hotels in the Old Town of Tallinn:

• Old House Apartments (Rataskaevu Str. 16);
• My City Hotel (Vana-Posti Str. 11/13);
• Hotel Imperial (Nunne street 14);
• CRU Hotel (Viru street 8);
• St.Olav Hotel (Lai 5 street);
• Barons Boutique Hotel Tallinn (Suur-Karja street 7 / Väike-Karja street 2).

You can also rent three-star hotels in Tallinn in the Old Town ( Rixwell Old Town Hotel , Gotthard Residents ) or stay overnight at the hostel ( Zinc Old Town Hostel Tallinn , Viru Backpackers Hostel ).

Tallinn's restaurants in the Old Town

Of course, there is no shortage of establishments in the tourist center of the city where you can eat. Most of the cafes and restaurants are located in the Town Hall Square, on Viru Street and in small alleys that lead from the Town Hall to Freedom Square.

If you want an inexpensive snack, we recommend to visit the following places:

• III Draakon ( Rajekoi square 1) - a stylized medieval tavern, here instead of lamps on the tables there are candles, in the middle of the hall in the barrel salty cucumbers swim, the kitchen is simple: soup, pies, sausages;
• Dereku Burger (Ayia street 8) - a large selection of burgers for every taste and traditional Estonian drinks;
• Kompressor (Rataskaevu street 3) - students often like to gather here, the food is not expensive and tasty, large portions (pancakes with all kinds of fillings, soups and salads);
• McDonalds (Viru street 24) - as without it ?;
• Pizza Grande (Väike-Karja street 6) - more than 30 kinds of pizza, you can order small, medium and large, in summer open area is open;
• Taco Expres (Suur-Karja 18) is a small Mexican cafe that works almost round the clock (it closes only in the morning for a couple of hours), it prepares tasty tacos, burrito and fachitos.

There are restaurants of the middle price category in the Old Town of Tallinn:

• Controvento (Vienna 12) - serves traditional dishes of Italian cuisine;
• Must Puudel ( Muirivagehe 20) - attracts a beautiful postmodern interior, the menu is small, but the prices are humane and the food is delicious;
• Schnitzel Haus (Rüütli 9) - a German restaurant with authentic furnishings and a wide selection of different schnitzels in the menu;
• Tbilisi (Rüütli str. 18) - for lovers of hot Caucasian cuisine;
• Vanaema Juures (Rataskaevu str. 10-12) - the restaurant is easy to recognize by the sign posted on a large frying pan, the cuisine is traditional, but with original suggestions (for example, you can try flounder with radishes and blood-tails with cranberry jam).

Premium restaurants in the Old Town of Tallinn are almost all decorated in a medieval style. This and Juusturestoran on the street. Nunne 14, and Olde Hansa on the street. Vana-Tugr 1, and Peppersack on the street. Vana-Tunr 6. There are also establishments of modern Estonian cuisine. Especially popular is the restaurant Leib on the street. Uus 31. Would you like to try something really unusual? Then go to the garlic restaurant Balthasar Küüslaugurestoran , where you can order ice cream with garlic.

How to get there?

In the Old Town of Tallinn, most often go through the Viru Gate or the former Harju Gate. You can walk here from any station with a pawn. The railway station is two minutes walk away, and from the bus station go 15-20 minutes.

Almost all along the perimeter of the borders there are many stops of public transport: trams, buses and trolleybuses.