Discover Tallinn March 2014 | Page 9

Places to go:

The Medieval Old Town:

-Viru Gate

-Town Hall Square

-Toompea Hill

Outside the Medieval Old Town:

-bank of Estonia Museum

-Estonian drama theatre

-Tallinn City Tour

-Foorum Center

-Solaris entertainment and lifestyle center

The Old Medieval Town, also known as the medieval pearl of Europe, it is not your everyday town. It has an extremely long history; it has been built in the 15th and 17th centuries and has been excellently preserved. This is one of the most popular places to go, when visiting Tallinn. It is recommended to explore the town on foot. In most cases, hiring a tourist guide is encouraged. One of the most remarkable places to go in the old town is Viru Gate, which is the entrance to the Old Town via Viru Street. Viru has the trendiest shopping street and the most tourists in all of Tallinn. Another place to visit in the old town is the Town Hall Square which is located in the heart of the town. It was formerly used as a marketplace and is now full of cafes, bars and restaurants. It is also a venue for for numerous festivals and concerts. Toompea Hill, an ancient Estonian stronghold, is also a good place to visit. Its solid limestone and the site of the danish castle was founded in 1219 and it was the home of the Danish aristocracy.

In addition to these unique sights, there are many other places to see in the Old Town such as churches and cathedrals. According to Joonatan Kunnamo from Helsinki "some of the most popular ones include St. Olaf's Church, St. Nicholas' Church and Aleksand Nevsky Cathedral." They provide an intimate experience.

Stepping outside the Medieval Old Town is also described as a remarkable experience. For a small town, Tallinn is full of different types of unique sights to see and things to do. There are numerous attractions such as museums, theaters and tours. Some of the most popular ones are the bank of Estonia museum which is an historical building in the heart of Tallinn, the Estonian drama theater which specializes in productions of classic plays from world literature to contemporary drama and the Tallinn city tour which offers a great trip all around Tallinn.

In addition there are many things like shopping malls, restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs and spas to go to. Foorum Center is a well-known shopping Center located in the heart of Tallinn. It has well-known fashion brands, stylish footwear, high quality clothing and functional children's items. Elise Tilli from Espoo recommends other popular shopping centers such as the Solaris entertainment and lifestyle Center and Stockmann. Some well-known restaurants include the five star Restaurant Horisont and the Seasons restaurant which is based on french cuisine. Popular cafes include the cosy Amps Aura Cafe located in the city center and the modern Cafe Bulevard. Popular bars and nightclubs include the flashy nightspot Prive, the trendy Über Club and the enormous Hollywood.

Visiting one of the world’s most enchanting cities, Tallinn, can be one of the most unique experiences with its blend of medieval and modern style.