First Impressions of Tallinn - Estonia

After a quick check-in at the hotel in the center, we make our way to gain first Impressions of Tallinn.

Table of Contents

Cathedral Hill – Toompea

First, we climb the Cathedral Hill, in Estonian: Toompea. Here is the upper town of Tallinn. The Toompea is a landmark of Tallinn and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Historic Center of Tallinn.

The white facade of the Palace of Justice, which stretches majestically into the sky, immediately catches our eye.

This time, we go past the cathedral, because we plan a separate visit. Instead, we admire the façade of the orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral with its black onion towers.

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Past the city wall and the former canon tower (Kiek In De Kök), which is now part of the Tallinn City Museum, we reach the Vabaduse valjak, the Freedom Square. The huge cross at the edge of the square is the War of Independence Victory Column.

The square in its present form reopened in 2009, after the independence of the Soviet Union. On the other edge of the square stands the St. John’s Church.

A few meters further, we find the St. Nicholas’ Church (Niguliste kirik), another landmark of Tallinn. Westphalian merchants founded the church between 1230 and 1275. Today, it is a branch of the Art Museum and also serves as a concert hall.

Modern town – Subdistrics Kompassi and Maakri

We now turn to the modern part of Tallinn. In the search for a laundry, we pass the opera house and reach the quarter with the glass façades of the skyscrapers. IT companies, hotels and banks have settled here.

A round unlabeled cylinder (Nordea Maja) turns out to be the headquarters of Oracle in Tallinn.

Upon arrival, machines in the launderette are occupied for the day and we have to come back the next day. So we go back to the old town.

Lower town

Once again we pass the opera house and reach the restaurant Olde Hansa. The medieval atmosphere makes us curious, so we take a look inside.

The service personnel, mostly students, are friendly and very attentive. Not only the interior furnishings are medieval, but also the clothes of the staff.

Everywhere in the city, women’s groups are on the road, celebrating the hen party.

Via the Vanaturu Kael, we reach the Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats), the center of the lower town. A myriad of restaurants borders the square.

We walk along the Pikk and admire the architecture, influenced by the German Hansa and the Teutonic Order.

In the evening we visit the Town Hall Square again. In the Dunkri, a side street we come to the Beer House. The people dance and celebrate here. At a side entrance, you can also visit the in-house brewery.

The restaurants at the Town Hall Square are crowded. But we decide that we need a break and go back to the hotel.

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