Where the Finns spend the weekend? In Estonia, of course! The Wandering Writer goes to Tallinn

Of course, in this case, I do mostly refer to the Finns who live in the Southern part of the Country. From Helsinki, reaching Tallinn is a question of a three-and-a-half-hour journey on a fast ferry, or if you prefer taking it easy and enjoy a nice cruise, you can choose the night boat. In this case, you will enjoy the special daily entertainment in a big boat.

The prices are very affordable in both the cases and Tallinn itself offers lower prices on many items, from the clothing to the alcohol, cars, and many other items.

Nevertheless, for a Finn, is not just a way to get good bargains, but is a way to escape the routine and do something different, particularly in the summertime.

But let’s go a little more into detail of this lovely city.

Tallinn has a long history as it appeared on the maps for the first time in 1154 and received the rights to be considered a city in 1219. However, the first human settlement was dated 5000 years ago.

The best part of the city is undoubtedly the old town, which represents the main tourist attraction, and for a very good reason. The old town represents the best preserved medieval cities in Europe and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This is the part, which is also closest to the arbor. Therefore, is the place where you can find the Finns, together with tourists coming from all over the world. It hosts daily an open market, where local handicraft can be purchased for a very reasonable price.

Not to be missed, in the old town, are the traditional restaurants, which keep high the medieval tradition of the city and its culinary heritage. The price might sound a bit overpriced, but it is a sort of experience that is worth the try.

Best time to visit is of course, during spring and summer, because during the winter, the weather can be very windy and fairly unpleasant. The only exception can be made for the Christmas period, when regardless the merciless weather, you will be rewarded with the most lovely Christmas market in the Nordic countries (yes, I still consider the Christmas markets in Germany the best ever).

It is very easy to fall in love with Tallinn, not only for the architecture but generally for the intrinsic beauty of each and every little street. It is easy to love the open terraces in the central part of the town, where to spend your time between a visit to a museum, a shopping spree (if you fancy it, they have for sale almost in every corner the finest Bohemia crystals for great prices) or just a walk around.

You will be tempted to indulge in those wonderful old hotels, with their decadent, fancy style. However, try to resist the temptation, as most of them are really old, and never properly maintained. For this reason, you might find yourself to have a room without running water, or only cold one, because they are experiencing trouble with the pipes. In summer you might not have any sort of air conditioning, or in winter, you might need to sleep with your clothes on to avoid hibernation.

Choose one of the modern ones, which will make your experience pleasant under all the points of view, and, believe me, there is nothing that can spoil a holiday more than a terrible hotel where you expected the best one.

Finally, if you are going to stay for a week, you might also be interested in visiting other cities, besides Tallinn, but for those, you will have to wait until the next week.

I really wish you all a great weekend!

Stay tuned!