Old Estonia - Tallinn

Old Town Tallinn the only Yelp check-in and it says it is in Sweden. Well, it is not in Sweden but beautiful Estonia which is across the way! There are so many places that I wish I could have checked in on Yelp. This one check in is as good as it gets, so here goes. Whether you come in by cruise ship for the day or spend a night or two, like I did, you will find this walled in city quite charming. It is well preserved with colorful buildings, red roof tops. There are great places to eat inside market square or outside along the little streets. Wandering the cobblestone streets can take awhile and there is more to see than the market square. I definitively suggest to take the Free Walking tour as it will take you up to the castle and show you the views of the red roof tops. One of my favorite things to do in Tallinn was the Depeche Mode Bar. You heard me- Depeche Mode Bar! If you love the band then you will love this DM themed bar. It is dark, underground (basement level), plays DM as well as videos and has drinks named after their songs. It was incredible as I have been a DM fan since my early teens! If you like Marzipan or pastries, head to Kalev. It is the oldest cafe in Tallinn, I think Estonia! There is a nice dining area outside and inside as well as an adjacent cafe that is counter service. That is where I tried their yummy marzipan cake. I love marzipan! The museum of marzipan figures is super sweet and you can watch a lady who paints the marzipan by hand! I also went to Hell Hunt Pub a couple times, the second by pure accident. The first time I went into the pub and the second time I sat in the patio seating across the pub. When they handed me the menu, I saw Hell Hunt and rolled my eyes. It is a good place for food and did not mind eating there again. Tallinn is very special. It has an interesting history from it 's medieval days, communist reign and where they are now. The people are friendly, the artisan jewelry shopping is great and the food is all quite delicious! I am so glad that I spent a couple days here rather than being dropped off by a cruise boat. That is good too because you do get to see Old Town but it is nicer to just hang out for a few days! Happy Travels!

Interesting that this is pretty much the only Yelp location in Estonia... and it isn 't even categorized as being in that country. It is apparently a big stop for Baltic cruises and, based on my experiences, Estonia is very tech savvy. This Old Town is the 800-year old walled city which does have a lot of touristy stuff: souvenir shops, restaurants and bars aplenty. There are churches and museums and you can pay 3€ to climb stairs onto the old wall so you can look out like the ancient defenders did. There 's also a less old KGB prison. Sadly, I wasn 't able to check that out since my work kept me busy during its open hours. There 's a main town square, complete with people in costumes trying to get you to come see their shows or eat at a themed restaurant. This is a cool medieval-style town that is definitely worth checking out and I don 't think I 'm alone in hoping to see more support for Estonia proper In Yelp. There 's a lot more outside the old town... and you can rent bikes. Note: cobblestones bicycle pretty rough. Make sure your rental bike has front shocks if you 're planning to ride in the old town.

8/12/17 Tallinn is actually in Estonia. Words can't describe the feeling you get when you experience the juxtaposition of old vs new. History vs modern technology all preserved simultaneously. The Old Town is so lively, vibrant, colorful. Sights, sounds, smells, all celebrating at once. So much to see and experience. Wear comfortable/sturdy shoes.

Found it amazing that we could do a Yelp Check-in to Old Town Tallinn while we in Estonia. Now, I see why. This Yelp entry has an address for Sweden. Very nice! Tallinn, Estonia was one of our ports of call on our Baltic cruise. We spent all our time in Old Town Tallinn. It is an easy walk from the cruise port. Founded in 1154, Old Town Tallinn is like a living museum. Apparently, it has remained mostly unchanged since then. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking on the cobblestone streets through the heart of Old Town is like walking back in time. You can literally see history right before your eyes. Old Town is surrounded by a wall, and it is known for the many Gothic architectural structures. These are some of the sights not to be missed when you come here. Some are located in Lower Town while others are in Upper Town (Toompea). Yeah, you will get some good exercise as you explore the two different areas. Stout Margaret Tower Town Hall Square St. Mary 's Cathedral (Dome Church) Palace Square Toompea Castle Alexander Nevsky Cathedral These are a few of the Must See landmarks! While you are in Old Town Tallinn, I also suggest stopping at one of their local cafes to partake of their ethnic cuisine and drink a beer. We did, and we were not disappointed. Only downside to our visit was that many businesses were closed. Kind of surprising because it was Summertime (although it was very rainy). Other than that, we had a terrific time exploring Old Town Tallinn. Highly recommended!!

One of the most charming towns in all of Europe, absolutely amazing architecture and great food! You will be amazed by the small, cobblestoned streets leading down to some of the most interesting shops and eateries. Explore away. Top tip: the city is best explored before 10am and after 6.30pm when the hordes of cruise shippers aren't around!