Estonia, although a part of the former Soviet Union, never degenerated to the level of most of the USSR.
It is and always has been a very modern country, well located on the Baltic.
There are some beautiful places to visit in this exciting city of Tallinn and here are just a few of them.
· Kadriorg Palace · Estonian History Museum · Estonia Maritime Museum · Botanic Garden · Open Air Museum · Raekoja plats · Museum of Occupations · Town Hall 1.
Peter the Great built Kadriorg Palace for Catherine 1 of Russia.
Today the palace houses the Kadriorg Art Museum, containing artwork from the 16th to the 20th century.
The gardens are charming, and you can spend hours just in the gardens.
2.
The town pharmacist founded the Estonian History Museum in 1802.
It has been through all the turmoil of the Soviet Union and today exhibits many artifacts of the history of this great city.
If you want to understand the history of this great city, this is THE place.
3.
The History Museum is housed in the Fat Margaret Tower, built in the 16th century.
It is a beautiful museum of the history of shipping.
The building alone is well worth the visit and the exhibits are excellent.
4.
The Botanic Garden is situated on 300 acres, filled with a fantastic display of flowers and fauna.
A charming cafe is available on the weekend and an excellent gift shop.
You can easily pass the time in this delightful, peaceful garden.
5.
The Open Air Museum is a reconstructed village from the 17th and 18th centuries.
It occupies over 100 acres and contains over 72 buildings, including a church, school, fire department, mills and an inn.
It is located about five miles west of the city.
6.
Raekoja plats (Town Square) is a lovely square in Old Tallinn.
Filled with loads of restaurants and shops, it is a lovely place to have lunch and do what the locals do, watch the people, watch the people! It is a great place to buy gifts and souvenirs.
7.
The Museum of Occupations is not what you would expect.
It traces the history of violent occupation during the Soviet and Nazi periods.
There are artifacts and exhibitions that explain how the Estonians survived in spite of terrible, repressive rulers.
8.
The Kolu kõrts (Inn) is a fantastic old inn outside the city that has a lovely restaurant.
It is part of the Open Air Museum.
It not only offers excellent food but also offers a pleasant experience as a museum.
9.
The Town Hall is located on the Town Hall Square and began life in the 12th century.
It is the only Gothic building in Estonia and Scandinavia.
The tower reaches a height of nearly 200 feet.
It is a beautiful old building that you will enjoy visiting.