Tallinn

Home - Independent Countries - Estonia - Tallinn
Tallinn

Tallinn

Estonia's capital and most populous city is Tallinn. It is located in the north of Estonia, on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. First founded in the early Middle Ages, Tallinn is an exciting mix of old and new. The main attraction of the city is Tallinn's Old Town, which is one of the best-preserved Hanseatic city centers in the world. The eastern parts of the city, namely Pirita, with the Pirita Convent and Kadriorg, with the Kadriorg Palace, are also favored sights. Located in Rocca al Mare, west of the city, the Estonian Open Air Museum preserves aspects of Estonian rural culture and architecture. The city's historical wooden suburbs such as Kalamaja, Pelgulinn, Kassisaba and Kelmiküla, as well as revitalized industrial areas such as the Rotermann Quarter, Noblessner and Dvigatel are also some of the unique attractions. Tallinn's alluring coastline, dotted with promenades and sandy beaches, is a particularly pleasant place to spend time in summer, but also offers scenic views of the iconic cityscape all year round. The city has more than 60 museums and galleries. Most of these are in the central district of Kesklinn, and showcase Tallinn's rich history. Tallinn is home to Lake Ülemiste, the city's largest lake and the main source of drinking water. Lake Harku is the second largest lake within Tallinn. Today, Tallinn's only significant river is the Pirita River, in the eponymous Pirita district. A smaller river, the Härjapea, used to flow from Lake Ülemiste through the city to the sea, but the river was channeled underground in the 1930s and has since completely vanished from the cityscape.