Going to Tallinn

What to do in Tallinn

by Candyce H. Stapen

Estonia gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and ever since, Tallinn, the new country's capital, has taken to capitalism with warp speed. Tallinn's morphed into a cosmopolitan high-tech center with a happening nightlife. But Tallinn also stands out for its Old Town, one of northern Europe's best preserved medieval towns and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Start by discovering Old Town. Divided into a lower and upper regions, the historic center, a maze of steep roofed 15th- and 16th- century buildings seems as if it were lifted from an enchanting storybook. It's fun to meander the winding, narrow, cobblestone streets, but save little ones from getting cranky by boarding Toomas the Train, an open-air tram that does a 20-minute circuit through the ancient streets.

For centuries...

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