Tallinn- Costal Line Walk

Following my host Ott's advice, I spent a day exploring outside the old town and ventured to the coastline. Along the way, I admired the wildflowers, watched kids playing in the playgrounds, and saw people relaxing on the beaches before arriving at Kadriorg Park.  

After visiting the park, I tried to find the place where the old Soviet Union sculptures (Soviet Statue Graveyard) are housed, as Ott had suggested, but I couldn't locate it. Now, as I write this post, I realize I should have just googled it at the time, but it didn’t occur to me then.

I continued my walk along the coastline until I reached the Film Museum. From there, I took bus #114 back to my accommodation. In Tallinn, I was able to use a contactless card to ride the bus.

Kadriorg Park

Estonia Film Museum

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Kadriorg Park

Kadriorg Park is a beautiful, expansive park in Tallinn, Estonia, known for its stunning landscapes and historical significance. Founded in the early 18th century by Tsar Peter the Great, the park features a blend of Baroque and English landscape design.

Film Museum

The Film Museum, also known as the Estonian Film Museum,  is dedicated to the history and art of filmmaking in Estonia. 

Exhibits: The museum showcases the evolution of Estonian cinema, featuring historical artifacts, film clips, and interactive displays that engage visitors.

Exploring Tallinn Old Town (Continued 2)

It rained last night, and maybe even this morning. When I woke up, I was surprised to see a rainbow stretching across the sky from my window! I quickly grabbed my camera and snapped a photo before it faded. After the rainbow disappeared, I decided to take a walk around the Rotermann Quarter. There are several interesting sculptures there, including one called "The Ring" or "Circle."

"The Ring" (also known as "Circle") is a striking sculpture by Estonian artist Elo Liiv. Situated in the Rotermann Quarter of Tallinn, this modern artwork features human figures intertwined with the Chinese zodiac signs, symbolizing a blend of cultures in a contemporary setting.

Afterward, I set out to explore the Old Town one last time. I headed straight to Town Hall Square (#10), then made my way toward St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, stopping once again at the Danish King's Courtyard along the way. Visiting the cathedral is free!

Right across from St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is Toompea Castle, home to the Estonian Parliament. I'm not sure if tourists can visit, as I didn’t see anyone entering.

The Ring

Town Hall Square

St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Exploring Tallinn Old Town (continued)

When I returned to the apartment after my morning exploration, my host, Ott, seat me down with a map, gave me a brief history lesson about Estonia, and pointed out a few interesting places to visit.

At 12:30 PM, I headed out again, this time towards the Fat Margaret Museum and Visitor Center (#23 on the map). I also made a quick stop at the cafe bar on top of the tower, as Ott mentioned I might get a decent view of the Old Town from there. However, as he had said, the view wasn’t particularly remarkable.

Leaving the tower, I entered the Old Town and made my way to St. Olav's Church (#22). I observed part of the service, but Ott had told me that the real highlight was the view from the top of the church tower. Unfortunately, entry required cash, which I hadn't brought with me. This was something new I encountered on this trip—some churches require a cash payment to enter, which made me wonder: shouldn't churches be free for everyone, considering they are places of worship? But then again, we were tourists.

After leaving the church, I walked to Tornide Väljak (Tower Square), another viewpoint Ott had recommended. There, I saw a couple of beautifully preserved towers.

Following the map, I then visited two popular viewpoints (#8). I climbed a set of stairs to reach the first one, Patkuli. The view was nice but somewhat limited. From there, I walked to the nearby Kohtuotsa viewpoint, which offered a truly fantastic panorama. The area was bustling with tourists.

Next, I returned to the main street in the Old Town to visit the famous Hellemann Tower, near the Viru Gate.   Unfortunately, once again, I couldn't enter because I didn't have any cash on me.

Walking along the street outside of the old town wall 

Fat Margaret Museum

View from the roof top coffee

Back on the street 

St. Olav's Church

Tornide Väljak (Tower Square)

Patkuli View Point

Kohtuotsa View Point

Obligatory Tourist Shot

Back to old town and Viru Gate

Outside the Viru Gate