In the vicinity of the Estonian capital, there are many interesting places and attractions worthy of the attention of curious tourists. If you are deciding where to go from Tallinn for a couple of days or a few hours, pay attention to national parks, lakes and islands, small fishing villages and provincial museums, where time seems to have stood still. It is in the province that you can feel the real medieval atmosphere and amazing discreet beauty of the dear to heart the Baltic States, of which Estonia is a beautiful and worthy part.
Museum placer on Viimsi Peninsula
This tourist route will appeal to local historians and people interested in the life and traditions of their neighbors on the map. On the rocky Viimsi peninsula, there are several fishing villages, whose inhabitants carefully preserve not only the traditions of the craft, but also the way of life.
The small peninsula boasts three museum expositions at once, which will be interesting for travelers of any age to get to know. The Estonian War Museum, located in the estate of the former Estonian military leader Johannes Laidoner, will be especially popular with boys. Various weapons, personal belongings of the general, military maps and battle schemes are presented here. The museum has a souvenir shop with an excellent selection of gifts for family and friends. Details of tickets and opening hours on the website - www.esm.ee.
The Coastal Museum is nestled in an old school building in the village of Pringi. For the little ones, there is a nautical-style playroom, while older visitors will be happy to get acquainted with the way of life of Estonian sailors and fishermen, their habits and customs.
The open-air museum on the seaside in Viimsi was created on an old farm. The barn and the barn have preserved the tools of the work of Estonian peasants, and the old fishing tackle will give an idea of how they fished in the last century. On Saturdays, fresh produce is available at the farmers' market in the museum courtyard.
Getting to the Viimsi Peninsula is easy and simple from the very center of Tallinn. Bus line 1 departs from the Viru Keskus shopping center, line 114 - from the Balti Jaam railway station. Travel time is about half an hour.
In the footsteps of Tsar Peter
If you are deciding where to go from Tallinn and still enjoy anything related to weapons or military history, head to the city of Paldiski. It is located fifty kilometers west of the Estonian capital and is famous for the fact that in 1718 Peter I founded a naval port here.
However, this fact alone does not explain the popularity of Paldiski. No less tourists are attracted by the picturesque surroundings of the city:
- From the thirty-meter cliff in Türisalu, a gorgeous view of the Naissaar island opens.
- The third highest waterfall in Estonia, Keila-Joa, is noisy near the sandy beaches of Vääna-Jõesuu.
- On the way, you will be able to admire the neo-Gothic mansion built in the 19th century for the chief of the secret police Benckendorff.
In the summertime, you can end an exciting excursion at Laulasmaa Beach, famous for its snow-white singing sands.
Children's rest - where to go from Tallinn?
Young travelers usually enjoy visiting places where they can see birds or animals and observe them in their natural habitat. If your child loves smaller brothers, head east of Tallinn. Only 60 km from the capital is the largest national park in Estonia - Lahemaa.
Its hiking trails are full of unexpected surprises and pleasant encounters. On the forest edges you can see beavers and hares, squirrels and foxes, watch how birds build nests and teach their chicks to fly. The most beautiful Jagala waterfall is called the pearl of the park - the widest of all natural waterfalls in Estonia.
Adults will not be bored in Lahemaa either. The Art Museum is open in the park, which hosts many exhibitions, festivals in summer and organizes creative meetings with famous painters, writers and artists.
