"Spending my Birthday in Tallinn" Tallinn by jumpingnorman

Tallinn Travel Guide: 1,738 reviews and 4,689 photos

Chose Tallin for my birthday adventure!

The year 1918 was when the city of Tallin finally had an Independence Manifesto, after hundreds of years of being attacked and pillaged due to its criticial location as a trading port between Scandinavia and Russia. Now in 2008, I decided to visit this biggest city of Estonia. I took an overnight ferry from Stockholm and woke up on my birthday at the Port of Tallinn, immediately walking around the city. A local tour guide brought me to this huge concert hall for the "song festivals" and saw this statue of one of the composers (anybody knows who he is?). I just imitated his pondering posture which I'm sure a lot of other tourists have done!

Tourists enjoy!

Very busy old city

This city of Tallinn became a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1997, and I can see why. Although bombed extensively during World War II, the city has retained it's medieval charm. A lot of tourists revel at charming Old Town, which is so nice to get lost at. I probably felt myself lost about ten times, but I just look at the high towers and some buildings as my "guides" as to where I was. Goods are also so much cheaper compared to other Scandivanian countries, and so many Finns/tourists ferry from Helsinki to shop here.

Cobblestone pathways

Beautfiul viewing points

Up and down those streets without even looking at the map! It was just what I needed to forget that I am a year older! But who are the Estonians? With so much immigration and settling from Russia and the neighboring countries, it remains a challenge for the Estonians to preserve their national identity and traditions. But I think with more efforts in attracting people to visit, the world will know who the Estonians are. I tried to find out and I met very friendly people, some of them shy to answer my questions in English but you can see that they are glad we are visiting their country.

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE!

I just made a short video of my trip to Tallinn! Hope you like it!

TALLINN ESTONIA by JUMPING NORMAN

Pros and Cons

Pros:Food is great, medieval charm, inexpensive shopping
Cons:Keep on forgetting double "nn" in Tallin, oops, Tallinn
In a nutshell:Thanks Tallinn for spending my birthday with me!

Last visit to Tallinn: Sep 2008
Intro Updated Mar 11, 2013
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (8)

statue along Tallinn Bay, Estonia - Tallinn

Jog along the coast at Pirita Tee... Things to Do (6)

If only I brought my running shoes --- the coast (Tallinn Bay) looked so inviting to run alongside with as I saw some... more travel advice

Which way to go in Tallinn? left or right? - Tallinn

Try to get lost in Tallinn! It's fun! Things to Do (6)

This is a weird tip, but it's true. It's so nice to just walk all around the Old Town, also known as Vanalinn. It's like... more travel advice

Who is the real Estonian? a touch... Local Customs (1)

It's not only ethnic Estonians who live in this wonderful country --- there was a dramatic surge of immigrants coming... more travel advice

View from Bus tour from Viru, Tallinn, Estonia - Tallinn

Tallinn Bus Tour Things to Do (6)

Old Town of Tallinn can be easily explored by foot, but some may want to ride the bus. I think there is also a... more travel advice

Transportation (1)
Arriving in Tallinn thru ferry from...

Been to Tallinn?
Share your travels with the world!

Travelogues (1)

Written Sep 21, 2008

8 photos

September 8, 2008, my birthday! Seize the Day!

1 - 1 of 1

Comments (23)

Reply
- Report abuse
hunterV Jan 1, 2010 at 10:17 AM

><>< Hi, Norman! You've managed to visit that splendid place! Good for you! I would celebrate MY birthday there too.....
Reply
- Report abuse
Yaqui Dec 11, 2009 at 7:29 PM

The Russian Orthodox Church in Tallinn looks so stunning and I always get a kick out of your expressive pages. Thanks for sharing your jumping travels!
Reply
- Report abuse
mallyak Oct 23, 2009 at 12:01 AM

Guess where I am going to my JUMP for You??
Reply
- Report abuse
starship Aug 25, 2009 at 10:23 AM

Tallinn's Old Town (Vanalinn) really is a great place to visit! Really like the information about the ferry you took as I saw them & wondered what they were like! Keep jumping! Sylvia
Reply
- Report abuse
Zvrlj Aug 18, 2009 at 10:13 PM

And here is the city we do not know anything about :-( (BTW Estonian national volleyball team have played three matches in Kragujevac a few days ago, and we have seen one alive :-)) Great photo by statue. :-)
Reply
- Report abuse
christine.j Jul 24, 2009 at 10:41 AM

Norman, this also happened to me once, I was the only one in a whole bus, a very strange feeling. But it seems you had a great birthday in Tallin.
Reply
- Report abuse
unaS Apr 25, 2009 at 10:53 AM

On my wish list!
Reply
- Report abuse
sachara Apr 7, 2009 at 8:20 AM

Norman, nice page of Tallinn ! I enjoyed my visit here a couple of years ago. I recognize a lot of places in your tips. I didn't find the time myself yet to write tips.
Reply
- Report abuse
MalenaN Mar 29, 2009 at 9:52 AM

Tallinn looks nice, especially the Old Town. I have to go one day!
Reply
- Report abuse
TheaIren Mar 10, 2009 at 2:23 AM

Nice page by the way ! OK..ok...I saw you already found out by yourself about Gustav Ernesaks :D