Straight out of your good ol’ bedtime storybooks, the UNESCO-approved medieval-walled city pops out straight out of a fairy tale that’s complete with cobbled streets and structures dating back to the 11th century. Tallinn’s Old Town may have started off as a trading post, surviving such a turbulent history of plenty of invasions, a Great Fire and a plague; but despite its surrounding trendy neighborhoods, shopping malls and office blocks, the space will take you back in time to the 13th century the moment you step in. 

Within the same park, a futuristic, Finnish-designed structure made up of limestone, glass and copper stands seven storeys high. The KUMU Art Museum (short for ‘kunstimuuseum’) is home to the country’s largest repository of Estonian art, including contemporary pieces that constantly decorate the 5th floor. Stroll through the permanent collections of 18th century works on the 3rd floor, art from the Soviet era on the 4th floor, or take a break from them in their excellent shops and café.

More culture. More! Head over to Toompea Hill and fawn over one of Tallinn’s most distinctive structures, that is the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Built at the end of the 19th century, the onion-domed roof that’s decorated with gold details just nearly made it out of the anti-religious Soviet Era, being restored upon Estonia’s independence. Explore the narrow side streets and you just might find a viewing platform that showcases a magical panoramic view of the Old Town covered in snow.