The northernmost country of the three Baltic States may be small and sparsely populated, yet Estonia’s wild landscapes and fascinating history offer a unique combination of nature and culture.
When you’re situated as far north as Estonia’s fairytale capital, each season has its own distinct personality. Summer days seem to stretch forever, but so do winter nights. Within their turreted old-town walls, the locals have learned to cope with nature’s rhythms with season-specific traditions and tailored festivals to get them through even the coldest months.
With so many destinations touted as ‘the next food capital’, Estonia’s Tallinn has flown under the gourmet radar, overshadowed by its Michelin-starred New Nordic neighbors. Possibly fueled by misconceptions about its cuisine: isn’t it just stodgy dumplings and vodka?
It’s Friday at 8pm and, somewhere in the Baltic Sea, a ferry is sailing through icy waters. There is a party aboard: pints of beer are being slung in an on-board pub where people are enjoying contemporary hits played by a two-man band. Adults are relaxing with cans of something boozy, indulging in arcade games, or simply sipping beverages in the Arctic wind on an open-air deck.