Chris Shirley Chris Shirley

Touring the Estonian Museum of Architecture

Located in the capital city, Tallinn, the Estonian Museum of Architecture is a fantastic museum that explores the beautiful buildings of Estonia.

Founded in 1991 with the aim of collecting, preserving, and exhibiting materials related to Estonian architecture and urban planning, the museum is located in the modern Rotermann district, inside a characterful Salt Storage building, that was built in 1908.

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Chris Shirley Chris Shirley

Discovering the Suur Toll icebreaker ship in Tallinn

The remarkable Suur Tõll, Estonia's iconic flagship and a living testament to the country's maritime heritage. Anchored within the captivating Seaplanes Maritime Museum in Tallinn, this steam-powered icebreaker is a sight to behold.

Named after the legendary giant hero of Estonian mythology, Suur Tõll (Big Tõll) pays homage to the mighty Toell the Great, who once roamed the island of Saaremaa. Legend has it that Toell would hurl massive rocks, often targeting his archenemy Vanatühi or any foes threatening the people of Saaremaa.

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Chris Shirley Chris Shirley

Roaming around the Estonian Film museum in Tallinn

A great trip for digital nomads that work in creative industries is the the highly interactive Estonian Film Museum, a museum dedicated to the history of Estonian cinema. Located in Tallinn, the museum was founded in 2006 and is currently situated, near to the Estonian History Museum (Eesti Ajaloomuuseum) in the historic Maarjamäe Castle.

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Chris Shirley Chris Shirley

PAAT upside-down boat hull restaurant

Paat stands out as a distinctive beachside restaurant destination in Viimsi, nestled along the picturesque Baltic Sea coastline.

Situated within a mere twenty-minute drive from Tallinn's city centre, its iconic upside-down boat structure captivates visitors from afar.

Providing an unforgettable sight, Paat offers unparalleled views of the sea, inviting guests to unwind across its two floors or revel in the fresh sea breeze on the outdoor terrace or beachfront.

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Chris Shirley Chris Shirley

Getting that overseas travel vibe at Tallinn botanical gardens

Having spent reduced my international travel thanks to a mountaineering accident and the pandemic, I’m desperate to see some new sights from around the world, and the Botanical Garden, situated on the outskirts of Estonia's capital city, Tallinn, delivers this in spades.

Spanning a vast area housing a diverse collection of plants from various climates worldwide, the garden showcases an extensive array of flowers, cactuses and animals, encompassing both native Estonian species and exotic plants from different continents.

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Chris Shirley Chris Shirley

Checking out e-fatbikes at Adventures.ee

Handily located nearby to Männiku lakes (a great place for mountain biking and wild swimming), Adventures.ee is a fantastic bike and adventure shop that specialises in renting, servicing, and buying enduro motorbikes, electronic fatbikes (e-fatbikes), and joining a guided tour to experience rappelling (abseiling), bogshoe hikes, and lantern hikes.

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Chris Shirley Chris Shirley

Visiting the Paljassaare Special Conservation Area in Northern Tallinn

Having been in Estonia for almost a year and travelled around it, I was quite surprised to find a cool hiking and mountain biking route in in Tallinn that had a load of war time relics left over and still intact!

Located in northern part Tallinn, the Paljassaare Special Conservation Area is a beautiful, protected area that offers some stunning views.

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Brewklyn craft beer cafe

A very welcome addition to Tallinn in 2023, is a lively craft beer café located in the cool Noblessner district of Tallinn!

The owners, Simone and Steve, take pride in offering a laid-back and relaxed atmosphere, catering to both beer enthusiasts and casual visitors. The café is designed to provide a comfortable space where customers can unwind, socialise, and indulge in a variety of fantastic local and exotic craft drinks.

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Chris Shirley Chris Shirley

Staying at a beautiful Summerhouse in Leesi, Lahemaa national park

In summer 2023, I got to visit and stay in a beautiful private summer house in Leesi, to explore the Lahemaa National Park, a big and diverse national park located in northern Estonia and covering an area of approximately 725 square kilometres (280 square miles). Lahemaa, which translates to "Land of Bays," gets its name from the numerous bays and peninsulas that adorn the area's coastline along the Gulf of Finland.

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One Sixty Smokehouse, an epic motorbike-themed restaurant in Tallinn

A fantastically cool restaurant that’s part of the Renard Speed Shop, 160 smokehouse is run by head chef, Andrei, and located in the ultra-cool Telliskivi creative quarter. It serves your favourite guilty pleasures, such as epic burgers, pulled pork tacos, hot dogs, and barbeque ribs, however also much more interesting fare such as soft shell crab burgers, and deserts made to look like the soap bars in Fight Club!

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Chris Shirley Chris Shirley

Saku mountain biking (near Tallinn)

The Saku forest offers a fantastic opportunity for active outdoor activities! Whether you enjoy hiking or skiing, you'll find a variety of well-maintained trails to explore. The trails range from 2 km to 7 km in length, providing options for different levels of difficulty. Additionally, there is a 2.7 km illuminated trail, allowing you to enjoy the forest even after sunset.

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Exploring Alatskivi castle near Tartu

In May 2023, I had the pleasure of visiting Alatskivi Castle, a stunning historic landmark located in the picturesque town of Alatskivi, in the East of Estonia. This impressive building can be found near the shores of Lake Peipus, just a short bus ride from Tartu, Estonia's second-largest city. It's a destination that has earned its reputation as one of Estonia's top tourist attractions thanks to its Disney-esque appearance!

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