Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn encapsulates the image of old-world Europe. Cobbled roads branch from the main square and modern cafes are shrouded in medieval facades. Churches and towers loom above the city wall, beckoning travelers as they cross the channel between Estonia and Finland.

If you have the chance to visit Helsinki, it would be a crime not to take a day to visit Tallinn. Just a two-hour ferry ride from the port in Helsinki, Tallinn offers the chance to cross another country off the bucket list and immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of centuries past.

If you are taking the ferry, be sure to arrive at the terminal well in advance of your departure time. Boarding for the ferry closes twenty minutes before departure and the boat left the port right as boarding closed. I have never heard of public transportation leaving earlier than schedule, but the Tallink ferry did not wait for the 10:30 departure time to get underway. Don't be late!

Once on board, the ferry is overwhelming in size, making the Bainbridge Island ferry back home in Washington look like a child's toy. There are three or four levels dedicated solely to cabins, restaurants, lounges and general seating. The window seats go fast, but I managed to find a table by the window without throwing too many elbows.

Tallinn's Old Town is only a fifteen-minute walk from the ferry terminal, and once you are beyond the medieval walls, there is no end to the narrow, winding streets that you can explore. I really didn't have a plan, I just kept walking in the direction of one of the tallest spires that I could see above the rooftops. Using this method, I eventually found my way to the main square, where diners congregated outside in the spring sunshine, and charming boutiques and gelato shops can be found around every corner.

Climb the steps of the medieval walls for the best view of Tallinn's terracotta rooftops and church steeples rising in the distance. The wall is incredibly well preserved and definitely worth the visit. Be sure to end the day with a bowl of pasta at the Wine Library - it's overpriced mediocre pasta but the perfect spot to people watch on a sunny day and soak in all that Estonia has to offer.