After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US - it regained its freedom in 1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia has been free to promote economic and political ties with Western Europe. It joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Tallinn : the capital - in Harjumaa

Raekoda (Town Hall)

Built in 1371, this heavy stone structure dominates the square. It now houses the Tallinn City Museum.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

A classic onion-domed 19th-century Russian Orthodox church that has become a touristy symbol of the city, much to the annoyance of nationalist types who regard it as a symbol of oppression. It was almost demolished in 1924 during Estonia's first brief spell of independence, but the Soviets left it to molder and it has been restored to its former glory.

Riigikogu

Estonia's Parliament, pretty in pink.

St Mary's Cathedral (Toomkirik)

The oldest church in Tallinn, originally built as a Catholic church in 1229 but renovated and expanded many times since then, becoming a Lutheran church in 1561.

Museum of Occupations

Toompea str. 8, at the corner of Toompea St. and Kaarli Blvd features the life conditions under Soviet and Nazi regimes.

Viewpoints

Walk around Toompea (it only takes a view minutes) and check out the viewpoints, some of which give great views over the city. There's also a cluster of amber (merevaik) shops around here.

City Wall

A section of the City Wall can be climbed from the corner of Suur-Kloostri and Väike-Kloostri, with entry into three towers possible. Quite frankly, the views from up on Toompea are better, and the spiral staircases are steep and somewhat claustrophobic. Admission 15 EEK.

Ex-KGB Headquarters

Pikk 61. Now the Interior Ministry and not generally open to the public, this is where the KGB detained and tortured suspected dissidents. A Soviet-era joke says that this was the tallest building in Estonia: even from the basement, you could see Siberia. Interrogations were indeed conducted in the basement and you can see even today how the windows were crudely bricked up with concrete to mute the sound.

Tallinn Zoo

Paldiski mnt. 145 (stop "Zoo"). This is an enormous area. Among its live exhibits you'll find "the world's best collections of mountain goats and sheep", which means there a lot of them! Tallinn Zoo defies the realities of a relatively modest town -- it features all the elephants and crocodiles a visitor would expect to see in a larger zoo, as well as a breathtaking maze of lake-size ponds that host birds in summertime.

Open Air Museum

Vabaõhumuuseumi str. 12 (stop "Rocca al Mare" or trolleybus 6 or 7 to stop "Zoo" and then a 15-minute walk), [36]. This museum includes 72 buildings of "Estonian vernacular architecture and village milieu" of the tsarist time of rule in a dark, dense forest. This museum provides a picture about the life and its hardship in the old times. A local folk-dancing group gives free performances here at 11am each Saturday and Sunday.

Holy Birgitta Monastery

Situated in picturesque Pirita beach area, some 5 km (3 mi) from the city center, is a monastery of Scandinavian female saints, as well as a landmark of 16th century catacombs and ruins. It includes a guest house operated by the nuns.

Patarei (Battery) Prison

Kalaranna 2. Wed-Sun noon-6PM, Jun-Sep only. This is the most recent and least-developed historical attraction in Tallinn. Originally decreed by tsar Nicholas I in 1820 as a fortress to protect the city from the sea-born attacks, it was turned into a notorious KGB prison in 1920. The prison ceased operations only in 2004. Entry 30 kr, guided tours from 70 kr, or pay 500 kr for a three-hour "new prisoner experience" culminating in a last meal with a glass of schnapps (but no execution).

Tallinn TV Tower

Kloostrimetsa 58a (stop "Motoklubi"), is a 314-metre high, free-standing structure with an observation deck on the 21st floor, which with its 170 metres, is the highest in Northern Europe. It offers spectacular views across Tallinn and, on a clear day, you can see Finland. Unfortunately since late 2007 this tower has been closed to the public because it does not conform to fire safety regulations.

Kalamaja

Kalamaja, north west from Old City. The oldest suburb of Tallinn, dating back to the 14th century. It was probably inhabited by fishermen (Kalamaja means "Fish house") and mostly houses workers. The current wooden buildings are from the 19th century.

The Rottermann quarter

An industrial district between the City and the Tallinn Port. The buildings are from the 19th and 20th century, with motifs of Art Nouveau and Historicism.New and stylish apartment buildings with shopping centre have now been built there widely regarded as architectural masterpiece in Tallinn.

National Art Museum KUMU

Weizenbergi 37/Valge 1 (stop "Kumu"). Opened in February 2006, this is the largest government built building since the liberation and it is an almost 50,000 m² (538,196 ft²). The museum houses a cyclopic house, partly cut out of limestone rock.

Song Grounds

Song Grounds (stops "Oru", "Lasnamägi" or "Lauluväljak"). A huge Modernist structure where the All Estonian Song Festival, which is held every five years, features 34,000 singers and dancers in addition to a massive audience.

Pirita district

Pirita district includes forest parks, Botanic Gardens and Metsakalmistu (the last resting place of well-known Estonians).

Tallinn Botanical Gardens

Kadriorg

Kadriorg is a beautiful and rich seaside resort district with mostly wooden buildings from the 18th to 20th centuries, as well as 20th century Art Deco and Functionalist structures. It also includes the baroque pearl of Estonia, the Kadriorg Palace and Garden.

The Kadriorg Palace

Weizenbergi 37, is an imperial Russian summer residence built by Italian architect Niccolo Michetti for Tsar Peter the Great in 1718. It is situated in a 90 ha (222 acre) park in the eastern part of the city. The tsar himself, a classic and mysterious Russian soul, preferred to stay in a modest house nearby. This event signified the beginning of Tallinn's fame as a summer resort for noble and rich Russians for most of the 18th and 19th centuries. Currently the palace is housing some paint collections and other art. A portion of the complex is now occupied by the Office of the President and not available to the public.

Tartu : second largest city - in Tartumaa

Town Hall square

Town Hall square in the centre. The kissing students statue on the fountain is a symbol of Tartu.

Botanic Garden of the University of Tartu Lai 38/40

Toome Hill with many monuments, statues and historical buildings.

Raadi Park

St. John's Church

The probably 14th century church is famous for its thousands of medieval terracotta figures.

Cathedral ruins

On top of the Dome Hill, are from the 13th century and were dedicated to apostles St. Peter and Paul. Today the choir part situates the Tartu University History Museum, and the towers are reconstructed to sightseeing platforms.

St. Paul's church

A redbrick Finnish Jugendstil by the famous Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen. (On Riga street)

St. Peter's Church

A pseudogothic Lutheran church from 1903, is built on the grounds of the first general Estonian song festival which took place in 1869. (Narva str. 104)

Roman Catholic Church

A beautiful neo-Histirical redbrick builing from 1899. (Veski 1)

St. Alexander`s Orthodox Church

A two- storey church (architect V. Lunski) with cupolas inspired by the Old Russian church architecture. The congregation was driven out 40 years ago. The church was reconsecrated in summer 2003. (Sõbra 19a)

St. Mary- Magdalena's Church

St. Mary- Magdalena's Church of a Domonican cloister founded before 1300. (Magasini 1)

Vanemuine theatre

Small Building of the Vanemuine (former German) Theatre

A gorgeous Art Nouveau building at Vanemuise 45a

Catherine´s House

The Classiscal style structure is built as a town palace in 1790 and in nowadays situates the the Tartu City Museum..The building is populary called Catherine´s House. The legend has it that Empress Catherine II made a short stay there. However, this legend is not true. Narva Road 23

Gunpowder Cellar

The Gunpowder Cellar was dug into the side of the hill in 1767 as part of the complex of the bishop’s citadel. It was used as a gunpowder cellar until 1809. Until 1982 it served as a storage room for many different enterprises, and was later developed into a eating place. Today the building hosts a beer restaurant carrying the same name.

Tartu University

Established in 1632, it's one of the oldest universities in Europe.The main building was built in 1804-1809 according to university architect Johann Wilhelm Krause’s plans in classical architecture. It includes the historic lock-up on the basement, Mainhall and the Tartu Univerity Art Museum which displays ancient art. Ülikooli 18

National Court

Construction of the building began in 1763 as military barracks. Onto its ruins was built the university hospital in 1808, which functioned until 1990. Since 1993, the national court is again in Tartu, which is Estonia’s supreme judiciary court. On the Dome Hill Lossi 17

Tartu Old Observatory

The observatory, designed by university architect J.W. Krause, was built at the beginning of the 19th century. Working place of many famous astronomes icluding Struve. The building lies on the old castle ruins on the Dome Hill. Lossi 40

Old Anatomical Theatre

One of the first buildings of the re-opened Tartu University which was built in 1803-1805 according to the drawings of university architect J. Krause. Today the visitors are offered an exhibition of the history of medicine with preparates. On the Dome Hill Lossi 38

Aristocratic dwellings and former teacher’s college on Lai Street

Raekoja Square 18

The late 18th century building is called the Barclay House after Duchess Barclay who bought the house in 1819 after the death of her husband, Barclay de Tolly. The longitudinal wall of the building toward the river was built on the basis of the old town wall, while the other side was built on a new foundation. This is why the house is now askew and is popularly called the Tower of Pisa.

Remains of the Town Wall

Angel´s Bridge

on Dome Hill The Angel’s Bridge, located on Toome hill, was built in the 19th century and spans Lossi Street.

Devil´s Bridge

The Devil’s Bridge was built in 1913 in honor of the 300th jubilee of tsarist Russia’s Romanov Dynasty, which is memorialized on the bridge by the dates 1613-1913.

Arched Bridge

Stand in the main square and look towards the river, this is the Arched Bridge of Tartu. It stands on the site of the original stone bridge of Tartu which was built in 1784 and blown up by the Soviets in WWII. This new bridge is only for pedestrians and allows you to do one of the most loved cultural activities of Tartu, walk over the top of the arch after a big night in the club. Just don't let the cops catch you.

Jõhvi in Ida-Virumaa

Jõhvi`s Concert Hall

Pargi 40, 41537 Jõhvi. Jõhvi is the home of Estonia's newest concert hall, offering the best opportunities. It opened on 8 October 2005. Its two concert halls, Grand hall seating 836 (can be changed to 926) and the other 170 people, have been furnished with state-of-the-art equipment. They are suitable for classical and rock concerts, theatre performances and exhibitions, receptions and balls, seminars and international conferences. The chamber hall has the newest cinema equipment. In addition, the house has four seminar rooms of different sizes for training, seminars and meetings. There is no limit to the usage options of the concert hall, except for the organiser's imagination. During the season, from autumn to spring, on average one or two concerts a week take place in the Jõhvi Concert Hall. During the summer season we also organise several concerts at other beautiful locations throughout Ida-Viru County. Thus, on 15-22 July, the traditional festival "Music of Seven Towns" will take place this year for the eighth time, with concerts both in the concert hall and all over Ida-Viru County.

St. Michael church-stronghold

Built in 13th century gothic church. Museum is opened in cellar of the church.

Pärnu in Pärnumaa

Old town with buildings even from medieval times

Beautiful wooden villas

Beach park and promenade

Pärnu, Lydia Koidula and Modern Art Museum and City gallery

Kuressaare in Saaremaa

Kuressaare Castle

The fortress is well preserved and located in the city center.

Valga in Valgamaa

Jaani church

Pedele river recreation zone

Valga museum

Narva in Ida-Virumaa

Narva Museum/Castle

St.-Peterburi mnt. 2. Hours: Wednesday - Sunday 10 AM - 6 PM. The Castle tower overlooks the Ivangorod castle on the Russian side of the river and offers an eclectic display of Estonian and Narva history. Tickets are 30 EEK.