Visiting Tallinn: The Honest Version
It's easy to get Tallinn wrong. I learned that the hard way on my second day, when I spent an hour waiting in line for a coffee at a café that charged €7 for a latte—right next to a tiny bakery where the same coffee cost €2.50. The city’s charm isn’t in the tourist traps but in the quiet corners where locals live, eat, and laugh. I’d been so focused on ticking off the medieval walls and the Town Hall Square that I missed the real Tallinn, the one where people order their morning coffee at the counter without a second thought. My advice? Skip the overpriced cafes and head to attractions in Tallinn that locals actually visit. For example, the Kiek in de Kök museum is a must. It’s a 14th-century fortress turned museum, and it’s not just for history buffs—there’s a small café inside serving the best cinnamon rolls in the city for €3.50. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and you can get a ticket for €8.50. I went on a Tuesday morning when the place was empty, and it...