Our Estonian Escapades (Part 1)
Join us as on our Estonian escapades, with Part 1 featuring the beautifully quaint city of Tartu. It was a fun week in Estonia and we hope you enjoy this 2-part series of our time there.
Every good thing must come to an end, or so they say, but it was true of our time in Finland. As the Finnish mainland disappeared over the horizon, we turned around and looked forward (literally and metaphorically) to our new adventure in Estonia.
The ferry approached Tallinn on a beautiful morning, with the city’s old town looking like something of a fairy-tale. We disembarked our massive Nordic cruiser and went to the bus station to head to Tartu. Although, not before one of our classic supermarket picnics, which essentially varies from a type of bread, spread (went for beetroot, but also pesto and hummus are ideal) & some veg (a tomato & splurged for a cheeky avo).
So we had planned for 5 nights in Estonia, which we decided to break up between the capital of Tallinn and the smaller city of Tartu in the country’s south-east. Having already gotten in the travel mode, Rubes and I just decided to get the bus over and done with by taking the 2ish hours to Tartu.
Arriving in the city, we checked into Looming Hostel, a very well-kept eco-hostel, which was a pleasant stay overall. From there our first afternoon consisted of us wandering down to the town centre and looking through the pretty old town area. Being a major student town, Tartu was pretty quiet as the summer holidays roll on, but it was nice having a place free of people.
The city's botanical gardens were a real treat to walk through and gave a very nice first impression to this peaceful part of the world. As the day slowly turned to night, we chilled out on the very cool swing-park bench hybrids they have installed around the place, before heading back to the hostel for dinner.
Keeping to budget, we decided to cook a simple pesto pasta and had a drink to unwind. It was a longish day of travel, so it was nice to take in the coming of dusk from our hostel’s roof terrace, with nice food and drink, before turning in for an early night.
The following day we got going in the morning to see as much of Tartu in a day, but also with a plan to find me a hat. After loosing my beloved simple k-mart $2 black cap, I was in need of a replacement and the abundance of op-shops in Tartu meant hope for a cheap replacement. That morning we literally went into 6 op-shops, all within 200m of each other, but alas no luck, so we cut our losses and went to see more of the town.
Heading out a bit further afield, we stumbled upon a very quirky upside-down house near the Estonian National Museum (Tagurpidi Maja). We thought at €15 for the both of us, it was a bit pricey to enter, so instead we enjoyed doing handstands out the front instead. It's worth a look at for how they have literally put a house upside down. For here, we again kept walking around, before hunger took its toll and we made for another supermarket picnic lunch.
Finding a spot up the river, on somewhat of a beach, we tucked into a variant of the meal the day before, by having carrot bread, hummus, lettuce and tomato (they never fail to satisfy hunger and the budget). Although, we were very exposed and underprepared for a bizarre afternoon storm that rolled in and meant we had to take shelter under a tree for a bit.
Thing actually got a little bit cold here after, but were luckily able to warm up at the incredible urban gym/rock-climbing set-up they had in a local park. It was awesome to just climb on a wall, act like a kid and enjoy every bit of it. It’s also very important to stay fit and healthy while travelling so a few cheeky chin-ups help to keep things in check.
The rest of the afternoon was spent closer to town, up on top of Tomme Hill, where an there is the amazing Tartu cathedral half in ruins. Its main tower was closed on Monday’s, but that didn't stop Ruby attempting to scale it and find an alternative way up. Long story short, she didn't. After another wander through the lovely and quaint town streets, it was back to the hostel.
Close by there was a trendy precinct formed out of the rejuvenation of an old industrial centre (just like your local hipster area, they have spread like the plague). It was a nice vibe with a variety of dinner spots, which we decided to do some India-prep and try a local Estonian take on traditional Indian. It wasn’t bad at all, filled the belly and was quite budget friendly. From here, we hung around the hostel for a bev, but the chilled vibes of Looming made it easy to slip away for a good night’s sleep.
The next morning was spent getting our stuff packed up, donating a few items to the hostel’s 2nd hand clothing sale and heading off for our bus back to Tallinn. However, we had to go back for one more swing on the cool bench-swings before we left.
The bus was incredibly swanky with screens for each seat that made for a very comfy journey. We arrived in Tallinn mid-afternoon and was the ideal time to check-in to the infamous Monk’s Bunk Hostel, collect our welcome shots of Vana Tallinn and ditch our things. Which is also the perfect time to bring this blog to an end and save Tallinn for the next one in Part 2.
Recommendations: Tartu
Accommodation: Looming Hostel
A hostel with a very chill vibe, kitchen, outdoor terrace and comfortable rooms. It's also eco-friendly and affordable at around $15 a night.
Food: Trendy Hub at Kastani 42
Very close to Looming is the renovated precinct that channels Tallinn's Telliskivi Creative City with its trendy decor, wall art and some great food and drinking options. Not exactly budget (but not extortionate either), so we saved up by eating in for a few meals to enjoy a night here.
Things to See and Do:
Tomme Hill: The area is a large park area that is nice to walk through and has the ruins of Tartu Cathedral, which you can climb up to reach a viewpoint.
Museums: Tartu has a range of museums and if that's what your into, you have the Estonian National Museum, AHHAA Science Centre, Tartu Toy Museum, A. Le Coq Beer Museum and many more.
Old Town: Tartu's old town is your typical quaint European centre without the crowds. You can wander through and take it all in virtually on your own.
Emajogi River: The Emajogi flows right through Tartu, which is quite nice to walk along and enjoy the scenery, the swinging benches, the various summer bars and a few beaches to the West.
Botanical Gardens: The botanical gardens are near the river and the old town, which offer a beautiful public space for tourists and locals alike to enjoy.
Tagurpidi Maja (Upside Down House): The quirky attraction is near the Estonian National Museum and offers something a bit different. We thought it a bit pricey for entry (7.50 Euro per person), but if the budget permits, it could be a fun way to spend an hour.
If you enjoyed this blog and are looking for more, continue on to Part 2 here, covering our time in Tallinn. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed our escapades and have a good one.
Regards, Madie.