Tallinn’s Old Town, Estonia

Tallinn – Estonia’s capital – came to prominence in the 13th century as an important trading center for the merchant guilds and market towns in Germany and northern Europe. The city’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a picturesque mix of Gothic spires, medieval architecture, and cobblestoned streets lined with ornate churches and showy mansions built by wealthy merchants.

What to see: 

* Raeapteek, Europe’s oldest continuously operating pharmacy, which dates back to 1422. You can still purchase klaret there, a “curative” wine (14% alcohol) that’s been produced in the pharmacy since 1467.

* The Christmas market in the Old Town Hall Square, among the continent’s most beautiful.

* The onion-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Oozing Russian Orthodox opulence, it was completed in 1900 when Estonia was still part of the Russian Empire.

* The imposing Toompea Castle, home to Estonia’s parliament. Erected on the foundations of a crumbling fortress built on this site in the13th century, it has been the seat of power throughout the country’s history.

* Kadriorg Palace, built by Tsar Peter I in 1718 for his wife, Catherine I. The palace currently houses the Kadriorg Art Museum, a branch of the Art Museum of Estonia.