Tallinn is the capital of Estonia and is the home of major financial, industrial, educational, cultural, and research centres. The area boasts the highest number of business start-ups per person amongst European countries and is also the cradle of many international high technology companies such as Skype and Transferwise. The city is also home to the headquarters of the European Union’s IT agency, and it features a highly diversified economy that includes logistics, tourism, information, and technology. Tallin makes an ideal base from which to visit Naissaar Island - take a ferry and spend the day exploring its strange and alluring landscape.
Situated in northern Estonia, Lahemaa National Park is the largest park in the country, as well as Europe’s largest national park. It was the first natural area to be designated a national park in the former Soviet Union. Lahemaa National Park is renowned for its rich biodiversity and important national heritage. Aside from the spectacular natural scenery, the park is dotted with a collection of beautiful historical manors and picturesque fishing villages. Visitors can look forward to visiting the Jagala Waterfall, discovering the Viru Bog Trail and the Oandu Beaver Trail, visiting the Altja fishing village, and viewing the magnificent Sagadi Manor.
Constructed under the creative watchful eye of the visionary Tsar Peter the Great as 'a window to the west,' St. Petersburg is a planned city spanning across more than a hundred islands in the Neva Delta. With its pastel palaces, gilded domes, immaculate gardens, grand statues, candlelit cathedrals and arched bridges over graceful canals, St Petersburg is urban Russia at its most extravagant. Despite its rich heritage, the city has eased into modernity without sacrificing any of its old-world charm. Its shopping malls, alternative cafés and techno clubs exist harmoniously alongside ancient architectural delights and breathtaking historical monuments. Whether visiting some of the world’s greatest art museums, strolling through the Summer Garden, peeping into a gorgeous little neighbourhood church or taking a boat cruise through the canals, you are bound to find plenty to keep you blissfully engaged in this dazzling metropolis whose sheer grandeur never fails to amaze.
Russia’s vibrant capital is characterised by an intriguing blend of contrasts and contradictions. Visitors are typically surprised to find simple Bohemian beauty alongside glamourous extravagance and exquisite 16th-century churches resting in the shadows of glistening modern skyscrapers. This fusion of the old and the new creates a fascinating tapestry of ancient and modern cultural treasures. While Moscow’s all-night-party scene provides unlimited opportunities for revelry, less nocturnal travellers can spend their days marvelling at the city’s array of impressive sites including St. Basil’s Cathedral, the formidable Red Square, and the 14th-century Kremlin. Culture enthusiasts are equally well sated with endless high culture. The Moscow Philharmonic, the Bolshoi Theatre, mind-blowing art exhibitions and a thriving live music scene continue to put Moscow on the cutting-edge culture map. Whether you are looking for medieval history, communist nostalgia or high-rolling glamour, Moscow has got you covered.
