Just a ten-minute walk from Tallinn’s Old Town, there is a small Kalamaja neighborhood, the most vibrant and bohemian place in the Estonian capital. The former port and industrial hub, which was considered a ghetto, has been transformed beyond recognition: old abandoned factories and fishing houses play out in fresh colors and house fashionable art spaces, shops, and restaurants within their walls. In contrast to the Old Town, which embodies Tallinn’s past, Kalamaja, full of unusual places and youth hideouts, is its present.

The Baltic Station Market will help you start your discovery of Kalamaja, and at the same time, refresh yourself and plunge into its creative ambiance. This place can be called the heart of the area. Kalamaja’s numerous creative establishments, including the Depoo food street and the Telliskivi shopping mall, the most hipster spots on the map of Tallinn, are located here.

The hallmark of the area features multi-colored wooden houses stretching towards the riverfront. Walking along the streets of Kalamaja, you won’t miss or overlook them. At various times, they served as dwellings for both rugged fishermen and ordinary factory workers. Today, they are the architectural legacy of Tallinn.

Passing through a series of cozy quarters with vibrant and picturesque houses, you can have a walk in a beautiful park, laid out in the sixties of the last century on the site of an old medieval cemetery. Today, only the gate tower reminds us of the times when this land served as the last resting place for the citizens. Here, you can relax and enjoy nature before setting out to explore the main landmarks of Kalamaja.

Snatch at a chance to visit local museums: Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia in the Pohja-Tallinn district, the museum of the former central prison, and the naval museum at the Seaplane Harbor. The last two are especially interesting for their locations and off-beat expositions. Also, pay attention to the impressive buildings of the Salme cultural center and Linnahall. If you want to make some more discoveries, take a look at the Kai Art Center and Energy Discovery Center.