Helsinki - Tallinn tips?

[nksyoon]

Hello all, I'll be travelling to Helsinki, Tallinn and Hiiumaa next week for about 2 weeks.

Any tips for:

1. Camera stores for potential bargains? I've already been informed of a flea market in Tallinn behind the railway station.

2. Off the beaten track places to visit? Interested in former Soviet sites, interesting neighbourhoods and events. Not so interested in the standard sightseeing.

Anyone interested in meeting up in Tallinn (Aug 12-14) or Helsinki (Aug 14-15)?

 

[Wallo]

1. Camera stores for potential bargains?

I don't know the Helsinki stores, but I believe you will have a hard time finding any real bargains in Finland. Rajala Pro Shop should be pretty easy to find, as it's close to the railway station. Here are some of their current used prices (http://www.rajalacamera.fi/PublishedService?file=&pageID=3&action=view&groupID=488&OpenGroups=487):
Leica M9 - 4895 eur
Leica M8 - 1995 eur
35 Summilux-M Asph - 2695 eur
50 Summarit-M - 795 eur

 

[Mablo]

Hiiumaa is very very nice and quiet place. I travelled there last June by bicycle and liked it tremendously. I hope you are a nature lover because this small island is a paradise for anyone who likes tranquillity. No night clubs there 🙂 Make sure you'll see the huge light house on the western point of the island. Btw. on your way from Tallinn to Hiiumaa there's a small town (village actually) by the sea named Paldiski. It used to be a submarine base during the CCCP time. It's quite interesting although you don't really see submarines there anymore but you can still get the cold war feeling looking around. Haapsalu is another very nice small town on your way to Hiiumaa. This photo is from the southernmost point of Hiiumaa (see: http://is.gd/e2lCz ), village is called Soru. If you have a chance you could also take a ferry from Soru to the neighbouring island Saaremaa and see Kuressaare town perhaps.

 

[Mablo]

Ahh.. forgot to tell you about Helsinki. The main thing to see and photo here in my mind is the Sveaborg Fortress island (Suomenlinna) just outside Helsinki. 10min by boat from the old market square by the sea. The place has a fascinating history. It was originally built by the King of Sweden in the 1750's to protect Helsinki. It was taken by the Russians in the early 1800's, bombarded in the Crimean war a few years later and served as a Russian naval stronghold until the Russian revolution in 1917. Most of the buildings on the island now are from the Russian era (I think).

 

[peter_n]

A long time now since I've been there but loved both cities. One thing I'd recommend is a visit to the Lutheran Cathedral in Helsinki, a beautiful big white building on a square. I'm not a religious person but sat inside it and had an extraordinary sensation of inner peace. Tallinn is a little jewel, there are photo ops everywhere you turn in the old city.

BTW I love your avatar but it's out of date. I think Bruce Davidson's Outside Inside is the new heavyweight champ - it weighs 10 kg! 😉

 

[nksyoon]

Thanks for the tips! Passed through Tallinn on the way to Hiiumaa where I am now, seemed very "theme park", will be spending some days there on my way home and I hope to discover a different side.

 

[davidtth]

enjoy your trip and do bring us some nice pix 🙂

 

[jarski]

Hiiumaa is probably VERY quiet 🙂 its the smaller of two islands.

spent a week in Saaremaa my 2008 summer holiday and toured the island by motorbike. it was pretty fast seen, but recon its relaxing place for families and nature lovers, for camping etc.