Tourists Fill Tallinn's Old Town as Locals Head Out of City
On Victory Day and Midsummer Night, Tallinn's streets were empty, but the Old Town was crowded with foreign tourists, including cruise ship passengers.
On Victory Day and Midsummer Night, many residents of the Estonian capital left to celebrate in the countryside, leaving the city's streets noticeably emptier. In the city center, the holiday atmosphere was unusually quiet, with hardly any cars or pedestrians at major intersections. Even Freedom Square, usually busy, looked almost empty, with only a few passersby and tourists near the Old Town.
Inside the Old Town, however, the atmosphere was completely different. Cafés and restaurants were full, and the streets were lively, mostly with foreign tourists unaware of the local holidays. A tourist from Canada, Angelo, said he came simply as a traveler and wasn't following local events. German tourist Franziska had heard about Estonia's midsummer celebrations but was surprised since similar festivities in Finland had taken place several days earlier.
Cruise ship passengers also contributed significantly to the crowds. Two large cruise ships were docked at the Port of Tallinn on the holiday—one carrying about 4,200 passengers and the other about 2,500. American tourists John and Lauren planned to spend the day like locals and join in the holiday traditions.
