Europe has many wonderful Christmas markets that delight visitors during the festive season. Strasbourg is definitely one of the most impressive Christmas markets that I have seen, yet Tallinn is still very much underrated. It deserves to be further up the list.
Tallinn's Lennart Meri Airport is undergoing a major €75 million, multi-phase expansion due for completion by 2030. The upgrade will be the largest investment in Tallinn Airport's history and will double the airports capacity to 5.5 million passengers per year. The reconstruction will add around 16,500 square metres of new space to the existing facility, while more than 18,000 square metres of the existing terminal will also be rebuilt, bringing a total terminal area of 52,500 square metres. The airport upgrade will include additional terminal space, modernised check-in with self-service kiosks, separate arrivals/departures areas on different levels and expanded border security control. Retail and VIP areas will also be improved, all while maintaining operations and focusing on sustainability.
Tallinn Airport has undergone significant renovations and expansions over the years, notably a major modernisation in 1999, followed by a large expansion in 2008, and continued upgrades in the mid-2000s and into the 2020s.
Photo flashback. Tallinn Airport during the 1980s.
Europe has many wonderful Christmas markets open during the festive season but there is one that stands out from the rest - Tallinn. The Tallinn Christmas market is not only special for its unique characteristics but it also the location of the world's very first Christmas tree. The Brotherhood of Blackheads erected the tree in the year 1441, decorating it with colourful natural ornaments and danced around it. Those merchants of Tallinn created a beloved tradition that continues to this day.
Congratulations to Vihula Manor for winning "Countryside Luxury Retreat of the Year" at the European Hotel Awards in Vilnius. The award highlights the manor’s exceptional hospitality, outstanding service, authentic character, natural surroundings, and a refined guest experience. With an impressive overall score of 8.9 on Booking.com, this luxurious retreat offers an unforgettable experience for its guests.
For a country that is often celebrated for its digital innovation and quietly radical governance, Estonia has now achieved something even more improbable - global scientific impact. According to a new analysis of global citation data, Estonia’s research is cited 81.7% above the global average, overtaking even its Nordic mentors, Finland and Sweden. For a nation with a population of just 1.3 million people Estonia has become the world’s third most “scientifically wealthy” country, ranked behind only Iceland and Singapore.
A piece of stone age “gum” chewed by a teenage girl 10,500 years ago has been discovered by archaeologists in Estonia. The prehistoric birch tar had impressions of teeth marks and traces of saliva. Genetics experts from the Institute of History and Archaeology at the University of Tartu extracted DNA from the saliva and concluded it was probably chewed by a girl with brown hair and brown eyes.
The institute holds DNA samples from 20 percent of Estonia’s population, providing scientists with a modern genetic comparison to better interpret ancient DNA. Experts now know that ancient Estonians chewed tar – burnt or heated silver-birch bark – for things like relieving toothaches or used as glue. Birch tar is still used as an adhesive in Estonia today for sealing breaks in pots and tools.