I did mention this in my overview of Tallinn but thought it deserved special mention, as the legendary "cheap shopping" in Tallinn is one of the reasons a lot of people visit. Let me say first off that the city of Tallinn has a lot to offer, particularly if it's scenery and atmosphere you are looking for. It's quite hard to find a place in Europe these days that has a really genuine medieval feel to it, but Old Town Tallinn does. From the moment you first walk through the big stone gates you feel like you've left modern Estonia behind and are being reverted to a different time.

Having said that, the prices don't revert with you. Once the sun is up, all the shops begin to open their doors, and the market vendors begin to set up their stalls, the main street of Old Town comes alive. To the casual observer, there is an absolute wealth of little local treasures to be found and, if what you've been told is true, get at an absolute steal.

This, I'm afraid, is simply not true. With very few exceptions, each and every shop and market stall sold almost identical items. Unless you're in the market for gaudy, overpriced amber jewelery or some very standard souvenirs, there isn't much to buy. And the cheap prices, as I mentioned before, simply don't exist. I was later told that there are dodgy markets out in urban Tallinn, but even the malls and stores outside of old town are not only not cheap but actually quite pricey.

So come to Tallinn--there are lots of reasons to visit and lots to see and do, but don't come expecting to come home with lots of things for pennies. Apparently this is a thing of the past.