Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, Estonian capital Tallinn has slowly emerged from the shadow of Prague to become a main contender as an Eastern European city that’s simply unavoidably beautiful. Narrow, winding cobbled streets and buildings hidden behind the chunky front of medieval town walls are the order of the day here, with plenty in the way of the off-the-wall post-Soviet art and remnants of Russian dominance still easy to track down amongst the city’s many enticing nooks and crannies. The trades are an equally mixed blend, with glass blowing and pottery still substantial amongst Tallinn’s newfound designer boutiques.

The single tower of Tallinn’s medieval Town Hall – perfectly lit to glow in the cold of night – as well as spectacular Kadriorg Palace, a garish deep-pink baroque structure at the heart of a manicured park are both must-see local attractions. Head for the edge of town and you’ll find tower after tower of gently peaked fortress turrets, guarding the walls with a closely knit defensive cylinder capped with slated cones.