Living in Sadama, Tallinn

Sadama is the strip of Tallinn facing the sea between the Old Town and the Gulf of Finland: this is where the passenger port sits, the Vanasadam (Old Port), from which the ferries that connect the city to Helsinki and Stockholm depart. For decades it was pure port land of quays and terminals; in recent years a large regeneration plan has been turning it into a real piece of city, with a seafront promenade, new residential buildings and public spaces in place of the car parks and warehouses.

Who lives here

It is one of the newest areas of Tallinn in terms of resident population. Alongside those who work in the port and in logistics, a new layer has appeared: people who have bought or rent in the recent buildings on the waterfront - professionals, couples, foreigners drawn by the idea of being a short walk from the Old Town with the water in front of them. It is not a historic neighbourhood with a rooted community, but a young area still taking shape, halfway between building site and lived-in district.

What it's like during the day

During the day the rhythm is set by the port: ships arriving and departing, streams of passengers with their suitcases, the comings and goings of the terminals. Around it, the new city takes form: the seafront promenade (Reidi tee) that leads towards Kadriorg, the open spaces in front of the water, the first cafés and venues on the ground floors of the new buildings. The Old Town is about ten minutes away on foot, so many people live here and use the centre as their service district.

What it's like in the evening

In the evening the area is quiet: once the ferry timetable has passed, the port empties and what remains is a silent residential area by the sea. To go out - bars, restaurants, nightlife - you head to the nearby Old Town or towards Rotermann and the centre, all reachable on foot. Anyone after silence and an evening walk by the water will find it; anyone after activity leaves the neighbourhood.

Getting around

The advantage is the location. Tram 2 connects the Vanasadam to the centre and to the other end of the city, and is the most convenient way to get around without walking. The Old Town and the centre are in any case a few minutes away on foot. The ferries to Helsinki, about two hours away, and to Stockholm depart from the port several times a day. It is one of the few areas of Tallinn where a car is really of little use.

Eating and shopping

The offering is that of a new neighbourhood: a few cafés and restaurants in the new buildings and in the regenerated areas of the port, with the choice growing year by year. For shopping there are supermarkets nearby, and for anything more the centre and the Old Town are a short walk away. Don't expect the density of venues of an established neighbourhood just yet.

When NOT to pick it

If you want the charm of wooden houses and the atmosphere of a district with its own history, you won't find it here: Sadama is modern, in transformation, partly still a building site. In high season the streams of ferry and cruise passengers make themselves felt. It is the right choice for anyone who wants the sea, new buildings and closeness to the centre; the wrong one for anyone after rooted quiet and period character.