Journalist Dan Allen lifts the cover from the gay scene in Estonia. He wanders down the national memory lane and across traditional islands to find the remnants of history, both intriguing and graceful at once. Not only does he fall in love with the Baltics, but also becomes fascinated with the contrasting identities of the three Baltic states.

Dan starts his journey of the Baltics in Tallinn, what he refers to as the most gay-friendly city in the Baltics - "Estonia is the most overtly gay welcoming of the three Baltic countries, having even passed (though not yet fully implemented) a civil partnership law." While Tallinn's gay scene is still pretty small-scale, Dan points out three mainstream LGBT hotspots attracting crowds in Tallinn - X-Baar, and a sauna Club 69. 

He ventures to the Museum of Occupations to learn more about the 20th century history and conditions of Estonian residents living under the Soviet rule expanding across decades. From here he follows a path further down the historic timeline of Estonia, all the way to the medieval era.

Down in the lower and main part of the Old Town, the windy, café and boutique-lined cobblestone streets give it a charm few European capitals can match.

Having experienced the cobbled streets of Tallinn Old Town, Kalamaja's creative buzz and the elegance of Kadriorg, Dan heads off the idyllic local islands, where he dines with the owners of the 14th century Pädaste manor in Muhumaa.

Pädaste is just one of scores of converted manors in Estonia and Latvia (plus a few in Lithuania), remnants of earlier centuries when life in the Baltics was overseen by a network of Germanic nobility.

Read more about Dan's journey via Passport Magazine.

For more LGBT friendly nightlife in Tallinn, check out Lekker  and Sveta bar that holds LGBT+ nights. 

For more LGBT travel guides to Estonia, check out Queer in the world and Metrosource.