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If you have the time I would recommend the Rocca Mare Open Air Museum on the outskirt which despite being touristic ( and full of Estonian School groups learning about the "old days") is in a lovely Sylvan setting and gives you a good impression of an Estonian rural village from the 17th to the 19th century ( interesting different styles of windmills too). EVM | Visiting information | Visiting information
The Independence Museum and Museum of Occupations were also great places to understand the background to modern Estonia and the present tensions between the Russia minority and the Estonians.
And not sure if you like Opera but as an Opera buff ( who has been to La Scala, the Paris Opera and the Fenice) I think the National Estonian Opera was by far the best. It was astonishing how even the chorus was of the most exquisite and highest standard.
Prices were also not quite as eye watering as in Western Europe. In fact it was darn cheap.... We exchanged homes with the Artistic Director and got free tickets for a couple of performances( and went back for some more we paid for we loved it so much)and it was one of the highlights of our trip. There was also a wonderful outdoors performance in the main Square by the National Opera on May the first and I think it happens every May the 1st.
We were there during one of the Folk Festival and it was lovely to see kids from all over Estonia ( and adults) in traditional costumes, singing and dancing traditional music.
We stayed in the Russian part of town which was a fascinating contrast with the Estonian side and is worth visiting to see Soviet Urbanism and how the other half ( well about a third I think) lives...
If you have the time drive or take the train/bus to Tartu a really lovely pleasant University laid back town in Southern Estonia and then towards Lake Peipsi into "Old Believers" "territory". These are Russian Communities who escaped from Religious Persecution in Russia ( They split from the Orthodox Church because it was too "modern") and in most ways still live an ancient agrarian lifestyle .
It is like stepping back in time 200 years in places. Lovely villages , with a fascinating style of agriculture in some places and almost a Stork on every roof ! I suppose they are the Amish of Estonia except that they seemed a lot more removed from the modern world.
We were mostly ignored by the locals but there was no sense of threat or rudeness just a very reserved community.
I think most of Eastern Europe offers tremendous value along with a Fairy Tale quality.Many Americans have now ventured to Prague, so that is well known.
I saw a poster mention Tallinn Estonia, is off the beaten path and is frequently overlooked by travelers.
All of the Baltic countries, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia have some pretty cities of that type.
Kiev Ukraine, has many narrow cobblestone streets and pretty views of the Dnieper River. Beautiful Fairy Tail like cathedrals with golden domes, winding streets castles like buildings,and colorfully painted homes that look medieval, and most likely are.
Really good exchange rate too. We really enjoyed ourselves and felt very "other worldly" in a good way. Most everyone speaks English, however, and they are more than welcoming to visitors.
I think most of Eastern Europe offers tremendous value along with a Fairy Tale quality.
For some reason, Romania and Bulgaria fascinate me. I've heard that traveling there can be stressful...i.e. kind of scammy. I would imagine beautiful castles in the woods, actually setting foot in Transylvania, and being adjacent to the Red Sea might be interesting.
I don't know if I'm adventurous enough for, or interested in, Eastern Europe at this point.
For some reason, Romania and Bulgaria fascinate me. I've heard that traveling there can be stressful...i.e. kind of scammy. I would imagine beautiful castles in the woods, actually setting foot in Transylvania, and being adjacent to the Red Sea might be interesting.
I don't know if I'm adventurous enough for, or interested in, Eastern Europe at this point.
I spent 2.5 weeks in Romania last summer. It was wonderful.
The people were nice, prices reasonable.
I camped, stayed in very nice towns where homestays are the norm. I drove north (5 hours for 100 miles) through the mountains and valleys with potholes as big as an apartment to the painted monestaries.
I didn't make it to the sea because I wanted to go to Serbia and Croatia to visit friends.
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Mooseketeer, thanks for the heads up.
I'm off to Salzburg and Bertchesgaden this weekend to try out my new camper van. It will be cold but the Easter Market and symphony are too hard to resist.
For some reason, Romania and Bulgaria fascinate me. I've heard that traveling there can be stressful...i.e. kind of scammy. I would imagine beautiful castles in the woods, actually setting foot in Transylvania, and being adjacent to the Red Sea might be interesting.
Toledo (Spain) and Troyes (France) are good fairytale cities.
Other contenders include Freiburg (Germany); Strasbourg and Carcassonne (France); Avila and Santiago de Compostela (Spain); Dubrovnik (Croatia); San Gimignano (Italy)
The Alfama section of Lisbon qualifies, as does the medieval quarter of Genoa. Parts of Granada (home of the Alhambra) and Segovia (home of the famous Alcazar) also fit the bill.
It all kind of depends on what kind of fairy tale, though.
For a very big city, Barcelona has a significant fairytale vibe.
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to the painted monestaries. 
Brain fart.
