tourist information tallinn

11 Top Attractions & Things to Do in Tallinn, Estonia

Written by Joni Sweet Updated Dec 24, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

With surprises around every corner, Tallinn bursts with charm like no other European city. The capital of Estonia is steeped in history, yet has all the modern offerings tourists expect from a destination in the 21st century.

The city is exceptionally photogenic, especially during the midnight sunsets in the summer. And if you want to see the city at its very best, plan your visit during the Estonian Song Festival. It brings together 30,000 of the best singers in Estonia onto one stage every five years to create music that vibrates throughout the city. The next festival is scheduled for July 3-6, 2025.

Tallinn's Old Town has managed to preserve its medieval heritage throughout centuries of domination by foreign rulers, rightfully earning a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. You can still strut through the ivy-covered Viru Gate, explore the gothic Town Hall, and walk along the town walls like others have done for hundreds of years.

But you should spend equal time exploring Tallinn's modern-day offerings, as well. The city boasts Scandinavian-inspired restaurants, viewing platforms, lush parks, and sweets shop s.

Plan your sightseeing around this alluring city with our list of the things to do in Tallinn.

1. Tallinn's Old Town

2. estonian maritime museum, 3. tallinn tv tower, 4. toompea castle, 5. aleksander nevski katedraali, 6. kadriorg park, 7. kumu art museum, 8. estonian open air museum, 9. kalev chocolate shop and workshop, 10. st. olaf's church, 11. telliskivi creative city, where to stay in tallinn for sightseeing, map of attractions & things to do in tallinn, estonia, tallinn, estonia - climate chart.

Tallinn's Old Town encompasses endless treasures for history buffs and culture hounds alike. Known for being one of the world's best-preserved Hanseatic town centers , the vibrant village-like area features cobblestone streets , lively cafés , and architecture from long-ago centuries.

Start your experience at the Town Hall Square. While you might be tempted to keep your eyes cast up at the colorful buildings, look down until you find the distinctive circular stone marked with a compass. Standing atop it gives you the unique vantage point to see the steeples of five historic churches around Tallinn. Then, make your way inside the church-like Town Hall. Erected in 1404, the oldest town hall in Northern Europe boasts magnificent Gothic arches and precious artworks .

Then, head across the square to one of Europe's oldest continually running pharmacies, Raeapteek. The establishment celebrates its history with a mini museum focusing on antique medical tools and early healthcare techniques. You can also sample herbal tea blends created from local ingredients in the pharmacy's basement.

Another prominent spot in Tallinn's Old Town is the Viru Gate. Once part of the city wall's defense system, this 14th-century structure features fairy-tale-esque, round towers topped with coned roofs fit for a princess. Nearly two kilometers of the original city wall is still standing. You can get a good look at this historic structure from the Patkuli viewing platform on Toompea Hill.

With more than 2,300 islands in its territory, Estonia has developed a strong maritime culture, and there's no better place to visit to experience it than at the Lennusadam Seaplane Harbour exhibit at the Estonian Maritime Museum.

This fascinating museum exhibit invites tourists to step inside Submarine EML Lembit , a 1930s-era vessel that is one of the few remaining submarines of its time. You can also hop aboard the Suur Tõll icebreaker and explore the powerful steamer's captain's cabin, crew rooms, and officers' mess hall. Hundreds of other artifacts displayed throughout the museum continue to tell the story of maritime history in Estonia.

The structure of the museum itself is just as interesting as its contents. Originally built to house seaplanes in Peter the Great's Naval Fortress, the hangar features "the world's first columnless thin-shell concrete domes of such volume." It remained in use until World War II. It's amazing that the cavernous space requires no vertical supports to hold its weight.

Address: Vesilennuki tänav 6, Põhja-Tallinna linnaosa, Tallinn

Official site: http://meremuuseum.ee/lennusadam/en/

Proudly standing 314 meters in the clouds, the Tallinn TV Tower is a must-visit attraction in Estonia. A visit to the observation deck on the 21st floor –the highest open viewing platform in Northern Europe–is one of the most popular things to do. Tourists can get panoramic views of Tallinn and the Gulf of Finland. You won't want to forget your camera when sightseeing here.

Craving an adrenaline rush? Check out the Tallinn TV Tower's Walk on the Edge experience. It will strap you into a harness and let you walk along the ledge of the tower's outdoor terrace. You can even dangle your feet over the 175-meter drop. Don't look down!

This Tallinn attraction also features a number of other less fear-inducing attractions that prove fun for every type of traveler. There's a high-speed elevator that whisks tourists to the observation deck in just 49 seconds. Try out a career in broadcast journalism and record your very own news clip at the TV studio on the first floor. Enjoy multi-course meals in the clouds at the TV Tower Restaurant. And learn more about the history of Estonia's tallest building , including its construction for the 1980 Summer Olympics, at the TV Tower history exhibition.

Buy your tickets online in advance to avoid wasting time in a long line.

Address: Kloostrimetsa tee 58a, Pirita linnaosa, Tallinn

Official site: https://www.teletorn.ee/en/

Toompea Hill has always been the core of power in Estonia. Various rulers of Estonia have changed the Toompea Castle to their liking over the last 800 years, starting with the initial stone structure built by the German Knights of the Sword in the 13th century and eventually turning into a tickle-me-pink Baroque palace, courtesy of Catherine the Great. It's now home to the Riigikogu (Estonian parliament), which commemorates the country's independence by raising the national flag atop the 14th-century Tall Hermann tower every morning.

Tourists can take free guided tours of the Toompea Castle in English, Russian, or Estonian on weekdays, with advance reservations. You'll get to explore the inside of the rosy building, hear about its storied past, and learn about the structure of the Riigikolu.

After your tour, walk 500 meters northeast to the Patkuli viewing platform for an epic panoramic vista of Tallinn. From here, you can see straight down to the port .

Address: Lossi plats 1a, Kesklinna linnaosa, Tallinn

Official site: https://www.riigikogu.ee/en/visit-us/toompea-castle/

Take one look at the Alexander Nevski Cathedral, and you might think you've somehow stumbled into St. Petersburg. The 120-year-old cathedral, located directly across from the Toompea Castle , exudes sacred Russian Orthodox style, with five bulbous onion domes crowned by gilded iron crosses and an ornate brown and white exterior. It also houses 11 bells, including the largest one in Tallinn, which clocks in at a whopping 15 tons. You can hear their sounds ringing through the city throughout the day.

While beautiful and well-maintained, the cathedral hasn't always received a warm welcome from Tallinn. Many Estonians saw it as an oppressive symbol from Russia in the early- to mid-20th century and demanded it be demolished. However, that proposal didn't move forward, and the cathedral still stands today.

Address: Lossi plats 10, Kesklinna linnaosa, Tallinn

Aleksander Nevski Katedraali isn't the only remaining artifact of Russian influence in Tallinn. You can also see it at Kadriorg Park and the palace within it, both commissioned by Czar Peter the Great for his wife Catherine, in 1718.

About four kilometers east of Tallinn's Old Town , the lush 70-hectare expanse is the go-to place for a heavy dose of nature therapy in the city. Tourists will see blooming flower beds laid out in geometric patterns , a luxurious swan pond, a serene Japanese garden , and an English landscape park with an oak grove.

More than just nature, the park is also home to a few impressive structures, the most notable of which is the Kadriorg Palace. Built as an imperial summer palace in the early 18th century, the elegant three-level building was inspired by Italian palaces of the time and now houses the Estonian Art Museum 's collection of foreign works from the 16th to the 20th centuries. North of the palace, you can see the Office of the President of the Republic , a salmon-pink, Neo-Baroque building where the Estonian president works.

Address: August Weizenbergi tänav 10, Kesklinna linnaosa, Tallinn

Official site: http://www.kadriorupark.ee/park-eng/areas-of-the-park

After you've had your fill of Kadriorg Park, stroll over to the Kumu Art Museum, an award-winning institution that serves as the headquarters of the Estonian Art Museum. It houses a vast collection of contemporary art and serves as a multifunctional space for educational programs and events.

The main permanent exhibition on the third floor offers tourists the opportunity to see Estonian art classics from the 18th century to the conclusion of World War II. Featured artists include Johann Köler, Kristjan Raud, and Konrad Mägi . The works are laid out in such a way that tourists can see how local art styles changed in parallel with the Estonian mentality.

On the fourth floor, a more recently opened part of the permanent exhibition focuses on Estonian Art during the Soviet Era . The collection dives into the many complexities of producing creative works under the strict rules of the Communist Party, as well as the changes that occurred as restrictions on art eased toward the 1980s.

You can also see how Estonian art evolved in the 1990s after the fall of the Soviet Union in another permanent exhibition on that floor.

The permanent collections give tourists plenty to ponder, but should you want an even deeper immersion in local art, check out the museum's fascinating temporary exhibits, which explore a variety of mediums and expressions.

Address: August Weizenbergi tänav 34, Kesklinna linnaosa, Tallinn

Official site: https://kumu.ekm.ee/en/

Experience the lifestyles of Estonians from hundreds of years ago at the Estonian Open Air Museum. Located in the seaside area Rocca al Mare , a 20-minute drive from the heart of Tallinn, this year-round, outdoor, educational attraction includes 14 farms that recreate the way rural Estonian villagers and fishing communities lived from the 18th century to the 20th century.

Tourists can wander through many of the 74 buildings scattered around the 72-hectare property. You'll see a traditional school house, seaside fishing sheds, historic homes, a fire station, and windmills, many of which were plucked from their original villages and brought to Tallinn.

When you work up an appetite, head to the authentic inn to refuel with heritage dishes, like wild mushroom soup, rye bread with salted herring and cottage cheese, and mashed potatoes with pan-fried meat and groat (hulled kernels of cereal grains). Tourists can also take part in fun activities from yesteryear, including folk dances, midsummer bonfires, and horse and cart rides.

Address: Vabaõhumuuseumi tee 12, Haabersti linnaosa, Tallinn

Marzipan, as with many traditional foods, has a disputed history. While some point to Germany as the birthplace of the almond sweet, others believe it was invented in Tallinn by a man who worked at the Raeapteek pharmacy.

What's not up for debate, however, is the best place to try marzipan in Estonia today: Kalev Chocolate Shop and Workshop. Located in the historic Rotermann Quarter , this sweets shop puts together tempting gift boxes of marzipan and handmade chocolates, along with quirky marzipan figures in animal shapes.

The shop also invites tourists to strap on an apron and try their hand at making their own treats in the workshop. This is a fun thing to do in Tallin if you have the time. The two-hour hands-on classes are guided by a master confectioner who will show you how to make chocolate truffles and mold and paint marzipan using centuries-old techniques. Don't be surprised if you eat as many sweets as you end up taking home at the end of this creative experience.

The Kalev Chocolate Shop and Workshop is just a short walk from the Port of Tallinn. If you're just visiting the Estonian capital on a cruise or day trip from Helsinki , you can easily squeeze in a class at the sweets shop, making your short experience even sweeter.

Address: Roseni tänav 7, Kesklinna linnaosa, Tallinn

Official site: https://kalev.eu/#73382

With its 124-meter steeple, St. Olaf's Church is Tallinn's tallest medieval structure . But more than just an eye-catching site, the attraction also has a fascinating history. It is believed to have been built in the 12th century as the center for the city's Scandinavian community before Denmark took control of Tallinn around 1219.

Fast forward a few centuries to the Cold War, and the church took on a new purpose as a radio and surveillance center for the Soviet KGB . Historical records also note that the church has been struck by lightning a whopping 10 times, three of which set the structure ablaze. A Baptist congregation now uses the church for regular services.

Tourists are welcome to visit the modest Gothic interiors and get great views of the city from its observation platform. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes to climb the 232 steps to the top of the steeple!

A 15-minute walk northwest of Tallinn's Old City brings you to one of the coolest places to visit in Estonia: Telliskivi Creative City. Located in what used to be Tallinn's industrial area, this "town within a town" brims with more than 200 businesses across its 10 buildings .

The Creative City's indie shops offer something for just about everyone, including sustainably-made leather bags, locally thrown ceramics, chic homewares, and vinyl records. You can also visit popular cultural attractions, including the Fotografiska photography museum; Sõltumatu Tantsu Lava contemporary dance theater; and the Juhan Kuus Documentary Photo Centre , which focuses on Estonian documentary film and photography.

Before leaving, be sure to grab a scoop or two from La Muu Ice Cream Shop. It offers more than 20 flavors of organic ice cream, including cookies and cream, peppermint stracciatella, and vegan brownie.

Address: Telliskivi 60a, 10412 Tallinn

Luxury Hotels:

• Right in the heart of Tallinn, where the downtown meets the medieval old town, the Savoy Boutique Hotel by TallinnHotels is a great 5-star pick if you're looking for an intimate boutique sleep. The hotel has an elegant vibe throughout, and the rooms are comfortable and spacious. Staff is very attentive. Amenities include a restaurant, free Wi-Fi, airport transport, and a concierge.
• At one time serving as an Estonian Telegraph Company exchange station, today the Hotel Telegraaf is a charming 5-star hotel. The building dates back to 1878, and the ambience is old-world European. Rooms and suites have plush furnishings and high ceilings with chandeliers and crown molding. Amenities here include a day spa and a restaurant serving Russian fare. The location in the heart of Old Town is also excellent, and this is the only property in this area to have an underground parking lot for guests.
• The Schlössle Hotel is another luxury option. On cobbled Holy Spirit Street between the old harbor and Old Town Square, the hotel has a historic ambience and features elegantly outfitted rooms and suites. Breakfast is included in the rate, and there is an on-site restaurant. In the summer there is live music in the courtyard terrace area. This property is also pet-friendly should you be traveling with a dog, but you must pay a pet fee and a deposit.

Mid-Range Hotels :

• Centennial Hotel Tallinn is an excellent mid-priced option. The hotel is located about seven minutes by foot from Old Town and is a new property. The rooms and suites are decorated in Nordic minimalist style and have mural accent walls. Amenities here include a free breakfast, sauna, and 100-seat restaurant. The Centennial Hotel is also kid-friendly.
• Next to Freedom Square, the 4-star Palace Hotel dates back to 1937. Designed by a famous Estonian architect, today it has a historic facade and a modern interior design. On-site amenities include a restaurant, steam bath and sauna center, and a fitness center. There is also an indoor swimming pool.
• Hilton Tallinn Park is another mid-range choice. It is located at the edge of Politseiaia Park and has great views of the Old Town and harbor from its modern rooms and suites. The property is family-friendly, and amenities include a restaurant, indoor swimming pool, and workout room. There is also a spa on-site and a sauna and steam room.

Budget Hotels :

• With a very affordable price point, the Hestia Hotel Seaport is a popular budget choice. Located next to the Port of Tallinn and not far from Old Town, it has cozy rooms with eco-friendly cork floors. Breakfast is included, and there is a restaurant and sauna on-site. Car hire can also be arranged here.
• Also try the Dorell Hotel for a budget option. The hotel has tidy rooms with blackout curtains. It is also kid-friendly with family rooms. Amenities include free breakfast, an outdoor swimming pool, sauna, and free Wi-Fi.

• 1.1 History
• 1.2 Present day
• 1.3 Districts
• 1.4 Climate
• 1.5 Tourist office
• 2.1.1 From Helsinki
• 2.1.2 Other regular ferry routes
• 2.1.3 Passenger ferry terminals in Tallinn Port
• 2.1.4 Using your own boat
• 2.2 By plane
• 2.3 By train
• 3.1 By public transport
• 3.2 By taxi
• 3.3.1 Car rental
• 3.3.2 Parking
• 3.4 By bicycle
• 3.5 On foot
• 4.1.1 Toompea Hill
• 4.1.2 Vanalinn (Old Town)
• 4.1.3 Outside the Old Town
• 4.1.4 Kadriorg quarter
• 4.3 Põhja-Tallinn
• 4.4 Haabersti
• 5.1 Beaches
• 5.3 Film festivals
• 5.4 Music festivals
• 8.1 Department stores & shopping malls
• 8.2 Boutiques and souvenirs
• 8.3 Markets
• 8.4 Records
• 9.1.1 In the Old Town
• 9.1.2 Near the Old Town
• 9.1.3 Around the market Balti Jaama Turg
• 9.1.4 East of the old town around the Coca-Cola Plaza
• 9.2 Mid-range
• 9.3 Splurge
• 10.2 Nightlife
• 10.3.1 In old town (vanalinn)
• 10.3.2 Out of old town
• 10.4 Nightclubs
• 11.1.1 Hostels
• 11.1.2 Hotels
• 11.2 Mid-range
• 11.3 Splurge
• 12 Stay safe
• 15.1 Embassies

Tallinn is Estonia 's capital and largest city. Tallinn is an important port of the Baltic Sea, with the busy passenger section of the port reaching the foothill of the picturesque medieval Old Town, which has been astonishingly well preserved and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.

On the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is a city of over 450,000 inhabitants (2023). It is home to a third of the country's population, and is also the capital of Harju County in Northern Estonia .

In a striking contrast to its Old Town, its immediate outskirts are filled with a cluster of modern office towers, with intermittent architectural monuments to the Soviet era . Further out, you will find a bewildering variety of historic and modern neighbourhoods, religious, civic, industrial and maritime heritage. This all provides for the city seeing very sizeable tourist traffic given its size, which in turn means the infrastructure is robust and extensive.

Tallinn is a historic city dating back to medieval times. The first fortress on Toompea was built around 1050 and Tallinn was possibly first recorded on a world map in 1154. In 1219, the city was conquered by Valdemar II of Denmark and it became a member of the Hanseatic League in 1285. The city, known as Reval at the time, prospered as a trading town in the 14th century, and much of Tallinn's historic centre was built at this time.

Tallinn then became a pawn in the geopolitical games of its big neighbours, passing into Swedish hands in 1561 and then to the Russian Empire under Peter the Great in 1710. By World War I and the ensuing brief Estonian independence (starting 1918) Tallinn's population had reached 150,000.

Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940, conquered by Nazi Germany (1941–44), and then retaken by the Soviets. In World War II , the city was quite extensively bombed by the Soviets, although luckily the medieval town remains. The Soviet Union undertook a program of massive East Slavic migration, and just over 40% of Tallinn's current inhabitants are Slavic (compared to an average of 28% for the entire country). On 20 August 1991, Estonia declared independence and Tallinn became its capital once again.

Present day

Today Tallinn is a bustling, gleaming city. However, among the tall glassy buildings and corporate headquarters, Tallinn retains an inner charm seldom found elsewhere. Estonia considers itself a Northern European/Nordic country, with very close ethnic, linguistic and cultural ties to Finland and cultural ties to Scandinavia, and visiting Tallinn you will find a mix of at least three architectures in this very visual city—old Europe (the city walls with rustic buildings and charming living areas with well-preserved and colourful wooden houses of bourgeois taste of 1920s), Soviet brutalist (concrete apartment blocks), and modern Europe (including McDonald's next to the city walls!)

Tourism is important for Tallinn and this is especially visible in the old town where almost every door leads into a souvenir shop, restaurant or bar. Unsurprisingly the majority of visitors are day trippers from Finland. The neighbours from across the bay usually know their way around without a map and have already seen the sights of Tallinn a couple of times. They come to enjoy low prices on practically all goods and services from restaurant meals to fuel and even plastic surgeries, not to forget as much alcohol as the customs regulations allow you to bring into Finland!

• Visit Tallinn tourist information.

Tallinn is made up of 8 administrative districts ( linnaosa ), which are further divided into numerous quarters ( asum ). Most of the points of interest to tourists are located in the seaside districts. The districts of Tallinn are:

• Kesklinn - literally meaning "city centre" and being just what the label says, this district includes the main part of the Port of Tallinn, the Old Town ( Vanalinn ), Tallinn's central business district with its skyscrapers and many other tourist attractions in the quarters surrounding them, including the Kadriorg park and palace and most of the coastline of Lake Ülemiste except for the part immediately adjacent to the airport
• Haabersti - the westernmost district with the extensive coastline holds the Estonian Open Air Museum, the Tallinn Zoo and the Saku Suurhall Arena
• Põhja-Tallinn - literally meaning "north Tallinn", extends north of the railway line and includes the industrial part of the Port of Tallinn, as well as many monuments to its military heritage, the Maritime Academy and the quarter of Kalamaja known for its wooden houses
• Pirita - the least populous district of Tallinn stretches along the eastern part of its coast and includes both a popular beach and a forest. This is one of Estonia's most desirable places to live, in single-family houses, for the affluent, and home to some tourist attractions as well, including Tallinn's TV Tower or the Botanic Gardens
• Lasnamäe - the most populous district of Tallinn holds over a quarter of its inhabitants in the large Communist-era blocks of flats, but apart from the airport it has little of interest to the tourists
• Nõmme - formerly an independent town founded as a leisure/summer residence, Nõmme remains green and sparsely inhabited, with rich architectural heritage and many private villas. It ranks as one of the country's most affluent areas.
• Kristiine and Mustamäe are residential districts southwest of the centre.

At these latitudes winters are dark and cold and temperatures under -20°C are not unheard of from December to February. Thankfully, the sea moderates the winter temperatures a bit compared to continental cities with similar temperatures like Moscow .

Spring is the driest season and while there are often sub-zero temperatures at night until well into May, the snow usually disappears towards the end of March and the days are getting gradually warmer. Summer months are pleasant with day temperatures between +20°C and +30°C in July and August, however if it's raining, temperatures are lower. The summer is the best time of the year to visit Tallinn. Although Tallinn doesn't experience the Midnight Sun, in the middle of the summer it doesn't get really dark at night.

Usually you will need your jacket again towards the latter half of September. The autumn is the "rain season" and with both temperatures and the leaves falling, Tallinn doesn't look very attractive this time of the year. However the greyness is covered up by the snow that usually arrives in early December. Visiting Tallinn in December when the Old Town is beautifully covered in snow and Christmas decorations is not a bad idea.

Tourist office

• 59.43649 24.74437 1 Tourist Information Centre in Old Town , Niguliste 2 / Kullassepa 4. , ☏ +372 645 7777 , [email protected] .  

From Helsinki

The most common ferry route is from Helsinki , Finland to Tallinn Port, which has upwards of 20 departures daily. Depending on the ferry, journey time is 1½-3½ hours. Prices average €16-30 one way, depending on operator, season (summer costs more), day of week (Fridays and Saturdays cost more) and time of day (to Tallinn in the morning and back in the evening is popular and hence more expensive). Particularly popular are day cruises , which can go for as little as €10 return. All ferries also carry cars, from €25 one way. Bicycles can be taken for around €5 one way. Bikes on car ferries must go through vehicle check-in, which closes earlier than passenger check-in, so plan for extra time.

The following companies operate ferries between Tallinn and Helsinki:

• Eckerö Line , ☏ +372 664 6000 , [email protected] . Operates only one ship, the 2000-passenger Finlandia (3 times daily, travel time 2½ hr). Often has the cheapest fares. If you take the morning sailing to Tallinn and the evening sailing back you will have about eight hours in Tallinn. ( updated Feb 2019 )
• Tallink Silja , ☏ +372 640 9808 , [email protected] . Up to 6 departures daily on large Shuttles Star and Superstar (2 hr). They also operate the MS Baltic Queen (3½ hr), a 2,800-passenger cruise ship for easy overnight stays in Tallinn. Discounts are available to Eurail pass holders. As this company has more departures you will have more flexibility planning your day trip. ( updated Mar 2015 )
• Viking Line . Large Viking XPRS ferry (2½ hr). Departs Helsinki midday and late in the evening. The day departure from Helsinki is very late (11:30) so you will have less than four hours to spend in Tallinn (you need to be back on board half an hour before departure) before the ship sails back. On Sundays the ship leaves even earlier. If taking this boat you would better stay overnight in Tallinn if you want to do any serious sightseeing.  

Eckerö and Viking usually have the cheaper fares, as they are more geared towards day-trippers and the party crowd who come to have a great time on board and tend to spend more in the bars, restaurants and shops on board. Tallink is more geared towards frequent travellers such as Estonians working in Finland.

Other regular ferry routes

• Tallink also offers a year-round daily overnight service from Stockholm taking 16 hr.

See also Baltic Sea ferries and Cruising the Baltic Sea for details on travelling in by ferry.

Passenger ferry terminals in Tallinn Port

All ferries dock at Reisisadam port, to the north of the center. Tallink uses 59.4434 24.7673 1 Terminal D at the south-eastern side of the bay and Eckerö and Viking the 59.4447 24.7619 2 Terminal A/B at the northwestern side. At Terminal A/B you can grab a useful free city map just before exiting the terminal. From there, city bus #2 and commercial bus #90K operate to the city centre (A. Laikmaa stop), inter-city bus station (Autobussijaam stop) and the airport (Lennujaam stop). Or, you can take a leisurely 15-min walk toward the Old Town that is easily visible from the terminals. View a map of route 2 [dead link] .

The journey from the port to the city centre is not all that impressive but don't be shocked - this isn't the real Tallinn! As of late 2015, construction of a new, glitzy shopping area is underway, something that will cover much of the ugly sand and mud fields (on the downside these buildings will reportedly partially cover the view to the old town).

If you are travelling with your car on the ferry, the traffic in the harbour can be a bit chaotic as everyone tries to get out from the area as quickly as possible and lanes are not clearly marked, especially around Terminal D.

Using your own boat

You can sail with a yacht to Old Town Marina [dead link] , the special harbour for recreational vessels.

Getting there/away :

• Taxis to the old town should cost €7–10. The Bolt app is more popular than Uber (it's Estonian after all!)
• Tram 4 is closed for construction until 2024. Bus 15 will be stopping at Tallinn Airport, at the same place where the tram used to stop. This bus stops at the bus station (bussijaam) and finishes near the old town.
• Bus #2 [dead link] departs roughly every 15 min. The journey to Balti Jaam (Baltic Station, the Central railway station close to the old town) takes approximately 20 minutes. Both inbound and outbound line #2 buses stop on the Tartu highway (about 5 minutes walk from the terminal). To get to the city, catch the bus travelling towards "Balti Jaam", and not towards "Mõigu", which is a residential area on the outskirts of the city. Tickets are €2 and you can buy a ticket from the driver, use your contactless payment card (at the front-most ticket reader only), purchase a ticket online or purchase a rechargeable "green card" from the R-Kiosk located in the terminal building (see Transport ). View a map of route 2 [dead link] .

You can also hop on one of the hourly Sebe buses to Tartu . They stop in front of the terminal. Tickets can be bought from the driver or from the ticket machine installed on the ground floor of the terminal building. Buses to other Estonian destinations depart from the city bus station (see below) and do not stop at the airport.

• 59.4272 24.7738 5 Intercity Bus Station ( Bussijaam ) ( on Tartu mnt. halfway between the city centre and the airport ). You can easily walk here from the Old Town in 20 min, or use public transport (buses #2, 17, 23; trams #2, 4). ( updated Jan 2020 )

Frequent buses operate between Tallinn and other cities in Estonia . Domestic bus schedules and prices can be found at Tpilet.ee and Peatus.ee (a good trip planner as well).

International buses run frequently between Tallinn and Riga , Latvia (4½ hr) with continuing service to Vilnius , Lithuania and the rest of Europe. Another popular route is between Tallinn and St. Petersburg , Russia (€25-30, 8 hr). Free Wi-Fi is usually available on board.

The following bus companies operate international bus service to/from Tallinn:

• Lux Express

The Old Town is best navigated on foot, not that you have much choice. A network of buses, trams and trolleybuses covers the rest of the city. There is an abundance of relatively cheap taxis. Before you jump in a random taxi car make sure you check the price on the window of the car. In Tallinn there are more than 20 taxi companies and some can be a rip-off.

By public transport

Due to massive road works in the summer of 2023, temporary routes are in use in the centre. Check latest information and be prepared for problems caused by traffic jams.

TLT operates frequent bus, trolley and tram services daily 06:00-23:59. Timetables and maps are available in English.

Põhja-Eesti Public Transport Centre is a local authority which organizes public transport in Harju County, the province surrounding Tallinn.

Public transport is comparable cheap in and around Tallinn, compared to overland prices of the same distance, due to the zone structure of Tallinn. Thus, many sights even an hour away from Tallinn (e.g. Jägala Falls ) are highly affordable, as long as they are within the zones. Information about zone boundaries and ticket prices are available.

Public transport is free for residents of Tallinn.

Unless you are registered as a resident, remember to buy your ticket. From driver the price is €2, no change given; the ticket is valid for exactly one trip, no transfer.

It is possible also to use a contactless payment card (Mastercard, Maestro, Visa and Visa Electron) to buy one-hour (60 min) ticket for €1.50, then you must use public transport front door. As you board a public transport vehicle, you will be required to validate your trip every time by swiping the payment card at the rectangular orange validators in the front of the vehicle. If you see a green light, your trip has been validated. The system tracks your daily usage and automatically bills your bank account for the cheapest ticket you are entitled to for the day, meaning the maximum you will pay in a single day for an unlimited amount of trips is the price of a one-day ticket (€4.50).

Rechargeable "green card" (Ühiskaart), which is a brand new, cash-free, and smart way of payment. Use your card to touch a bright orange box every time you enter the bus: a single 1-hour ticket (€1.50, transfer allowed) will be charged automatically and on each day individual tickets will total until the price of the day ticket (€4.5) is reached (as of March 2020). Alternatively, the card can be charged for unlimited travel for 3 days, 5 days, or one month. Get this card from one of the abundant R-kiosks for €2, a refundable deposit which is only refundable in limited locations. Refund is available at the R-Kiosk of the Tallinn Airport, Old City Harbour Terminal A and D, Balti jaam and the service desk of bus station ( details ). You can charge the card immediately or do it later on-line (major credit cards accepted).

If you have internet access, you can purchase a single ride for €1.50 or day ticket for €4.50 online by debit/credit cards (multiple rides/passengers can be purchased at the same time) using Pilet.ee website or mobile app. After payment, you will receive a QR code which can be scanned at the bright orange box only on the front door of the bus/tram as proof of payment. You can also load pilet.ee mobile app to buy tickets.

The Tallinn Card includes unlimited use of public transport.

Bus, trams, and trolleybuses form an extensive network with the major bus hub at Viru Hotel (underground bus station). Some trolleybuses terminate at the nearby stop Kaubamaja , which is adjacent to the main department store (Kaubamaja). Vehicles may have different colours depending on their age and model: some old trolleybuses from the time of the USSR can be still seen in the streets of Tallinn. The level of comfort varies greatly. If you want to avoid steps, look out for special yellow markings in timetables: these denote newer vehicles that are friendly to baby prams and people with reduced mobility.

Tallinn has many different taxi companies and independent taxis. There is no standardised base price or price per km. Some tourist scam taxis have absurdly high prices, and as long as those prices are displayed on the sticker in the window and on the dashboard, they are completely legal. The locals never take those taxis: their sole modus operandi is to prey on innocent tourists. Do as the locals do, and order a taxi by phone.

Do not accept offers from taxi drivers waiting at the harbour or train station. Do not accept offers from taxi drivers who approach you at the airport. The same goes for any taxi that looks shabby or does not carry the logo of one of the reputable companies. Also be wary of taxis that look overly luxurious: large Mercedes, TV-screens inside, usually only a very small and vague logo on the door. If you're obviously drunk and are taking one of those questionable taxis from the harbour, you might be driven to some bar or strip club the taxi driver is collaborating with. Usually you will proceed to have a few drinks there without asking for the price and will then be presented with a huge bill . Taxis hanging out in front of nightclubs often have the highest prices.

Ride-hailing services (Bolt, Uber, Yandex.Taxi) are very common in Tallinn, see Estonia#By taxi .

Some reputable local taxi companies are (rates as of July 2020):

• Takso24 – A taxi company owned by Tallink, which practically offers all the same amenities as Tallink Takso, but the price is clearly cheaper (during the day €0.60/km and at night €0.75/km + €2.95 ride start fee)
• Sõbratakso – "Economy" taxis with a mixed car fleet, somewhat cheaper than the competition (price per kilometer €0.49/km + €2.29 as the starting fee for the ride). Unlike many other economy taxis, the cars are clean and the drivers competent.
• Tulika Takso [dead link] – By no means from the cheapest end (during the day €0.79/km and at night €0.89/km + €3.85 ride start fee), but the availability is good and the cars are clean. Usually white Toyota Avensis.
• Tallink Takso – Certainly one of the most expensive taxi companies in Tallinn (during the day €0.99/km and at night €1.10/km + €3.95 ride start fee), but the cars are clean and their availability is also good. Yellow Mercedes B-class, Audi A6, Skoda Superb or Hyundai I30 Wagon (not to confuse with Tallinn Taxi, who also have their cars painted yellow).

Other taxi companies (rates as of July 2020):

• Amigo Takso – daytime €2 + €0.40/km, nights €2 + €0.40/km
• Krooni Takso – daytime €2.50 + €0.50/km, nights €2.50 + €0.55/km
• Marabu [dead link] – daytime €2.50 + €0.50/km, nights €2.50 + €0.50/km
• Q-Takso – daytime €2 + €0.50/km, nights €2 + €0.50/km
• Reval Takso – daytime €2.29 + €0.49/km, nights €2.29 + €0.49/km
• E.T.X. Takso – daytime €2.90 + €0.55/km, nights €2.90 + €0.70/km
• Välk Takso [dead link] – daytime €3.20 + €0.60/km, nights €3.20 + €0.70/km

Massive road works in the summer of 2023 makes driving in the centre difficult, including getting to some of the ferries.

The road rules and driving style in Tallinn can be confusing to tourists. The one and two way roads change frequently and some signposts are not descriptive. Another peculiarity to be found are roads with three lanes where you need to be a local to know if the lane in the middle is meant for traffic going in your direction or in the opposite direction. Traffic jams in Tallinn clear very quickly, however. The speed limit in Tallinn is 50 km/h, except some major streets such as Laagna tee, Pärnu mnt., Paldiski mnt., Peterburi tee etc., which have a speed limit of 70 km/h.

CityBee and Bolt Drive offer freely accessible vehicle rental services in Tallinn. Cars can be picked up and dropped off in public car parks.

There is an abundance of parking, but you have to pay for it. In some cases you can park free of charge for 15 minutes, but for an average traveller that is of course not enough. To find a cheaper parking area, Parkopaedia mobile app generally helps, with up-to-date prices mapped for most central parking locations; it won't tell the current availability, though. €1.50 per hour, €5 for 24 hr at Europark within walking distance from the downtown is a somewhat typical cost.

The locations of ticket machines, and other methods for paying for parking, aren't always obvious. The ticket machines are the easiest way of paying for your parking. With the ticket machine, just pay the price for the time you wish to park, push the green button, take the ticket and put it inside the windscreen where the parking attendant can see it. Prepare coins in advance, as credit cards and paper money are only accepted by parking machines in large indoor parkings, while breaking money can be difficult to find nearby. Mobile phone payment is popular with locals, but requires a local mobile contract to use it. For tourists the mobile app "PARGI.EE" can be used to find prices and pay for parking either for street parking or for some of the most popular parking garages.

For a rental car, a few helpful tips to avoid being fined are:

• Each rental car should come with a plastic mock clock on the dashboard that should be clearly visible from the outside of the car. This clock is used to indicate when you first park at a location. For example if you park at 05:30, your plastic clock should be set to show 05:30. You can then park for free until 05:45.
• Find a bright-orange vested parking inspector in order to determine what type of parking ticket you need. To ask for a parking ticket, say "Palun, üks parkimispilet" in Estonian .
• Scratch the correct date and length of time you'll be parking. In kiosks and some grocery stores you can buy parking tickets that look like lottery tickets. The ticket is split into sections and they are written in both Estonian and English. Scratch off the date of usage. Then scratch off the time you wish the ticket to start . Make sure it is clearly visible next to the clock on the dashboard.

Signs prohibiting parking are not always well visible, one example is the area between the Terminal D in the port and the Norde Centrum shopping centre. Look out for signs with the word Eramaa - this is Estonian for "private" and means that parking is either prohibited or available for a fee.

There are more than 180 km of bicycle roads in Tallinn. The Eurovelo international route goes from west to east, giving you a good chance to ride comfortably through the city. Many bicycle roads are in green parts of the city and are meant more for recreation, although suitable for commuting. You can ride on every road, and use the sidewalk, though you must heed the pedestrians. Many hostels have bike rentals for their guests.

• 59.439459 24.748599 2 City Bike , Vene 33 ( 500 m from Viru Street, McDonald's corner ), ☏ +372 511 1819 , [email protected] . Oct-Apr 10:00-18:00, May-Sep 10:00-19:00 . Over 140 bicycles and lot of extra gear. Real cyclist centre with experienced staff, opened in 2003. Tours, good recommendations for day-routes in Tallinn and self-guided tours in all over Estonia. €10-13 / 24 hr .  

The Old Town of Tallinn is very comfortably covered on foot.

Audio guides in several languages are available for small charge at the tourist centres.

The Tenet tour is a showcase of sets of the 2020 film Tenet . The Tallinn history tour is a walk through the city's long history.

Kesklinn (city centre)

Toompea hill.

According to myth, the hill was built on top of the grave of legendary Estonian king Kalev, but more historically, its solid limestone and the site of the Danish castle that founded the city in 1219. Toompea was the home of the Danish and later Baltic German aristocracy and relations between the toffs and the plebs were often inflamed, which is why it's surrounded by thick walls and there's a gate tower (1380) guarding the entrance. Check out the viewpoints , some of which give great views over the city. There's also a cluster of amber ( merevaik ) shops around here (no Estonian origin but popular among cruise tourists).

• 59.43572 24.73931 2 Alexander Nevsky Cathedral , Lossi plats 10 , ☏ +372 644 3484 , [email protected] . A classic onion-domed Russian Orthodox church, built 1894–1900, during the Russification period when Estonia was part of the Russian Empire. In 1928, when Estonia was independent, it was argued that the church is a symbol of oppression and architecturally non-suitable, therefore should be demolished. But it survived also the Soviet times, and now is used by the Estonian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate.  
• 59.43697 24.73911 3 St. Mary's Cathedral ( Tallinna toomkirik ), Toom-Kooli 6 , ☏ +372 644 4140 , [email protected] . The oldest church in Tallinn, built as a Catholic church in 1229 but renovated and expanded many times since then. It became a Lutheran church in 1561.  
• 59.43836 24.74026 4 Stenbock House ( Stenbocki Maja ), Rahukohtu 3 . Today, the Stenbock House is the seat of Estonia's government, but it was built as a courthouse in late 18th century, at the behest of the erstwhile Russian authorities. The Russian treasury eventually found itself unable to pay for the building, so the Count Stenbock, who erected the edifice, was left with it as his personal residence. The treasury was only able to buy it more than a century later, when it finally became the courthouse it was intended to be.  
• 59.43711 24.74014 5 Estonian Knighthood House ( Eestimaa rüütelkonna hoone ), Kiriku plats 1 . The green Renaissance revival building was erected in mid-19th century as the fourth consecutive home of the Estonian Kinghthood, a congregation of essentially German nobles who pratically controlled Estonia up to its independence in 1920s. Since 1920s, it played host to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, National Library, and the art collections on display at Kumu . As of 2014, it is home of the Estonian Academy of Arts. The building is not open to the public as it is used for instruction and faculty work.  

Vanalinn (Old Town)

The medieval Old Town ( Vanalinn ) of Tallinn was built in the 15-17th centuries, and is excellently preserved. It contains a large part of Tallinn's sights and is the only UNESCO world heritage site entirely in Estonia. As clichéd it may sound — you can't say you've been to Tallinn if you haven't visited the old town. This compact area is best explored on foot.

• 59.43656 24.75028 6 Viru Gate ( Entrance to the Old Town via Viru Street ). This section of town is known as All-Linn or "Lower Town", as it's where the merchants and artisans of old Tallinn lived. Today, Viru is still Tallinn's trendiest shopping street and the entire All-Linn is the busiest (and most touristy) bit of Tallinn.  

• 59.43738 24.74553 7 Town Hall Square ( Raekoja plats ). The square in the heart of the Old Town, just next to medieval Town Hall ( Raekoda ), ringed with cafes and restaurants. The square was used as a marketplace.  
• 59.43699 24.74532 8 Town Hall ( Raekoda ), Raekoja plats 1 , ☏ +372 645 7900 . Tallinn Town Hall, built at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, is the oldest town hall in the Nordic countries and Baltic states . Its heavy stone structure dominates the square. Nowadays it's used as a museum where smaller concerts are held. The weather vane on top of the spire is called Vana Toomas ("Old Thomas") and it has become a symbol of the city.  
• 59.44136 24.74786 9 St. Olaf's church ( Oleviste kirik ), Lai 51 . Built in the 12th century. Today it is a Baptist church and probably the most visible landmark on the northern end of the Old Town. When Estonia was part of the Soviet Union the tower was used as a radio tower and a surveillance point. Tower €3 . ( updated Sep 2017 )

• 59.43591 24.74269 10 St. Nicholas church ( Niguliste kirik ), Niguliste 3 . W-S 10:00-17:00 . St.Olaf's lookalike is at the other end of the Old Town. Heavily damaged in World War II and a fire in the 1980s, it is now an art museum and houses Bernt Notke's famous Danse Macabre from 1633. adults €3.50, concessions €2 .  
• 59.43254 24.73943 11 Vabamu ( Museum of Occupations and Freedom ), Toompea. 8 , ☏ +372 668 0250 , [email protected] . Daily 11:00-18:00 . Educates and involves the people of Estonia and its visitors and encourages everyone to think about the recent past, to sense the fragility of freedom, and to stand for freedom and justice. Adult €11; concession €7; family €23 . ( updated Feb 2020 )

• 59.43924 24.74227 12 City Wall . A section of the City Wall can be climbed from the corner of Suur-Kloostri and Väike-Kloostri, with entry into three towers possible. Quite frankly, the views from up on Toompea are better, and the spiral staircases are steep and somewhat claustrophobic. €1.25 .  
• 59.43829 24.74564 13 Estonian History Museum ( Great Guild ), Pikk 17 , ☏ +372 6968 690 , [email protected] . Daily 10:00-18:00 (1 May - 30 Sep); Th-Tu 10:00-18:00 (1 Oct - 30 Apr) . The History Museum's main location is the medieval Great Guild Hall. Here, the permanent exhibition takes you through 11,000 years of Estonian history by means ranging from striking exhibits of artifacts to interactive "time capsules". Topics covered include a surprisingly wide range, from coinage and wine to the history of the Great Guild building itself. On top of that, there are always some temporary exhibitions which usually serve as a link with present-day Estonia and Tallinn. €4; Free entry on the last Thursday of every month and on the International Museum Day, 18 May .  
• 59.4425 24.7496 14 Estonian Maritime Museum ( Fat Margaret ), Pikk 70 ( Trams 1/2 and bus 3 to Linnhall ), ☏ +372 6 200 550 , [email protected] . May–Sept: daily 09:00 – 18:00; Oct–Apr: Tu–Su 10:00 – 18:00 . The Maritime Museum dates back to 1935 and is housed inside the largest of the Tallinn city wall towers, aptly named "Fat Margaret" ( Paks Margareta ). Visiting the museum allows one not only to see the potpourri of maritime-themed artifacts, but also the 16th-century cannon tower and experience the view from the cafe on its roof. While the museum is the original location of the Meremuuseum , you absolutely cannot miss their second location in the Seaplane Harbour, where the ships and airplanes are stored (see below). €5, combined ticket with Seaplane Harbour - €14 . ( updated Jul 2019 )
• 59.44056 24.74761 15 Ex-KGB Headquarters , Pikk 61 . Now the Interior Ministry and not generally open to the public, this is where the KGB detained and tortured suspected dissidents. A Soviet-era joke says that this was the tallest building in Estonia: even from the basement, you could see Siberia. Interrogations were indeed conducted in the basement and you can see even today how the windows were crudely bricked up with concrete to mute the sound.  
• 54.897 24.743 16 City Train for kids ( Thomas the Train ), Kullassepa 5 , ☏ +372 5887 7742 . Departs every 20 minutes; so takes the round trip. adult €6, child €4 .  

Outside the Old Town

• 59.43371 24.74407 18 Freedom Square , Vabaduse väljak . The Freedom Square is one of the main squares in Tallinn, featuring the simple and elegant St. John's Church from the 1860s and the contemporary Victory Column, erected in 2009 to commemorate the Estonian War of Independence of 1918-1920. The square looks especially spectacular at nighttime, when the column is lit up.  
• 59.43877 24.75595 19 Rottermann Quarter . An industrial district between the city and the Tallinn Port. The buildings are from the 19th and 20th century, with motifs of Art Nouveau and Historicism. New and stylish apartment buildings with shopping centre have now been built there widely regarded as architectural masterpiece in Tallinn.  

• 59.44662 24.75354 20 Tallinn Linnahall , Mere pst. 20 ( stop: Linnahall Bus 3 or #90K (Airport bus) to stop 7 and then a 5-min walk to the Linda line terminal past the Domina Inn Ilmarine hotel ). A fine example of Soviet Brutalist architecture designed by Raine Karp and Riina Altmäe and built for the 22nd Moscow Summer Olympic Games in 1980 for sailing events held in Tallinn. Scale the exterior of this crumbling monumental eulogy to mass culture and marvel at the fact that beneath its crumbling exterior lies a 5,000-seat amphitheatre (that last held a concert in 2008) and a 3,000-seat ice rink. It is closed to the public as negotiations regarding its redevelopment continu. It is maybe a last chance to see part of Tallinn's overlooked architectural heritage in its current form. Linda line run their catamaran service to Helsinki from offices adjacent to/underneath the helipad.  
• 59.43511 24.76388 21 Estonian Firefighting Museum , Raua 2 , ☏ +372 53 028 404 , [email protected] . M–Th 09:00 – 17:00, F 09:00 – 15:30 .  
• 59.445043 24.751293 22 Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia (EKKM) ( Eesti Kaasaegse Kunsti Muuseum ), Põhja pst. 35 ( coming from the old town, just walk towards Linnahall; the museum is located just after the small road that is behind Kulturikatel ), ☏ +372 53305449 , [email protected] . April to December: Tu–Su 12–19 (you may want to double-check online) . Already when entering, this place plays with what a museum should look like: you enter into a café. The exhibition rooms are diverse, as they make use of old industrial space. The shows are prepared by artists, hence the place builds a bridge between the upcoming and the established scene. free admission, donations very welcome . ( updated Oct 2018 )
• 59.58384 24.74915 23 Peter the Great's Naval Fortress ( Peeter Suure merekindluse suurtükipatarei ) ( on the Aegna Island, 14 km north ). In the 18th century, the coastal protection batteries, part of the larger Peter the Great’s sea fortress system, were built in the island.  

Kadriorg quarter

A beautiful and rich seaside resort district with mostly wooden buildings from the 18th to 20th centuries, and 20th-century Art Deco and Functionalist structures. It also includes the baroque pearl of Estonia, the Kadriorg Palace and Garden.

• 59.4384 24.791 24 Kadriorg Palace , Weizenbergi 37 . An imperial Russian summer residence built by Italian architect Niccolo Michetti for Tsar Peter the Great in 1718. It is in a 90-ha (222-acre) park in the eastern part of the city. The Tsar, a classic and mysterious Russian soul, preferred to stay in a modest house nearby. This event signified the beginning of Tallinn's fame as a summer resort for noble and rich Russians for most of the 18th and 19th centuries. The palace houses some painting collections and other art. A portion of the complex is now occupied by the Office of the President and not available to the public. €6 (for the palace) .  

• 59.4362 24.79614 25 National Art Museum KUMU , Weizenbergi 37/Valge 1 ( stop: Kumu ). Opened in February 2006, this is the largest government-built building since the liberation and it is an almost 50,000 m² (538,196 ft²). The museum, whose architecture is by itself enough to justify the visit, houses a cyclopic house, partly cut out of limestone rock. Permanent exhibition is obviously focused on Estonian art in a wide interval of time. Quality of many pieces is very good and well worth a visit. Also very interesting is the (not too spontaneous) turn of interests of artists toward socialist themes during the USSR period. Exhibitions of modern art, mixed with net/social applications, are often surprising and amusing. Not to be missed or overlooked.  
• 59.44438 24.80794 26 Song Festival Grounds ( stops: Oru, Lasnamägi, or Lauluväljak ). A huge Modernist structure where the All Estonian Song Festival, which is held every five years, features 34,000 singers and dancers in addition to a massive audience.  

Includes forest parks, Botanic Gardens and Metsakalmistu (the last resting place of well-known Estonians). A few km east of the city centre along the seaside road.

• 59.47127 24.88738 27 Tallinn TV Tower , Kloostrimetsa 58a ( stop: Motoklubi ). A 314 m high, free-standing structure with an observation deck on the 21st floor which, with its 170 m, is the highest in Northern Europe. It offers spectacular views across Tallinn and, on a clear day, you can see Finland. €10 .  
• 59.4688 24.88073 28 Tallinn Botanical Gardens ( Bus no: 34A or 38 stop: Kloostrimetsa ). The Tallinn Botanic Garden is in the eastern outskirts of Tallinn, 10 km from the city centre and 3 km from the Pirita Sailing and Recreation Centre.It is a must see destination for nature and plant lovers. The "greenhouse" located near the ticket office houses variety of plants, flowers, trees, cactus family and lot more. Spring temperature is maintained always inside the greenhouse, even during winter season. The outdoor garden is vast and has varied flower collections.  
• 59.47159 24.8712 29 Metsakalmistu Cemetery , Pirita ( stop: Metsakalmistu, Bus no 34A or 38 ). Tallinn's most famous cemetery, housing Estonia’s presidents Konstantin Päts and Lennart Meri, as well as chess player Paul Keres. If you're not there to see the graves of Estonian celebrities, it's a peaceful experience to just stroll among the trees.  
• 59.46658 24.83597 30 Holy Birgitta Monastery ( Pirita beach area, 5km from the city centre ). A monastery of Scandinavian female saints, as well as a landmark of 16th century catacombs and ruins. It includes a guest house operated by the nuns.  

Põhja-Tallinn

• 59.44563 24.73456 31 Kalamaja Quarter ( north west from Old Town ). The oldest suburb of Tallinn, dating back to the 14th century. It was probably inhabited by fishermen ( Kalamaja means "Fish house") and mostly houses workers. The current wooden buildings are from the 19th century.  
• 59.45012 24.74182 32 Patarei (Battery) Prison , Kalaranna 2 , ☏ +372 504 6536 . Built by Tsar Nicholas I in 1820 as a fortress to protect the city from the sea-born attacks, it was turned into a notorious KGB prison in 1920. The prison ceased operations in 2004. ( updated Aug 2019 )

• 59.4517 24.7386 33 Seaplane Harbour ( Lennusadam ), 6 Vesilennuki ( No immediately adjacent public transportation stop - you need to walk at least 1 km from either the Linnahall (bus 3, tram 1/2) or Kalamaja (bus 3) stops. ), ☏ +372 6 200 550 , [email protected] . May-Sep: daily 10:00 to 19:00; Oct – Apr: Tu-Su 10:00 to 19:00 . Lennusadam , literally "air port", was constructed in 1916 for the purpose of serving the seaplane fleet with a spectacular, three-domed concrete hangar. Today, it serves as an outpost of the Maritime museum, serving its large collection of complete ships, airplanes and maritime and military equipment too large to fit the Fat Margaret . Inside the hangar, the highlight is the complete submarine Lembit, whose interior can be visited as well, a shipwreck from the 16th century and a collection of smaller boats and seaplanes. The crown of the collection moored outside in the harbour is the steam-powered icebreaker Suur Tõll. Throughout the museum, a number of state-of-the-art technologies and solutions are employed for a more engaging and enjoyable visit, and the museum has a wide range of activities and tours on offer. As the Seaplane Harbour is a bit out of the way, those getting peckish can enjoy a meal at the museum's restaurant Maru inside the hangars. €14 (combined ticket with Fat Margaret - €16) .  

• 59.42153 24.6607 35 Tallinn Zoo , Paldiski mnt. 145 ( Bus stop: Zoo, trolleybus 6 or 7 ). This is an enormous area. Among its live exhibits, you'll find the world's best collections of mountain goats and sheep, which means there are a lot of them! Tallinn Zoo defies the realities of a relatively modest town -- it features all the elephants and crocodiles a visitor would expect to see in a larger zoo, as well as a breathtaking maze of lake-size ponds that host birds in summertime. It also has pets that children can cuddle in children’s petting zoo. Adult €8, child €5, family €20 . ( updated Jul 2020 )

Also, check out other sights within North Estonia , which could allow for a day trip from Tallinn.

• 59.4373 24.7447 1 Medieval Days ( Keskaja Päevad ), Raekoja plats ( in the Old Town ), ☏ +372 660 4772 , +372 518 7812 (Estonian Folk Art and Handicraft Union), +372 5364 8854 (Costume rental) , [email protected] . July . Come and experience the medieval atmosphere of the historic Hanseatic City! You can find workshops and market with traders, participate in tours and witness exciting tournaments.  
• 59.444214 24.751362 2 Kultuurikatel ( creative hub ) , Põhja pst 27a , ☏ +372 56 2011 15 . Formerly an industrial site, this is now Tallinn's main creative hub, site of many events (see website). ( updated Oct 2018 )
• 59.44408 24.75015 3 Energy Discovery Centre ( for youngsters ), Põhja pst 29 , ☏ +372 620 9020 , [email protected] . Daily 12:00–18:00, public holidays 12:00–17:00 . ( updated Jul 2020 )
• 59.451845 24.730352 4 PROTO Invention Factory ( PROTO Avastustehas ), Peetri 10 , ☏ +372 627 6661 . Indoor amusement park where amusements take place with the help of VR glasses. ( updated Jun 2021 )
• 59.440109 24.751269 5 Kalev Spa , Aia 18 , ☏ +372 649 3300 . One of the largest water parks in Northern Estonia. ( updated Jun 2021 )
• 59.507931 24.827524 6 Atlantis H2O Aquapark , Randvere tee 11, Viimsi ( Buses 1A, 114, 174 ), ☏ +372 666 7045 , [email protected] . The water park has several fun water equipment: a wave pool, a flow pool and eight different slides, the longest of which is over 120 m. For toddlers, there is a separate area with two smaller slides, a climbing area and a 0.20-m-deep swimming pool.  
• 59.227995 24.709268 7 Vembu-Tembumaa , Keskuse tee 2, Kurtna, Saku ( Bus 219, 2 km walk from Kiisa railway station ), ☏ +372 671 9155 , [email protected] . The oldest and largest amusement park for the whole family. €18 .  

A flag system that regulates swimming. A green flag means it is safe swim, a yellow flag means you can swim, but it isn't recommended and a red flag means swimming is not advised, go in at your own risk.

• 59.47194 24.8305 8 Pirita Beach ( Pirita rand ) ( take bus 1A, 8, 34A or 38. to stop "Pirita", or walk by the sea 5 km northeast of centre ). A large sandy beach which in summer is full of locals and tourists.  
• 59.44236 24.68381 9 Stroomi Beach ( Stroomi rand, Pelgurand ) ( take bus 40 to stop "Supelranna" ). The water is clean and warm, and it is the gay friendliest beach of Tallinn.  
• 59.41421 24.63208 10 Lake Harku ( Harku järv ) ( take trolley 6, 7 or bus 16, 36 to stop "Väike-Õismäe" ). Small lake that draws a lot of people. The lake gets dirtier by the year and swimming is not always recommended. Watch out for the vipers on the shore!  
• 59.4505 24.57589 11 Kakumäe beach ( Bus 21 from Balti jaam (where the trains arrive), bus 21A from Väike-Õismäe. Stop Landi (21) or Sooranna tee (21A & 21B); from Landi stop keep walking (1 km) until Sooranna tee stop, there you'll find helpful signs ). The water is one of the purest in all of Tallinn beaches.  
• 59.47334 24.72515 12 Pikakari Beach . The water quality is fairly good and it gets deep quite soon when you go in. The huge waves coming from the ships break on shore for the joy of all swimmers. The historical Katariina Pier is nice to walk on.  
• Football: The men's national soccer team play home games at Lilleküla Stadium (sponsored as A. Le Coq Arena), capacity 14,300, 2 km south of city centre. City clubs playing soccer in Meistriliiga, the country's top tier, are Levadia , Flora , Nõmme Kalju and Tallinna Kalev. FC Tallinn and Legion play in Esiliiga the second tier. The domestic playing season is March-Nov.
• 59.42596 24.64731 13 Simpel Session . Summer/Winter . International skateboarding and BMX event.  
• Tallinn International Horseshow . Spring/Autumn . Biggest international horse riding competition in Baltic states, includes showjumping and dressage. Takes place in Saku Suurhall.  

Film festivals

Music festivals.

• 59.44455 24.80651 14 The Estonian Song Celebration ( Laulupidu ). 4-7 July 2019 . First held in 1869, takes place every five years. In 2014, 35,000 choral singers gathered to perform for an audience of 90,000 people. It is recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. ( updated Aug 2018 )
• Tallinn Music Week . Spring . Showcase festival, aiming to stage the best and most outstanding Estonian talent on two nights in Tallinn's most vibrant live venues, as well as a networking event for the music industry professionals.  
• Tallinn International Festival Jazzkaar . April . In addition to Tallinn jazz concerts also take place in Tartu and Pärnu.  
• 59.43734 24.74505 15 Tallinn Old Town Days . May/June .  
• 59.4664 24.8363 16 Birgitta Festival . August . Music and theatre festival, held at the ruins of the historical Pirita (St. Bridget's) convent.  

• 59.4261 24.6474 17 Saku Suurhall . Rocca al Mare. Estonia's largest concert and exhibition space, the venue for the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest. The hall and its facilities include an excellent shopping centre that can easily be reached by trolleybus 6.  

• 59.3948 24.6707 3 Tallinn University of Technology Summer School , Ehitajate tee 5 , ☏ +372 620 2002 , [email protected] . TUT offers every summer courses in English (TOEFL) and Nordic Culture  
• 59.4388 24.7719 4 Tallinn University Summer School , Narva mnt 25 , ☏ +372 6409218 , [email protected] . Tallinn University offers a Summer School to learn Eesti.  
• 59.43456 24.75251 5 Estonian Academy of Arts , Estonia pst 7 , ☏ +372 626 7301 , [email protected] . 17:00-20:40 . Open Academy for everybody interested in arts. Wide range of courses and interactive creativity from €75 .  
• 59.4394 24.7719 6 Baltic Film and Media School , Narva mnt 25 , ☏ +372 619 9909 , [email protected] . Runs a training program and several other activities in the film & media sphere and has a cooperation with Apple  

English language teachers with TEFL certificates or equivalent are in demand. Especially during periods of Summer School and/or TOEFL test times, teachers have good opportunities.

Jobs for non-Estonian speakers are less common in other fields, although several IT companies (e.g. Skype) have English based job openings. Compared to Finland or other Scandic countries salaries are lower, so it could make sense to utilize job opportunities in nearby areas. Estonia is part of the EU and Eurozone, so work permits are easy for EU member states and associated countries. All other will need to apply for work permits.

Digital nomads may take advantage of the several coworking spaces, with new ones still popping up from time to time. Among the bigger ones are, for example, Spring Hub and Lift99 (the latter being application-only and strongly connected to the local startup scene). The national library [dead link] , which is a few hundred metres south of the city centre, offers plenty of space and good free internet connectivity during opening hours.

Tallinn may be cheap compared to other major European cities, but it is no longer the bargain deal it once was. Though not overtly touristy, it is much more expensive than the rest of the country. If you come here for an authentic Estonian and inexpensive experience, this is the wrong place. Prices can be comparable to Munich and Milan.

Department stores & shopping malls

• 59.43695 24.75664 1 Viru Keskus , Viru väljak 6 . 09:00-21:00 . In and around the landmark Viru hotel, it is very busy as the bus terminal is below this mall. It is still in walking distance from the port but serves tourists and locals as well.  
• 59.43775 24.75846 2 Foorum Keskus , Narva maantee 5 .  
• 59.43486 24.7567 3 Kaubamaja , Gonsiori 2 . Opened in 1960, this is the grand old department store of Tallinn. Unsurprisingly a lot has changed since the Soviet times.  
• 59.43518 24.75459 4 Melon Kaubanduskeskus , Estonia puiestee 1/3 , ☏ +372 630 6500 .  

• 59.43167 24.7609 5 Stockmann , Liivalaia 53 , ☏ +372 633 9539 . Part of the Finnish department store chain, here since 1996. Close to the port and popular with Finnish tourists.  
• 59.42639 24.65165 6 Rocca al Mare kaubanduskeskus ( Take trolley 6 or 7, bus 21, 41 or 42 ), ☏ +372 6659 345 , [email protected] . A few kilometres west of the old town along Paldiski maantee. Consists of a Prisma hypermarket and tens of smaller, mostly fashion boutiques. Also restaurants.  
• 59.42212 24.79438 7 Ülemiste Keskus ( Near the airport; take tram 4 or bus 2 to Ülemiste linnak ).  
• 59.42697 24.7206 8 Kristiine Keskus , Endla tn 45 ( Take trolleybus 3 or bus 21, 23 or 42 ), ☏ +372 665 9100 , [email protected] . One of Estonia's biggest malls with dozens of clothing and shoe outlets, nearly 20 cafés and restaurants, and countless other shops and services.  
• 59.43851 24.7544 9 Rotermanni Kvartal . Rotermann's Quarter is a downtown shopping area with clothing and department stores and restaurants between Viru Keskus, Tallinn port and the Old Town. If you are walking from the harbor towards Viru Väljak the quarter is on your left hand side. One place to find bargain clothes is the Rotermann Kaubamaja situated right at Mere Puiestee. The Kaubamaja also has a combined cafe and restaurant on the third floor which seems to be surprisingly empty even as they have reasonable prices.  

Boutiques and souvenirs

For boutiques and souvenirs, your best choice is Viru street in the Old Town and its side streets. There are many stalls selling traditional items like woolen pullovers, crystal and amber. Be prepared to bargain in order to get a reasonable price, however bargaining is only accepted at some places. Even though Baltic amber and Russian matryoshka dolls are widely available in souvenir boutiques, neither are related to Estonia or its culture and are sold in Estonian souvenir boutiques mainly because they sell well to tourists.

• 59.439738 24.728562 10 Telliskivi — indie shops , Telliskivi 60a ( use tram 1 or 2 towards Kopli and get off Teliskivi, pass by Depoo into Teliskivi street ), [email protected] . Former industrial, now creative/entrepreneurial district Telliskivi is home to many small boutiques selling nice goods ranging from arts, to clothes and interior. A book shop and a record shop are also welcoming you. You will find all shops on the website. ( updated Oct 2018 )
• 59.43531 24.74631 11 Ivo Nikkolo , Suur-Karja 14 . Fashion-interested people can visit the main store of Estonia's first Post-Soviet designer brand Ivo Nikkolo.  
• 59.453004 24.87539 12 Geek Shop Estonia , Narva mnt 19 , ☏ +372 555 31 000 , [email protected] . M–Sa 11:00–20:00 . Pop culture collectibles and gaming store, which sells toy figures, board games, clothes, accessories and other geek stuff.  

• 59.44094 24.73588 13 Jaama Turg ( Baltijaama turg ), Kopli 1 . A market place next to the train station. Overrated and overpriced, gourmet food at three times the price of regular market places. For tourist and rich locals.  
• 59.43024 24.76653 14 Keskturg , Keldrimäe 9 . Market place 500 m from the bus station. They sell food and clothes.  
• 59.43744 24.74499 15 Jõuluturg , Raekoja Plats . The Christmas Market on the Town Hall square is open from late November to early January. They sell knitwear, various wooden objects for use and decoration, Christmas tree decorations, gingerbread and such. It's not all about shopping, the Christmas tree in the middle is worth taking a photo of and there's a stage when they sing carols. Of course you can occasionally run into Santa at the market. Don't forget to try a mug of hot glögg, sold at many stalls.  
• 59.43754 24.75303 16 Vana Turg , Mere Pst . The name translates to "old market" and is located on a small square just outside the old town. Vana Turg is a place to buy clothes and decoration items often Estonian-made and sometimes sold by the makers themselves: knitted pullovers and caps, gloves, belts and slippers are examples of what you can find here.  
• 59.4438 24.7579 17 Sadamarket , Kai 5 . Daily 08:00-19:00 . Shopping daytrippers who arrive with Viking Line or Eckerö Line and can't be bothered to walk far from the terminal usually end up at this large indoor market. Three floors of clothing, bags, food and souvenirs plus some restaurants on the second floor. And of course also alcoholic beverages at a third of the Finnish prices. ( updated Oct 2015 )

• 59.443435 24.759972 18 Sadama Turg , Sadama 25-4 , ☏ +372 56650770 , [email protected] . Another market near the ferry terminals, selling quality Estonian handicraft, food, and alcoholic beverages at cheap prices. ( updated Jan 2020 )
• 59.436968 24.747486 19 Biit Record , Viru 3 . Tu-F 13:00-19:00 . A music shop covering all major media types, with somewhat of a focus on vinyl. They especially have great indie and electronics offerings, can at the same time help find great local music and also other common genres. Located in an upper floor, the store has a special atmosphere to it. Offering secondhand and a wide variety of new records.  
• 59.428571 24.724214 20 Rockroad Record , Endla 38 . Mainly metal and rock/pop/blues also. Owner knows about Estonian and Russian rock music. Carries many Melodia label records.  
• 59.428571 24.724214 21 Raamatukoi Grammofon Records , Voorimehe 9 . Good selections. Classical, jazz, Estonian, pop-rock and so on. Furthermore, they sell postcards and stamps.  
• 59.43993 24.7297 22 World Clinic record shop , Telliskivi 60a/3 1st floor ( located at the northern end of in the Telliskivi creative area (<10 minutes walk from the central train station) ), [email protected] . a small but very friendly and diverse record shop ( updated Oct 2018 )

The Old Town is packed with restaurants claiming to offer authentic Estonian food, particularly on and around Raekoja plats . Prices at restaurants near the Raekoja Plats are generally more expensive, yet offer the same quality of food, as restaurants off this main square. Prices are steep by Estonian standards, but still much cheaper than neighbouring Helsinki, which explains why on weekends they're always packed with day tripping Finns.

In the Old Town

• 59.43836 24.7457 1 Maiasmokk , Pikk 16 , ☏ +372 64 64 079 , [email protected] . 09:00 to 21:00 mostly . The oldest still operating café in Tallinn, dating back to 1864. Coffee, tea, chocolate and various sweet and savoury pastries at quite cheap prices. Spacious with stylish decor. Next door is the Maiasmokk confectionery shop, which sells good quality Estonian chocolates. ( updated May 2022 )
• 59.437497 24.743138 2 Pub Kompressor , Rataskaevu 3 . Very tasty and varied pancakes. There are also other dishes. Fantastic place with great food and drinks, especially kvass! ( updated May 2022 )
• 59.437 24.745637 3 III Draakon , Raekoja plats . If you'd like to scoop nostalgia. Very interesting to eat in a special way. They have a small menu to offer but very good and very typical. The waitress plays at having the character of a sour waitress but with humor. A memorable experience. ( updated May 2022 )
• 59.43574 24.747118 4 Pizza Grande , Väike-Karja 6a . Very cozy place. Delicious pizza, affordable prices, pleasant service. Great environment. ( updated May 2022 )

Near the Old Town

• 59.43257 24.74649 5 Loca , Tatari 1, Tallinn ( Located near Vabaduse väljak, right next to Söögiplats ), ☏ +372 555 15 235 . 11:00-07:00 . Pizza, falafel, hummus, soup, beer. Fast food joint with wild staff and increasing customer service. €3-8 .  
• 59.4331 24.74782 6 Mr. Mauruse Pub ( Estonia pst 8 ) ( Near the city library. ). A great local pub, featuring cheap food with hearty portions. ( updated May 2022 )

Around the market Balti Jaama Turg

• 59.439635 24.729219 7 F-hoone , Telliskivi 60a/F , ☏ +372 5322 6855 , [email protected] . M-Sa 9-24, Su 9-22; kitchen closes 1 hr earlier . Used to be an industrial hall, now made a great bistro/bar which tends to become very busy in the evenings (book if you can, but as it's big you might well be lucky and find the one spare table. Good value for price. ( updated May 2022 )

East of the old town around the Coca-Cola Plaza

• 59.43708 24.76361 8 Kohvik Narva , Narva mnt 10 , ☏ +372 6601786 . M-F 08:30-20:00, Sa 10:00-20:00, Su 10:00-18:00 . Cafe Narva long boasted an old-style interior preserved from the Soviet area; today's chic interior seems questionably authentic. Ladies at the counter are somewhat brusque (still) and mostly Russian-speaking, although this should not prevent you from enjoying traditional food of Soviet workers as well as delicious pastries baked on the premises. Cake per kg €8.50-12, pastry pieces €0.70, solyanka €3, pancake €2.50-3.50, pasta carbonara €6, schnitzel €7, potato fritter €3-5, Pelmeni €5 . ( updated Sep 2017 )
• 59.4246 24.7934 9 Puffid bakery , Peterburi tee 2 ( on the first floor of T1 and Kristiine Center ), ☏ +372 58500408 , [email protected] . Puffid bakery offers snacks for every taste, curd pockets, a special children's set, croissants, baguettes and salads with different fillings. ( updated Feb 2024 )
• 59.4372 24.74285 10 Aed ( Embassy of Pure Food ), Rataskaevu 8. , ☏ +372 626 9088 , [email protected] . M-Sa 12:00-00:00, Su 12:00-18:00 . Excellent organic, biodynamic and Demeter food, also full vegan options. Beautiful interior, very charming and romantic, wonderful service. Lower-than-tourist prices .  
• 59.43547 24.7614 11 Aserbaijan Restaurant Shesh-Besh , Gonsiori 9 , ☏ +372 661 1422 , [email protected] . This dim and blandly decorated Azerbaijani bar-restaurant "Shesh Besh" offers genuine Azerbaijan cuisine. Although a namesake, it has nothing to do with a branch of Azerbaijan restaurants in Russia. Mains: €6-8 .  
• 59.43765 24.74829 12 Controvento , Vene 12/Katriina Käik . A very nice little Italian restaurant stashed away in a small side passage in the Old Town. Offering genuinely excellent food at reasonable prices with good service. Its only "flaw" is that it's hard to get into and is most often completely full, even on off-season week nights. You may want to call ahead and make a reservation. Pizzas and pasta dishes are around €10.  
• 59.4246 24.794 13 Crudo Resto , Peterburi tee 2 ( in the shopping and entertainment center T1 ), ☏ +372 58777770 , [email protected] . 10:00 - 21:00 . Italian cuisine, pizzas, pastas and a variety of Italian appetizers (antipasti), salads, soups, carefully selected wines, classic cocktails and Italian desserts. ( updated Feb 2024 )
• 59.438308 24.729358 14 Frenchy bistro , Telliskivi 60a/5, hall B , ☏ +372 5604 8262 . M 17-23, Tu-Th 12-23, F-Sa 12-24 . French food bistro in a hip vintage-industrial-modern setting. Has cheap daily offers. ( updated Oct 2018 )

• 59.438412 24.751491 15 Guru , Aia 10 , ☏ +372 5301 7828 . A new Indian restaurant in central Tallinn, just outside the old town. Easy to find as it's on the same street as the Kalev Spa. Offers authentic Indian cuisine with plenty of spices. Try the Indian tea for dessert. Mains €12-20 . ( updated Dec 2019 )
• 59.439582 24.717268 16 Kaja Pizza Köök , Õle 33 , ☏ +372 6601611 . Tu - Su 11:30 till Out of Dough (they will make a given amount of dough every day, so if it's very busy they will close "early") . pizza baked in a wood oven, with the choice of topping being aligned to traditional south Italian pizza. Small place, just one big table everybody shares. Combining traditional elements and a rather modern/hip atmosphere. pizza 5-8 Euro + 1 Euro per additional topping . ( updated Oct 2018 )
• 59.43601 24.74681 17 Karja Kelder , Väike-Karja 1 , ☏ +372 644 1008 . 11:00-00:00 or later . Pleasant and affordable tourist trap in basement. Located in the middle of Old Town. Main courses €4.50-8 .  

• 59.4451 24.7478 18 Kohvik Moon , Võrgu 3 , ☏ +372 6 314 575 , [email protected] . 12:00 - 23:00 mostly . A rather small restaurant with a nice, minimalistic decor. Serves traditional Estonian food with a Russian influence. Voted best restaurant in Tallinn in 2010. Very popular among tourists, and as such it is usually quite full. Prior reservations are recommended but not mandatory. Main courses €10–20 .  
• 59.4374 24.74317 19 Kompressor , Rataskaevu 3 ( Just few minutes walk from Raekoja plats. ). This place offers an assortment of huge and delicious pancakes. Don't give in to the temptation to order two portions, one pancake is usually enough. This place used to be less touristic, but is now. Pancakes from €4.50, Beer €3 .  
• 59.43368 24.75787 20 Madissoni Grill & Baar , Rävala Puiestee 3 ( next to the Radisson Blu Hotel ). This open kitchen type restaurant serves good flame-grilled food at decent prices, especially popular for its daily lunch specials, King Club sandwich and burgers.  
• 59.43694 24.74759 21 Oliver , Viru 3 , ☏ +372 630 7898 , [email protected] . 10:00-00:00 . A traditional restaurant in the heart of the Tallinn Old town. The menu is centered on various kinds of steaks, but there are also pastas and vegetarian dishes available. Main courses €15–23. ( updated Nov 2015 )
• 59.43669 24.74685 22 Restoran Peppersack . A middle ages-themed restaurant one block away from the city hall square - even the names of the dishes are medieval themed. Outdoor seating available in the summer, when they also played medieval (what else?) music on a small outdoor stage, and they seem also to have sword fight and oriental dance performances. Probably the main competitor of Olde Hansa and a bit touristy indeed but fun.  
• 59.39254 24.67387 23 Pirosmani , Üliõpilaste tee 1 , ☏ +372 639 3246 . 10:00-24:00 . Georgian food as it is done in Georgia. It's well out of the way, but that's a good thing. Almost everyone at this restaurant is local (although the menu has English), and tourists are not in sight, so the food here is good and great value. Try the Khinkali or the Harcho.  
• 59.43733 24.74596 24 Troika , Raekoja plats 15 . Offers generous portions of Russian food. In the warm summer months, people dine on the terrace. In winter, they head down to the warm cellar. To fill up, get a small zakuski (which is anything but small) appetizer plate. It's big enough for three and costs €9, then dip your pelmeni dumplings (costing €6) in smetana or the other sauces provided and wash it down with a shot of vodka (€5).  
• 59.445745 24.749621 25 [formerly dead link] Umami , Kalasadama 8 , ☏ +372 600 1035 , [email protected] . 12:00-20:00 mostly . Considered among the best restaurants in Tallinn. Originally located in Mustamäe, the restaurant came under threat of closing down in March 2019 when the building housing it was demolished. Instead of closing down, it opened in new premises in Kalamaja in northern Tallinn. Umami offers Estonian-style cuisine with an international twist, as well as a diverse wine list. The restaurant has a spacious terrace and is a short walk away from the ferry terminal. The burger of the day is worth trying. Main courses €11.50-21.50 . ( updated Jun 2019 )

• 59.43716 24.74262 26 Vanaema Juures , Rataskaevu 10/12 , ☏ +372 626 9080 . Translates as "At Grandma", which gives you an idea of the warm welcome you can expect here. Friendly and attentive staff are happy to explain the traditional dishes. Excellent value for money. It's a tiny place, so reservations are essential in the high season. Try the meatballs or the pork with sauerkraut and don't miss the kama porridge for dessert. ( updated Feb 2020 )
• 59.43624 24.74479 27 Bar Fish and Wine , Harju 1 , ☏ +372 662 3013 . M-Th 11:30-23:00, F Sa 11:30-24:00 . The name pretty much says it. This is a modern cocktail bar and restaurant serving vodka and caviar, fish dishes and a wide range of wines.  
• 59.43992 24.74777 28 Bocca , Olevimägi 9 , ☏ +372 611 7290 . M-Th 11:30-23:00, F Sa 11.30-24:00, Su 13:00-22:00 . One of the trendiest restaurants in Tallinn. Features Italian cuisine by Nicola Tanda. It also has a nice bar to enjoy cocktails and snacks. This is one of the busiest restaurants in Tallinn. Reservations are highly recommended. €30 .  
• 59.44011 24.74798 29 Chedi ( chedi ), Olevimägi 11 ( next to restaurant Bocca, in old town ), ☏ +372 646 1676 . M-Th 11:30-23:00, F Sa 11:30-24:00, Sun 13:00-22:00 . Modern Asian kitchen supervised by Alan Yau from Hakasan, London. Modern and warm interior to give a retro Asian impression. Reservations recommended for the weekend and during summer holidays. €20 .  
• 59.43707 24.74344 30 [dead link] Kuldse Notsu Kõrts , Dunkri 8 , ☏ +372 628 6567 . Daily 12:00-23:00 . Good traditional Estonian restaurant close to the main square. Try the house beer or vodka and fresh buckthorn and honey apertif with your blood sausage or the famous pork knuckle with extra spicy mustard. The traditional desserts are also worth a try. Live traditional music Sep-May F Sa nights. €20-30 including drinks and desert .  

• 59.43644 24.74284 31 Musi , Niguliste 6 , ☏ +372 5663 6211 . 17:00-24:00 . This is primarily a wine bar, but it has light meals as well. From the outside it looks like a cosy oasis, and you might think the place is one little rustic room on display but there is more tables behind the wine bar. Welcoming staff and a good selection of wine by the glass. A good place for a relaxed meal, or with your friends before or after dinner. Glass of wine: €4; Small dishes: from €5 .  
• 59.43668 24.74599 32 Olde Hansa , Vana turg 1 . The ruling king among Tallinn's purely touristy restaurants with some of them trying to copy its style. The place is simply medieval, not just in terms of food but also in the sense of performance - no electricity, no music except live and authentic, no modern inventions. The house special is bear meat "marinated in rare spices and cooked over a fire in honour of Waldemar II, the brave King of Denmark" costing €40+. Try one of the extraordinary beers, such as the honey beer. It is not likely that you will meet any locals here.  
• 59.43895 24.75443 33 Restaurant Ö , Mere pst. 6E ( close to old town, near harbour ), ☏ +372 661 6150 . M-Th 12:00-23:00, F Sa 12:00-24:00, Su 13:00-22:00 . Reopened and two new chefs Martin Meikas and Ranno Paukson with focus on Modern Estonian kitchen. Good view of old town. €20 .  
• 59.43779 24.74735 34 Tchaikovsky , Vene 9 , ☏ +372 6000 610 . M-F 12:00-15:00, 18:00-23:00; Sa Su 13:00-23:00 . As the name suggests, it is a Russian restaurant, but don't expect wooden benches, traditional food, and folk music. On the contrary, you will find a selection of Russian delicacies ranging from pancakes with caviar to pelmeni with pork and wild mushrooms, along with fusion-style cuisine (rabbit with Jerusalem artichoke being a good example). Expect delicious food and very high prices, but if you are looking for typical Russian fare, try to find another place for dinner. Mains start from €20 .  

There are plenty of nice cafés, especially in the centre. Among the interesting ones:

• 59.435309 24.73116 1 Café Mademoiselle ( Kohvik Mademoiselle ), Toompuiestee 27 / Paldiski mnt 4 ( in the Kelmiküla district; at the Meriton Grand Conference & Spa Hotel ), ☏ +372 62 88 155 , [email protected] . Daily 08:00–22:00 . A café with the high quality confectionery products. ( updated Jun 2023 )
• 59.434252 24.744304 2 Wabadus Kohvik ( Café Wabadus ), Vabaduse väljak 10 , ☏ +372 6604019 . M-Th 9-23; F 9-1; Sa 11-1, Su 11-22 . located just next to the freedom square, this café has good drinks as well as dishes. The interior is a great blend of classical styles of prior decades with the modern times. ( updated Oct 2018 )

Tallinn's crazy nightlife is out of proportion to the city's small size. The days of armed mafiosos are over and these days any drunken fights tend to involve stag parties. Exercise some caution in choosing your venue, as some strip clubs and regular clubs make their money by fleecing tourists who come in for a drink. In local places, beers cost €2.50-4.

Bars and pubs

In old town (vanalinn).

• 59.43684 24.74369 3 Beer House , Dunkri 5 . Plenty of beers to choose from in this large authentically styled and decorated Bavarian Beer hall, including 5 of their own beers made on site. Try the Medovar Honey beer.  
• 59.434981 24.746536 4 The Dubliner , Suur Karja 18 , [email protected] . 11:00-midnight (03:00 at the weekend) . Popular Irish pub on one of the nightlife axes. Attracts younger people and is relative new, so no pub crawlers puke in front of the door.  
• 59.43544 24.74814 5 Drink Baar , Väike Karja 8 , ☏ +372 644 9433 . Su-Th 12:00-23:00, F Sa 12:00-03:00 . The widest selection of beers of any pub in town including many quality imports from Brewdog and Mikkeller. Good English-style pub-grub, featuring award winning fish and chips. Monthly comedy nights from the "Comedy Estonia" and quiz nights.  

• 59.43936 24.74676 6 Hell Hunt , Pikk 39 . The name means "the gentle wolf" in Estonian. A comfortable and homey pub in the Old Town and offers a wide selection of beers (including two of their own brews) and some pretty decent food. Don't miss the spare ribs.  
• 59.43655 24.74893 7 Helsinki Karaoke Baar , Viru 18 , ☏ +372 641 6164 , [email protected] . Su–Th 13:00–01:00, F 13:00–03:00, Sa 10:00–03:00 . A legendary gathering place for Finns. This bar, also known as Lokaal Helsinki , is a popular destination for both locals and tourists who crave a cozy atmosphere and Finnish music.  
• 59.43427 24.74482 8 Kuku klubi , Vabaduse väljak 8 . Founded 1935 by local art community and claiming to have had the best accessible cuisine in the former USSR since 1958 during the Russian occupation.  
• 59.43561 24.74626 9 Lab Bar , Suur-Karja 10 . Laboratory themed bar known for its shots in test tubes. You should definitely try the "Brain Scan".  
• 59.44009 24.74837 10 Levist Väljas , Olevimägi 12 . A cozy alternative bar in Old Town with a small dance floor.  

• 59.43604 24.74621 11 Nimeta Baar (The Bar With No Name) , Suur-Karja 4 . Really fun place, popular with tourists.  

• 59.434658 24.743135 12 100 õlle koht , Harju 6 , ☏ +372 5884 9729 . M-Sa 12:00-20:00 mostly, closed Sundays . The name means "the place of 100 beers" and the establishment indeed serves over 100 different types of beer. Traditional Estonian pub snacks also available. It's in an underground cellar so it's not suitable for people with limited mobility. ( updated Mar 2020 )
• 59.43966 24.7469 13 Texas Honky Tonk & Cantina , Pikk 43 , ☏ +372 631 1755 . 12:00-23:59 . Texas-style cantina is a casual place for a Corona or, if you must, a Bud, or even to try out the frozen margaritas churning in the electric mixer behind the bar. More serious drinkers can try the "tequila flights": 3 or 5 shots of different tequilas to give you a sampling, not that you're likely to remember which was which next time around.  
• 59.43727 24.74284 14 Von Krahli , Rataskaevu 10 . An avant-garde theatre/bar.  

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No longer the plaything of greater powers – Danish, Swedish, Polish, German and Soviet – Tallinn is now a proud European capital with an allure all of its own. It's lively yet peaceful, absurdly photogenic and bursting with wonderful sights – ancient churches, medieval streetscapes and noble merchants' houses. Throw in delightful food and vibrant modern culture and it's no wonder Tallinn seems in danger of being loved to death, especially after a few cruise ships dock. But it's one of those blessed places that seems to cope with all the attention.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Niguliste Museum

Dating from the 13th century, the imposing St Nicholas' Church (Niguliste kirik) was badly damaged by Soviet bombers in 1944 and a fire in the 1980s, but…

Estonian Open-Air Museum

This sprawling ethnographic and architectural complex comprises 80 historic Estonian buildings, plucked from across the country and resurrected in…

This futuristic, Finnish-designed, seven-storey building is a spectacular structure of limestone, glass and copper that integrates intelligently into the…

Tallinn Town Hall

Completed in 1404, this is the only surviving Gothic town hall in northern Europe. Inside, you can visit the Trade Hall (whose visitor book drips with…

Great Guild Hall

The Great Guild Hall (1410) is a wonderfully complete testament to the power of Tallinn's medieval trade guilds. Now a branch of the Estonian History…

Kadriorg Art Museum

Kadriorg Palace, a baroque beauty built by Peter the Great between 1718 and 1736, houses a branch of the Art Museum of Estonia devoted to Dutch, German…

Seaplane Harbour

Kalamaja & Telliskivi

When this cavernous, triple-domed building was completed in 1917, its reinforced-concrete shell-frame construction was unique in the world. Resembling a…

Telliskivi Creative City

Once literally on the wrong side of the tracks, this set of abandoned factory buildings is now Tallinn's most alternative shopping and entertainment…

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What to See in Tallinn

Our favorite sights and tips for tallinn.

Latest update: August 13, 2023

In a nutshell: Our best Tallinn tips

• Old Town of Tallinn: Surrounded by a city wall and just beautiful – our top sight in Tallinn.
• Balti Jaama Turg : The coolest market hall in the city, where you can try many typical Estonian dishes.
• The best viewpoints in Tallinn are the tower of Olai Church and Kohtuotsa lookout.
• Our hotel tip for Tallinn is Rapunzel Tower Apartment – great location between the Old Town and the sea.
• Our favorite café in Tallinn is Kivi Paber Käärid – they serve delicious chocolate cake.

Those were our tips for a city trip to Tallinn in short format. Do you want to find out more? Great! Then read on and check out all our tips and sights in Tallinn .

Seven interesting facts about Tallinn and Estonia

Let’s start with 7 exciting and astonishing facts about Tallinn and Estonia:

• Tallinn is the capital of Estonia and has 430,000 inhabitants . That’s roughly a third of the Estonian population.
• Until 1918, the city was known as Reval .
• Public transport is free of charge for all residents of Tallinn.
• Free Internet access is a basic right in Estonia. So there is free WiFi everywhere in Tallinn.
• Tallinn is sometimes called the Silicon Valley of Europe. Lots of start-ups are based here. The most famous work by Estonian programmers is a little program you may have heard of… Skype.
• Estonia is the country with the highest share of women relative to its population in the world. There are only about 84 men for every 100 women.
• According to the WHO, Estonia’s air is the cleanest in the world.

That all sounds pretty great, right?

The most interesting districts and sights on a map

Tallinn has a wide variety of different sights and attractions to visit. In this section, we’ll tell you which sights you absolutely have to see on your city trip to Tallinn.

The following map shows the most important sights and districts in Tallinn. You’ll find a more detailed map of the Old Town below.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Of course, there are loads of churches in the Old Town.

The most beautiful church has to be the A lexander Nevsky Cathedral, which was built in the late 19th century .

Patarei Prison

Although Estonia was part of the Soviet Union until 1990, there’s hardly anything left to remind you of that time. A few prefab concrete blocks on the outskirts of the city and the Soviet antique market are some of the few remaining relics that still exude something like Soviet charm .

But there are two more buildings that are inseparably intertwined with this historical era. One of them is Patarei Prison. The sea fortress  was built way back in the 19th century, but during Soviet rule it gained sad notoriety as one of the worst prisons in the Soviet Union .

Until recently, the prison was still open to visitors. Unfortunately, guided tours have recently been suspended.

The future of Patarei Prison is a topic of heated debate in Tallinn. Proposals for its future use range from a cultural center to luxury apartments to the establishment of a memorial. You can find current information about the compound on the Patarei website .

Very close by Patarei Prison, visitors are faced with a huge concrete monstrosity: the Linnahall. The Linnahall was built for the sailing competitions of the Summer Olympics in 1980 , and for a long time, it was the largest event venue in Estonia.

But for years now, the building has been in a steady state of decay. Today, it mostly serves as a subject for oddball photos and a popular hangout to watch the sunset . Because the Linnahall is an excellent place to sit and look out onto the Baltic Sea. That’s definitely something you should do when you’re in Tallinn.

The Old Town of Tallinn

OK, this won’t come as much of a surprise. The Old Town is the absolute main attraction in Tallinn . Presenting all the individual sights within the Old Town would be well beyond scope of this post. After all, the entire area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site .

The best way to go about exploring is to just let yourself drift through the Old Town and discover the most beautiful places on your own. If you want to get some additional information about Tallinn, you can also take a guided tour of the Old Town.

To the guided tour through the Old Town

The Old Town is surrounded by a medieval city wall which is still preserved over a length of 2 kilometres.

Our next Tallinn attraction is the Telliskivi Creative City. Creative companies, galleries, design shops , and some of the best bars and cafés in Tallinn have settled in this former industrial complex.

Hundreds of events take place in the Telliskivi grounds every year: concerts, exhibitions, flea markets. You can find current information about events on the Telliskivi website .

North of Telliskivi lies the Kalamaja quarter. The streets with their traditional, colorful wooden houses constitute one of the most popular residential areas in Tallinn.

A stroll through Kalamaja, camera in hand, is definitely worthwhile. Colorful wooden houses are interspersed with old industrial buildings , now inhabited by creative types, and if you follow one of the streets in Kalamaja even further north, you’ll reach the Baltic Sea in a matter of minutes. Isn’t that great?

The best viewpoints

There are some great viewpoints in the Old Town. Our favorites were the Kohtuotsa viewing platform with great views of the east of the Old Town and the Piiskopi viewing platform in the west.

But the tower of St. Olaf’s Church offers the best view of all. It costs 5 euros admission and you have to climb a steep, narrow staircase to get to the top. But the arduous ascent is rewarded with a magnificent view of the Old Town and the Port of Tallinn.

St. Olaf’s Church open from April to October

Balti Jaama Turg

To the northeast of the Old Town is Tallinn’s main train station, called Balti Jaam (Baltic Station). Right next to it is the Balti Jaama Turg, without a doubt the coolest market in Tallinn .

The market complex with its striking zig-zag roof has just been freshly renovated. Meat, fish and, vegetables are some of the things sold at the market.

But we were most excited about all the food stalls . From Japanese soups to delicious burgers to vegan wraps, it has everything a gourmet’s heart desires.

If you want to taste more of the Estonian cuisine, we can recommend this culinary tour of Tallinn. You will also make several stops at Balti Jaama Turg market.

To the Tallinn food tour

The area right next to the market hall offers a stark contrast: While the food stalls are mostly frequented by the young, hip residents of Tallinn, the antique market feels like you’ve traveled back in time 40 years.

If you’re into Soviet trinkets and Lenin statues, you can stock up on them here.

Town Hall Square

The main square in the Old Town is the Town Hall Square . It’s always really crowded. There’s also a great Christmas market here during the pre-Christmas season.

Restaurants and bars in Tallinn: Our tips

We had such great food in Tallinn! And drinks! So of course we want to share our favorite spots with you.

Kivi Paber Käärid

Kivi Paber Käärid translates as Rock, Paper, Scissors .

There are some great sunny spots outside where we spent many lazy afternoons. The beer menu is several pages long and they also have delicious food there too.

The vegan chocolate cake with raspberries is an absolute dream! The Pudel Baar directly opposite is also pretty great!

The Surfcafé is a small stall in the Balti Jaama Turg market hall. They say the barista is the best in all of Tallinn, and it’s true – the coffee is outstanding . You have to try the filter coffee.

OK, that may sound a bit weird, but trust us, it’s extremely delicious.

Veg Machine

Also located in the market hall, just two stands from the Surfcafé, you’ll find the Veg Machine. It serves exactly two dishes: vegan wraps and vegan burgers . Both are supper-yummy, even for non-vegans. You should definitely try it!

Boheem Cafe

The Boheem Cafe right by the entrance to Telliskivi Creative City offers delicious food from breakfast to dinner around the clock. Nothing fancy, but it’s all very tasty.

The local café chain Reval Café runs 14 cafés in Tallinn. Besides good coffee , they also offer tasty snacks . The ‘Reval Breakfast’ is really great, a kind of Estonian farmer’s breakfast. Delicious!

Klaus Kohvik

Klaus is located between Patarei Prison and the Linnahall and offers delicious, young cuisine in a stylish setting.

How to get to Tallinn

The fastest way to get to Tallinn is by plane. You can also easily combine a trip to Tallinn with one of the other cities in the region, e.g. Helsinki or Riga.

Flights to Tallinn

There are direct flights to Tallinn from several European cities. For example, you can get to Tallinn from Berlin , Munich and Vienna .

Tallinn’s small airport is very modern and one of the most pleasant we’ve been to so far. It is also only a stone’s throw away from the city centre .

From the airport to the city centre by taxi or Uber

In front of the terminal, there’s a taxi rank where you can catch a cab to downtown Tallinn for 10 to 15 euros . A cheap alternative is to book a ride using Uber. That only costs about half as much as a taxi.

Taking the tram or bus from the airport to the city centre

The line 4 tram stops right at the terminal and goes to the old town in a quarter of an hour. The stops in the old town are Viru and Vabaduse Väljak. The fare is 2 euros .

Bus line 2 also takes you from the airport to the Old Town for 2 euros .

Taking the ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn

Tallinn and the Finnish capital Helsinki are only separated by a two-hour ferry trip. Different companies serve this route, so there are usually several ferries per hour .

Tickets start at around 25 euros . If you only want to go on a day trip, there are also cheap day return tickets that allow you to travel to Helsinki and back in one day for around 34 euros .

To the ferry tickets

Taking the bus from Riga to Tallinn

Tallinn is also very well connected with the Latvian capital of Riga. The bus company Ecolines connects Riga and Tallinn with very comfortable buses and up to 7 trips a day .

The journey takes about 4 hours and costs 19 euros . If you book very early, you can get even better deals. You can just book your tickets online here .

If you’re in the mood for something a bit more adventurous, you can also take the train from Tallinn to Riga. However, it isn’t any cheaper, takes much longer, and you have to change trains once, but it’s much more adventurous.

Even more practical tips for Tallinn

As we already mentioned, Tallinn is extremely easy to travel. But we still have some additional information and extra tips for you.

#1 Paying in Tallinn

The official currency in Tallinn is the euro .

Card payments are extremely common here. Even tiny stores accept cards. We always take our two travel credit cards wherever we go, so we were able to pay and withdraw money in Tallinn with no extra fees.

#2 Choosing the right place to stay

Tallinn is really very compact, so it isn’t that hard to pick an area to stay. Especially in the Old Town, Kalamaja and west of the Old Town , you can stay well and quickly reach most of the sights in Tallinn.

We have summarised our hotel recommendations for every budget:

Villa Kadriorg Hostel Old Town Hostel Alur

Hotel L'Ermitage

Rapunzel Tower Apartment Nordic Hotel Forum

#3 Join a guided city tour

In principle, you can easily explore Tallinn on your own. The city isn’t very big, and almost everything is within walking distance. But nevertheless, we still recommend taking a guided tour because a tour guide can provide you with invaluable insider tips that you would never hear about otherwise.

You can book a private tour of the city. The great thing about this tour is that you have the guide all to yourself and aren’t stuck with a group.

To the private tour

Another way to discover Tallinn is by combining a bus and walking tour . This tour will also take you beyond the city walls of the Old Town to some interesting places in the area.

To the bus and walking tour

#4 What to pack

As Tallinn is located very far north, it gets pretty cool even in the warmest summer evenings. So make sure to pack a sweater or a jacket.

In summer, sunscreen makes a lot of sense too because you can get a sunburn much faster than you may think. And if you’re planning to visit the Estonian national parks, don’t forget to take mosquito repellent .

Those were our best Tallinn tips and the most beautiful sights

Have you booked your flight to Tallinn yet? No? Then go ahead and do it. You won’t be disappointed! Do you have any questions? Then feel free to ask us in the comments.

If you’ve already been to Tallinn and have a tip for us that we absolutely need to add, then please let us know in the comments below.

• The 15 Best Things To...

The 48 Best Things to Do in Tallinn, Estonia

The breathtaking capital of Estonia — Tallinn — is possibly one of the most beautiful cities in Northern Europe. The encompassing medieval stone walls, sky-scraping church bell towers, and winding cobblestone streets opening into squares and courtyards will certainly cause visitors’ jaws to drop in awe. Continue reading to learn the top sights to enjoy during an escape to Tallinn .

1. viru gates.

Architectural Landmark

Enter Tallinn’s marvelous old town through Viru Gate, which was part of the city’s 14th-century extensive defense system. Though a portion of the Viru Gate was demolished to allow for horse-drawn traffic, the towers of the gate remain. The area around Viru Gate is now home to market stalls selling woolen mittens, sweet smelling roasted nuts, and numerous restaurants. The gates are a key stopping point on any good Tallinn city tour.

2. Old Town

The Old Town has to be the top draw for visitors to Tallinn. Featuring beautiful architecture and locals dressed in medieval clothing, the Old Town somehow escapes feeling overly touristy or kitschy like other cities with costumed workers might experience. Book an Old Town walking tour to discover the area with a local expert.

3. Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform

For the best view of Tallinn, and to take your own stunning photo for Instagram (don’t forget to add the hashtag #visitestonia), head to the Kohtuotsa viewing platform. Located on Toompea Hill, visitors will be treated to unobstructed views of the harbor, bell towers, and the terra-cotta colored roof tiles. This is also a popular spot for local musicians to hang out, providing some background music to the view.

4. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Also located on Toompea Hill, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is relatively recent addition to the medieval old town — it was completed only in 1900. This Russian Orthodox church has distinct, black onion domes that can be easily spotted towering above Tallinn. The interior of the church can be visited, although visitors should first check service times and be respectful of private services as this is an active church. Visiting the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is free of charge, and it also features on all of the city’s walking tours.

5. St. Olaf's Church

St. Olaf’s Church is one of the most important structures in Tallinn, and is the city’s largest medieval building. This well-preserved church was likely built in the 1200s and is notable due to its high church tower that has been struck by lightening numerous times throughout its history. St. Olaf’s Church is not open for visitors during the winter (open from April until October) and is free of charge. Visitors can climb the narrow stairs to the top of the church for a beautiful view over Tallinn’s Old Town, and get a local’s insight on a guided tour of the city.

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6. Town Hall Square

Stunning in every season, but particularly during the annual Christmas market, Town Hall Square has been the heart of Tallinn since the 13th century. Though no longer acting as the city’s marketplace, the Town Hall Square sees bustling activity with café chairs and tables spilling into the square in the summer, numerous tour groups, and occasional festivals. The surrounding architecture is also stunning; keep an eye out for dragons on the Town Hall!

7. Eating out

Restaurant, Northern European, French

Boasting some of the best restaurants in the three Baltic states, eating out is certainly one of the best activities offered in Tallinn. Visitors can indulge in anything from traditional Estonian cuisine to Indian or medieval fare. Some of our top restaurant suggestions include Ribe , Rataskaevu 16 , and Olde Hansa . You can also book a 3-Hour Estonian Food Tour to discover the biggest hidden gems in town.

8. Promenade along the Tallinn Town Wall

Visitors can climb a portion of Tallinn’s wall to explore the towers and enjoy beautiful city views. The wall was formerly 2.4-km long and had 46 towers; while not as magnificent as it once was, it still is impressive at approximately 1.9-km long with around 20 towers remaining. It really is a privilege to walk these ancient defensive walls. Opening hours for the Tallinn Town Wall vary depending on the season.

9. Toompea Castle

Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark

Located next to Alexander Nevsky Church, the present Toompea Castle was built in the late 1700s. This understated castle features a salmon pink exterior, white details, and the national flag and crest. The castle can be visited on weekdays, but visitors must book ahead of time. A large park can be found next to Toompea Castle, providing visitors with a bit of a green reprieve from city life. You can visit the castle as part of the city’s historical walking tour.

10. Local Beer

The Baltics are well-known for their ever expanding craft beer scene, with Estonia leading the pack. Delicious craft beer can be enjoyed throughout the city and during specialty craft beer events. One of the most beloved Estonian craft breweries is Põhjala Brewery , while SIP Wine and Beer Shop is also a great option for beer lovers in Tallinn. Book a craft brewery visit and tasting session to gain a little expert insights into local brewing techniques.

11. Telliskivi Creative City

Located a bit off-the-beaten-path, Telliskivi Creative City should be visited by those interested in seeing the creative side of Tallinn. Telliskivi is a complex of former warehouses turned into boutiques, restaurants, live music venues, and cafés, and all are beautifully decorated with street art. Join the North Tallinn Guided Bike tour to discover the area’s hidden gems.

12. KGB Museum in Viru Hotel

13. Kalamaja District

Though previously a closed border zone, the Kalamaja District has enjoyed rejuvenation in recent years as Tallinn’s hipster neighborhood. Excellent restaurants and shops can be found among traditional wooden homes. Visitors looking for a meal while in Kalamaja should stop by Cafe Moon for perfect Nordic dishes. This area features prominently on the Tallinn Winter Bike Tour.

14. Port of Tallinn

Visitors arriving to Tallinn via ship will likely spend at least some time walking through the Port of Tallinn. The Sadama District (harbor district) is a bustling area of Tallinn with travelers coming from and going to boats. Several affordable hotels and restaurants can be found in this area, as well as the Museum of Estonian Architecture (located in the Rotermanni Quarter). The Museum of Estonian Architecture focuses on contemporary architecture and has frequently changing exhibitions.

16. Go to the beach

Natural Feature

Though the Baltic sea is barely visible from the Old Town, Tallinn is a coastal city; tourists and locals alike enjoy the easily accessibly seashore. The busiest is Pirita, which sometimes attract thousands of visitors a day. And for good reason: the 2km strand has great facilities like playgrounds for children, lockers, and equipment rental but also an amazing view of the Gulf of Finland. Another option is Kakumäe, the furthest and therefore quietest beach reachable with bus 21. Swimming is entirely possible…for those who don’t mind water temperatures around 20° Celsius. You’ll take along Pirita beach on the Tallinn Bicycle Sightseeing Tour. Recommended by Valentine Baldassari.

17. Go on top of the TV Tower

For more great views of the city and the Gulf of Finland, climb (not literally—there’s an elevator) to the 21st floor of the TV Tower near the Pirita suburb. It’s the tallest building in Tallinn and its viewing deck, 170 meters above the ground, offers an astonishing 360 degree panorama, enabling visitor to see the city in a new light. Make sure to visit on a clear day, as the view isn’t nearly as impressive otherwise. There’s also a restaurant , so why not have coffee or a meal above the city? You can book your Walk on the Edge Attraction Ticket via the link below. Recommended by Valentine Baldassari.

18. Seaplane Harbour Museum

Housed in impressive seaplane hangars, this museum presents exhibits of Estonia’s maritime history from its humble beginnings to Soviet times and beyond. What’s really great is being able to actually visit the ships, including a 1936 submarine and a replica of a pre-World War II seaplane. There’s also a range of activities that make the visit perfect for kids too, including aviation simulators and old uniform replicas visitors can try on. The outdoor area contain even more historic ships. The museum is extremely modern, notably in its adoption of a clever system for time-pressed visitors: everyone gets a card they can swipe on every display to get the explanations emailed to them. Recommended by Valentine Baldassari.

19. Patarei Prison

Also in the Kalamaja district, this 19th-century sea fortress was used as a prison from 1919 to 2004. It’s probably the best place in the world to get an idea of what a Soviet prison was like. It is dark, gloomy, and more than a little oppressive, but surprisingly emotional. Visitors can go on their own but booking a tour makes the experience all the more affecting thanks to the guides’ in-depth knowledge of the prison’s history, as well as the possibility of accessing parts of it single visitors aren’t allowed in. For something a little different, book an escape game at Patarei Prison, for example with Blue Drum. Recommended by Valentine Baldassari.

20. Cathedral of Saint Mary the Virgin

Located on Toompea Hill, mainland Estonia’s oldest church, also known as the Dome church, was established in the 13th century but repeated modifications have turned it into a fascinating mix of architectural styles; for instance, a baroque spire was built in the western part of the nave in the late 18th century. From that very 69-meter spire visitors can admire a stunning view of Toompea and the Old Town, especially of the Alexander Nevsky orthodox cathedral. Recommended by Valentine Baldassari.

21. Danish King’s Garden

Legend says that in 1219, at the location of this lovely garden, as the Danes were losing a battle, the heavens gave them their flag and the battle then turned in their favor. And that is how Denmark got its flag. Whatever the truth about this story—we suspect a flagmaker’s involved, not God—it makes for a charming anecdote about one of the Old Town’s most quiet, secluded corners. The park itself is popular with locals as a place to hang out, with its benches and grassy areas. It’s bordered by the old town walls on one side and a panorama of Old Town rooftops on the other. All in all, it’s a charming place to relax in after or during a long day of sightseeing. Recommended by Valentine Baldassari.

22. Enjoy Tallinn’s nightlife

Tallinn has beautiful architecture and culture but it’s also an active city with many bars and clubs. Most of the nightlife is concentrated in the Old Town, though the district of Kalamaja is gaining traction. For a city of its size, Tallinn has a lot to offer in terms of going out. Good bars include Labor, where drinks are served in test tubes and beakers, and trendy Red Emperor, but there are many, so don’t hesitate to explore. For clubbing, there’s everything from mainstream to underground. Check out, for instance, the iconic Club Studio . Recommended by Valentine Baldassari.

23. Kadriorg Park

Kadriorg Park is one of the biggest and most beautiful parks in Europe. If you want to relax surrounded by nature, you should look no further than here. Recommended by Kasparas Asmonaitis .

24. Estonian Open Air Museum

After learning more about Estonian history and culture make sure to visit Estonian Open Air Museum and experience it all yourself. There is no better place in Estonia to see everyday lives of the villagers in the 18th-20th century. You can even visit an old village tavern and try out the traditional Estonian dishes prepared by local cooks. Recommended by Kasparas Asmonaitis.

25. The Russalka Memorial

The Russalka Memorial is one of the most iconic places in Tallinn. This monument was built in 1902 by Amandus Adamson to honor the people who died in 1893 when Russian warship Rusalka (Mermaid) sank on its way to Finland. Recommended by Kasparas Asmonaitis.

26. Freedom Square

Freedom Square is a very important historic place in Tallinn. This plaza was known as Victory Square during the Soviet era and it hosted all the military parades which celebrated holidays like Victory Day and October Revolution. Recommended by Kasparas Asmonaitis.

27. Tallinn Zoo

Tallinn Zoo is a great place to see animals from all over the world in one place. It is the biggest zoo in Estonia, housing more than 13,000 animals, and is perfect for all ages. Recommended by Kasparas Asmonaitis.

28. St. Nicholas’ Orthodox Church

St. Nicholas’ Orthodox Church was designed by famous architect Luigi Rusca and built in the early 19th-century. It is one of the most iconic churches in Tallinn, which perfectly translates the true spirit of the city, with all the turbulent history and magnificent culture. Recommended by Kasparas Asmonaitis.

29. Estonian History Museum

Estonian History Museum is located in the 15th-century Great Guild Hall, which is already an important historic monument in Estonia. Inside you can find the most important exhibits from Estonian history since prehistoric times, so there is no better place to learn all about this spectacular Baltic State. Recommended by Kasparas Asmonaitis.

30. Oldest pharmacy in Europe

This pharmacy, located in Town Hall Square, was opened in 1422 and is still operating! It is by far the oldest one in Europe, so if you want to learn what people used as medicine hundreds of years ago, be sure to stop by. Of course, you can purchase modern products just like in any other Tallinn pharmacy. Recommended by Kasparas Asmonaitis.

31. Kiek in de Kök

Kiek in de Kök is a huge 38-meter-high cannon tower, which is now a museum. If you are interested in walls, cannons, and medieval exhibits, you must drop by this place, which is also a starting point of a hidden tunnels system which runs through Toompea Hill. It features on several walking tours of the city. Recommended by Kasparas Asmonaitis.

32. Niguliste Museum

Niguliste Museum is located in an old church from the 13th century, which has been renovated to serve as an art museum. It is the perfect place to get to know Estonian history and walk in one of the oldest churches in the country. Recommended by Kasparas Asmonaitis.

33. Peter the Great House Museum

Peter the Great House Museum is the oldest museum in Tallinn, offering a brilliant collection of items which belonged to Peter I, the Russian Tsar, and his wife Catherine I. The couple stayed in this old manor in the early 18th century, making this site a historical heritage today. Recommended by Kasparas Asmonaitis.

34. Marzipan Gallery

Art Gallery

Marzipan Gallery really is what it sounds like. Everything inside is made from marzipan, including figures of famous people like Vladimir Putin. Entry is free and food and drink is available for purchase inside. It is one of the most authentic places in Tallinn and one of few museums in the world to utilize the confectionary in its craft. Recommended by Kasparas Asmonaitis.

35. The Culture Kilometer

Venture off the beaten tourist track and onto this less traditional 2.5-kilometer route which shows a different side of Tallinn, telling the story of its industrial history and its growth into a modern bohemia. You’ll see abandoned structures from the Soviet era left to ruin, and remnants of railroad tracks going nowhere, but as you walk on, you’ll also see several Soviet factories transformed into bohemian cafés and other thriving community spaces. You’ll see the shells of old buildings completely covered in colorful graffiti, as well as the squeaky-clean facades of newly incorporated upscale residential buildings. Officially starting at Linnahall car park and ending at Port Noblessner, the Culture Kilometer offers visitors an insightful look at Kalamaja’s true character: an ever-evolving neighborhood where culture, art and industry merge. Recommended by Alexa Smith .

36. Linnahall Building

Linnahall was built as a sports and concerts venue for the 22nd Moscow Summer Olympic Games in 1980, and still stands right on Tallinn’s seafront like a friendly ghost from the Soviet era. Though it’s little more than a shell now, it remains a favorite under-the-radar stop for locals, especially at absurdly early hours on summer mornings. Sound a little crazy? Once you’ve watched the sunrise from the rooftop of Linnahall, you’ll understand what’s got everyone out of bed at 5am to visit a defunct stadium: a beautiful rosy panorama of the sea, the old town, the new skyscrapers and the factories, is without a doubt worth a sleepless night. Recommended by Alexa Smith.

37. Kalamaja Kalmistupark (Kalamaja Cemetery Park)

Once the city’s oldest cemetery, Kalamaja Cemetery Park is now a beloved picnic spot and a popular playground for local kids. Though the land served as a cemetery for over 400 years and was the resting place for thousands of graves, in the mid-20th century the graveyard was completely flattened and destroyed by the Soviet authorities. A restored chapel stands as a lone memorial in the park, the only reminder of the area’s former identity. Today, this expansive park has blossomed into the perfect place to spend a relaxing afternoon strolling and having fun with your family outdoors, or to get a peaceful moment to yourself if you need a break from the city. Recommended by Alexa Smith.

38. The Energy Discovery Centre

Located in Tallinn’s 102-year-old power plant, The Energy Discovery Centre is an electrifying attraction for the whole family. With 130 interactive displays, one-of-a-kind lightning demonstrations, and their own out-of-this-world virtual planetarium, the Energy Discovery Centre is a fantastic educational experience that transports its visitors to different planes, planets and realities. Especially recommended for families with little Einsteins-to-be! Recommended by Alexa Smith.

39. Balti Jaam Market

If you’re fascinated by the culture and styles of the Soviet Era, come to the Balti Jaam train station flea market for a total throwback. Whatever odd or obscure bits and bobs you’re looking for, your best chance of finding them is right here. From Soviet medals and authentic propaganda posters to secondhand clothes and an eclectic mix of foods, this market is buzzing with activity and is a great stop for any bargain hunter or savvy vintage shopper. Well away from the typical tourists’ trail, Balti Jaam Market gives an exciting new life to Tallinn’s past and yields different treasures to explore every day, just like the neighborhood of Kalamaja itself. Recommended by Alexa Smith.

40. Port Noblessner

At the very end of the Culture Kilometer, you’ll arrive at Port Noblessner. Dating back to 1912, this port served the Russian Navy for many decades, and the area has been closed to citizens for nearly a century due to its military functions. Now you can explore the Port’s harbor and yacht club, check out a show at the Port’s new concert venue, or stop in for a coffee at one of its terrace cafes, where you relax and gaze out at the water. After walking all the way from the Art Museum and taking in everything this area has to offer, a calm, beautiful view and a gentle sea breeze make an ideal ending to your inspiring stroll through Kalamaja’s culture. Recommended by Alexa Smith.

The Best Day Trips from Tallinn

Recommended by Kasparas Asmonaitis.

41. Lahemaa National Park

42. helsinki.

It might sound crazy but you can reach Helsinki from Tallinn in under two hours. There are plenty of ferries which can take you to the capital of Finland. There are way too many things to do in Helsinki to list them all, but one thing is for sure – everyone can find something they love in Helsinki, from visiting historic museums to hitting local bars to walking around stunning streets to experiencing Finnish saunas .

43. Prangli Island

Prangli Island is the only permanently inhabited island in Estonia’s north, inviting its visitors for a unique and unforgettable experience. You can visit the local fishermen villages, try traditional fish dishes, walk around sandy beaches and pine forests, and meet the locals to learn more about their customs and culture.

44. Haapsalu

Haapsalu resort town is located on the west coast of Estonia, only one hour and 20 minutes away from Tallin. This small town is a must-visit place if you want to learn more about the unique culture of Estonia and relax on the most beautiful white sand beaches . People who love mechanics and technology should visit the Estonian train museum, which is located in Haapsalu train station, often nominated as the most beautiful of its kind in the whole country.

Tartu is the capital of students in Estonia, so the best time to visit this city is autumn when all the students rush in for the new academic year and the city comes to life. Visit the oldest university in Estonia, learn more about the country’s dramatic past in the KGB museum, or bring your kids to see some old toys in Tartu toy museum . There are also plenty of wonderful restaurants and bars to try some delicious and traditional Estonian food.

If you want to take your other half on a romantic date, Parnu is definitely the place to go. The beaches are stunning and there are various activities you can choose from, including windsurfing and playing mini-golf. Also, the food is extremely delicious in Parnu and some locals even come here just for the pizza, arguably the best in Estonia.

47. Soomaa National Park

People who want to see how the Soviet Union once looked, should consider visiting Narva . Most of the buildings were built during the Soviet era and nothing has changed much since, creating a unique atmosphere of older times. People also come to see two huge fortresses, which are only separated by Narva River. The first one, Narva fortress, stands in Narva and belongs to Estonia, while the other one, Ivangorod fortress, is already in the Russian territory.

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Tallinn is the capital of Estonia, the largest city in the country, the center of business and cultural life. Administrative center of Harju County. Former names: Kolyvan, Lindanise, Reval. The city got the status of the capital and the present name in 1919. As of 2021 the population exceeds 453,000 people. Ethnic composition: 51% – Estonians, 39% – Russians, 3.5% – Ukrainians, 6.5% – other ethnic groups.

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Geographical location.

Tallinn is located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea and geographically belongs to Northern Estonia. The coastline of the capital is 46 kilometers long. Within the city borders, it forms three peninsulas: Kopli, Kakumäe and Paljassaare, which are washed by four bays. The proximity of the sea has made it possible to arrange several beaches in the city limits.

Tallinn’s closest foreign neighbor is the Helsinki, the capital of Finland. The distance between the cities is only 80 kilometers. The distance from Tallinn to Riga is 308 kilometers, and from Tallinn to St. Petersburg – 368 kilometers.

Climatic characteristics

The climate of Tallinn is transitional from temperate marine to moderate continental. Because of this winter is characterized by variable weather, and summer is quite cool. However, in some weeks of the summer months the temperature can exceed 30°C, and on some winter days it can drop below -20°C.

The warmest month of the year in the Estonian capital is July. The average temperature during this period is 21.5ºC. The coldest month is January, when the average thermometer is -15.7ºC.

Cultural Life

The capital of Estonia is the center of the cultural life of the country. Most of the national theaters, concert halls and museums are located here. The exposition of the latter introduces both the history of the city and the culture of ethnicity. Many museums are located in historic buildings and ancient armory and observation towers.

There are also numerous yearly themed events in Tallinn. The most famous are: Old Town Days and Sea Days. There are also mass sports events, including international events.

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Tallinn , Estonia’s compact, buzzing capital, with its enchanting heart surrounded by medieval walls, has been shaped by nearly a millennium of outside influence. While the fairytale Old Town has become the ideal weekend getaway for city-break tourists, the Estonian capital’s growing importance as a regional centre for business, arts and technology has provided it with a go-ahead contemporary feel coupled with bags of hedonistic energy.

Aegna Island

Church of the holy ghost and st nicholas’s church, estonia’s song festival, kadriorg park, kiek-in-de-kök and bastion tunnels, the maritime museum, the museum of occupations, drinking, nightlife and entertainment, pikk and around, raekoja plats, st olaf’s church, telliskivi creative city, the air harbour, the city walls, the cultural kilometre and patarei prison, the tallinn card, toompea and the aleksander nevsky cathedral.

The heart of Tallinn is the Old Town , still largely enclosed by the city’s medieval walls. At its centre is the Raekoja plats , the historic marketplace, above which looms Toompea , the hilltop stronghold of the German knights who controlled the city during the Middle Ages. East of the city centre there are several places worth a visit, such as Kadriorg Park , a peaceful wooded area with a cluster of historic buildings, and the forested island of Aegna .

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Helsinki enchants with its blend of modernity and nature, entertainment and tranquility accessible everywhere and all the time. Turku, in turn, was the first capital of Finland, and has a lot to teach about the Finnish History. Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is not behind in terms of heritage.

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Uncover both renowned attractions and hidden gems across the Baltic States and Southern Finland. Explore UNESCO sites, serene villages, and sandy dunes. From the capital cities of Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn and Helsinki to the beaches in Klaipeda in Pärnu.

An hour’s boat ride (May–Sept Mon & Wed–Fri 2 daily, Sat & Sun 3 daily; double-check timetable with tourist office; €6 return) from Pirita harbour (bus #1, #34 or #38 from the underground stop at the Viru Centre), tiny peaceful Aegna is an excellent day-trip destination. Its forest-covered interior and clean beaches attract locals who camp here in the summer.

The fourteenth-century Church of the Holy Ghost (Puhä Vaimu kirik; Mon-Sat: May-Sept 9am-6pm; Oct- April 10am-3pm; €1) on Pühavaimu is the city’s oldest church, a small Gothic building with stuccoed limestone walls, stepped gables, carved wooden interior, a tall, verdigris-coated spire and an ornate clock from 1680 – the oldest in Tallinn.

Contrasting sharply is the late Gothic St Nicholas ’ s Church (Niguliste kirik; Tues–Sun 10am–5pm; museum €5), southwest of Raekoja plats. Dating back to the 1820s and rebuilt after being mostly destroyed in a 1944 Soviet air raid, the church now serves as a museum of church art, including medieval winged altars and the haunting Danse Macabre (“Dance With Death”) by Bernt Notke. It also hosts free organ recitals (Sat & Sun 4pm).

The Lauluväljak at Narva maantee 95 ( w www.lauluvaljak.ee ), just to the northeast of Kadriorg Park, is a vast amphitheatre which is the venue for Estonia’s Song Festivals . These gatherings, featuring a 25-thousand-strong choir are held every five years, and have been an important form of national expression since the first all-Estonia Song Festival held in Tartu in 1869. The grounds were filled to their 45,000-person capacity in summer 1988 when people assembled here spontaneously to sing patriotic songs- in protest against Soviet rule, in what became known as the “ Singing Revolution ”. The next Song Festival is in July 2019.

Kadriorg Park , a heavily wooded area 2km east of the Old Town along Narva maantee, was laid out according to the instructions of Russian tsar Peter the Great. The main entrance to the park is at the junction of Weizenbergi tänav and J. Poska (tram #1 or #3 from Viru väljak). Weizenbergi cuts through the park, running straight past Kadriorg Palace , a Baroque residence designed by the Italian architect Niccolò Michetti, which Peter had built for his wife Catherine. The palace houses the Kadriorg Art Museum (May–Sept Tues & Thurs–Sun 10am–5pm, Wed 10am–8pm; Oct–April closed Tues; €5.50), with a fine collection of Dutch and Russian paintings.

Estonia's Song Festival

The Lauluväljak at Narva maantee 95, just to the northeast of Kadriorg Park, is a vast amphitheatre which is the venue for Estonia’s Song Festivals . These gatherings, featuring a 25,000-strong choir, are held every five years, and have been an important form of national expression since the first all-Estonia Song Festival held in Tartu in 1869. The grounds were filled to their 45,000-person capacity in summer 1988 when people assembled here spontaneously to sing patriotic songs in protest against Soviet rule, in what became known as the “ Singing Revolution ”. The next Song Festival is in July 2019.

Marking the eastern end of Kadriorg Park is the immense, futuristic-looking KUMU (April-Sept Tues & Thurs–Sun 11am–6pm, Wed 11am–8pm; Oct–April closed Tues; €6), a must-see for anyone interested in twentieth century Estonian art. It’s certainly a wide-ranging collection: surrealism, pop art and abstraction flourished during the Soviet period, despite official hostility to such modernist excesses.

The imposing Kiek-in-de-Kök tower , (Tues–Sun: March–Oct 10.30am–6pm; Nov–Feb 10.30am–4.30pm; €6; joint ticket with Bastion Tunnels €10), dating from 1475, stands on Komandandi tee. It houses interactive displays on the development of the town and its fortifications throughout its history. Below the tower lies the entrance to a network of seventeenth-century bastion tunnels , originally built for defence by the Swedes but most recently used as bomb shelters during World War II. Guided tours (Tues–Sat 10.30am–6pm; frequency depends on demand; book in advance on T644 6686 or at Kiek-in-de-Kök; €6;) initiate you into the tunnels’ history and legend; bring warm clothes as the temperature tends to be a cool 6–8°C even in the height of summer.

The sixteenth-century Great Sea Gate , which straddles Pikk at its far end, is flanked by two towers. The larger of these, Fat Margaret Tower, has walls 4m thick and now houses the Estonian Maritime Museum (Tues–Sun 10am–7pm; €4), a surprisingly entertaining four floors of nautical instruments, scale models of ships and antique diving equipment: some displays have English captions.

South of Lossi plats, on Toompea 8, the airy and modern Museum of Occupations (daily : June–Aug 10am–6pm; Sept–May 11am–6pm; €6) brings to life the personal experience of Estonians under Nazi and Soviet occupation through use of interactive exhibitions, and displays of artefacts from 1940 to 1991. It’s well worth taking time to sit and watch some of the documentary films commemorating the anti-Soviet "Singing Revolution" of 1987–91.

Most of Tallinn’s popular clubs cater for a mainstream crowd. More underground, cutting-edge dance music events change location frequently and are advertised by flyers, or try asking around in the city’s hipper bars; expect to pay €4–10 admission.

Pikk tänav, running northeast from Pikk jalg gate and linking Toompea with the port area, has some of the city’s most elaborate examples of merchants ’ houses from the Hanseatic period, including the Great Guild at Pikk 17, headquarters of the German merchants who controlled the city’s wealth; the House of the Blackheads , Pikk 26, with a lavishly decorated Renaissance facade; and the Three Sisters , a gabled group at Pikk 71. Supremely functional with loading hatches and winch-arms set into their facades, these would have served as combined dwelling places, warehouses and offices. Take the parallel street of Vene to the outstanding Tallinn City Museum at no. 17 (Mon & Wed–Sun: March–Oct 10.30am–6pm; Nov–Feb 10.30am–5.30pm; €4), which imaginatively recounts the history of Tallinn from the thirteenth century through to Soviet and Nazi occupations and Estonian independence.

Raekoja plats , the cobbled market square at the heart of the Old Town, is as old as the city itself. On its southern side stands the fifteenth-century Town Hall (Raekoda), boasting elegant Gothic arches at ground level, and a delicate steeple at its northern end. Near the summit of the steeple, Vana Toomas , a sixteenth-century weather vane depicting a medieval town guard, is Tallinn’s city emblem. The well-labelled and informative museum inside the cellar hall (late June to Aug Mon-Sat 10am-4pm; rest of the year closed; €5) depicts Tallinn town life through the ages. For an expansive view of the town square, climb the spiral staircase of the Town Hall Tower (Raekoja Torn; May- to mid-Sept daily 11am-6pm; €3).

The first thing to do when you go to an Estonian sauna is get completely naked, though in mixed saunas wrapping a towel around you is at your own discretion. Once you get used to the heat, scoop some water onto the hot stones; it evaporates instantaneously, raising the temperature. Once everyone is sweating profusely, some might gently swat themselves or their friends with birch branches; this increases circulation and rids the body of toxins. Don’t overdo it – ten minutes should be long enough, but get out immediately if you start to feel dizzy. Locals normally follow up with a plunge into a cold lake, although a cold shower will suffice. A good place to start is Kalma at Vana-Kalamaja 9a (Mon–Fri 11am–10pm, Sat & Sun 10am–11pm; public sauna for men only €9–10; private sauna for both sexes €14–20/hr); t627 1811) – Tallinn’s oldest public bath (built in 1928), containing private saunas for rent as well as men’s and women’s general baths (complete with swimming pool).

At the northern end of Pikk stands the enormous Gothic St Olaf ’ s Church (Oleviste kirik; daily 10am–6pm; free), first mentioned in 1267 and named in honour of King Olaf II of Norway, who was canonized for battling against pagans in Scandinavia. The church is chiefly famous for its 124-metre spire, which you can climb for a spectacular view of Old Town and the port (daily 10am–6pm, July & Aug until 8pm; €3).

Ten minutes’ walk north of the Old Town, a former engineering works on the far side of the Balti Jaam station now houses the Telliskivi Creative City , a cluster of creative companies and artists’ studios. It is also home to an assortment of cafés, restaurants and art-and-design shops, plus a popular Saturday flea market.

The Cultural Kilometre terminates outside Estonia’s most astounding museum attraction, the Air Harbour (May–Sept daily 10am–7pm; Oct–April Tues–Sun 11am–7pm; €14; Wlennusadam.eu) ,a huge hangar built by the Russians in World War I to house a fleet of sea planes. A masterpiece of modern construction, this cavernous concrete space was reopened in 2012 as an extension of the Maritime Museum. A system of raised walkways takes you past the exhibits – including fishing boats, mines, a replica World War I biplane and naval guns. The pièce de résistance is the Lembit submarine, built for the Estonian navy in Barrow-in-Furness in the 1930s. Outside, ice-breaker Suur Toll and several other ships are moored.

The 4km-worth of walls that surrounded the Old Town were mostly constructed during the fourteenth century. Today, 1.85km of them still stand, along with 20 of the original 46 towers. One of the most dramatic stretches can be found along Laboratoriumi (subsequently Gümnaasiumi), where three of the oldest towers – Nunne, Kuldjala and Sauna – can be entered from Gümnaasiumi 3 (June–Aug: daily 11am–7pm; Sept–May daily except Thursday 11am–4/5pm; €2).

Just north of the Old Town, the Cultural Kilometre (Kultuurikilomeeter) is a footpath that runs through an intriguing stretch of post-Soviet, post-industrial Tallinn. It begins beside the Kultuurikattel (“The Culture Boiler”), a former power station now converted into a concert venue. The power station’s iconic chimney is where Russian film director Andrei Tarkovsky shot key scenes of his existential classic, Stalker . From here the path heads west past a small fishing harbour, and the Estonian Design House at Kalasadama 8 (westoniandesignhouse.ee), where young designers display and sell their wares. The path continues past the atmospheric old houses of the Kalamaja district before arriving at Patarei Prison Museum (May–Sept daily noon–7pm; €3), a nineteenth-century fortress that was turned into a jail in 1920. Abandoned in 2004, it remains in pretty much the same state it was left in, providing an eerie, unsettling experience for visitors.

To do a lot of sightseeing in a short time, it can be worth buying a Tallinn Card (€32/42/52 for 24/48/72hr), which gives you unlimited free rides on public transport as well as free entry to a plethora of attractions and discounts in shops and restaurants. Check website for details.

Toompea is the hill where the Danes built their fortress after conquering what is now Tallinn in 1219. According to legend, it is also the grave of Kalev , the mythical ancestor of the Estonians. Approach through the sturdy gate tower – built by the Teutonic Knights to contain the Old Town’s inhabitants in times of unrest – at the foot of Pikk jalg. This is the cobbled continuation of Pikk, the Old Town’s main street, that climbs up to Lossi plats, dominated by the impressive-looking Aleksander Nevsky Cathedral . This imposing onion-domed structure was built at the end of the nineteenth century for the city’s Orthodox population – an enduring reminder of the two centuries Tallinn spent under tsarist rule.

At the head of Lossi plats, the pink Toompea Castle stands on the site of the original Danish fortification. Rebuilt many times, the building is now home to the Riigikogu , Estonia’s parliament.

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Map of Estonia

Visit Estonia. It's about time.

As one of Europe’s least densely populated countries, Estonia gives you the space you want and the time you need to travel at your own tempo.

What are your interests?

Whether you're here for a weekend or several weeks, you'll always have enough time for remarkable experiences.

Time is precious. Make the most of it.

Manor houses and microbreweries lie moments apart. Past and future collide on a single city street.

The biggest events in Estonia in 2024

From folk music to fringe, from disc golf to street sports, this year offers events for interests of all types.

09.08.2024 - 11.08.2024

26.07.2024 - 28.07.2024

05.07.2024 - 07.07.2024

19.07.2024 - 20.07.2024

16.09.2024 - 22.09.2024

11.07.2024 - 14.07.2024

18.08.2024 - 18.09.2024

02.07.2027 - 04.07.2027

07.06.2024 - 08.06.2024

21.08.2024 - 25.08.2024

08.11.2024 - 24.11.2024

25.07.2024 - 28.07.2024

Tartu — the 2024 European Capital of Culture

Tartu is Estonia's heart and soul. This lively university town and the surrounding region get to show off this year.

Fascinating facts about Estonia

Over half of Estonian territory is forested.

Organic Farming

More than one-fifth of our farmland is certified organic.

Nature Conservation

Wildlife preserves comprise 23% of Estonia.

No point in Estonia is more than 10 kilometers from a bog.

Air Quality

Our air is the second-cleanest in Europe.

Estonia has one of the lowest population densities in Europe.

There are 2,317 islands in Estonia.

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Number 1 in Europa at digital public services (European Commission 2022 EU digital economy and society index, digital public services).

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The first country in the world to offer e-residency.

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16 awesome things to do in tallinn [estonia] in 2024.

Tallinn is the medieval, vibrant, capital city of Estonia and is bursting with history, culture and wonderful things to do and see. Brad and I had the chance to explore Tallinn with Visit Estonia and we quickly fell in love with this beautiful city. 

So, if you need inspiration on what to do in Tallinn, then read on for my full guide on the best things to do in Tallinn.

What I REALLY love about Tallinn, is that the majority of all the best tourist attractions are located in the Old Town (or close to it) which means it’s easy to access all the best places to visit in Tallinn by walking.

Brad and I spent a full day seeing all the best sights in the Old Town and we didn’t need anything other than our 2 feet!

Travellerspoint

When is the best time to visit Tallinn?

Like many other places in Europe , we found that autumn was a wonderful time to visit Tallinn.

It’s still quite busy following the summer tourists, but the autumn colours are in full bloom and Estonia in autumn is an amazing scene. With what resemble Indian spices in orange, red and yellows, it’s the perfect backdrop to the city attractions. 

However, I’ve heard great things about Tallinn during winter and the Christmas season, so I think it would be a great time to visit too. 

What is the best way to get to Tallinn?

Since Tallinn is the capital city, it’s super easy to fly here! You can get cheap flights across mainland Europe, and you can visit from international destinations too. I suggest you use Skyscanner to find the best deals on flights to Tallinn. 

Or, you can do what Bradley and I did and road trip to Tallinn. Estonia is a small but mighty country with beautiful sights to see. 

We picked our Tinggly campervan from Lithuania and travelled north to Estonia through the Baltics.

Or, if you're coming from the north, you can get the direct Helsinki to Tallinn ferry . We did this the other way around and it's very straightforward.

How long should you spend in Tallinn?

Tallinn really is one of the most beautiful cities in Eastern Europe , and is the perfect place for a city break. So I suggest you spend at least 3 nights there! You could spend more, but no less or you’ll miss out on all the best things to do in Tallinn. 

If you fancy exploring more of what Estonia has to offer in general, then it’s a great idea to rent a car for a couple of days after you’re done exploring all the best tourist attractions Tallinn has to offer and head out and explore the country! 

Tartu is another great Estonian city that is worth visiting.

The top things to do in Tallinn 

1. check out jagala waterfall .

If you decide to rent a car and explore the surrounding areas of Tallinn, then I recommend you check out Jagala Waterfall. 

It’s Estonia's highest natural waterfall and it actually looks pretty cool. It’s only about 30 minutes outside the city centre of Tallinn, but it’s worth it to drive on the Estonian roads lined with beautiful Autumn colours. This waterfall can also freeze and a frozen waterfall looks super cool (if you haven’t seen one before). 

One of the more unique things to do in Estonia , but worth it if you’re there for a few days. 

2. Visit the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral 

This is one of my favourite spots in all of Tallinn because this cathedral is a work of art, both inside and out! It’s easy to find and it’s free entrance. 

You can get a good shot of this cathedral from every angle, but really stand and appreciate the beautiful architecture on show. 

3. Explore the Kadriorg Art Museum 

This Art Museum is just as famous for its outside as well as inside! This spot is a real treat in the summer when the gardens are in full bloom with beautiful colours. It’s a restored palace that houses some brilliant art, and it was built when Estonia was part of Russia. 

You can easily access the area by walking from the Old Town (which will take about 35 minutes), or you can opt for public transport to get you there. 

4. Visit Toompea Castle 

Toompea Castle is worth visiting and it’s very beautiful. But it’s no longer a castle as such, as it’s used as the Estonia Parliament (pretty cool spot for government). 

Free tours can be arranged in advance, and you can watch sessions of parliament from the public gallery is you’re interested to see how the government insides work! 

5. Dine in the Old Town

The Old Town of Tallinn is bursting with amazing places to eat and dine. When we were walking around, we were spoilt for choice and couldn’t decide on where to eat. There are lots of options of authentic Estonian food, which is actually a blend of different foods into one! 

We ended up eating in a restaurant that was located in a cellar. It was calld Munga Kelder and it was awesome. The vibe was amazing, the food was reasonably priced and tasted great!

Another popular place to eat in Estonia is Olde Hansa which is quite expensive, but you’re paying for the experience too, so if you want medieval dining, then I suggest you head there!

TOUR: Feeling really hungry? Then indulge in a Tallinn food tour! Book yours here. 

6. Visit the Danish King’s Garden 

The Danish King's Garden is one of the weird, yet wonderful sights in Tallinn. The area is the birthplace of the danish flag. The garden remains an area where locals honour the role Denmark played in Estonia's history.

There are spooky looking monks dotted over the place too, and if you’ve seen Harry Potter, you’ll see a resemble to dementors. 

It’s a totally free area to explore too, so again, a great spot for those looking for the best places to visit in Tallinn on a budget! 

7. Check out St Catherine's Passage 

This has to be one of the most picturesque spots in all of Tallinn! This winding road is half hidden walkway that leads to what was once St Catherine's church.

There is a collection of workshops located in the area, but the ambience of the passage is what you really seek. You’ll feel it as you walk through, trust me! 

If you’re looking for an awesome “Instagram Worthy” spot, then this is one of the best places to visit in Tallinn. 

8. Visit the Tallinn town hall 

The Tallinn Town Hall stands proud as the oldest city call in Northern Europe and the only one that’s preserved in Gothic style (my favourite style!) During August and July the Town Hall is open for visitors who can visit the whole area, including the attic and basement.

Prices start at 5 euro entrance, and you can visit at other times but with prior request I believe. 

9. Get your picture at Viru Gate 

Viru Gate feels like the grand entrance into the Old Town and it’s a really cute spot because it’s lined the florists. Brad bought me a red rose and that made my day! I don’t think it’s very expensive, so you can delight your partner with a rose too by the gate if you wish :P 

Which is a good time to mention that Tallinn is a great spot for couples, there is a very romantic vibe about the place. 

10. Visit St Olaf's Church 

Considered one of the symbols of Tallinn, this iconic church is very beautiful and a great picture spot. You can actually check out the amazing view from the top via 232 steps to the observation platform.  The viewing platform is only open in the summer months, not winter. 

TOUR: You can take a walking tour of the Old Town if you’d like to learn more about the history of the sights you’re seeing. Check this one out. 

11. Explore the KGB Prison Cells 

This was a super unique experience and something I was looking forward to seeing. I’ve studied the KGB extensively in my history lessons in high school and in university and I was intrigued to learn more about the tragic ongoings of the KGB prison cells.

These are the actual prison cells, which is a harrowing, harsh reality as you walk through. 

It’s not a very big museum as such, but it’s more than enough to show you what it was like to be a prisoner during those times- horrific. Each exhibition is in an old cell and it was a truly insightful experience I think you should visit! 

One of the top things to do in Tallinn for sure! 

It’s a 5 euro entrance fee for adults and you can pay card. 

12. Explore the city’s defensive walls 

The oldest parts of the walls of Tallinn were actually built in the 13th century, which means they have a long history! For just a couple of euro, you can climb up the walls and walk along them in one section.

It’s a short tour, but it does give some beautiful views and with learning a little bit about the history of the walls. 

13. Check out the KGB museum located in a hotel 

So this was one of the first things Brad and I checked out when we got to Tallinn, but we didn’t get past the door. Basically, we didn’t realise you can only access via guided tour, and when we visited, the next guided tour in English wasn’t until 3 hours away. We had our day planned meticulously, so we couldn't fit it in. 

But, I think this is an excellent spot. It’s located in the Hotel Viru and I believe it’s the only hotel that holds a museum. You’ll get an insight into the KGB history, and of course the role that this hotel played in all that.

Just book your tickets in advance, it was super busy when we arrived! 

Definitely one of the more unique Tallinn tourist attractions on offer! 

14. Check out Tallinn TV tower

Tallinn TV tower is located outside the main area of the city, so it’s not really walking distance. It’s northern Europe's highest viewing tower and on a clear day, you’ll be treated to some awesome views! 

You can actually “walk on the edge” of this TV tower if you’re feeling brave for only 30 euro, and looking for something truly unique to do in Tallinn. Or, you can dine at their restaurant which boasts amazing views (I’m not surprised!) 

It’s 13 euro to enter the tower for adults. 

You can purchase a fast track ticket right here! 

15. Pop into the Tallinn Creative City 

This is one of the spots Brad and I didn’t go to, but I think is worth mentioning. This is the largest creative hub in all of Estonia, consisting of creative companies, studios and offices of NGOs.

Basically it’s a buzzing place and it hosts over 600 events that take place. There is lots of street art, unique eating spots and photo galleries, it's a great place to spend an afternoon. 

16. Wander the cute streets of the Old town 

The Old Town of Tallinn is filled with cobbled streets and corners that you’ll find cute cafes, delicious eateries and cute souvenir shops. I suggest you just wander around without a map and just see what you discover.

I ended up going into a cute shop located underground and wanted to buy everything in there! In the end I just got a shot glass for my collection, but there are lots of gifts you could bring back to family and friends. 

A tour can be a great way to find the best spots, check this one out!

Is Tallinn expensive? 

Not overly, for a capital city, I think it’s quite well priced, however in comparison to the rest of Estonia, the prices in Tallinn are higher. But it’s far cheaper than most European capital cities and it’s great value for money. 

But, if you're looking for ways to visit Tallinn on a budget, then I suggest you eat outside of the Old Town. You’ll find better deals. 

Getting around Tallinn 

Like I mentioned before, one of the great things about Tallinn, Estonia, is the fact that most of the best sites in Tallinn are within walking distance from any accommodation located in/near the Old Town. 

However, another option is to use the classic sightseeing Hop on Hop off bus, it’ll take you to the best things to do in Tallinn and you can hop on and off as you need too. 

You can book your ticket ahead of time here too. 

CityBee is also an electric scooter rental company and you can download the app and pick up a scooter and take it for as long as you need, then simply leave it within the Old Town for the next person to pick up. We used them in Lithuania , and it’s a brilliant way to sightsee, so using it in Tallinn, is a great idea too. 

So there you have it! My guide to the top things to do in Tallinn. I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and I hope it’s inspired you to do all these amazing things in Tallinn! If you’ve got any other suggestions to add to the list of Tallinn attractions, then simply drop a comment below.

A big thank you to VisitEstonia for hosting us for our stay in Tallinn at their StoryTellers Nest! 

For more help planning your trip in Estonia, check out our other guides:

• Our 2 Week Baltic Road Trip
• The 13 Best Things To Do In Estonia

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The 21 Very Best Things to Do in Tallinn, Estonia

• Post author By thebumpercrew
• Post date April 7, 2024
• Categories In City Breaks , Europe , Things to Do , Travel
• No Comments on The 21 Very Best Things to Do in Tallinn, Estonia

If you’re looking for the very best things to do in Tallinn, you’re in the right place! Tallinn is a superb mix of old and new, where medieval meets trendy. Tallinn reminded me (Joel) of several other European cities. It is a hybrid of cities and has the essence of other towns and cities from across the continent. Tallinn shares some architectural details with Tirana, the Albanian capital, and other European cities, such as Munich , with an ever-slightly Bavarian feel. Tallinn has something to offer everyone and should be on your list of places to visit!

Things to Do in Tallinn

Tallinn is the capital of Estonia, which lies in the Baltic Sea region of eastern Europe. It’s the country’s beating heart with its fantastic art scene and unique medieval centre, and is packed to the brim with history, culture and things to see and do. Tallinn is relatively small for a capital city and is the perfect size to explore over a weekend, meaning most things to do in Tallinn are in the city centre or within walking distance. Without further ado, here’s our list of the best things to do in Tallinn, Estonia.

Old Town District

1 | Walk Through Viru Gate

First up on our things to do in Tallinn is to walk through Viru Gate. Viru Gate is synonymous with many medieval towns. Viru Gate was built in the 14th century as a former barbican – the outer defence of a walled city – but now marks the entrance to Tallinn’s Old Town. Lining the route to Viru Gate are a series of florists, so if flowers are your thing, Viru Gate is the place to buy them!

📍 Viru Gate, Viru tänav, 10140, Tallinn

2 | Wander Old Town

Once you step through Viru Gate, you’re in the beating heart of Tallinn, known as Old Town (Tallinna vanalinn, in Estonian). Old Town is the oldest part of Tallinn and has wholly preserved its medieval origins, boasting Gothic spires, endless cobbled streets and charming architecture. Because of this, Tallinn Old Town is now the best preserved medieval city in Northern Europe, and thanks to its 13th-century city plan (which is still intact), Old Town was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Step inside Old Town, and you’ll realise it lives up to its reputation.

3 | Take a Free Walking Tour

Something we always aim to do in a new city is a walking tour. We usually Google’ free walking tour’ to see what’s on offer. If you’ve never done one before, understand they are free because you don’t formally pay for the tour but give tips at the end based on what you think it was worth. We’ve done them all over the place, including in Athens , and they are always fun, energetic and filled with great information about the city you might not otherwise find out about. You can find free walking tours on Google or head on our recommended walk at traveller.ee to uncover Tallinn’s local life and history. Details below!

📍 Tourist Information Centre, Niguliste 2, 10146, Tallinn

4 | Explore With the Tallinn Card

Tallinn has an abundance of museums and attractions to get stuck into, from the KGB museum to the maritime museum, which we’ll discuss later on our list of things to do in Tallinn. If museums are your thing, consider buying the Tallinn Card . It gives you access to over 50 museums and attractions around the city, including a few things on this list, and makes visiting all these wonderful places a little lighter on your wallet.

5 | Wander Down Katariina käik

Katariina käik, also known as St. Catherine’s Passage, is one of Tallinn Old Town’s most famous and picturesque lanes. The lane itself doesn’t offer much other than an opportunity for a picture. Still, a lovely restaurant named Restoran Controvento lines Katariina käik, where you can take a few minutes out of your day to enjoy the lane’s ambience over coffee.

📍 Katariina käik, 10140, Tallinn

6 | Get Your Hangover Cure at Europe’s Oldest Pharmacy

So, I’d heard that Tallinn is popular for stag and hen parties, and I can confirm this is true. I saw no fewer than half a dozen hen parties in one evening. And with a heavy night out often comes a heavy hangover. With said hangover may come a headache and if you’re in search of some painkillers, look no further than Raeapteek, Town Hall Pharmacy.

The significance? Town Hall Pharmacy is the oldest pharmacy in Europe that has continuously been in business in the same building. Although the exact opening date is unknown, the pharmacy has been operating since at least 1422! Inside, you’ll find a museum with artefacts of a bygone era of medicine, full of weird and wonderful things once used for medicine.

📍 Raeapteek, Raekoja plats 11, 10146 Tallinn

7 | Have Coffee at Master’s Courtyard

Master’s Courtyard ( Meistrite Hoov in Estonian) is one of the cutest courtyards in Tallinn. And if you didn’t know it was there, you’d walk right on past and be none the wiser. Master’s Courtyard is home to a cute cafe, and arts and crafts workshops, and worth popping in for coffee or a wander. While you’re there, look at the picture on the wall on the left-hand side as you walk in – it shows how Master’s Courtyard used to look.

📍 Master’s Courtyard, Vene 6, 10123, Tallinn

8 | Visit Tallinn Town Hall

Built in 1322, Tallinn Town Hall is the oldest surviving town hall in Northern Europe and the only one preserved in the Gothic style. Once inside, you can explore four floors of history and even climb the 115 steps up the tower to the belfry. Access to Tallinn Town Hall is available with the Tallinn Card but only during selected dates. Check out the Tallinn Town Hall website for up-to-date information.

📍 Raekoja plats 1, Old Town, 10146, Tallinn

💶 €5, free with Tallinn Card

9 | Enjoy a Drink in the Town Square

A town square is the undisputed hub of many European towns and cities, and it’s no different in Tallinn Old Town. Tallinn Town Hall Square is the centrepiece of the city and a magnet for tourists. Why? Because it’s vibrant, it offers a place to sit, relax, grab a drink and a bite to eat and watch the world go round in one of the most beautiful settings in Tallinn.

Be aware that restaurants around Town Square can be a bit pricey. It may be worth avoiding here if you’re on a budget. However, if you’re not, it’s a great place to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the ambience of Old Town.

📍 Town Hall Square, Raekoja plats 1, 10114, Tallinn

10 | Visit Freedom Square

Freedom Square is a representation of national symbolism and civic pride within Tallinn. During Estonia’s first period of independence, Freedom Square was a location for parades and fanfare. Once the country fell back into Soviet rule, the square fell into neglect. Freedom Square has returned to its former glory and features cafes, art galleries and places to sit and enjoy the atmosphere. Freedom Square is a stark contrast to Tallinn Old Town – it’s a vast, open space with a different feel to the cobbled streets of Old Town and is also home to St. John’s Church – an unmissable, dominating bright-yellow church that sits on the edge of the square.

📍 Freedom Square, Vabaduse väljak 9, 10142, Tallinn

Toompea Hill District

11 | Visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was built in 1900 when Estonia was part of the tsarist Russian empire and is the most lavish Orthodox church in Tallinn. It is Estonia’s main Russian Orthodox cathedral and resembles the Kremlin with its onion-domed structures. You can wander inside, where you’ll find a little gift shop. Be aware – the inside isn’t as remarkable as the outside, so don’t be disappointed!

📍 Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Lossi plats 10, Kesklinna linnaosa, Tallinn

12 | Visit the Domed Church

Not far from Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on Toompea Hill sits St Mary’s Cathedral, which was constructed sometime before 1233. Access is through a small, unassuming door which takes you into a church dressed unlike any other I’ve ever seen. There are tons of coats of armour on the walls and some strange wooden structures towards the altar, which offer an alternative, interesting church interior you wouldn’t usually see. Inside, you can also climb the 69-metre climb the 69-metre Baroque bell tower for some decent views over Tallinn.

📍 St Mary’s Cathedral, Toom-Kooli 6, 10130, Tallinn

13 | Admire the Views From the Viewing Platforms

If you venture outside Tallinn, you will notice Estonia is a flat country. The highest point in the country is just over 300 metres. That’s pretty small compared to the mountains back in the UK, like Ben Nevis. Anyway, the point I am making is that it’s hard to get good views, so head up to Toompea Hill for some of the best views of Tallinn. The Patkuli viewing platform offers views north, towards the sea, and the Kohtuotsa viewing platform offers views into Tallinn Old Town.

📍 Patkuli viewing platform, Rahukohtu, 10130, Tallinn

📍 Kohtuotsa viewing platform, Kohtu 12, 10130, Tallinn

14 | Visit Kiek in de Kök

Built in 1470, Kiek in de Kök was the mightiest artillery tower in the Baltics. Today, Kiek in de Kök serves as a museum for Tallinn’s fortifications. It’s split into three parts – the Kiek in de Kök artillery tower, Maiden’s Tower, the underground passages, and the Carved Stone Museum.

If you’re not interested in going inside Kiek in de Kök, visit the grounds on either side of the wall. There is a beautiful garden named Komandandi Garden on the western side of the big round tower. On the opposite side of the main wall, you’ll find the Danish King’s Garden , which was the birthday of the Danish flag. Access to Kiek in de Kök is available with the Tallinn Card.

📍 Kiek in de Kök, Komandandi tee 2, 10130, Tallinn

Telliskivi District

15 | Explore Balti Jaama Turg Market

It’s time to step outside Tallinn Old Town and into the hip Telliskivi District, also known as the Cultural Kilometer. The first stop on our journey outside Old Town is Balti Jaama Turg Market. If vintage is your thing, Balti Jaama Turg Market is the place to go! It’s full of vintage clothes shops and antique centres where you can get lost for hours in the treasure trove of items on offer. You’ll also find food stalls selling groceries and hot food, and if organic is your thing, head to Biomarket – it sells only organic food, cosmetics and natural cleaning products.

📍 Balti Jaama Turg Market, Kopli 1, 10412, Tallinn

16 | Get Hipster at Creative City

Before I visited Tallinn, I’d read a little bit about Creative City. I wasn’t particularly sold but decided to take a punt and visit the place, and I’m glad I did. Creative City is a vibrant part of Tallinn that’s home to some hipster stuff, like bars and restaurants and the fine-art photography centre, Fotografiska . If you’re looking for a trendy place to visit for a drink, consider heading to Nudist Winery . A creative location wouldn’t be complete without the next thing on our list of things to do in Tallinn – street art.

📍 Telliskivi Creative City, Telliskivi 60a, 10412, Tallinn

17 | Wonder at Tallinn’s Art Scene

Street art is a growing part of Tallinn and Estonia’s identity and is a world away from the communist era of Estonia. It’s colourful, creative and a feast for your eyes. A formal street art programme was created in Tallinn in 2016, which launched Estonia from medieval to modern on the global street art map. Street art always makes for interesting travel pictures and is one of my favourite things to photograph while travelling.

Tallinn Port District

18 | Visit Port Noblessner

Port Noblessner is a former submarine shipyard and one of the fastest-developing areas of Tallinn. It’s a trendy little spot with a mix of interesting architecture, open spaces and cafes. There’s also the former foundry, which is now home to Proto Invention Factory – a place where you can immerse yourself in a virtual reality world.

📍 Port Noblessner, Tööstuse 48, 10416, Tallinn

19 | Visit Lennusadam Maritime Museum

Lennusadam Maritime Museum is one of the most popular museums in Estonia and sits in the notable Seaplane Hangar – an impressive structure with its dominating hangar doors. For history and maritime buffs, Lennusadam Maritime Museum is the place for you. It’s a place for Estonian maritime culture’s collection, preservation and presentation, a little like the Maritiman in Gothenburg . You can get eyes on the 1930s submarine, EML Lembit, which was the pride of the Estonian Navy and one of only two submarines in Estonia’s naval history. Access to Lennusadam Maritime Museum is available with the Tallinn Card.

📍 Lennusadam, Vesilennuki 6, 10145, Tallinn

20 | Climb the Crumbling Tallinna Linnahall

Next up on our list of things to do in Tallinn is to visit Tallinna Linnahall. Built in the Soviet era for the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics, Tallinna Linnahall is a 5,000-seat concrete amphitheatre that is now just a crumbling relic of the communist era in Estonia. Located just a few hundred metres from Old Town, Tallinna Linnahall is a stark contrast to the beauty of endless cobbled streets in Tallinn and reminded me of my time in Tirana, Albania, with similar crumbling buildings such as the Pyramid of Tirana.

📍 Tallinna Linnahall, Sadama 1, 10415, Tallinn

21 | Explore Kadriorg Park

The last thing on our list of things to do in Tallinn is to explore Kadriorg Park. It’s last but certainly not least because it’s wonderful. Located just a short distance from the city centre (a 30-minute walk from Old Town), Kadriorg Park is an unmissable part of Tallinn. The park is beautifully landscaped with its expansive green lawns, winding paths, and stately trees. It’s also home to a few surprising things – the Office of the President of the Republic of Estonia , the stunning Kadriorg Palace , which now houses the Estonian Art Museum, and the wonderfully peaceful Japanese Garden , where you might even catch sight of a red squirrel!

If you’re visiting Tallinn and have the time, planning a trip to Kadriorg Park is definitely worth it. If walking isn’t your thing, you can get to the park via bus or tram from Viru Gate.

📍 Kadriorg Park, A. Weizenbergi 26, 10127 Tallinn, Estonia

Is Tallinn worth visiting?

Absolutely, yes! Tallinn is a fantastic city that is worth visiting. It’s full of history and culture and has plenty of things to see and do to keep you occupied. Tallinn is relatively small for a capital city, so you can explore the whole city in a weekend without missing too much.

Are two days in Tallinn enough?

Two days in Tallinn is a suitable length of time to visit. You’ll be able to explore the old cobbled streets and see the top attractions on your list of things to do in Tallinn. But be under no illusion – despite its size, Tallinn packs a punch with its exhaustive amount of things to do. So, allow an extra day to explore Tallinn if you want to scratch beneath the surface of what this wonderful city has to offer.

Is one day in Tallinn enough?

No. Ha. One day in Tallinn is not enough. Despite the size of the city (it’s relatively small for a European capital city!) Tallinn offers a wealth of things to do. Allow for at least two days to explore the city. If you like to scratch beneath the surface (like us!), you’ll need two nights / three days.

Things to Do in Tallinn Map

Things to Do in Tallinn, Estonia

• Walk Through Viru Gate
• Wander Old Town
• Take a Free Walking Tour
• Explore With the Tallinn Card
• Wander Down Katariina käik
• Get Your Hangover Cure at Europe’s Oldest Pharmacy
• Have Coffee at Master’s Courtyard
• Visit Tallinn Town Hall
• Enjoy a Drink in the Town Square
• Visit Freedom Square
• Visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
• Visit the Domed Church
• Admire the Views From the Viewing Platforms
• Visit Kiek in de Kök
• Explore Balti Jaama Turg Market
• Get Hipster at Creative City
• Wonder at Tallinn’s Art Scene
• Visit Port Noblessner
• Visit Lennusadam Maritime Museum
• Climb the Crumbling Tallinna Linnahall
• Explore Kadriorg Park

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Take advantage of the search to browse through the World Heritage Centre information.

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Unesco social media, historic centre (old town) of tallinn.

• Description

The origins of Tallinn date back to the 13th century, when a castle was built there by the crusading knights of the Teutonic Order. It developed as a major centre of the Hanseatic League, and its wealth is demonstrated by the opulence of the public buildings (the churches in particular) and the domestic architecture of the merchants' houses, which have survived to a remarkable degree despite the ravages of fire and war in the intervening centuries.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Centre historique (vieille ville) de Tallinn

Les origines de Tallinn remontent au XIII e siècle, lorsqu'un château fut édifié par les croisés de l'ordre Teutonique. La cité s'est développée pour devenir un poste clé de la Ligue hanséatique et sa prospérité s'est traduite par l'opulence des édifices publics (en particulier ses églises) et l'architecture domestique des maisons de marchands, remarquablement bien préservées malgré les ravages des incendies et des guerres au cours des siècles.

وسط مدينة تالين التاريخي (المدينة القديمة)

ترقى مدينة تالين إلى القرن الثالث عشر عندما شيّدت فرقة من الصليبيين قلعة حصينة هناك. ونمت المدينة وتطوّرت لتصبح شعلة العصبة التحالفيّة وترجم ازدهارها من خلال غنى المباني العامة (خصوصاً الكنائس) والهندسة المحليّة لمنازل التجّار والتي جرت المحافظة عليها أبلغ محافظة على الرغم من الحرائق والحروب التي اندلعت على مرّ القرون.

source: UNESCO/CPE Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

塔林的起源可追溯到13世纪，当时的条顿骑士团的十字军骑士们在这里建造了一个城堡， 后来，这里又发展成为汉斯同盟(Hanseatic League)的主要中心。在后来的几个世纪，这里屡遭战火，但许多建筑还是较为完好地保留了下来，公共建筑（特别是教堂）之豪华以及商店内部装璜之考究充分展示了当时这里的繁荣和富裕。

Centro histórico (ciudad vieja) de Tallin

Los orígenes de Tallin se remontan al siglo XIII, con la edificación de un castillo por los caballeros cruzados de la Orden Teutónica. Luego, la ciudad se fue desarrollando hasta convertirse en uno de los principales centros de la Liga Hanseática. Su prosperidad de esa época se patentizó en la opulencia de sus edificios públicos –en particular las iglesias– y la arquitectura de las mansiones de los mercaderes, muy bien conservadas a pesar de los estragos causados por los incendios y las guerras a lo largo de los siglos.

タリン歴史地区（旧市街）

source: NFUAJ

Historisch centrum (oude stad) van Tallinn

De oorsprong van Tallinn gaat terug tot de 13e eeuw, toen er een kasteel werd gebouwd door ridders van de Duitse Orde die op kruistocht waren. Het historische centrum van Tallinn is uitzonderlijk compleet en goed bewaard gebleven en een mooi voorbeeld van een middeleeuwse Noord-Europese handelsstad aan de kust van de Baltische Zee. De stad ontwikkelde zich als een belangrijk centrum van de Hanze tijdens de meest actieve periode van deze grote handelsorganisatie in de 13e tot de 16e eeuw. De rijkdom van Talinn uit zich in de weelderigheid van de openbare gebouwen (de kerken in het bijzonder) en de architectuur van de koopmanshuizen.

Source: unesco.nl

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

The Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn is an exceptionally complete and well-preserved medieval northern European trading city on the coast of the Baltic Sea. The city developed as a significant centre of the Hanseatic League during the major period of activity of this great trading organization in the 13th-16th centuries.

The combination of the upper town on the high limestone hill and the lower town at its foot with many church spires forms an expressive skyline that is visible from a great distance both from land and sea.

The upper town (Toompea) with the castle and the cathedral has always been the administrative centre of the country, whereas the lower town preserves to a remarkable extent the medieval urban fabric of narrow winding streets, many of which retain their medieval names, and fine public and burgher buildings, including town wall, Town Hall, pharmacy, churches, monasteries, merchants’ and craftsmen’ guilds, and the domestic architecture of the merchants' houses, which have survived to a remarkable degree. The distribution of building plots survives virtually intact from the 13th-14th centuries.

The Outstanding Universal Value of the Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn is demonstrated in its existence as an outstanding, exceptionally complete and well preserved example of a medieval northern European trading city that retains the salient features of this unique form of economic and social community to a remarkable degree.

Criterion (ii): The Historic Centre of Tallinn, among the most remote and powerful outposts of the colonizing activities of the Hanseatic League in the north-eastern part of Europe in the 13th-16th centuries, provided a crucible within which an international secular-ecclesiastical culture resulting from the interchange of Cistercians, Dominicans, the Teutonic Order and the traditions of the Hanseatic League, formed and was itself exported throughout northern Europe.

Criterion (iv): The town plan and the buildings within it constitute a remarkable reflection of the coexistence of the seat of feudal overlords and a Hanseatic trading centre within the shelter of a common system of walls and fortifications.

The boundaries of the inscribed World Heritage property and its buffer zone were modified in 2008 in order to bring the boundaries of the inscribed property in conformity with the boundaries of the Tallinn Old Town Conservation Area, recognized as a national monument in Estonia. The historic centre of Tallinn World Heritage property (thus increased from 60 ha. to 113 ha.) now encompasses the upper town (Toompea), the lower town inside the medieval walls, as well as the 17th century historic fortifications surrounding the entire Old Town, and a range of primarily 19th century structures, streetscapes and views, which today form a green area around the medieval city. This modification has ensured inclusion of all primary elements contributing to the outstanding universal value of the property, and strongly enhanced its completeness and integrity. 

The buffer zone, increased from 370 ha to 2253 ha, also in 2008, now protects the immediate setting of the inscribed property in a much more complete fashion. Extended to the sea to include views from Viimsi and Kopli peninsulas, the buffer zone now includes 9 view sectors and 5 view corridors.

To date, Tallinn has maintained its characteristic skyline visible from both the sea and the land. The characteristic skyline however could be vulnerable because of planned high rise development outside the buffer zone.

Authenticity

The site preserves to a remarkable extent the medieval urban structure of building plots, streets and squares, set out in the 13th century, as well as medieval urban fabric. The radial street network is well endowed with buildings from the 14th-16th centuries. The town defences have been preserved over large sections at their original length and height, rising to over 15m in places.

In addition to architectural continuity, Old Town has retained its traditional use as a living city, hosting domestic, commercial and religious functions, and retaining the upper town as the administrative centre of the country. Nevertheless increasingly historic residential buildings are being refurbished for touristic or public use and thus subject to increased life safety and accessibility requirements.

The authentic setting of the inscribed World Heritage property includes some significant architecture from the late 19th century and early 20th century including theatres and schools as well as a number of exceptional wooden suburbs which form an integral part of the historic, urban fabric round Tallinn Old Town.

Until recently the survival of the wooden quarters was threatened by unclear ownership in the years following independence and in a general indifference to the qualities they offered residents. This latter could be seen in a lack of maintenance, and inappropriate upgrading and repair approaches. Today however the situation is turned around and these wooden areas are much valued, and adequate measures are in place to maintain their authenticity. 

Protection and management requirements

The Tallinn Old Town conservation area established in 1966 by regulation Nr 360 of the Council of Ministers of the Estonian Socialist Soviet Republic (ESSR), and confirmed in 1996 by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Estonia, was the first conservation area established in the former USSR. It was intended to sustain the well-preserved physical substance and integrity of the entire property.

Several contemporary legislative and local government documents also complement the protection of the values of Tallinn Old Town and regulate its administration. These include the Statutes of the Heritage Conservation Area of Tallinn Old Town (Historic Centre) based upon the Heritage Conservation Act of 2002 (amended in 2011). These Statutes, fully applicable to the inscribed property following increase of the boundaries of the property in 2008 and its buffer zone, are focused on managing preservation, conservation, planning and building activities within the area and related supporting administrative arrangements. More specifically, the Statutes provide for maintaining the historic plot structure, building volume and density, historic structures and details of the World Heritage property.

The revised Heritage Conservation Act ensures that research and design permits and activity licensing provisions apply to all structures within the World Heritage property, not just listed monuments. These ensure that all necessary historical and archaeological research is conducted before any building activity is carried out in the inscribed property.

Responsibility for implementation of these regulations and statutes is shared between the National Heritage Board and the Tallinn City Government. Overall supervision is conducted by the National Heritage Board (state level), while the Tallinn Cultural Heritage Department (municipal level) is in charge of direct implementation of the statutes. Experts of the Heritage Conservation Advisory Panel provide consultation on specific questions and issues. Decisions concerning planning and building within the World Heritage property are made by consensus of the National Heritage Board and Tallinn City Government.

The Tallinn Old Town Management Committee has been established in 2010 to strengthen cooperation and co-ordination among responsible organizations, NGOs, local community and other stakeholders.It is also responsible for approving, enhancing and monitoring implementation of the comprehensive management plan of the property (scheduled to be finalized by December 2011). The latter plan will replace the “Development Plan of Tallinn Old Town” 2008-2013, enacted on 28 August 2008, and give prominence to protecting the Outstanding Universal Value of the property.

Existing management provisions are aided by municipal initiatives (appointment of a full time archaeologist the Cultural Heritage Department in 2010, to increase provisions for archaeological monitoring where new work is envisioned) and guidance obtained from important public forums (e.g., the May 2002 conference “Alternatives to Historical Reconstruction in UNESCO World Heritage Cities” whose concluding resolution provides a number of key principles guiding future development within the inscribed property).

Future management strategies should support efforts to strengthen provisions for sustaining authenticity and integrity. Management strategies must attempt to balance residential use with other private/public uses which may threaten the authenticity of the affected structures.The threat to integrity from high rise development outside of the buffer zone is partly addressed in the thematic plan “Framework for high-rise buildings in Tallinn” (adopted by Tallinn City Council in 2008), which contributes to the protection of the skyline, and associated view sectors and view corridors. However effective use of the Thematic Plan to fully preserve the visual integrity of the World Heritage property requires efforts to strengthen consensus among all concerned stakeholders about effective means for in situ implementation of the Plan in all identified view sectors.

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The Nomination files produced by the States Parties are published by the World Heritage Centre at its website and/or in working documents in order to ensure transparency, access to information and to facilitate the preparations of comparative analysis by other nominating States Parties.

The sole responsibility for the content of each Nomination file lies with the State Party concerned. The publication of the Nomination file, including the maps and names, does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of the World Heritage Committee or of the Secretariat of UNESCO concerning the history or legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its boundaries.

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Bret Stephens

This D-Day, Europe Needs to Resolve to Get Its Act Together

By Bret Stephens

Opinion Columnist

Thursday’s D-Day anniversary — the 80th — is occasioning somber and anxious reflections about the fate of the Atlantic alliance. Somber because the last of the Greatest Generation will soon no longer be with us. Anxious because Donald Trump, and his evident disdain for that alliance, may soon be with us again.

The anxiety is partly misplaced. Trump’s truculent brand of American nationalism is a terrible idea for many reasons, not least in the encouragement it gives to Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping to target weaker American allies. But Trump is also the messenger of a warning Europeans desperately need to heed.

In a nutshell: Shape up.

Europe today faces four great challenges that typically determine the fate of great powers. Take a brief look:

Growth and dynamism: In 1960 the E.U. 28 — the 27 countries currently in the European Union, plus Britain — accounted for 36.3 percent of global gross domestic product. By 2020 it had fallen to 22.4 percent . By the end of the century it is projected to fall to just under 10 percent. By contrast, the United States has maintained a roughly consistent share — around a quarter — of global G.D.P. since the Kennedy administration.

Think of any leading-edge industry — artificial intelligence, microchips, software, robotics, genomics — and ask yourself (with a few honorable exceptions), where’s the European Microsoft, Nvidia or OpenAI?

Military power: When the Cold War ended in 1990, the West German military fielded more than 500,000 troops and spent 2.5 percent of its G.D.P. on defense. As of last year, it was down to 181,000 troops and 1.57 percent. Britain’s Royal Navy, the most powerful in the world at the outset of World War II, can now deploy just 10 submarines and fewer than two dozen major surface warships, some of which are inactive .

In an all-out war, the British would exhaust their defense capabilities in about two months , according to a report to the House of Commons defense committee. The same would likely be true — if not much sooner — for every E.U. member-state apart from Poland, which aims to spend as much as 5 percent of its G.D.P. on defense next year.

Demographics: What do Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, his predecessor Angela Merkel, President Emmanuel Macron of France, Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands and the former British prime minister Theresa May have in common? They are childless. That’s their personal business (and far from representative of all E.U. leaders), but it’s symbolic of a continent where just under 3.9 million Europeans were born in 2022 and 5.15 million died . A shrinking and aging population typically correlates with low economic growth , not least because entrepreneurship is usually a young person’s game.

Europe has an additional challenge: a relatively high Muslim birthrate, along with the prospect of long-term Muslim migration. Under a “medium migration” scenario estimated by Pew , by 2050 Britain will be nearly 17 percent Muslim, France 17.4 percent and Sweden 20.5 percent. Those wondering about the ascendance of far-right European parties, who are heavily favored to sweep this week’s elections in the E.U. Parliament and who are often sympathetic to Vladimir Putin, know this is a factor. And they need to be honest that the values of depressingly notable segments of these Muslim populations are fundamentally at odds with European traditions of moral tolerance and political liberalism.

Purpose and will: Many of Europe’s current failings are explained (often by European leaders themselves) as a problem of political mechanics: insufficient coordination between states; inadequate power in Brussels; failures of transmission between declared goals and real-world results. But the problem isn’t just one of process. It’s also one of spirit. A few questions:

If Russia defeats Ukraine and decides in a few years’ time to attack one of the Baltic countries, is there a deep pool of young Germans, Belgians or Spaniards willing to die for Tallinn or Vilnius?

As Europe’s NATO members struggle to meet the bare minimum goal of spending 2 percent of their G.D.P. on defense, are they willing to come to grips with the fact that they probably need to spend twice as much?

How much state protection, in social welfare and economic regulation, are Europe’s aging voters willing to forgo for the sake of creating a more dynamic economy for a dwindling number of young people?

How forceful are European leaders willing to be in insisting that their values — including freedom of speech, women’s rights and gay rights — must be protected against the illiberal instincts of a growing share of their voters?

Trump’s ideas about NATO, his zero-sum attitudes about winning, his fondness for strongmen and his ignorance of and indifference to history are all, rightly, causes for European alarm. But people, and nations, succeed or fail to the extent that they refuse to hand over responsibility for their fates to others.

“The world is what it is; men who are nothing, who allow themselves to become nothing, have no place in it,” V.S. Naipaul once warned. It’s good advice for Europe on this solemn anniversary of their previous liberation.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

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Bret Stephens is an Opinion columnist for The Times, writing about foreign policy, domestic politics and cultural issues. Facebook

New and Ongoing Exhibitions in Tallinn

What exhibitions are currently ongoing in Tallinn’s museums? In addition to high-quality permanent exhibitions, the museums also showcase temporary exhibitions that focus on the history, culture, art and science of both Estonia and the world.

Art and design

Kumu art museum – you, river. hedi jaansoo, peeter tooming, endel veliste.

The exhibition combines three distinct yet equally sensitive artistic visions. Through the lens of a camera, photographers Peeter Tooming (1939–1997) and Endel Veliste (1930–2001) and visual artist Hedi Jaansoo (b. 1989) record points of intersection between human beings and nature. Their photographic series exemplify how the camera may amplify the distance from the surrounding environment, lend voices to stones, plants and water, and make the intrinsic interlacing of natural and artificial environments visible.

The exhibition will be open from 14 December 2023 to 26 May 2024.

Adamson-Eric Museum – (Un)Balanced

This contemporary art exhibition invites viewers to consider issues related to mental health and wellbeing. How can we maintain a comfortable balance between joy and sorrow, work and leisure? Why do things occasionally fall out of balance?

The exhibition is open from 23 February until 13 October 2024.

Kumu Art Museum – Konrad Mägi in Close-up

The exhibition examines the works of the classic Estonian artist Konrad Mägi based on the results of technical studies. These studies allow viewers to detect what is invisible to the naked eye, such as baseline drawings, overpainting, changes made in the composition and colour correction. As a result, the audience can better understand the structure, technique and materials of each individual work and become more familiar with the artist’s style.

The exhibition is open from 19 October 2023 to 14 April 2024

Mikkel Museum – The Father of Caricature. Works by Daumier from R. Paul Firnhaber’s Collection

Honoré Daumier (1808-1879) was one of the greatest figures of 19th-century French art who created innovative paintings and sculptures, but made his living mainly as a caricaturist. Since his graphic works are mainly humorous, Daumier can be regarded as the father of caricature, a title justified by his role in making humorous pictures into socially and politically influential works of art.

His caricatures vividly reflect his views and his era. Daumier was a democrat and a republican, but his artistic freedom and the choice of subjects for his works were limited by strict censorship. For this reason, most of his caricatures are harmless, poking fun at overpopulation in Paris, human shortcomings, local cultural life and family relations.

The exhibition will be open from 4 November 2023 to 28 April 2024.

Kumu Art Museum – melanie bonajo. When the Body Says Yes

The solo exhibition of the Dutch artist melanie bonajo seeks to answer the question of whether intimacy still has a place in our increasingly commercialised and technological world. The central theme of the exhibition is touch, which can be understood both in its literal sense as well as in the sense that it signifies our relationship to each other and the world around us. For bonajo, touch can be a powerful remedy for the modern epidemic of loneliness.

melanie bonajo’s work When the Body Says Yes represented the Netherlands at the Venice Biennale in 2022 and is now touring European museums.

The exhibition will be open from 10 November 2023 to 28 April 2024.

Kumu Art Museum – Borderless Universe in Their Minds: Italian Transavantgarde and Estonian Calm Expressionism

The exhibition focuses on the creative dialogue between the Transavantgarde. an artistic movement that emerged in Italy in the late 1970s, and the Estonian artists Raoul Kurvitz and Urmas Muru, the founders of the group Rühm T that formed in the mid-1980s. The Transavantgarde rejected conceptual art in favour of the genre of painting and its emotional sensitivity.

The exhibition will be open from 1 November 2023 to 19 May 2024.

Kadriorg Art Museum

Kumu art museum, adamson-eric museum, mikkel museum, kai art centre, estonian applied art and design museum, contemporary art museum of estonia, photography, fotografiska – elizaveta porodina. un/masked.

Elizaveta Porodina is well-known for her outstanding work in art and fashion photography. In just a few years, she has become one of the most sought-after photographers in the fashion industry. The exhibition reflects on the author’s most recent collection, which includes both art and fashion photography.

The exhibition will be open from 1 December 2023 to 14 April 2024.

Fotografiska Tallinn

Estonian history museum – why is estonia not a kingdom, kalamaja museum – kalamaja wallpapers and what we can find underneath.

In the fascinating exhibition exploring the way of life of Estonians, we can learn about the layers of wallpapers in the houses of early 20th century Kalamaja and Põhja-Tallinn as well as the items between the layers, which owners have discovered during renovation works and brought to the museum .

The exhibition is open from 12 April 2023 to May 2024.

Tallinn Russian Museum – My Tallinn. Aleksandr Wladovsky

The exhibition presents works designed by architect and artist Aleksandr Wladowsky in Tallinn, both the objects we can still see in the cityscape as well as the projects which remained on paper. Wladowsky arrived in Estonia at the beginning of the 20th century, at first residing in Narva and later moving to Tallinn. Over several decades, many buildings were constructed according to his designs in various locations in Tallinn, from Nõmme and Kopli to Kadriorg.

The exhibition is open from 5 April 2023 to 10 March 2024.

The Balti Jaam Market (Kalamaja Museum) – The Taste of Kalamaja

The exhibition by Kalamaja Museum presents a collection of recipes from former and current residents of Kalamaja at the Balti Jaam Market. Many of the recipes are connected to childhood memories and grandmothers cooking in the kitchen, but some brand new Kalamaja recipes are introduced as well.

The exhibition will be open from 1 February 2023

Tallinn Russian Museum

Kalamaja museum, tallinn city life museum, estonian history museum — great guild hall, kiek in de kök fortifications museum, architecture, estonian museum of architecture – the bold and the beautiful. estonian private houses from the 1980s.

This captivating exhibition showcases the postmodernist aesthetic that gained popularity in the late 1970s in private house architecture in Estonia. The exhibition offers a window into the stories of residential building planning, construction (often self-construction) and formation during the uncertain period of the 1980s and 1990s. The exhibition primarily displays four residential areas that were designed between the late 1970s and 1991: The Rehe Street area in Viljandi, the so-called Architects’ District, Ihaste in Tartu and Ilmandu Village near Tallinn.

The exhibition will be open from 30 November 2023 to 21 April 2024.

Estonian Museum of Architecture – Make do with now. New Directions in Japanese Architecture

The free-form group exhibition showcases the youngest generation of Japanese architecture, which differs from the Western perception of Japanese architecture. The exhibition displays various bureaus that focus on societal and environmental concerns and are unafraid to leave unpolished corners in their work.

The exhibition presents young Japanese architects who started their careers after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and the Fukushima nuclear accident. This younger generation has rejected the conventional architect-as-author image, instead preferring to collaborate with each other, engage in grassroots planning and take on new roles that were not traditionally significant in the design process.

The exhibition is open from 19 January to 28 April 2024.

Estonian Museum of Architecture

Nature and science, estonian health museum – uneversum. an exhibition about sleep..

Sleep is one of our most important biological needs. The aim of the Health Museum’s exhibition about sleep is to value sleep as a way to reduce physical, mental and emotional stress and to recuperate. The exhibition helps to understand better what happens in the human body during sleep and how to improve the quality of sleep. In addition to the on-site exhibition in the museum, an exciting virtual exhibition of dreams is presented, where you can learn about dreams collected from people.

The exhibition is open from 14 April 2023 to 17 November 2024.

Tallinn Zoo’s new Southeast Asian rainforest

Every new area in Tallinn Zoo is a source of excitement. The newly opened rainforest area introduces the unique and diverse wildlife of Southeast Asia. In the rainforest, you can meet nocturnal birds and animals as well as predators who enjoy the water.

Estonian Health Museum

Tallinn zoo, tallinn botanic garden, estonian museum of natural history, long evenings in tallinn’s museums.

The  Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design   and the Town Jail Photography Museum in the Old Town are open until 20:00 on Thursdays.

Fotografiska is open until 20:00 from Monday-Saturday and until 18:00 on Sundays.

The Kadriorg Art Museum  and the  Mikkel Museum  in Kadriorg are places that can be enjoyed into the evening on Wednesdays as both museums are open until 20:00, while the  Kumu Art Museum is open until 20:00 on Thursdays.

The  Kalamaja museum  is open until 20:00 on both Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Visit museums in Tallinn conveniently with the Tallinn Card

If you plan on visiting several museums whilst enjoying a comfortable visit in the city and want to save time and money, get the Tallinn Card . You can buy the card for a validity period of 24, 48, or 72 hours and it allows you to visit nearly 50 of Tallinn's top museums and attractions. The card also includes free travel on public transport in Tallinn and discounts on tours, entertainment venues, restaurants and shops.

We recommend purchasing the Tallinn Card via the mobile app – this way you will receive personalised visit recommendations and easily find your way to all the interesting attractions using the convenient map function of the app.

Extra tip: with the Tallinn Card you can skip the line at the Tallinn TV Tower, Tallinn Zoo and Estonian Open Air Museum.

Find more exhibitions in Tallinn and nearby areas – NOBA.ac

NOBA is an international web platform where exhibitions of contemporary art in Tallinn and other nearby cities are gathered together. The website includes an interactive map that allows you to find exhibitions that are open for a limited time in both larger and smaller galleries. The calendar's content is created in collaboration with exhibition establishments, who input the information themselves. The NOBA team ensures that all major exhibitions are available online.

View NOBA's exhibition map here: https://noba.ac/et/naitustekaart/