When we shared on our Instagram that we were going to Tallinn, everyone told us the same thing: it's a fairytale city. And it is! Below we are going to tell you 30 things to see and do in Tallinn , the best plans to enjoy the capital of Estonia in a couple of days.
What to see and do in Tallinn
First, let us tell you that the Queen of the Baltic could very well be the setting for a Disney movie , with its warm light, its pointed roofs, its medieval alleys… Although it could also be the setting for a medieval novel , with public executions in the square, excrement flying from the windows (which is quite normal, in fact) and guild workshops working from very early in the morning. Luckily, flying excrement is no longer a problem of our time 🙂
Now, we are going to tell you everything you can enjoy in this beautiful and charming city:
1. Medieval walls
Did you know that Tallinn's historic centre is surrounded by 2 km of medieval walls ? The most impressive thing is that they are original and are dotted with up to 20 watchtowers ( torn ) , with a conical roof made of reddish tiles, which form that unmistakable image of Tallinn.
There are a couple of sections of this wall that you can walk along (you will see a kind of elongated wooden balcony on the inside), paying around €3. Although we will tell you about other higher panoramic points later, it is a way of seeing the city from another point of view. These are the sections open to the public :
- Section between Hellemann Tower and Munkadetagune Tower
- Section between Nunna, Sauna and Kuldjala Towers
- Section between Stable Tower and Maiden Tower
2. Viru Gate
The main gateway through these walls and into the heart of Tallinn is Viru Gate . And not just today, in the past it was one of the few access routes into the fortified city. Once you've left it behind, stroll along Viru Street, lined with shops and restaurants.
And look at the mini market on the left: our favorite plan was to take advantage of their offer of coffee and bun for €1.50, and have breakfast on the stairs below the town hall 😉
3. Town Hall Square
The Town Hall Square ( Raekoda Plats ) is the medieval heart of Tallinn. Some of the city's most iconic landmarks are gathered here, so it's an absolute must-see. Our advice is to go there at least twice, once during the day and once at night, as the atmosphere changes a lot.
The jewel in the crown is the Town Hall , with its beautiful Gothic style and its enormous 64-metre tower , which you can climb (only up to an intermediate level) to have beautiful views of the city. The price is €3 and it is only open from 15 May to 15 September ( more info ).
Interesting fact : crowning the tower is a weather vane of “ Old Thomas ”, a figure that has protected the city since medieval times and has become one of the symbols of Tallinn.
4. Raeaoteek Pharmacy
In the same square there is another building that draws attention: the Raeaoteek Pharmacy . This is one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe , which has been operating since 1422 ! Entry is free and there are some very old objects on display inside.
They even say that this is where marzipan was invented . True or false? Who knows! What we do know is that it is one of the best things to see in Tallinn (and it's free!), so don't miss it 😉
5. Santa Catalina Passage
Go to the Santa Catalina passage , a small cobbled medieval alley that preserves the pure essence of what the city was like a few centuries ago. Nearby is also the Dominican Monastery of Santa Catalina , where for €5 you can visit some rooms and what remains of the cloister. We preferred the entrance courtyard and turning around 😉
6. Saiakang Passage
Another very photogenic spot is Saiakang Passage , right next to the old pharmacy and an antique shop that we recommend you visit (with lots of Nazi and WWII propaganda and objects).
On the other side of the arch of this alley you will come across a very charming little red house. They say it is the smallest in the whole city. Today it houses a craft shop, but its name “priest’s house” makes you think that a man of faith once lived here hehe.
7. Church of the Holy Spirit
But be careful, because the surprises don't end here. A few meters away you will find several very interesting buildings, the first one will be the Church of the Holy Spirit , on whose façade you can see the oldest clock in the city. But in front of this church we can enter the historic Maiasmokk Cafe , which has been open since 1864.
And finally, in this little corner of Tallinn stands an imposing yellow building, which was once the headquarters of one of the most powerful merchant guilds, and today houses the Estonian History Museum .
8. Pikk Street
Pikk Street is the longest and one of the prettiest streets in the historic centre, so we recommend walking up and down it several times. Also, at number 71 you will see one of the city's icons: the three medieval houses, known as " The Three Sisters ". It now houses a boutique hotel and a rather posh restaurant.
9. House of the Blackheads
Are you a door lover ? In Tallinn, your heart will explode with love, because they are amazing! Old, new, big, small, colorful, simple, restored, falling down... There is something for everyone!
Our favourite? The House of the Blackheads , the headquarters of this medieval merchants' guild , which today hosts several rooms with exhibitions and events. It is located at Pikk Street No. 26.
10. St. Olaf's Church
If you continue along this same street you will reach St. Olaf's Church , famous for its high tower of over 120 metres which, in its time, held the record for the tallest building in the world! Nowadays you can climb the tower (as soon as you finish the work) and enjoy the panoramic view, but first you will have to pay around €3 and climb over 200 steps. Not suitable for those who suffer from vertigo.
11. Tower of Margarita «La Gorda»
You will have reached one of the ends of the old town and, therefore, another gateway to the medieval city: the Tower of Margarita "La Gorda" ( The Fat One) . As you can imagine from its nickname, this tower is rather wide at the waist and a bit short, and it was used as a weapons and gunpowder store .
12. Viewpoints to see in Tallinn
But we are not going to leave, it is time to head to the upper city, towards Toompea Hill . You can walk along the beautiful Pikk Jalg street and reach two of the best viewpoints in the city: Kohtoutsa ( where the famous wall with the phrase “The times we had” is located), and Patkuli .
Tip : Also go up at sunset for the perfect light. For us, this is one of the best things to do in Tallinn.
13. Troompea Castle
If you want to discover a less touristy but very evocative corner of Tallinn, go down the stairs from the Patkuli viewing platform and walk around the walls on the outside to appreciate their truly impressive dimensions. It won't take you 10 minutes to go back up, this time next to Troompea Castle , the current seat of the Estonian Parliament.
14. Cathedrals of Tallinn
In the upper town of Tallinn are the two main cathedrals of the city: the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral of Orthodox faith and can be visited free of charge, and the Cathedral of St. Mary , which costs €5, including access to the viewing platform of its tower with beautiful views of the historic center.
The first was built in the late 1800s, during the time of the Russian Empire, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The second was opened around 1230 and is the seat of the country's Evangelical Lutheran Church.
15. KGB prison
But not all of them are places to purify the soul. In Tallinn there is a place that was a real nightmare: a prison where the KGB interrogated, imprisoned and tortured suspected enemies of the regime. Today these spaces have been reused to show these terrible events, with an entrance fee of €5.
16. Viru Hotel and KGB Museum
There are other sites in Tallinn that are connected to Estonia's Soviet past, which lasted from 1940 until the dissolution of the USSR. For example, the Viru Hotel , the only hotel in the city that welcomed tourists at that time, and according to legend, the 23rd floor was entirely reserved for the KGB.
Today, the former hotel houses the KGB Museum , where you can see Soviet propaganda objects, documents and belongings of members of the Committee for State Security . Admission costs 11 €.
17. Museum of Occupation
Another very interesting option to learn more about the Soviet years is the Museum of Occupation (Vabamun Museum of Occupation and Freedom), where there is an interactive exhibition that deals with the recent history of Estonia, the Soviet occupation and the fight for freedom. Admission costs €11. The audio guide in Spanish is recommended. More info .
18. Freedom Square
One place where the Estonian people's achievement of liberation is celebrated is Freedom Square , with the War of Independence monument. A large open space and meeting place.
19. Kadriog Palace
Although the Russians entered the country long before the Soviet Union existed, Estonia was under the rule of the Tsarist Russian Empire from 1721 until World War I. The best example of this period can be found in Kadriorg Park: Kadriog Palace was one of the summer residences of Tsar Peter the Great and, although it does not have the luxury of the Palaces of St. Petersburg , it is not bad at all. The Palace can be visited and is also surrounded by a beautiful garden.
20. Kumu Museum
Enjoy the rest of the park and head to the Kumu Museum , which has exhibitions of Estonian art (from the 18th century onwards) and focuses on modern and contemporary art collections . The building is truly amazing, and was awarded the “European Museum” award in 2008. Admission costs €10 and be careful because it is closed on Mondays.
21. Monument to “Rusalka”
To the north of the park and on the way to the Baltic Sea, you can see the “Rusalka” monument , which commemorates the 177 victims of the Russian ship Rusalka , which sank off the coast of Tallinn in 1893. It represents an angel holding an Orthodox cross in its hands.
Curiosity : in Russian tradition, " rusalka " is the name given to mermaids who, with their songs, bewitched men and trapped them under water until they died (a macabre coincidence).
22. Towers Square
Returning to the historic centre of Tallinn, don't miss Towers Square , a super pretty corner from where you can perfectly see the medieval wall and some of its characteristic towers.
23. Kiek in de Kölk Museum and the Bastion Tunnels
To learn more about the history of these fortifications and the historical events in Tallinn, we recommend the Kiek in de Kölk Museum and the Bastion Tunnels. It is a museum inside one of the largest and most important towers in Tallinn with quite interesting interactive exhibitions as you ascend from the underground level of the tunnels to the top of the building, where a café with a good view awaits you. The price is not super cheap: it costs €14, but it is perhaps worth it.
24. Medieval taverns in Tallinn
Are you passionate about medieval times, but would rather experience them in your stomach than in a museum? There are several taverns on the streets of Tallinn that quite accurately reproduce the old medieval taverns.
The best known is the Olde Hansa , although it is not cheap. But if you are travelling on a budget, do not despair, because there is a more affordable alternative… we are talking about the III Draakon , a much more spartan tavern where, however, you can taste delicious soups and meat pies. And yes, also with a medieval atmosphere.
⭐ Here we tell you about other restaurants where you can eat well and cheaply in Tallinn .
25. Have a beer, a great plan to do in Tallinn
And for a cold beer there are several options, one of the best is the Koht bar , with a huge selection of craft beer. Also in the historic centre we have the Hell Hunt bar , with cheap beer and good food (it also has a great terrace). Another place that beer lovers will like is the Beer House , although this is more of a restaurant… and it's really cool!
26. Rotermanni District
But not all of Tallinn's life takes place in its medieval streets. If you want to discover its more hipster and modern side, you have to go to the Rotermanni district, a former industrial area with large brick and metal buildings that has undergone an incredible transformation. It is now a district with trendy bars and restaurants.
The same thing happened with the Kalamaja district , which in its days was the city's fishing area and which today mixes wooden buildings with trendy establishments. The truth is that they are among our favorite things to see in Tallinn.
27. Excursions from Tallinn
Do you have more time on your visit to Tallinn? Then as a final point of these 30 things to do in Tallinn we suggest a few excursions :
- One is the one that takes you to the Lahemaa National Park , an area full of trails, such as the Viru Raba trail, so you can be in contact with nature. The ideal way is to go by car (it takes an hour to get there) but there are also tours like this one .
- Take a ferry to Helsinki : yes, you heard right! Finland's capital is just a stone's throw from Tallinn. It's a 2-hour boat ride (and what a boat!) and if you plan well, you can do the visit in a day (although we recommend spending at least one night there). You can buy round-trip tickets here .
More things to do and see in Tallinn
- Another original neighbourhood to visit is Telliskivi Creative City , the financial and design district of the Estonian capital. Because you may not know it, but Estonia is a super cutting-edge country: companies like Skype and Transferwise were born here, people vote online and they even invented a residence visa for digital nomads!
- The tallest building in the country is the TV Tower , which is over 300 metres high and has a viewing platform at a height of 170 metres (be careful, you can also walk on it !). But it is not the only place where you can enjoy breathtaking views: the rooftop bar at the Radisson Blu Hotel offers an unforgettable panoramic view of Tallinn… but unless you are a guest at the hotel, you have to pay a few euros to go up. Keep that in mind.
- If it's warm and you fancy a day at the beach (don't expect a tropical paradise), the best option is Pirita Beach , which is also quite close to the TV Tower. It's the locals' favourite plan on summer weekends 😉
Map with everything to see and do in Tallinn
Here is a map where we mark the places you can't miss on your trip to Tallinn:
We really had a great time in this city, and we hope that you also enjoy your stay in the capital of Estonia. Do you know more things to see and do in Tallinn ?
