Medieval stone walls looking straight down onto glass-fronted startup offices packed with digital nomads. Tallinn, Estonia is a textbook example of fascinating contrasts, where a rich Hanseatic history blends seamlessly with the reputation of being the most digital nation in all of Europe. While the winding cobbled lanes breathe an atmosphere centuries old, here you’ll routinely pay for your coffee with your phone and catch fast Wi-Fi even deep in a pine forest.
Sadly, many travellers make one crucial mistake by treating the Estonian capital as just a quick day trip from nearby Helsinki. On the dot of half past nine in the morning, crowds pour off the giant cruise ships and the historic centre suddenly turns into a noisy, overcrowded funfair. But if you stay in the city overnight, you’ll experience an entirely different, far more authentic world. In the evening the streets empty out of nowhere, the old wrought-iron lanterns light up, and you get that real Nordic fairy tale almost to yourself.
Here are 20 tips on how to squeeze the absolute most out of Tallinn, from getting lost in the walls in the morning to escaping the midday crowds in the creative districts. I’ll tell you where to hide out, where to stay and how the local transport works. It would be a real shame to miss the hidden layers of this city, which reach far beyond the popular Old Town.
Summary for those who don’t have time to read the whole article
- Stay overnight: You’ll dodge the extreme cruise-ship crowds that clog up the centre from roughly 9:30 to 18:00.
- Explore the Old Town in the morning: The historic lanes and viewpoints on Toompea hill are best enjoyed early in the morning or after sunset.
- Escape beyond the walls: During the day, head off to explore the creative districts of Telliskivi and Kalamaja, or relax in the modern Noblessner harbour.
- Päevapraad will save you: For lunch, always look for boards with the daily menu — they let you eat brilliantly for a fraction of the usual evening price.
- Getting around town: Public transport is paid for tourists (a 24-hour ticket costs €5.50), but it’s utterly reliable and you just tap your card.
- Ferry to Finland: A comfortable two-hour crossing gets you to Helsinki, an ideal way to enrich your itinerary.
When to visit Tallinn: weather through the year
Planning a trip to Estonia is a bit like choosing between two completely different countries, because the weather and light here dictate absolutely everything. While in December the sun scrapes above the horizon for barely six hours and the whole country plunges into darkness, in June you’ll get an incredible nineteen hours of daylight. These famous white nights mean that real darkness never actually falls in summer, which is utterly magical for travel — though you may want to pack a sleep mask. The biggest holiday of the year is Jaanipäev (Midsummer, the night of 23 to 24 June), when the city empties out as all the locals head to the countryside to light huge bonfires.
July and August are the absolute peak of the tourist season, when temperatures usually sit between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. Although plenty of people come here to escape the Central European heat, the sun can be pretty fierce and the parks fill with picnicking locals. The price for this lovely weather, though, is the huge crowds off the cruise ships that flood the narrow lanes of the Old Town day after day. If you’re planning to head out into the surrounding nature in summer, pack strong repellent — mosquito activity in the Estonian bogs peaks in July and the entire country is a high-risk zone for tick-borne encephalitis.
If you’re not tied to the school holidays, the holy grail for a visit is clearly September. The crowds thin out dramatically, hotel prices drop and the countryside in the surrounding national parks starts turning gorgeous autumn shades. On top of that, the annoying mosquitoes vanish from the forests, which makes walks along the wooden boardwalks an absolute joy. You can even pick mushrooms or lingonberries right by the path. September simply gives you the best of both worlds — plenty of sun for walking and plenty of quiet to soak up the real atmosphere.
October and November, on the other hand, are a test of endurance, as grey days, frequent rain and early darkness set in. But everything shifts again with the arrival of Advent, when Tallinn turns into a winter fairy tale. Christmas markets open on Town Hall Square — they won the title of best in Europe back in 2019. People drink hot mulled wine (glögi) here, and while the sun only shines a few hours, it stays low on the horizon, bathing the city in a gorgeous all-day golden hour. And if you arrive in January or February, you’ll get a proper Nordic winter, when unique official ice roads sometimes open straight across the frozen sea.
Where to stay in Tallinn
💡 Tip on stays and experiences: We prefer to look for accommodation on Booking.com, which tends to have the best cancellation terms. It’s then worth comparing and buying tickets, tours and activities through GetYourGuide.
Where you sleep in Tallinn really depends on what you expect from the city. The city is compact and you can get everywhere relatively quickly, but each district has a completely different feel. On top of that, Tallinn has been experiencing a huge hotel boom in recent years. Price-wise, the Estonian capital has sadly long since caught up with Western cities, helped along by a recent rise in the accommodation tax to 13 percent. So don’t count on a genuinely cheap bed in the centre — the average price for a night hovers around €90 to €100.
If you’re after romance and want all the main sights right around the corner, choose to stay right in the Old Town (Vanalinn). You’ll be first at the viewpoints in the morning and enjoy the floodlit walls in complete peace in the evening. A great choice here is the iconic Hotel Telegraaf, set in the historic former post office building with a beautiful spa. Among the luxury options, the five-star The Burman Hotel stands out — it recently won the Michelin guide’s new hotel of the year award. A lovely compromise between price and location is the Nunne Boutique Hotel, right by the old walls.
For a quieter stay and modern architecture, head to the Rotermann district or towards the harbour. These areas sit just outside the historic walls, so you’re only a few minutes’ walk from the centre, but you’ll avoid the early-morning noise of delivery vans bouncing over the cobbles. An excellent base here is the modern Hyatt Place Tallinn, offering perfect Nordic standards and great access to the ferries to Finland. A short walk away you’ll also find the popular Fat Margaret’s hostel, where a bed in a shared dorm starts at around €16 — a real draw for solo travellers on a tighter budget.
If you prefer a local vibe and want to stay among residents, look for accommodation in the wooden district of Kalamaja. You’ll find plenty of stylish apartments on Airbnb, set inside traditional colourful houses with a central stone staircase. You’ll be a short walk from the best cafés, the Telliskivi creative hub and the Balti Jaama Turg market.
20 best things to see and do in Tallinn, Estonia
Tallinn offers more than you might think at first glance. Beyond the walls hide floating saunas, Michelin restaurants and the best flea market in the region. Here are twenty tips it would be a shame to miss. I recommend splitting the city into its historic and modern halves so you soak up both of its faces.
1. Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats) and the Gothic Town Hall
The heart of the entire Lower Town is without doubt the sprawling Town Hall Square, which served for centuries as the main marketplace and gathering point. The space is dominated by the majestic Gothic Town Hall, which, by the way, is the only surviving building of its kind in all of Northern Europe. Its construction was completed as far back as 1404, and it still astounds with its austere yet incredibly striking architecture.
When you raise your eyes to the very tip of the town hall tower, you’ll spot the famous weathervane. This little figure is called Old Thomas (Vana Toomas) and is one of the city’s best-known symbols. According to legend he was an ordinary boy who excelled at crossbow shooting, and because he honestly guarded the city as an adult, he earned his place of honour at the top of the town hall. From there, the story goes, he watches over Tallinn’s streets to this day. In winter, this very square hosts the celebrated Christmas markets, and the city prides itself on the claim that the first public Christmas tree in Europe supposedly stood here back in 1441.
💡 Tip: The square is beautiful at any time of day, but if you want photos without the crowds, come here right after breakfast, before nine in the morning. Inside the town hall building you’ll find the popular medieval tavern III Draakon, where there’s no cutlery, the light comes from candles, and for a few euros they’ll serve you hot soup or stuffed dumplings.
2. Raeapteek: the oldest pharmacy in Europe
Right in the corner of Town Hall Square you’ll find an unassuming entrance to a place you really shouldn’t miss. Raeapteek is the oldest continuously operating pharmacy in Europe, opening its doors to customers on the very same spot since 1422. Step inside and you’ll be met by an incredible atmosphere of wooden panelling and painted ceilings, so you’ll feel like you’re in a potions classroom straight out of Harry Potter.
Out front, locals routinely buy paracetamol or cough drops, but the historic back room works as a free museum. You can inspect ancient painted jars that once held bizarre medieval medicines like dried frogs, powdered bat, wolf entrails or mummified hands. The pharmacy is also famous for its traditional spiced wine called claret, mixed here according to a centuries-old recipe.
💡 Tip: According to an old Tallinn legend, it was in this very pharmacy that sweet marzipan was first made — originally not as a confection but as a luxury cure for a broken heart and melancholy. You can buy a piece of this traditional marzipan here as a beautiful and very tasty souvenir to take home.
3. St Catherine’s Passage (Katariina käik)
A short walk from the main square lies a spot photographers absolutely adore, and one that often appears on postcards. St Catherine’s Passage is a narrow, half-hidden lane that discreetly links Vene and Müürivahe streets. Its atmosphere is so perfectly medieval that walking through it feels like you’ve slipped several hundred years back in time.
One side of the lane is lined by the ancient stone walls of the former Dominican St Catherine’s Convent, on which massive medieval gravestones of the era’s prominent townsfolk are displayed. The other side is a continuous row of small craft workshops and art studios. Right through the shop windows you can watch skilled glassblowers, weavers, hatters and potters at their precise work.
💡 Tip: During the day the lane gets extremely clogged with guided tour groups, so you often can’t even get through. You’ll find the most beautiful light really early in the morning, when the sun is just starting to peek over the old vaults and the cobbles are still empty. Just around the corner you’ll then find several great cafés for a morning espresso.
4. St Olaf’s Church (Oleviste) and its 232 steps
This imposing church, named after the Norwegian king Olaf II, hides one huge and rather fascinating historical claim to fame. Around the year 1500 its tower soared to an incredible 159 metres, which, according to many historians, made it the tallest building in the entire world at the time. It served as a perfect landmark for merchant ships arriving at the Hanseatic port.
That tall tower, however, also worked as a very reliable lightning rod, so over the centuries the church burned to its foundations several times after strikes. Today it stands a slightly more modest 124 metres, but it still unshakeably dominates the whole skyline and offers one of the very best views over the entire city. Just be prepared: getting to the top is a solid physical challenge.
💡 Tip: There’s no lift to the viewing platform and the way up is quite an adventure. You have to conquer 232 very steep, narrow stone steps, which in summer heat amounts to a proper cardio session. But the view over the sea of red rooftops and the dark Gulf of Finland is absolutely worth the sweaty T-shirt.
5. Toompea Castle and the parliament building
The Old Town is historically split into two separate parts that often quarrelled in the past and even locked themselves off from each other with a gate. While the wealthy merchants and craftsmen lived below, the Upper Town on the limestone Toompea hill belonged to the nobility, knights and rulers. This is exactly where you need to head for the most famous panoramic views and a big slice of Estonian history.
At the very top of the hill stands Toompea Castle, which on one side still retains part of its original rugged medieval walls. Its front façade on the main square may surprise you, though, because today it looks like a gorgeous pink Baroque palace. It’s inside this elegant building that the current Estonian parliament (Riigikogu) sits, with the national blue-black-and-white flag flying proudly from the tall defensive tower known as Tall Hermann.
💡 Tip: On the way up, use the two historic lanes with wonderful names. Pikk jalg (Long Leg) is wider and gentler for carts, while Lühike jalg (Short Leg) is very steep, full of steps and mysterious nooks. Parents with buggies should definitely take the longer one, because you simply can’t get through Short Leg.
6. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
When you emerge from the lanes onto the main square in front of the pink parliament, you’ll immediately be struck by a huge building that seems, at first glance, a little out of place. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a massive Orthodox church with typical onion domes and richly decorated exterior mosaics, contrasting perfectly with the austere Nordic architecture around it.
This grand structure was built at the very end of the 19th century during a period of harsh Russification, when Estonia was part of the Russian Empire. Its placement directly opposite the Estonian government buildings was no accident — it was meant to clearly demonstrate tsarist dominance. Many Estonians therefore disliked it at first, and in the 1920s, after independence, there was even serious talk of demolishing it, which luckily never happened.
💡 Tip: Entry to the cathedral is free for everyone, but don’t forget appropriate, respectful clothing (covered shoulders and knees). Inside you’ll be amazed by the beautiful icons, and if you’re lucky you’ll hear its massive bells ring — the largest weighs a respectable 15 tonnes.
7. Kohtuotsa viewpoint (the “The Times We Had” sign)
If you’ve ever seen a photo of Tallinn on Instagram, chances are it came from right here. The Kohtuotsa viewing platform is the uncrowned king of all photo spots in Estonia. It sits on the eastern edge of Toompea hill and opens up an absolutely breathtaking, sweeping view you’ll fall in love with.
From here you’ll see the iconic red rooftops of the Lower Town, the majestic tower of St Olaf’s Church and the modern glass skyscrapers rising in the distance. The walls of this viewpoint are also adorned with the famous “The Times We Had” sign, which has become the unofficial motto of every traveller discovering the Baltic capital and adds a special nostalgic touch to the place.
💡 Tip: During the day it’s simply packed here, and there’s often a long queue to get a photo with the popular sign, organised by cruise-ship guides. Get up early and arrive ideally before eight in the morning so you can enjoy the waking city undisturbed and get the best shots without other people’s elbows in the frame.
8. Patkuli viewpoint and the view of the walls
Just a few minutes’ walk from Kohtuotsa lies a second, no less stunning viewpoint it would be a mistake to skip. Patkuli offers a slightly different perspective, because it doesn’t face the modern centre first and foremost, but looks more to the north towards the sea and the large harbour. It’s from here that you’ll best understand why Tallinn is often nicknamed the city of towers.
From this spacious terrace you have laid out before you a perfectly preserved stretch of medieval city walls, with defensive turrets and their typical red roofs rising majestically. In the distance the dark blue surface of the Gulf of Finland glitters, and on a clear day you’ll even spot the arriving ferries shuttling between Estonia and the Helsinki shores.
💡 Tip: From the viewpoint a long but very photogenic stone staircase (Patkuli trepp) leads straight down to the park below the walls. It’s a great, quick shortcut from the Upper Town back down to the lower levels near the train station — just watch out for slippery steps after rain.
9. The city walls and Kiek in de Kök tower
Tallinn boasts one of the best-preserved medieval fortifications in all of Europe, and unlike in most cities, this isn’t just a dead backdrop for photos. Of the original 46 towers, more than twenty still stand and almost all of them can be explored from the inside. Nearly two kilometres of mighty stone walls give the city its unmistakable fairy-tale character.
The single most famous tower is the massive Kiek in de Kök, which amusingly translates from Low German as “Peek into the Kitchen”. The tower was once so huge and tall that the guards could supposedly see through the wide chimneys straight into the kitchens of the townsfolk in the Lower Town. Today this robust artillery structure serves as an excellent museum of the city’s fortifications, where you’ll learn plenty of curiosities. Standard admission is around €12.
💡 Tip: If you like a bit of mystery, book a tour of the so-called Bastion Tunnels hidden deep beneath the tower. These secret underground passages served from the 17th century right up to the Cold War for moving soldiers and as nuclear shelters, making them a fascinating window into modern history.
10. Fat Margaret and the merchant houses (Three Sisters)
At the opposite, northern end of the Old Town, another iconic structure you can’t miss guards the former main entrance from the sea. The artillery tower Paks Margareeta (Fat Margaret) earned its unflattering name thanks to its incredible, mildly comic dimensions. Its walls are up to five metres thick in places, so they could once withstand direct fire from enemy ships. Today the tower is part of a brilliantly done maritime museum with a model of a 16th-century ship.
As you walk from Fat Margaret towards the centre along Pikk street, be sure to notice the beautiful façades. Tallinn was an important member of the Hanseatic League (a medieval trade association), and the enormous wealth of the local merchants is still visible at every step. Stop by the so-called Three Sisters, a trio of beautifully preserved 15th-century merchant houses pressed together.
💡 Tip: On the façades of many old merchant houses on this street, you’ll see preserved wooden beams with a massive pulley under the roof. These were used to hoist heavy sacks of salt and grain straight from the street up to the attic warehouses, because down below the goods might be ruined by water.
11. Balti Jaama Turg market
When you leave the Old Town walls behind you and walk through the underpass beneath the main station, you find yourself in a completely different world full of local life. Balti Jaama Turg is a fantastically renovated three-storey market that works as the true beating heart of modern Tallinn, where elegant hipsters mingle with Soviet grandmothers.
On the ground floor you’re greeted by a huge food hall with more than three hundred stalls, where aromas from all over the world blend together. Locals come here for a quick lunch, and you can taste excellent vegan burgers, homemade cheeses and traditional Estonian dark bread (must leib). The first floor belongs to local farmers, where you’ll find the freshest berries, honey and root vegetables. A visit to the market is an ideal choice for a cheap, varied lunch with prices around €7 to €10.
💡 Tip: The most interesting and most bizarre part, though, hides in the market’s basement. The whole underground level works as a giant flea market and junk shop, where the shelves overflow with old Soviet badges, vinyl records, porcelain deer and second-hand clothes. It’s an incredible window into a past that modern Estonia would rather forget.
12. Telliskivi Creative City and Fotografiska
Right behind the market you flow seamlessly into an area that has undergone a huge transformation in recent years and today forms the liveliest part of the city. Telliskivi is a former industrial and railway complex that has turned into the largest creative district in all of the Baltics. The old brick walls are decorated with huge legal murals, and the former factory halls now house design boutiques, studios and stylish cafés full of digital nomads.
The absolute cultural magnet of this district is Fotografiska, a branch of the famous Stockholm gallery. There are no permanent exhibitions here, but the shows of world-class photography rotate very dynamically. It’s a place where young Estonians come on dates and for art, and where thousands of Finns arriving for the weekend flock every month.
💡 Tip: Fotografiska has one huge, practical plus for travellers, as it’s open until 23:00. While classic museums lock their doors at five in the afternoon, here you can comfortably head out after a good dinner. On the top floor of the building there’s also a great restaurant with a zero-waste concept and a panoramic view of the city.
13. The wooden fairy tale of Kalamaja
From industrial Telliskivi you only need to move a few streets closer to the sea and you suddenly find yourself in a completely different, far quieter setting. Kalamaja (which translates as Fish House) was historically a district of poor fishermen and workers from the nearby harbours. Today it counts as the most sought-after residential address in the city, but has luckily kept its unique architectural character intact.
The main draw here is the so-called Tallinn houses from the early 20th century. These are very specific two-storey wooden buildings with a central stone staircase, built that way at the time due to strict fire safety rules. These houses come in every possible pastel shade, from mint green through ochre to muted pink, creating a great contrast to the grey Nordic sky.
💡 Tip: You don’t come to Kalamaja to tick off sights from a guidebook — here you simply stroll with a good coffee in hand. Get lost in quiet streets like Valgevase or Salme, stop by a local bakery for an excellent cinnamon bun and enjoy the incredible calm just a short walk from the busy centre, where you’ll mostly meet locals on bikes.
(A note on history: On the Kalamaja coast stands the massive Patarei fortress. Foreign guidebooks often mention it as a dark KGB museum and a terrifying prison, but ⚠️ bear in mind that the complex is currently completely closed for a huge renovation. The grand International Museum for the Victims of Communism is scheduled to fully open only in 2027. Even from outside, though, the view of the red bricks and barbed wire by the sea is chilling.)
14. Lennusadam maritime museum (Seaplane Harbour)
When you walk through Kalamaja all the way to the sea, you’ll come across what is probably the best museum experience in all of Estonia, one that entertains adults and children alike. Lennusadam sits in unique concrete seaplane hangars from 1917, which in themselves are a fascinating technical marvel. Inside the huge hall, gloom cut only by blue floodlights reigns, so you suddenly feel like you’re deep beneath the surface of the Baltic Sea.
Replicas of historic aircraft “fly” through the air above visitors’ heads here, but the main attraction of the exhibition is the real Estonian submarine Lembit from 1936. You can climb inside without hesitation and explore its cramped innards and cabins for yourself. The museum is extremely interactive — you can try firing an anti-aircraft gun in a simulator or attempt to land a plane. Admission for an adult is €22, a family ticket costs €40, and children under eight get in completely free.
💡 Tip: Set aside at least three clear hours for your visit. The extensive tour also includes an outdoor exhibition by the pier, where the huge historic icebreaker Suur Tõll is moored, which you can calmly walk through from the captain’s bridge all the way down to the giant engine room.
15. Noblessner district and Iglupark
A route through northern Tallinn peaks a little further along the coast, in the luxurious Noblessner district, an absolute gem of new urbanism. In the early 20th century a top-secret tsarist shipyard building submarines operated here; today it’s a showcase example of how an old industrial zone turns into premium living. The crumbling industrial halls have given rise to the city’s most expensive district, full of wide promenades, bistros and great entertainment for families and couples alike.
It’s right here on the waterfront that you’ll find the iconic Iglupark, a row of design wooden saunas shaped like igloos. For around €24 you can book a spot in the public sauna, work up a sweat with an amazing view of the waves and then climb down a ladder straight into the chilly Baltic Sea. It’s an absolutely guaranteed recipe for instantly coming back to life and experiencing real Nordic culture. For families, there’s also the wonderful interactive invention factory PROTO, which costs around €35 to €40 for the whole family.
💡 Tip: Noblessner works as a culinary paradise that draws foodies from far and wide. The famous restaurant 180° by Matthias Diether is based here, boasting two Michelin stars. If you’re after something far more relaxed and cheaper, drop into the nearby Põhjala Tap Room, where they brew top-notch craft beer (a pint costs €4 to €7) and grill up great treats to go with it.
16. The KGB Museum in the Viru Hotel
If you want a deeper understanding of exactly how the paranoia of the Soviet regime worked in practice, just head to Viru Square, right on the edge of the Old Town. When the iconic Hotel Viru was built here in 1972, it became the city’s first skyscraper and primarily housed foreign guests. Officially it was claimed the hotel had 22 floors, and the lift really didn’t go any higher.
In reality, though, the 23rd floor housed a top-secret KGB listening centre. From here, agents systematically monitored rooms, tapped phones and tracked every move of foreigners (especially the neighbouring Finns, who came most often). Today this floor houses a fascinating and chilling museum, left exactly as the agents hastily abandoned it in the early 1990s, complete with ashtrays full of cigarette butts and microphones hidden inside plates.
💡 Tip: The museum is visited by over thirty thousand people a year, and the tour is only possible with an official guide. Because group capacity is very limited, book your tickets (which cost around €11 to €12) several days in advance through the hotel’s official website, otherwise you simply won’t make it up to the secret floor.
17. Kadriorg Palace and the KUMU museum
When you hop on a tram in the centre and head a little to the east, you’ll find yourself in the sprawling green park of Kadriorg, which offers a welcome escape from the bustle of the metropolis. The heart of this huge park is a gorgeous Baroque palace, built by the Russian Tsar Peter the Great for his wife Catherine (which is where the park’s name comes from). The palace grounds are decorated with carefully manicured French gardens, fountains and wide promenades.
The true cultural gem for lovers of modern architecture, though, hides a short walk above the palace, cut straight into the limestone cliff. The KUMU building (Kunstihoone) is the largest and most modern art museum in all of the Baltics. This architecturally stunning structure of copper, glass and limestone holds everything from classic Estonian art to rough Soviet pop culture and very contemporary installations. Admission here ranges from €15 to €22.
💡 Tip: Even if you’re not exactly a fan of galleries and classic art, it’s worth seeing the KUMU building at least from the outside and walking through its futuristic glass courtyard. It’s an utterly fascinating visual contrast to the pink Baroque palace lying just a few hundred metres lower in the park.
18. Pirita beach and the ruins of St Bridget’s Convent
Beyond Kadriorg the coast continues further northeast into the popular residential district of Pirita, where locals love to escape at weekends. If you want a break from the city buzz and a bit of nature, here you’ll find a two-kilometre sandy beach lined by deep pine forests. In summer Estonians eagerly sunbathe here, and the hardier ones even swim in the refreshing Baltic waves, although the water stays cold even in July.
Near the popular beach rise the highly photogenic 15th-century ruins of St Bridget’s Convent. During the devastating Livonian War the convent was destroyed, but its massive stone gable and perimeter walls have stood majestically to this day. The place has an incredibly strong, peaceful atmosphere, and in summer various concerts and cultural events are often held here under the open sky.
💡 Tip: From the centre you can reach Pirita very conveniently on a shared Bolt electric scooter, for which you’ll pay €0.50 to unlock and around 15 cents a minute to ride. A wide, safe cycle path (the Pirita Promenade) runs along the coast, opening up the very best views back over the panorama of all of Tallinn.
19. The TV Tower and the Song Festival Grounds (Lauluväljak)
On the way towards Pirita you certainly won’t miss the huge concrete amphitheatre spreading across a gentle slope. The Tallinn Song Festival Grounds (Lauluväljak) are an absolutely sacred place for Estonians. It was here, at the end of the 1980s, that the so-called Singing Revolution was born, when hundreds of thousands of people joined hands and, by singing banned national songs, peacefully won their independence from the Soviet Union. Today the country’s biggest music festivals are held here.
If you long for a stunning bird’s-eye view, head a little further to the TV Tower (Teletorn). At a total height of 314 metres, it’s the tallest structure in the entire country. Its viewing platform at 170 metres offers a panoramic view for tens of kilometres, and there are glass windows built into the floor for those who don’t suffer from vertigo.
💡 Tip: For big adrenaline lovers, the TV Tower offers a special outdoor attraction called Edge Walk. In a secure safety harness you can walk along the very outer edge of the viewing platform in the open air, completely without any railing.
20. Where to eat: from päevapraad to Michelin
Tallinn has experienced an incredible gastronomic boom in recent years, even though restaurant prices have risen quite a bit due to the recent VAT increase to 24%. Estonia now boasts as many as 43 establishments in the Michelin guide. The absolute peak is the restaurant 180° by Matthias Diether, which has two stars and where a tasting menu costs €325, and the popular NOA Chef’s Hall with a gorgeous view over the gulf. You’ll find great value and Nordic quality in the Bib Gourmand-awarded spots like Lore Bistroo or Mantel ja Korsten.
But if you want to eat like a local and not ruin your travel budget, learn the magic Estonian word on your very first day: päevapraad. It means the daily lunch menu, or the dish of the day. Most bistros and smaller cafés off the main tourist trails offer a soup and a main course on weekdays between 11:00 and 14:00 for a very pleasant €5 to €8. For cheap street food, definitely head to the Balti Jaama Turg market, where you’ll find excellent vegan burgers or Asian dumplings for under ten euros.
💡 Tip: Be sure to taste traditional Estonian dark bread (must leib), which is brought to you almost everywhere in restaurants with a proper layer of butter and tastes absolutely fantastic. Among local ingredients I also recommend trying kama (a roasted grain mix added to yoghurts or desserts), and from the drinks the legendary herbal liqueur Vana Tallinn or the refreshing non-alcoholic kvass kali must not be missing. A pint of craft beer will cost you around €4 to €7 on average, and among the best is the output of the Põhjala brewery. Locals also enjoy elk soup or marinated sprats, which form the basis of classic holiday tables.
Where to go next from Tallinn
If you’re planning to travel across the whole country, check out our big guide Estonia: 25 tips on what to see and experience, where you’ll find islands, bogs and spas. We break down the practical details of Tallinn itself in the articles Where to stay in Tallinn and Where to eat in Tallinn.
If you’ve set aside more days for Estonia, it would be a mistake to stay only in the shadow of the walls. Tallinn works as a perfect springboard for trips into nature and to neighbouring countries.
Just an hour’s drive east lies Lahemaa National Park. It’s the absolute showcase of Nordic nature, where you can wander for hours along wooden boardwalks across endless peat bogs. The most famous and best accessible is the Viru raba bog trail, where you’ll also find a wooden viewing tower and, with a little courage, you can even take a dip in the dark local pools.
Another logical step is linking two capitals. Ferries to Helsinki shuttle several times a day and the crossing takes just around two hours. It’s an ideal and affordable way to tick off another Nordic country during a single holiday. Read Helsinki: 15 tips on what to see and do in the Finnish capital so you know where to head right after you disembark.
If you’re planning a wider road trip around the Baltics and want to soak up more of the local history and present day, be sure to get inspired by our article 10 interesting and practical things about Riga. And if you’re heading out in the winter months and hoping to see the green theatre in the dark Estonian sky, study up on our guide Northern lights: where and when to see them.
Frequently asked questions
How many days should I allocate for Tallinn?
For a quick exploration of the historic core and the most important sights, one full day is enough. But if you want to soak up the atmosphere without stress, explore creative districts like Telliskivi, head to the sea and sit in local cafés, I recommend ideally 2 to 3 nights. This gives you time to enjoy the city early in the morning and late in the evening.
Is Tallinn expensive?
Honestly? Yes. Estonia stopped being a cheap alternative a long time ago, and after the recent VAT jump to 24%, restaurant prices are closer to Prague or Berlin. A typical lunch will cost around €15 to €20, and a craft beer averages €4 to €7. You can save money by taking advantage of lunch menus (päevapraad for €5 to €8) and shopping at the excellent local markets.
Is Tallinn safe, and what about the proximity to Russia?
Estonia is one of the safest countries in Europe and crime here is minimal (just watch out for pickpockets in summer crowds). Concerns about proximity to Russia are unnecessary from the perspective of the average traveller; the country falls into the safest Level 1 category. Estonia is a firm part of NATO, allied fighter jets patrol the skies, and life in the city pulses completely normally.
Is the Tallinn Card worth it?
It depends on your pace. The 24-hour card costs €29 (48h for €41, 72h for €51) and includes unlimited public transport and admission to more than 40 museums. Given that regular admission to major museums (KUMU, Lennusadam) costs around €15 to €22, the card pays for itself generously with just two attractions per day and will quickly prove its value.
How do I get from the airport to the city centre?
Tallinn Airport (Lennart Meri) is incredibly close, just 4 kilometres from the centre. The easiest option is to use the Bolt app, which is incidentally a local invention. The ride to the Old Town takes 15 minutes and costs roughly €5 to €12 depending on demand. Alternatively, bus number 2 or the tram work, though check whether the tram line is currently undergoing reconstruction.
Can I fit in a day trip to Helsinki?
Absolutely no problem. Fast ferries (Tallink, Viking Line, Eckerö Line) cover the route across the Gulf of Finland in about two hours, and you can buy a foot passenger ticket on special offer from as little as €10. If you take a morning departure around eight and return in the evening, you’ll have a solid 6 to 8 hours of pure time to explore Helsinki’s centre.
When is the best time to visit?
If you want long days and warmth, fly in summer, but expect crowds from cruise ships. The ideal compromise is September, when tourists thin out, mosquitoes disappear from the forests, and prices drop slightly. For lovers of winter and Christmas markets, December is great, while November tends to be very dark, rainy, and many services outside the capital are closed.
What traditional Estonian dishes should I try?
The foundation of everything is excellent dark sourdough bread (must leib). Also try kama (a mixture of roasted grains in yoghurt or dessert), or chocolate-covered curd snacks called kohuke. Local specialties include marinated Baltic sprats (kilu) on bread with egg, hearty elk soup, and smoked meats. For warming up, don’t forget the herbal liqueur Vana Tallinn.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
