What to do in Tallinn - 30 sights and experiences

Looking for tips on things to see and do in Tallinn? We've travelled to Estonia several times to seek out all the gems, with guides and lots of research. Here are all our tips from shopping, restaurants, hotels, sights, what to do and much more.

Things to do in Tallinn

Tallinn, or Reval the historic German, Danish and Swedish name, is the capital and largest city of Estonia. Tallinn is located on the Gulf of Finland in the northern part of the country and, according to Wikipedia, has around 430 000 inhabitants.

The old city centre, the most famous part of the city, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. Tallinn is one of the best preserved medieval cities in the world. Here are some tips for things to see and do in Tallinn.

1 Strolling around the old town

One of the most obvious things to do in Tallinn? is to stroll around the Old Town, or Vanalinn as the neighbourhood is called in Estonian. Tallinn is a true medieval city, dating back to the Hanseatic period.

When you stroll around walking the cobbled streets and reading the signs around, you can see that many of the houses were built in the 15th century.

The city has a medieval wall over 1800 metres long. and amazing gateways that are worth seeing. For example, the pharmacy on Rådhustorget was completed in 1422 - and has now been operating as a pharmacy in the same building for almost 600 years, making it the oldest pharmacy in the world! Don't miss Raekoja Plats (Town Hall Square).

2. Visit Toompea hill (Cathedral Hill)

In the western part of Tallinn's medieval city centre is Cathedral Hill, or Toompea as it is called in Estonian. The hill is 20-30 metres higher than the rest of the city, and is home to many of the city's most important historical buildings.

Up here you can see a great deal of historic Tallinn, and the Kohtuotsa viewing platform is located on the northern slope of Domberg, providing the perfect view of the city below.

3. Check out the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

When you are in the upper part of Tallinn take the opportunity to check out the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. This impressive Orthodox cathedral is named after the Russian warrior prince St Alexander.

It reminds us of the time when Estonia was part of the Russian Empire. The cathedral is beautiful inside and out - and after dark.

4. Guided tour in Kalamaja

A city is almost always best experienced with a guided tour.and the same goes for Tallinn. Of course, if you've never been to Tallinn before, a guided tour of the Old Town can be interesting.

If you want to see a bit more, you may find it interesting to venture a step outside the most touristy areas. When we were here, we tried to take a... guided tour of the Kalamaja neighbourhood.

Trendy The Kalamaja neighbourhood is a short walk from the Old Town.. There are many beautiful turn-of-the-century wooden houses, mixed with modern houses and communist-style buildings. The lifestyle is somewhat reminiscent of Söder in Stockholm, with second-hand shops, patisseries and a creative centre with artists and design shops.

The centre of Kalamaja is Telliskivi. (brick), and on Telliskivi Street 51 you will find the cool wine bar Shvips. Try the Estonian sparkling rhubarb wine Abavas, which is very good.

5. Visit restaurants and bars

There are plenty of nice restaurants and bars in the Old Town.and if you want to get a seat at the very best, it's a good idea to book a table in advance.

One of the restaurants which has a good reputation is restaurant Cru, but if you don't get a seat there (which we didn't), don't despair. It can be a nice evening anyway!

We ended up at the Scheeli restaurant, and was surprised by 20s atmosphere, piano and a whole bunch of couples dancing in 20s clothes. Super fun! The restaurant can of course have different types of entertainment, but otherwise we were really happy with the food. For starters we chose goat cheese and for the main course duck with carrot puree and red cabbage.

Perhaps one of the most popular pubs in the Old Town is the medieval Olde Hansa. Sure, it's a bit touristy, but that's not always a bad thing!

6. Shopping is always a nice thing to do in Tallinn.

You can of course take the opportunity to shop when you are in Tallinn! There are several large malls here, such as Viru Keskus, where you'll find a lot of familiar chains but perhaps also some new ones.

Strolling around the city instead, you'll find things like designer clothes, (faux) fur in all sorts of designs, Baltic amber, knitted mittens, umbrellas with crocodile or skull handles, and all sorts of other things....

7. Discover the harbour of Tallinn

Once you've had your fill of the Old Town, you can explore the harbour. There is also the abandoned and windswept Linnahall Olympic arena, where graffiti mixes with the sound of the sea.

Along the sea you will find also the 19th century sea fortress of Patarei, which later became a prison. Walking around here today feels peaceful, while at the same time evoking an evocative sense of history.

If you continue your walk you will reach the ship and icebreaker Suur Toll, which was used by the Reds during the Russian Revolution in 1917. Read more about our exploration of the Tallinn harbour..

8. Learn more in museums

Next time we visit Tallinn we hope to visit some of the museums. Amongst others, there are nine museums that are part of the museum group "Linnaeus Museum”.

Other museums that may be of interest are the Maritime History Museum, which is very popular, and the Estonian Outdoor Museum, which tells about the local culture. Another museum that seems a bit special is KGB Museum, which is located in the Viru Hotel, and also right next to the Estoria Hotel, which we'll talk about below.

9. Visit the Kadriorg Palace

Kadriorg Palace is located in the Kadriorg district, just outside the most central part of the city. This baroque palace was built during the reign of Peter the Great as Russian Tsar, and was intended to be used as the summer residence of Empress Catherine I.

After the First World War and Estonia's independence, the castle became an art museum, then it became a presidential palace, and then it became an art museum again ... Read more about our visit to the Kadriorg Palace.

While you're there, there's also the KUMU Art Museum, which has everything from the 18th century onwards.

10. Play in the Proto discovery workshop

The newly opened (2019) Proto experience centre in Tallinn harbour. This is truly a super fun experience for all ages. Put on your VR glasses and throw yourself into a fairytale world. Many experiences are played in pairs and help each other. Enormous fun!

More to do in Tallinn?

11. See St Olav's Church, which is 124 metres high.

Tallinn's largest medieval buildingAccording to sources, St Olaf's Church was the tallest building in the world from 1549 to 1625, Wow!
Lightning has struck the Church. many times, and three of them the church has burned... In 1625, 1820 and 1931.
This one is not to be missed but it is located at Lai 50, 10133 Tallinn.

12. Swim at Pirita beach north of Tallinn.

If it is summer and fine weather, you can of course swim here, and at other times of the year you might take a refreshing walk. Pirita beach is 6 kilometres long. Walk 11 min from the old town to Vira Keskus 5, 14 min by bus and then walk again 7 min.

13. Book a cruise to the cool city of Tallinn.

About 1.5 million people visit Tallinn every year, including more than half a million cruise passengers.

14. take part in Kalevipoeg

Kalevipoeg is the country's national epic. It tells the story of a giant hero who throws stones and talks to hedgehogs.

15. Run with your partner on your shoulder too!

Estonians are also skilful on the non-Olympic sport "Running with your partner on your shoulders". 
Although it originated in Finland, Estonian couples won the Wife Carrying World Championships for 11 consecutive years between 1998 and 2008. They found their own technique called "Estonian Carry".

16. Tasting the oldest café in Tallinn and Estonia

Maiasmokk Cafe has been operating since 1864 and is the oldest in the country. The interior of the shop has remained the same for over a hundred years and adds to the antique charm of the shop. It is located at Pikk 16, 10123 in Tallinn.

17. take a selfie at Parliament Riigikogu and Toompea Castle

The castle on Domberget and the Parliament of Estonia were built from the old walls founded between the 13th and 14th centuries. The castle was built later around 1767-1773 in late Baroque. One of Herman's towers remains and the Estonian flag can be seen at the top. This is located at Lossi Square 1A.

18. Shop at Tallinn's fabulous Christmas market

As voted by readers... it was Tallinn's annual Christmas market that was number one in Europe in 2019, and not for the first time. Discover the Christmas market between 15 November and 7 January.

19. Coffee break at the TV tower in Pirita

The 314-metre television tower is Estonia's tallest building. Sit down on the outdoor terrace and have a drink or a bite to eat at the restaurant, and enjoy the panoramic views.
Do you dare to walk on the edge of the tower? The television tower is located at Kloostrimetsa tee 58a, Pirita Linnaosa

20. Cosy at Skansen in Tallinn - ROCCA AL MARE

If you want to stroll among windmills and small houses, it's like the Skansen in Stockholm. It is located at Kopli Bay by the sea and shows village life in old Estonia. Use local transport and go from Vabaduse Väljak in the city centre to Sõba which takes 31 minutes. Take no. 108, 127A or 129 which run every 20 minutes.

21. book a table at the Manna La Roosa restaurant

I Manna La Roosa every style you can think of comes together. Put it all in a blender, and serve really good food with it and you have the perfect experience. You can find Manna La Roosa at Vana-Viru 15.

22. Be childish at the NUKU Puppet Museum in Tallinn

Spread over several rooms and dungeons, NUKU has exhibitions on puppets, decor and set design, lights, shadow theatre and horror cellars. Play with puppet, stick, mitten and shadow puppets and masks. You can try on costumes and wigs in the actors' wardrobe and build a stage on the theatre artists' magic table. For the whole family at Lai 1, Nunne 4.

23rd Finsmaka at NOA restaurant in Tallinn

The top restaurant in or just outside Tallinn is called NOA, with a crazy good reputation and a sea view. Don't think it's cheap, and if you're eating in the summer, order well in advance. Don't forget the "SEXWITHEX" dessert if you're there. It is located on Ranna tee 3.

24. Look inside the Telliskivi creative workshop (Fotografiska)

10 minutes from the old town is Balti railway station and the neighbourhoods of Pelgulinn and Kalamaja. Here you will find Estonia's largest cultural centre at Telliskivi 60a-8.

25. Make history in the bastion corridors of Tallinn Old Town

In the 17th and 18th centuries secretive fortified walls of Tallinn. An exciting journey through time during your stay in the city, but only with a guide.
More info at the Tallinn Tourist Information centre in the old town at Niguliste 2.

26. Photograph all the street art in Tallinn

There are lots of of art on buildings around Tallinn and many are really cool. Check with the tourist information centre in the old town to find these.

27. invite you to Keik in the Kitchen

"Look in the kitchen" is a gun tower in Tallinn. The tower was built in the 15th century and is 38 metres high, with a diameter of 17 metres. The walls are up to 4 metres thick. Because of its height, it was said that you could even see into an enemy's kitchen. The site is located at Komandandi tee 2, 10130 in Tallinn.

28. Dancing around the Singing Field in Tallinn

Tallinn song festival with the stage built in 1959 to accommodate the 30,000-strong choir, which performs every 5 years and most recently in 2019.
This is the largest amateur choir event in the world and the next one is in 2024. If you want to experience a 5 km long procession and 10,000 people in costume, 80,000 in public, and then dance all night, then this is for you!

more to do outside Tallinn?

A day trip while you're in the city, there are three things that stand out within an hour by car. Hiring a car for a day is easy and convenient and the roads are really good.

Lahemaa National Park

Experience a national park for a day, bring a packed lunch and walk the trails of the national park.

Experience the Jägala case

The largest waterfall in the Baltics, which is 70 metres wide at its peak and has an 8-metre drop.

Rummu quarry

Swim or dive in the crystal clear waters of the former Soviet prison, once a quarry. A trendy bathing paradise!

29. Staying put can also be done in Tallinn

There are of course plenty of different hotels in Tallinn. We have stayed at two of them and we liked both, but in slightly different ways. Hilton Tallinn Park is the hotel for those looking for a modern and exclusive hotel with a great breakfast buffet, gym, spa and a large casino.

We were happy with the comfortable beds, WiFi worked great and higher up in the hotel you have really good views. The Hilton is located at Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi 23, 10147 in Tallinn.

If you prefer a simpler, but instead very colourful, hotel, you can choose Hotel Estoria, located just outside the gate of the Old Town. The name "Estoria" is a mix of "Estonia" and "stories" and each room has its own story to tell about Estonia. Nice!

We were very happy with our room here, and above all, the location just outside the Old Town is fantastic.

Travelling to Tallinn

You can travel to Tallinn either by air or by ferry. For example, you can fly with SAS, Air Baltic or LOT Polish Airlines Stockholm (one hour flight time). Another way to travel is to take the ferry to Tallinn from Stockholm.

We travelled with Tallink Silja Line and had a hugely enjoyable cruise. Peter's brother Michael and his wife Gunilla joined us in Tallinn where they spent a day, and then left us to continue around Estonia. It was both of our birthdays and they offered us an extra nice cruise. Wow! A lot of love!

The WiFi was not working well, but on the other hand the special breakfast was very good. absolutely fantastic! Starting the morning with sparkling wine, cold smoked salmon, duck liver pâté, scrambled eggs, whitefish roe and Karelian pies with egg butter is not bad!

30. Tallinn card

If you're spending one to three days in the city, it's a good idea to buy a "Tallinn Card", as so much is included. Prices are available at the tourist office in the old town.

Facts about Tallinn

• Language?  Estonian (many also speak English or Russian) 
• Residents? 430 000 (2017)
• Currency? Euro
• Price point? A little cheaper than in Sweden
• Time difference? +1 hour
• Emergency number? 112
• El? Like Sweden
• Water? It may be better to choose bottled water
• Religion? Atheism or Orthodox or Lutheran Christianity
• Flag? The flag of Estonia is blue, black and white.
• National anthem? Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm (My fatherland, my happiness and joy)
• Watch out for? It is usually recommended to use taxis belonging to established companies.
• Think about? While English works well in Tallinn and other major cities, it can be difficult in rural areas.

Shopping

• Viru Keskus at Viru väljak 4/6 is a shopping centre that has everything.

Museums

• Tallinn City Museum on Vene 17
• Museum of Photography at Raekoja 4/6
• Children's museum Miiamilla at L.Koidula 21 c
• Museum in Kalamaja on Kotzebue 16
• House of Peter The Great on Mäekalda 2
• Tallinn Russian museum at Pikk 29 a
• Maritime History Museum in the marina on Vesilennuki tee 6
• Estonian Outdoor Museum at Vabaõhumuuseumi tee 12
• Conversation centre Kanut on Pikk tn 2
• KGB Museum at Viru väljak 4
• Proto experience workshop at Peetri 10, 10415 Tallinn.

Hotels in Tallinn

• Hotel Viru at (Hotel Estoria) Viru selected 4
• Hilton Tallinn Park at Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi 23
• The three sisters boutique hotel at Pikk 71/Tolli 2 from 1362 is three interconnected merchant houses. Some past guests: His Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip and Sting.
• CRU Hotel at Viru 8 Tallinn City Centre

Restaurants in Tallinn

• Restaurant Borde at Pikk 71/Tolli 2 city centre Tallinn
• Restaurant CRU at Viru 8
• Depoo (Telliskivi 62) in Kalamaja
• Olde Hansa on Vana Square 1
• Scheeli on Vana torg 2
• Vegan Restoran V at Rataskaevu 12 (vegetarian food)
• Leib Resto ja Aed on Uus 31 (Estonian food)
• Tabak on Suur-Karja 4 10140 in Tallinn (Fine Dining)
• Maiasmook café at Pikk 16 is the oldest pastry shop in Tallinn dating back to 1864.
• Rae Meierei at Dunkri 5, 10123 in Tallinn

Michelin restaurants in Tallinn

• Noa Chef's hall (1 star 2022) at Ranna Tee 3 in Tallinn.
• 180 Degrees restaurant (1 star 2022) at Staapli 4 in Tallinn.

Pubs in Tallinn

• Tuba Baar at Müürivahe 15 in Tallinn (Old Town)
• Koht (moonnshine bar) on Lai 8 in Tallinn (old town)
• Pörgu at Rüütli 4 in Tallinn. Food and beer
• Pöhlala Tap Room at Niguliste 2 in Tallinn (harbour area)
• Pudel bar at Telliskivi 60a-5 in Tallinn in Kalamaja
• Sip wine and beer shop at Telliskivi 62 in Tallinn I Kalamaja.
• Whisper Sister at Pärnu mnt 12, 10146 in Tallinn

Hamburgers in Tallinn

• Veg Machine (vego) on Kopli tn 1 (Balti jaam market) in Tallinn
• Estonian burger factory at Pärnu mnt 41a next to IMAX.
• Diner on Vabaduse pst 39 next to Nömme or Olümpia hotel
• Burger box on Kopli tn 4 opposite (Balti Jaam market)
• Dereku burgers at F.R. Faelhlmanni tn 3 at Kadriorg

Travelling to Tallinn

• Flights including from Stockholm to Tallinn. Fly with SAS, Norwegian, LOT or Air Baltic.
• Ferry runs between Stockholm and Tallinn (Tallink Silja Line and St Peter Line) and between Kapellskär and Paldiski 9 hours (DFDS Seaways).