Tallinn is a medieval paradise, with no modern buildings ruining the view of the old town and shopfronts that still have a traditional look to them. As you walk through the city you’ll come across a number of merchants’ houses that have survived almost intact despite wars and fires. There’s no shortage of things to do in Tallinn and history to discover, from the medieval period to the capture of the city by Peter the Great in 1710 and its German occupation during WWII.
Depending when you visit, queues can be quite long to get inside the main attractions in Tallinn so I would recommend booking some of your tickets online in advance. In terms of budget travelling, there are a number of free things to do in Tallinn, and even the attractions with entry fees are not very expensive. You can easily spend 4 days in Tallinn and still not see everything this fantastic historic capital has to offer.
Getting to Tallinn
Tallinn’s airport is located very close to the city centre. Instead of using the bus, we chose to take an Uber so it was more direct. Uber is very cheap in Tallinn, so I’d recommend using it if you need to get further afield. We didn’t use any of the public transportation in Tallinn because all of the main sites are within walking distance of one another.
Navigating Tallinn
Tallinn is a very easy city to navigate. The majority of the main attractions are located in or around the old town, meaning everything is easy to find. Buses run very frequently for those attractions that are further away, but like I mentioned earlier, we only ever used Uber since it was more direct and very cheap. Make sure you have Google Maps ready or use a free city map to find your way around while on foot.
Practical information
The currency in Estonia is the Euro, and they accept credit or debit cards in most places. We had no problems speaking English in any of the areas we visited, but of course it’s nice to know a few words in Estonian to be polite. Many of the main things to do in Tallinn have guide books and audio guides available in different languages, and we found that a lot of restaurants also had English menus available.
The best things to do in Tallinn
Town Hall Square
Town Hall Square is the heart of Tallinn’s old town. If you want a photo without the crowds then I’d recommend waking up at sunrise. If you’re lucky enough, you’ll come across a market taking place which is a good spot to get souvenirs and other goodies.
It’s also home to Ill Draakon, a medieval themed restaurant where you can get soup or meat dishes for a very cheap price, served by a grumpy tavern owner! They only take cash however, and you need to be prepared to queue as well. Although it’s very central, this medieval restaurant is one of Tallinn’s hidden gems.
Take in the views from the Town Hall tower
One of the best views of Tallinn’s old town is from the Town Hall tower. There’s a small entry fee which you can only pay in cash to the lady sitting at the entrance. The top of the tower is very small so the number of people let inside at one time is limited. The first time we went we were turned away and told to come back the following day – that’s how popular it is!
KGB Prison Cells
If you’re interested in history, one of the most unique things to do in Tallinn is to walk through the KGB Prison Cells. The former KGB headquarters was where many suspected enemies of the state were imprisoned and tortured before being killed or sent to labour camps in Siberia. It’s a very moving experience, and takes no time at all to walk around – a must see in Tallinn.
Ride Tallinn’s Skywheel
The Skywheel is located on top of the Mall of Tallinn, so it takes a short bus or Uber ride to get to. The views of Tallinn and the surrounding region are amazing, and if you go closer to sunset it isn’t as busy and you can snag your own private compartment like we did.
Great Guild Hall
The Great Guild Hall is located just off of Town Hall Square. This is another unique thing to do in Tallinn, especially if you want to learn more about the cultural history of the city and see some interesting artifacts. You won’t find this attraction too busy during the day but it’s one of the best things to do in Tallinn indoors.
Seaplane Harbour Museum
The Seaplane Harbour Museum (Lennusadam) is located on the waterfront and is a short walk from the old town. It’s quite interactive and you can even climb inside a submarine, as well as hop aboard a variety of ships outside of the museum in the harbour. Normally this isn’t the type of attraction I would go for, but it’s considered to be one of the best things to do in Tallinn and comes highly recommended.
Linnahall
You should add Linnahall to your list of free things to do in Tallinn. It translates to city hall, and was once used as an outdoor venue for various public events. The hall was built to mimic the old town bastions as well as the ancient Mayan temples. Although not in use today, you can still walk around it and if you climb to the top you can get some nice views of the waterfront.
Buy some sweet treats at Kalev Chocolate Shop
Visiting Kalev Chocolate Shop is the best thing to do in Tallinn for chocolate lovers. It’s Estonia’s most famous chocolate shop, and can be found in the historic Rotermann Quarter. You can take a 2 hour workshop if you have time or just browse the large variety of chocolates on offer. This area of the city has some great restaurants as well as some of the best shopping in Tallinn.
Walk down Lühike Jalg
Speaking of shopping, Lühike Jalg has some of the best artisan shops in the city. Walking along this street is one of the top things to do in Tallinn, and definitely shouldn’t be missed. Once you make your way to the top you’ll come out at an amazing viewpoint in front of the Kiek in de Kök Museum.
Kiek in de Kök Museum and Bastion Tunnels
Kiek in de Kök Museum and Bastion Tunnels is the best example of the town’s fortifications. The ticket includes entry to all of the towers here which is a bonus. There are a number of fortifications around Tallinn that you can pay to enter, but this is the largest and most popular one. You can also go underground and explore the history of the bastion passages, which is both a very unique experience and a creepy one.
Danish King’s Garden
You’ll most likely walk through the Danish King’s Garden on your way to the bastion entrance which is one of the best things to do in Tallinn in the summertime. The small square provides great views of the old town from above, and the monks provide a little added charm. Legend has it that this was the spot where a flag fell from the sky during the Danish invasion and turned the tide of the battle.
Kohtuotsa viewing platform
Located a short walk from the Danish King’s Gardens, the Kohtuotsa viewing platform is one of the best viewpoints in the city. It’s a bit difficult to get a photo here in the summertime with the large crowds, but if you really want one I would suggest visiting very early in the morning or later in the evening.
Master’s Courtyard
If you’re looking for unusual things to do in Tallinn, the Master’s Courtyard is great to visit. Centuries ago it used to be a craftsman’s courtyard and is still maintained in a similar way now. Sometimes finding hidden gems is the best part of exploring new places.
Walk on top of the Tallinn TV Tower
Walking on top of Tallinn’s TV Tower is one of the most unique things to do in Tallinn. It’s northern Europe’s tallest open viewing platform, and the views of the Tallinn region are incredible. There are a limited number of people allowed for each tour so try to book ahead.
Our tour guide made the experience really fun and gave us some interesting facts about the area. After the tour you’ll also be emailed some photos from your experience at no additional cost. This is one of the best things to do in Tallinn in the summertime so be sure to add it to your itinerary
St Catherine’s Passage
St Catherine’s Passage is one of my favourite spots in the city. It’s kept its medieval roots and is home to a collection of workshops that still use traditional methods to create their goods. Further along the passage are some restaurants if you’re feeling a bit hungry after all the walking you’ve been doing.
Explore Kadriorg Palace
Kadriorg Palace is a beautiful place to visit and its park setting adds to its overall charm. The gardens are free to walk around and the inside of the palace has been turned into a museum, which costs very little to get into. It was originally built as a summer residence by Peter the Great for his wife Catherine I.
Kadriorg Park is a great little retreat from the the old town and is the most outstanding park in Estonia. If you’re only spending a couple of days in the city this is one of the best things to do in Tallinn and shouldn’t be missed.
Pass through Viru Gate
The Viru Gate marks the entrance to the old town and leads you to one of the city’s most popular pedestrian shopping streets. There’s a flower market to the left of it too, as well as lots of restaurants in the area where you can find traditional Estonian food to try. Walking around this area is one of the best things to do in Tallinn around sunset.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
It’s very difficult to get a good shot of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in one photo so you’re going to need to sit on the floor to do so. This is one of the Tallinn’s most beautiful cathedrals, and is completely free to enter. It’s also one of the top attractions in Estonia, so if you’re only spending one day in Tallinn make sure you add this to your itinerary.
Admire the views from Patkuli viewing platform
There are lots of viewpoints in the city, but Patkuli viewing platform is my favourite. If you have access to Google Maps you’ll be able to figure it out how to navigate the winding streets to get here easily enough. This view makes it easy to see why Tallinn is one of the top cities in northern Europe to visit.
Unique places to eat in Tallinn
Balti Jaam Market
DEPOO is a huge area full of food trucks, shops, and even train carriages made into restaurants. It’s next to the Telliskivi Creative City and the Balti Jaam Market – two of the top things to do in Tallinn. The whole area is a hipster’s dream, and definitely has some of the best places to eat in the city. We actually came back several times to try out the different food stalls. It’s a great way to save money too!
Gelato Ladies
The old town used to have a restaurant that served garlic ice cream but sadly it’s now closed. However, Gelato Ladies comes highly recommended as having the best gelato in the city so it’s a great alternative. It’s located quite close to the Viru Gate, and is surrounded by quaint shops and cafes.
Estonian Burger Factory
The Estonian Burger Factory is a little bit of a walk from the old town but it’s worth it. They have a unique selection of burgers and side dishes for very budget friendly prices. When we were looking up places to eat in Tallinn, it topped a number of websites as having Tallinn’s best burgers.
Manna la Roosa
Located around the corner from the Viru Gate, Manna la Roosa is a great spot to stop for a cocktail. In the summer you can sit outside or enjoy the unique decor inside. Although we didn’t manage to experience Tallinn’s nightlife in full, we read that this cocktail bar is always buzzing and offers great food too.
Cafe Maiasmokk
Cafe Maiasmokk is the oldest operating cafe in Tallinn, and probably in Estonia too. It’s not far from from the town square either and stopping here is considered to be one of the top things to do in Tallinn at any time of the year.
Where to stay in Tallinn
ibis Tallinn Centre
There are lots of accommodation options in Tallinn, but we chose to stay at ibis Tallinn Center for the four nights we were in the city. It’s a short walk from the old town (or a 5 minute Uber ride), and you can include their amazing buffet breakfast in your booking too so you save some time and money.
>> Click here for the most up to date prices at ibis Tallinn Centre <<
Tallinn is a magical city to visit, bursting with unique things to do and incredible places to see. It’s a city that I would love to go back to and explore more. If you’re thinking about planning a trip to Estonia during the summertime, hopefully this list of the best things to do in Tallinn will help you out.
Wondering what your options are for day trips from Tallinn? One of the most popular day trips is to Helsinki. You can catch the ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki in just over 2 hours, and there are a few different time options throughout the day to choose from. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram!
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