Tallinn

Overview

Tallinn's Old Town is one of the best-preserved medieval centres in northern Europe, a ring of walls and towers around cobbled lanes, merchants' houses and church spires. Toompea hill rises above it with views over red roofs to the Baltic.

Step outside the walls and you find a different city: wooden houses in Kalamaja, converted factories full of cafés and design shops, and a seafront that has been opened up to walkers. It is small, easy to explore and good in any season.

Things to see

• 

  Tallinn Old Town

  Wander from Town Hall Square through lanes of Hanseatic houses to stretches of the city walls you can walk along.

• 

  Toompea viewpoints

  The Kohtuotsa and Patkuli platforms look over the Old Town's roofs and spires to the harbour.

• 

  Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

  An onion-domed Orthodox cathedral on Toompea, rich with icons and mosaics inside.

• 

  Kadriorg Palace and Park

  A baroque palace built for Peter the Great, set in landscaped gardens east of the centre.

  Tickets and tours

• 

  Kumu Art Museum

  Estonia's national art museum, a striking modern building cut into a limestone bank at the edge of Kadriorg.

  Tickets and tours

• 

  Seaplane Harbour

  A maritime museum in vast concrete hangars, with a 1930s submarine you can climb inside.

  Tickets and tours

Things to do

• 

  Telliskivi and Kalamaja

  Browse the converted factory buildings of Telliskivi, then wander the wooden streets of Kalamaja for coffee.

• 

  Have a sauna

  Sauna is a serious part of Estonian life; try a public one by the sea and finish with a cold plunge.

• 

  Day trip to Lahemaa

  Bog boardwalks, pine forest, fishing villages and manor houses about an hour east of the city.

Where to stay

• Old Town

  Atmospheric and central, ideal for a first visit or a short break.

  Hotels in Old Town

• Kalamaja

  Relaxed wooden-house district with good cafés, close to Telliskivi and the sea.

  Hotels in Kalamaja

• Rotermann Quarter

  Modern hotels and restaurants between the Old Town and the port.

  Hotels in Rotermann Quarter

• Kadriorg

  Leafy and calm, near the park and museums, a short tram ride from the centre.

  Hotels in Kadriorg

Getting around

The Old Town is best on foot, and trams and buses cover the rest of the city.

Tram 4 runs from the airport to the city centre in about 20 minutes. Ferries from Helsinki take around two hours.

When to go

Late spring and summer bring long light evenings and outdoor cafés, with the Old Town Days festival in early summer. Winters are cold and dark, but the Christmas market on Town Hall Square is lovely.

Plan your trip to Tallinn

• HotelsBooking.com
• Tours and ticketsGetYourGuide
• FlightsKiwi.com
• Attraction ticketsTiqets
• Airport parking, lounges and transfersHoliday Extras
• Car hireAuto Europe
• Adventure travel insuranceWorld NomadsWe receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
• Mobile data (eSIM)AiraloCode DAN9406 for money off
• GuidebooksAmazon

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Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.

More city guides for Estonia

• Pärnu
• Tartu

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