Table of Contents:
Tallinn, the capital of Estonia is one of the booming destinations in the world. Located in Eastern Europe, it opened up its border to digital nomads and location independent freelancers and entrepreneurs from across the globe. Not only they moved their businesses there but they also started to discover unique things to do in Tallinn that made them fall in love with Estonia!
The city has one of the most beautiful Old Town Squares in Europe. It is charming, lovely and has a lot to offer. In this post, I am sharing with you top Tallinn Estonia things to do and best places to visit in this city. I hope this guide will fuel your wanderlust and inspire you to explore the capital of Estonia!
Current time in Estonia:
Fun Things to do in Tallinn Estonia #1
St Olav’s Church
The church itself is rather average. It looks nice both from the inside and from the outside but there is nothing spectacular about it. Why is it worth to visit St Olav’s church then? To go to the tower! The views from the top of it are absolutely breathtaking, the best that we have seen in Tallinn. You can take awesome photos of Old Town Square and Baltic Sea.
Going there may not be good for people with a fear of heights or claustrophobia though… Climbing up the narrow and winding staircase is quite challenging. The wooden and very tight floor on the top of the tower won’t make you feel secure and cozy for sure. But for us, it was worth to go there for the view like this –>
Things to do Tallinn #2
Old Town
Old Town square is a must for your Tallinn itinerary. Medieval buildings remind the visitors of the rich history of this place, including wars and the Russian regime.
This is a very picturesque spot. We spent three afternoons wandering around the narrow streets of Tallinn’s Old Town and taking photos. So if you go there, be sure to take your camera and have a lot of time to see everything!
Fun Things to do in Tallinn Estonia #3
TV Tower
The TV tower is a place worth visiting because it is the highest building in Estonia. To be honest, there is nothing special about it comparing to other countries. The observation deck is situated on the 21st floor which is not very high.
What we liked about TV tower is that you can learn a lot there about Estonian culture, history, and law. The most interesting fact that we have found there is that all citizens of Estonia have ID cards with chips. Why is it great? Because they can get the all-important things done online. For example vote in parliamentary and local elections from any place in the world. How awesome is that?
Skip the line and book your ticket to TV Tower online here.
Want some thrill? Book your walking on the edge of the TV Tower tour here.
Things to do Tallinn #4
Alexander Nevski Cathedral
Alexander Nevski Cathedral was the first building that we saw in Tallinn. It’s breathtakingly beautiful. We spent more than an hour taking photos of this Orthodox Church and getting to know more about it.
The cathedral is colorful and monumental. It was built a little more than a hundred years ago. What is interesting- a very similar church existed in Warsaw, the capital city of our homeland. It was demolished after World War I when Poland regained independence from Russia, Austria–Hungary, and Prussia.
Fun Things to do in Tallinn Estonia #5
Kohtuotsa Viewpoint
Kohtuotsa is one of the best viewpoints in Tallinn. It is a perfect place to visit anytime you want. In the early morning, when the weather is good, you can take photos of an amazing sunrise there. During the day you can admire the beautiful landscape of Tallinn. In the late afternoon, Kohtuotsa is a perfect spot to watch the sunset. And of course, we can’t imagine a better place to take photos of Tallinn at night.
Things to do Tallinn #6
Toompea Castle
Toompea Castle is the landmark of Tallinn. It is situated on the hill and according to the myth, it was built by Linda (a very important character in Estonian mythology).
Nowadays, the castle houses the Parliament of Estonia, so it is not interesting to visit (at least not for us!). The Toompea hill is beautiful and picturesque though. It is worth to go there and take some awesome photos of Tallinn’s Old Town from the above.
If your time in the capital of Estonia is limited and you wonder what to see in Tallinn in one day, Toompea castle is a must.
Things to do Tallinn #7
Town Hall
Situated in the heart of the Old Town Square, Town Hall cannot be missed by any tourist visiting Tallinn. It looks great from the outside and it is quite interesting from the inside. You can learn there some interesting facts about the history of Estonia.
What I liked the most about Town Hall is that we could take awesome photos of an Old Town from there.
Fun Things to do in Tallinn Estonia #8
Open Air Museum
This is something unique! Open Air Museum is one of the best museums in Tallinn. It is situated quite far from the city center. It is definitely worth visiting though. You can see there how the people lived in the past and learn a lot about Estonian history and culture.
Open Air Museum is located at the Baltic Sea and surrounded by the forest. You can breathe the fresh air, enjoy the quiet time close to nature and sightseeing at the same time. How awesome is that?
Skip the lines and book your Open Air museum Tallinn sightseeing tour online.
Things to see in Tallinn #9
Kiek in de Kok
Kiek in de Kok is one of the most important bastions in Tallinn. Visitors are allowed to climb up to the top of the tower or visit the basements of this building.
We chose the first option and we don’t regret it- the views from the highest floor of Kiek in de Kok were amazing! There is a small coffee shop there, so you can buy yourself a drink and relax, surrounded by beautiful medieval interiors.
Things to see in Tallinn #10
Pirita Promenade
We stumbled upon a Pirita promenade when we were searching for the best place to watch the sunset at the Baltic Sea. As you can see in the photo below, this spot is just perfect for this!
There’s a beach close to the promenade, so you can sunbathing or even swim in the sea if the weather is good. It is a great place for walking, jogging and riding a bike as well. Visiting Pirita promenade is one of the free things to do in Tallinn, so it’s a perfect place for budget travelers.
Best Tours in Tallinn
Tallinn Walking Tours
There is no better way to see all the important Tallinn sights, then by walking. Going up the Toompea Castle’s hill or wandering around the medieval streets of the city will definitely be an unforgettable experience.
This 2 hour Tallinn walking tour by Get Your Guide is the best you can take. You will see the highlights of the city and be guided by the local.
If you’ve already wandered around the city by yourself, check out the Communist Tallinn walking tour. Did you know that Estonia was a part of Russia for many years? It became independent in 1991. You will hear many interesting (and sometimes scary!) stories about the Soviet Union during this tour.
Fun Tallinn Tours
Pub Crawl Tallinn
One of the best ways to experience Tallinn nightlife and meet new people is by joining Pub Crawl Tallinn tour. Spend 5 unforgettable hours with folks from all over the world, drink, have fun and party! All of that for just 15 euros.
Book the Pub Crawl Tallinn tour here.
Tallinn Craft Beer Tour
Try the best Estonian craft beers and snacks. In contrary to the Pub Crawl Tallinn tour, you won’t need to go anywhere. All the tasting takes place in one restaurant.
Book Tallinn Craft Beer tour here.
Escape Room Tallinn Tour
Escape Rooms are getting famous all over the world. No wonder why! It’s so much fun to solve the riddles with your friends, and trying to leave the room you are locked in as soon as possible. Going to the Escape Room Tallinn is one of the best things to do in Tallinn in winter.
Book Escape Room Tallinn Tour here.
Traveling on a budget? Check out Tallinn Free Tour.
Tallinn Bus Tour
A perfect option for those who want to see all the important places in the city in a fast and easy way. If your time in Estonia is limited and you wonder what to do in Tallinn in one day, hop on the Tallinn sightseeing bus.
You will be taken to the best tourist attractions in the city. You can either stay in the bus for the entire time or leave anytime you want. The tickets are valid for 24, 48, or even 72 hours.
Skip the lines and book Tallinn bus tour online here.
Tallinn Food tour
If you want to try the best food in Tallinn, be sure to join a guided food tour. You will have a chance to eat some of the best Estonian dishes.
Book your Tallinn food your online here.
Where to Stay in Tallinn?
Tallinn Spa Hotel For Everyone
We have been staying at Park Inn Radisson Tallinn Spa hotel and we absolutely loved it! It’s located within the walking distance to all the important places to visit in Tallinn. There is a swimming pool in the hotel, as well as 2 restaurants and a bar.
When it’s cold outside and you are not sure what are the best things to do in Tallinn in winter, you can just stay in the hotel and still have fun.
The prices at Park Inn are affordable, you will pay about $65 for a double room. It’s a family-friendly place, so if you are traveling to Tallinn with kids, you will find there all the necessary amenities. Park Inn also serves one of the best breakfast Tallinn. More about this Tallinn Spa hotel here.
Book your stay at the Park Inn Hotel–> here.
Hotel in Tallinn For Budget Travelers
If you are traveling on a budget, consider staying at one of Tallinn’s hostel. The recommended one is 16eur hostel. It’s located in the heart of the city, it’s clean, comfortable and really cheap! The bed in the dormitory room costs as little as $10 for a night!
Book your stay at 16eur Old Town Munkenhof here.
Tallinn Family Hotel
If you traveling in a group, looking for Tallinn family hotel, or you simply want to feel like home, consider choosing Airbnb Tallinn. You will have a fully equipped apartment, and be able to experience Tallinn like a local.
Choose Airbnb Tallinn and get $36 off of your first stay—> click here.
Where To Eat In Tallinn?
Tallinn food may not be world-famous but it’s really good. Here are some of the recommended places to eat in the capital of Estonia.
Cheap Food in Tallinn
For the best Tallinn breakfast, go to F-Hoone. They serve delicious food, with gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan options. Prices are starting with 2,50 euro for a meal. The restaurant is located a bit outside the Old Town, about 15 minutes walking from Alexander Nevsky cathedral.
The second place that it is worth recommending is Bogapott. It’s located closer to the Old Town. In the summer, you can sit outside, in the courtyard (like we did). Bogapott serves not only delicious food but also amazing coffee.
If you are looking for the best fast food Tallinn, head to Jahu Tanavagurmee for the best burgers ever.
More about the best food Tallinn here.
Fine Dining Tallinn
Hands down, if you are looking for the fine dinning Tallinn, there is no better place than Cru Restaurant. It’s located in the old town, so it’s very easy to get there. Not only CRU’s food is delicious but it’s also beautifully served.
How to Get Around in Tallinn?
Don’t know how to get to Tallinn? Check out best direct flights to Tallinn.
If you are staying in the city center (which is the best area to stay in Tallinn), you can easily walk everywhere. There are some places though that you will need to travel to, for example an Open Air Museum.
Here are the best ways of getting around Tallinn:
Car rent Tallinn
While in Estonia, we’ve only been traveling by car, and we can’t really imagine a better way to get around. We had no problem with finding parking, there was no traffic jam, so driving was easy
Click here to find the best car hire in Tallinn.
Tallinn taxi
The second most convenient option. You can either use the local taxi provider or travel cheaper with Tallinn Uber or Taxify (click to get the first ride for free).
Tallinn taxi fares are pretty low, so this way of getting around is affordable, even for budget travelers. The ride from the city center (Alexander Nevsky Cathedral) to Open Air Museum will cost approximately 6 euro. A ride from Tallinn airport to city centre costs less than 9 euro.
Tallinn bike
It’s a good choice only when it’s warm enough outside (April-October). It will probably be too cold for biking during wintertime. The price for renting a bike in Tallinn for one day is about 15 euros, with a 100 euro deposit. Check out the full pricing here.
Interested in Tallinn bike tour? Check it out here.
Public transport in Tallinn
It’s good to know that public transport in Tallinn is not operating 24/7. While in the capital of Estonia, you can travel by trolleys, buses or trams from 6 am until the midnight. If you are getting back from a party late at night, you can either walk or take a taxi.
One way ticket costs about 1 euro. You won’t pay anything with Tallinn Travel Card (more about it further in this post).
Here you will find more info about Tallinn public transport.
Best Day Trips From Tallinn
Even though Estonia is a really small country, there are many interesting tours from Tallinn that you can take. Here are some of them:
Otepaa
A winter capital of Estonia is great to visit all year round. We’ve been there on July, and we felt in love with this small, lovely town. Even though it was the middle of the summer, it was too cold for us to swim in the Holy Lake (Pühajärv).
If you are a fan of winter sports, there is no better place for skiing in Estonia than Otepaa. The biggest tourist attraction in the town is Tehvandi Sports Center.
Distance from Tallinn to Otepaa: 224 km, less than 3 hours driving.
Lahemaa National Park
A must-visit for all the nature and architecture lovers! Lahemaa National Park is one of the largest in Europe. It’s the best place to learn about the history of the country and get to know the local culture.
You can either get there by car or join one of the guided tours. The second option is recommended, as you will be able to see Jagala Waterfall on your way.
Distance from Tallinn to Lahemaa National Park: 47 km, 40 minutes driving.
Tartu
While Tallinn is an administrative capital of Estonia, Tartu is considered as the financial and political capital of the country.
The city has a beautiful old town, it’s not that touristy. Going to Tartu was our favorite day trip from Tallinn.
Distance from Tallinn to Tartu: 185 km, 2 hours 15 minutes driving.
Helsinki
The capital of Estonia is located by the Baltic Sea, just like the capital of Finland. If you are looking for the best Tallinn cruise, take a day trip from Tallinn to Helsinki!
Book your ferry ticket online here to save your time and money.
Distance from Tallinn to Helsinki: 85 km, 3 hours 30 minutes by ferry.
If you are looking for more interesting places to visit near Tallinn, check out this post.
Tallinn Travel Tips
Country | Estonia, European Union |
Tallinn currency | Euro |
Money exchange Tallinn | At the airport or in the city center. Use Multicurrency Card to reduce the fees. |
Best Tallinn taxi app | Tallinn Uber (click to get the first ride for free) or Taxify (click for the first free ride) |
Tallinn taxi number | +372 612 0000 +372 640 8921 +372 526 4111 |
Best time to visit Tallinn | April - October |
How many days in Tallinn? | 1-3 days |
Tallinn travel tips #1
Go to Visit Tallinn website to plan your trip
When we were planning our stay in Tallinn, we weren’t sure where we should go. Our time in this city was limited, so it was difficult to choose places that were worth a visit the most. We found VisitTallinn very helpful. On this website, you can read all the important facts about the capital of Estonia. What to see, where to eat and more. This is the most reliable and helpful source of information about Tallinn that we have found in the Internet.
They also have pretty interesting Tallinn shopping guide.
Tallinn travel tips #2
Buy Tallinn Card
Tallinn Card is the best thing that you can buy when visiting the capital of Estonia! For a little money, you have an access to almost all the museums in the city, public transport and hop on hop off bus.
All the attractions that are mentioned in this post were covered by a Tallinn travel card. You can buy a card for 24 hours (for 32€), 48 hours (for 42€) and 72 hours (for 52€). Children always pay half a price.
Here you can read more about a Tallinn Card.
Pin For Later:
Did you enjoy reading this post about the best things to do in Tallinn Estonia? Share your thoughts in comments!
10 Responses
The Old Town is definitely a place I would like to explore. It reminds me of Warsaw city and its Old Town! Loved being there!
Yes, it’s pretty similar. But the Old Town in Tallinn is older, from the medieval times :).
I love this city, and pretty much saw everything you mentioned. Old Town can easily get very crowded with cruise ship tourists — an excellent escape from that is the fantastic Kadrioru Park, just a short tram ride from Old Town.
Interesting, we haven’t heard of Kadrioru Park before :)
Such a nice and easy word article all the basic information’s are given in this article thanks for sharing this keep posting.
Going to Visit Estonia next week as I don’t know much about it so I was looking for a blog to suggest me the best places to visit there thanks for your recommendations
You’re welcome! Have fun in Tallinn :)
This is such a nice article. I will share it with my friends.
Thanks Gitanjali, I am glad you liked it!
One of the best informative article. People are not sharing the whole journey nowadays.