These are the Best Things to Do in Tallinn

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Estonia’s capital Tallinn on the shores of the Baltic Sea is located in a place where humans have lived for at least 5,000 years. Tallinn became a city about a thousand years ago, and a part of the German-led Hanseatic league in the 13th century. Since then, Tallinn has been an important city in Northern Europe, located on the major trade route between Russia and Western Europe.

These days, Tallinn is a lovely mix of medieval history, modern technologies, and very friendly people. Visiting Tallinn gives a nice introduction to Estonia, independent since 1991 and home to people that are proud of their small but beautiful land. In just over three decades, forward-thinking public policy has turned Estonia into a tech hub, with dozens of huge enterprises bringing vast wealth to the country’s small population.

If you visit this capital city for at least a couple of days, you have a chance to enjoy some of the best things to do in Tallinn. Since Estonia shares history with Russia (given it was a state of the Soviet Union) and Denmark, you’ll find interesting landmarks and memorials related to this. The Old Town is a truly remarkable and beautiful place to explore. Tallinn is one of the best cities in Europe in terms of public transport, and the city is home to some fantastic cafés and restaurants.

People from all over the world also visit Tallinn and Estonia due to the relatively high standard of living, beautiful nature, and great remote working opportunities. It is no wonder more and more people want to visit Estonia, and Tallinn is a great place to start, whether you’re going for a short visit or a longer stay.

Best time to visit Tallinn

Summers in Tallinn are warm, green, and pleasant. It is the busiest time in the city visitor-wise, but I’d still say summer is the best time to visit Tallinn. It is just lovely to enjoy not only the Old Town and the rest of the city but also the beaches – the Baltic Sea is definitely nicest to swim in during the summer months. And when you’re there in June and July, it feels like the sun never goes down.

But Tallinn is a different kind of beautiful in the winter. The Old Town is magical during frosty days or under the cover of snow. Ferries also run throughout the year from Tallinn to Helsinki, Stockholm, and other Baltic Sea destinations, and a ferry cruise can be a lovely addition to your Tallinn visit.

Best things to do in Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn Old Town

The Old Town of Tallinn dates back to the medieval times. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the city’s most famous drawcard, and for a good reason. With its cobbled, meandering streets, historic buildings, and atmospheric cafés and little shops, Tallinn’s Old Town is a magical place.

Lower Town

The lower part of the Old Town is best accessed via the iconic twin towers of Viru Gate. The gate leads to Viru Road, which is lined with fascinating shops and galleries. Town Hall Square is an impressive and popular place to visit. There are also many medieval churches in this area of the Old Town, such as St. Olaf’s Church and Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul.

Local tip: If you want a true local Estonian experience, stop by Valli Baar and order a Milli Mallika.

In Michael’s opinion, it is not a pleasant taste, but this iconic drink is a symbol of Estonia for many Estonians.

Toompea Hill

The higher grounds of the Old Town make up Toompea Hill. It is home to the medieval castle of Toompea, which nowadays houses the Estonian parliament. Nearby, you’ll find the beautiful, medieval Lutheran church, St. Mary’s Cathedral. I also highly recommend visiting the Orthodox church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. It is magnificent with its multiple domes and touchingly beautiful interior.

All in all, I recommend taking your time to explore the Old Town. There are countless fascinating, small corners, stone archways, and narrow streets to find and admire here. It is awe-inspiring to view the castle towers and ramparts and imagine how life might have been a few hundred years ago. There are so many sweet-looking little cafés, stores, and bookshops, it is hard to choose where to stop.

It is also not unusual to hear eerie or uplifting music filling the streets – Old Town is a favorite of many street musicians. Furthermore, from the top of Toompea Hill, you have the best views over the Old Town, the sea, and other parts of the city.

Estonian Open Air Museum

To explore traditional Estonian rural life, fishing culture, and architecture, include a visit to the Estonian Open Air Museum in your itinerary. The curators have literally brought historical buildings from other parts of Estonia, creating a genuine way of experiencing a life-size reconstruction of Estonian farm life.

The buildings date from the 18th and 19th centuries and include churches, taverns, farm houses, school buildings, and more. This is a great place to get acquainted with the traditional architecture of Estonia with its long houses with low walls, high thatched roofs, and log walls.

Kadriorg Palace and Art Museum

This affluent area of Tallinn lies just two kilometres to the east from the city centre. It is worth visiting Kadriorg to view the beautiful Kadriorg Palace. The palace, built in the 18th century, now hosts parts of the Art Museum of Estonia, showcasing Estonian and international art from the 18th century onwards.

Kadriorg Palace is surrounded by Kadiorg Park built at the same time as the palace. I find it beautiful to walk around this baroque park and admire its stunning flower gardens and historical buildings. Next to Kadriorg Palace, you can also visit the Presidential Palace of Estonia.

Local tip: After visiting Kadriorg, you could take a walk along Pirita Promenade to the nearby Pirita Beach.

This sandy beach is one of the most popular places in Tallinn to enjoy the sea. You can also get to different areas of Tallinn very easily by bus, tram, or for example stand-on scooter. Indeed, Tallinn has one of the best public transportation systems in northern Europe.

Visit the (somewhat contentious) Soviet Union memorials

Albeit marred with some pretty dark stories and memories, the history of Estonia as part of the Soviet Union has left some visible remnants in Tallinn’s cityscape. One of Tallinn’s most notable landmarks and the city’s tallest building, the TV tower, was raised during the Soviet era. The Bronze Soldier is a World War II memorial that can be viewn at the Tallinn Military Cemetery.

Maarjamäe Memorial is another Soviet era memorial. It is located on the way from Tallinn centre to Pirita neighborhood. I find that visiting these monuments can serve as opportunities to reflect on the history and be grateful for today’s independent Estonia.

Sample Estonian food

Definitely one of the best things to do in Tallinn is to try Estonian food. It is usually made largely with local and seasonal ingredients, although certainly many restaurants also do a modern take on traditional Estonian food. Traditionally, pork and other meats, potatoes, fish, and forest berries and mushrooms feature frequently in Estonian dishes, as is the case in other Baltic Sea countries.

Meals often start with something cold, such as herring or pickles, followed by a warm soup.An example of a traditional main meal in Estonia is Mulgikapsad (sauerkraut with pork and barley), and meals are usually accompanied by rye bread, or black bread.

Although black bread may taste strange if you’re only used to lighter bread, I cannot recommend it enough. It is somewhat healthier than wheat bread, and it is especially tasty with butter or with for example smoked salmon. Desserts often include some component of kohupiim or kohupiimakreem (variants of quark or curd). A good example is leivasupp, a sweet soup made of black bread and apples, served with kohupiim. And make sure to try pankooken!

Great restaurants and cafés in Tallinn

Kaerajaan is one of the best restaurants in Tallinn. They add more of a modern twist to traditional Estonian cuisine. The interior decoration is light and beautiful, and, as to the food, their breaded Baltic herring is fabulous, as is the pike perch with potatoes.

Kolu Inn is a tavern-like restaurant located at the Open Air Museum. This is a fantastic place to try traditional Estonian dishes, from rye bread with salted herring to mulgikapsad and a whipped cottage cheese dessert kama.

Olde Hansa, on the other hand, offers a full medieval experience. Located at the heart of the Old Town, Olde Hansa serves dishes such as oven-baked herb and juniper cheese, bear with spelt, or flamed salmon. The food is accompanied on some evenings by troubadours playing medieval tunes.

As to cafés, the Old Town is full of lovely little cafeterias. I highly recommend visiting Master’s courtyard, a historic place where you can see craftspeople at work and displaying their products. You’ll also find Pierre Chocolaterie here, with their mouth-watering chocolates, delicious coffees and chocolate drinks, and also savory treats.

Not far from the Old Town, at Rotermann Shopping Mall, bakery RØST [röst] is another well-loved café. They make superb sourdough breads and serve great quality coffee. I can certainly recommend their cinnamon and cardamon buns. And if you want more chocolate, absolutely make a stop at Oui Store, one of Tallinn’s newest chocolate shops.

Laulu- ja Tantsupidu (Tallinn Song and Dance Festival)

Although only held once every five years, this event is also one of the best things to do in Tallinn. Laulu- ja Tantsupidu festival has been organized in Tallinn since 1869. It brings together choirs, orchestras, folk musicians and dancers, as well as Estonians from the homeland and overseas, in a celebration of music and kinship. The festival is one of the most important Estonian traditions, and it is even recognized by UNESCO who has included it on its intangible cultural heritage list.

The next Laulu- ja Tantsupidu festival takes place this year from the 3rd to 6th of July. Now is a good time to buy tickets, if you’re thinking of visiting Estonia this summer. It is a great opportunity to observe wonderful music and dance performances. But you can also get better acquainted with Estonian culture and meet people not only from Estonia but from all over the world.

Optional: Make a day trip to a nearby destination

Estonia is not a big country, and if you spend at least a few days in Tallinn, you could easily include a day trip to a different location in your itinerary. There are several lovely destinations one to three hours away that can be reached by bus from Tallinn central bus station, and the tickets don’t cost much.

Pärnu

Pärnu on Estonia’s west coast is known for its superb beaches and beautiful, historic town centre. It takes about two hours to reach by bus from Tallinn, and in just one day, you can easily walk around Pärnu taking in some of the main sights here.

The old, wooden buildings of Pärnu centre are stunning in their multitude of colors and excellent craftmanship. The beach is just a short walk from the town centre, and here you can have a relaxing moment taking in the sun or having a dip in the Baltic Sea. Pärnu is also filled with beautiful parks.

The beach park and promenade leads from the beach towards the town centre, and it is filled with perfect picnic spots. Koidula park in the town centre is beautiful summer or winter, with its romantic walkways, benches, and flower beds. Pärnu also has an amazing array of lovely cafés and restaurants to choose from.

Lahemaa National Park

This is Estonia’s most northern national park, just an hour away from Tallinn. You can walk through coastal forests and wetlands, and visit rocky shores and sandy beaches. At Lahemaa, you have a chance of spotting lots of bird species. Even the European lynx and brown bear are known to inhabit the area (though they almost always avoid people, and you’d be extremely lucky to spot one).

Apart from beautiful nature, you should also make sure to enjoy a drink or a meal at one of Lahemaa’s many atmospheric restaurants. Altja Tavern at the heart of Lahemaa National Park serves authentic Estonian food in a tavern-like setting. Palmse Manor House Pub also serves traditional Estonian farm-like meals, such as laborer’s gruel with homemade bread and butter. Or for a truly classy, atmospheric restaurant experience, I can recommend the elegant Vihula Manor Restaurant.

Final thoughts: Is Tallinn worth visiting?

Estonia’s capital is worth visiting just for the Old Town itself. This medieval town centre is said to be the best preserved old town in northern Europe. For me personally, it is worth returning to Tallinn again and again, to explore some more aspects of the fairytale-like Old Town.

And yet, Tallinn also has so much more to offer. The city has beautiful green areas, lovely cafés and bakeries, and world-class restaurants. Tallinn is a safe city, and getting around is easy with a well-functioning public transportation system. Prices are just a bit lower overall as compared to the neighboring Scandinavian countries across the sea.

And Tallinn’s history is just fascinating – places like the Old Town or the Open Air Museum are fabulous places to immerse yourself in the ancient stories. From Tallinn, it is also easy to explore other areas of Estonia, as well as the neighboring Helsinki, Stockholm, and Latvia.

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