Posted: 03/12/20 | March 12th, 2020

Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is a medieval city nestled against the Baltic Sea. With its picturesque historic Old town that dates back to the 13th century, it has been drawing in tourists since the fall of the Soviet Union.

Cheap flights, cheap prices, and the beauty of Prague without the crowds have made Tallinn an appealing weekend getaway for Europeans.

I visited the city on a trip from Finland — there’s a frequent ferry service between the two cities — and was enamored by it. It was a blend of Nordic and Baltic culture with plenty of things to see and do.

Best of all, it was super affordable!

Though the city has become a bit more crowded and expensive in the last couple of years, it’s still one of my favorite places in the region. It’s peaceful and wonderful: the people are open and relaxed and the country is super tech-forward (they offer e-residency services specifically for digital nomads).

To help you make the most out of your trip, here are the best things to see and do in Tallinn — from the super touristy to off the beaten trail!

1. Take a free walking Tour

One of the best things you can do when you arrive in a new city is to take a free walking tour. They’re a great way to learn about a destination and its history while taking in the main sights.

Not only will it give you a solid introduction to the city but you’ll get access to a local guide who can answer any and all questions you might have.

EstAdventures has a few different free tour options, including general walking tours, tours focused on the city’s communist past, and street art tours. just make sure to tip your guide!

2. Estonian Maritime Museum

Founded in 1935 and located inside a historic 500-year-old building, this museum highlights the history of Estonia’s maritime culture. The main attraction is the interactive Seaplane Harbour exhibition, which includes a short 184 seaplane as well as the steam-powered icebreaker Suur Toll.

And don’t miss the 1936 submarine Lembit, the only surviving Baltic warship from before WWII (and one of only two submarines in Estonian naval history). There’s also an aquarium, ship miniatures, and a flight simulator. It’s a fun and educational place for adults and kids alike.

Vesilennuki tee 6, +372 6200 550, meremuuseum.ee. open Tuesday–Sunday 10am–6pm; closed Monday. Admission: 15 EUR.

3. Glehn Park & Castle

Glehn Park, located on the Nomme hillside, is home to medieval-style Glehn Castle. built in 1886, both the park and castle were created by Nikolai von Glehn, a rich and eclectic man known for his unusual taste in decoration (such as tables and chairs carved like figurines, large statues, and an obelisk in front of his house marking the grave of his favorite horse).

Unfortunately, most of the castle was looted during world war I, so none of the unique pieces of furniture he created remain. However, you’ll still get to see the statues he built on the grounds of the park. There’s also an observatory tower and palm house, which has a gorgeous mosaic rooftop. It’s a good place to relax, go for a walk, or go skiing during wintertime.

Vana-Mustamäe 48, +372 652 5076, ttu.ee/organisatsioonid/glehni-loss. The building isn’t open to the public as it is now used for events (weddings, conferences, receptions, etc.).

4. Tallinn town Hall & Square

Tallinn’s Gothic town hall is the oldest in the Baltics. completed in 1404, it boasts a 64m spire topped with a weather vane of an old warrior (named Old Thomas), a Tallinn city guard and hero from the 16th century who fought in the Livonian War.

You can climb the spire to 34 meters (111 feet) from may through September. The interior of the town Hall is open to visitors as a museum only during July and August; inside, you’ll get to see colorful designs on the walls, intricate wood carvings, and stunning arched ceilings as you learn about the city and its history.

The surrounding plaza is a great place to people-watch and it hosts lots of activities and markets throughout the year.

Don’t miss the annual five-day Tallinn Old town Days festival held in May. It’s dedicated to the cultural heritage of Tallinn and includes themed days such as medieval Day and Children’s Day, as well as numerous workshops, music, and theatre performances.

Raekoja plats, Kesklinna linnaosa (City Center), +372 645 7906, raekoda.tallinn.ee/. open weekdays from 10am-4pm. advance reservations required. Admission is 5 EUR.

5. Tallinn museum of Photography

Hidden amidst the cobblestone streets of Tallinn, this small museum is tucked away inside a 14th-century prison. It focuses on Estonia’s history of photography with a permanent exhibition including antique photos and cameras from 1840 — when photography first made its way to Tallinn — to 1940.

You can also check out contemporary photography from modern-day artists in many of the museum’s rotating exhibits. It’s a verysmall museum, but super interesting even if you’re not a huge photography buff.

Raekoja 4/6, +372 644 8767, linnamuuseum.ee/fotomuuseum. open Saturday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10am–5pm, Thursdays from 12–8pm, and Sunday from 11am–4pm. closed Monday and Tuesday.

6. Estonian Open-Air Museum

Located 15 minutes from the city center by car, this open-air ethnographic museum recreates what life was like in Estonia’s rural countryside. It’s a life-sized rural village composed of farms, a wooden chapel, a school, fire station, shop, and an inn that highlights how families from different social classes lived during the 18th and 19th centuries.

There’s plenty to do, from eating a traditional Estonian meal to riding a horse to taking a workshop. It’s open all year round, but you might want to go during the summertime when it’s warm! It’s also one of the best things to do in Tallinn with kids. download the mobile app Numu for a free audio guide while you’re at the museum.

Vabaõhumuuseumi tee 12, +372 654 9100, evm.ee/est/avaleht.Open daily from 10am–5pm. Admission is 8 EUR. free entrance with a Tallinn Card.

7. Ichthus Art Gallery

This is one of Tallinn’s best-kept secrets. It’s tucked away in the depths of St. Catherine’s Dominican Monastery, which dates back to 1246. On arrival, turn right toward steep steps that take you into the cellar. The confined space used to contain three wings, called the Claustrum, that housed monks in the 13th century.

Today, the space is used by artist Aleksandr Savchenkov, who sells his original artwork from the cellar. As you wander about you’ll also see the ‘Energy Pillar’, which is located in the ancient monastic chambers and is said to be a source of spiritual well-being.

Müürivahe Tänav 33, +372 5559 5920. Admission is free; however, donations are accepted.

8. Epitaphs of the Cathedral of Saint Mary

The grounds of this church date back to the 13th century, though the current building itself is from the 17th. What makes it unlike most other churches is that coats-of-arms epitaphs hang on the walls of the church instead of more traditional religious artwork or decorations.

Historically, these were used as headstones for people of importance, such as nobles and knights. They reflect the people of status who were buried on the grounds.

In fact, the first man who ever led a Russian voyage around the world, Admiral Adam Johan von Krusenstern, is buried here. Climb the 69-meter (226-foot) bell tower to get a beautiful view of the city.

Toom-Koolitänav 6, +372 644 4140. open Tuesday–Sunday 10am–3:30pm, closed Mondays. Admission is 5 EUR for adults and 3 EUR for children. dress respectfully as this is a place of worship.

want to travel Europe like an expert?

get all my best Europe travel tips as well as a free planning toolkit that includes the following guides sent to your inbox:

how to stay past the 90 Day Limit

61 savvy travel Tips

The ultimate packing Checklist

My favorite companies to Use

My step-by-step trip planning Guide

send me travel tips!

9. Estonian architecture Museum

The Estonian architecture museum was established in 1991 during the fight for Estonian independence. The museum is located in the Rotermann Salt storage building, which was built in 1908 (and then reconstructed in 1995 with multiple additional floors for the museum).

Its galleries now feature drawings from the 1920s, as well as over 11,500 archived items (such as drawings and sketches) and some 18,000 items in their photo collection. There are always some interesting rotating exhibits here too.

Ahtri tänav 2, +372 625 7000, arhitektuurimuuseum.ee. open Tuesday–Sunday 11am–6pm, closed Mondays. Admission is 6 EUR.

10. TV Tower

Adrenaline junkies will get a kick out of visiting the TV Tower. Not only will you have an incredible bird’s-eye view of Tallinn from the top, which stands 314 meters (1,030 feet) tall, but you can also try the walk on the edge experience. Hop into a harness and step outside of the tower onto the exposed deck. It’s the highest open deck in northern Europe and offers both an incredible view and a huge rush!

The TV Tower was constructed when Tallinn was chosen as a host city for sailing during the 1980 Moscow Olympics. It closed in 2007 for renovations and reopened in 2012. It has floor-to-ceiling windows (not ideal if you’re afraid of heights) so you can really soak in the view as well as touch-screen information panels so you can learn about the tower and the city.

The tower hosts many events, such as music concerts and the annual stair Run to mark the anniversary of its reopening.

Kloostrimetsa teE 58 A, +372 686 3005, Teletorn.ee. Admiterea este de 13 EUR, iar plimbarea la margine costă 30 EUR.

11. Telliskivi City City

Orașul Creative Telliskivi este un loc de muncă de peste o mie de oameni, cu studiourile artistului, o stație de radio, spații de repetiție și birouri ONG-uri, toate situate pe parcursul a zece clădiri din fabrică reproșate. Telleskivi găzduiește o piață de purici în fiecare sâmbătă și există peste 600 de evenimente culturale pe tot parcursul anului, inclusiv spectacole de dans, concerte de muzică și teatru Improv.

Există murale colorate pe multe clădiri și veți găsi, de asemenea, restaurante și baruri pline de localnici și turiști. Asigurați-vă că mâncați la Pedus (“Stop” în Estonian) pentru o experiență cu adevărat unică: este situată în interiorul a două feroviare vechi sovietice (și mâncarea este prea mare!).

Telliskivi Tänav 60a, Pohja, Tallinna Linnaosa.

12. Tunelurile Bastionului

Aceste tuneluri au fost inițial construite în secolul al XVII-lea ca o adăugare la Kiek din Turnul de Kök (Peek în bucătărie) și au fost destinate depozitului. Ei au ținut mai târziu prizonierii și apoi au fost folosiți ca adăpost împotriva raidurilor aeriene în timpul celui de-al doilea război mondial.

În istoria mai modernă, hoții și rebelii le-au folosit pentru adăpost, deoarece poliția a evitat de obicei tunelurile. Au fost curățați și deschise publicului în 2004. Dacă sunteți destul de curajoși, puteți explora labirintul de înfășurare a tunelurilor întunecate, umede pe un tur cu ghid atunci când vizitați turnul.

Komandandi Tee 2, +372 644 6686, linnamuuseum.ee/kiek-de-kok. Deschideți marți-duminică 10 am-5pm (joi până la ora 8:00), închis luni. Admiterea este de 14 EUR.

13. Castelul Toompea & Alexander Nevsky Catedrala

Castelul Toompea datează până în secolul al IX-lea și este utilizat în prezent de Riigikogu, Parlamentul Estoniei. Aripa de Est are un exterior de culoare roz și alb strălucitor în stil baroc, comandat de împărăteasa Catherine cel Mare în 1773. Partea opusă are încă exteriorul de piatră medieval. Steagul estonian este ridicat deasupra turnului la răsărit în fiecare zi.

De asemenea, puteți vizita Catedrala Alexander Nevsky din apropiere. A deschis în 1900 în timpul Imperiului Czarist și găzduiește cel mai mare clopot al lui Tallinn (cântărește 15 tone). Exteriorul impresionant prezintă arhitectura de renaștere rusă cu cupola în formă de ceapă. Interiorul este decorat cu mozaicuri colorate și ferestre vitrate și are trei altare ornate.

TOMPEA CASTLE: Plasturi 1A, +372 631 633, Riigikogu.ee. În zilele de joi, la ora 11:00, există un tur de 45 de minute în limba engleză al castelului. Admiterea este gratuită, deși trebuie să vă rezervați fața în avans.

Alexander NEVSKY Catedrala: pierderi Plats 10, +372 644 3484, catedrala.bg/en/home. Deschis zilnic de la 7 am 7pm. Admiterea este gratuită. Rochia cu respect, deoarece este un loc de cult.

14. Cimitirul statui sovietic

Cimitirul statuetului sovietic, situat lângă Castelul Maarjamäe, conține o colecție de statui aruncate, cum ar fi cele ale lui Iosif Stalin, Vladimir Lenin și Mikhail Kalinin. După ce sovieticii l-au lăsat pe Tallinn, au fost aruncați aici și au ignorat.

Veți găsi statui mari de capete (o tendință clasică de statuie sovietică) și altele acel turn peste trei metri (zece metri) înalte. Este un loc suprareal pentru a vizita – mai ales când îți dai seama că nici măcar nu a fost de 30 de ani de când Estonia a obținut independența și aceste statui au fost lăsate să se estompeze în istorie.

Pirita Tee 56, 10127, ajaloomuuseum.ee/exhibitions/permanent-exhibits/noukogude-aegsete-monumentide-valinitus. Deschideți marți-duminică 10 am-6pm, închis luni.

15. Muzeul KGB.

Camerele folosite anterior de spioni în timpul epocii sovietice stau la ultimul etaj al hotelului elegant Viru, situat pe Piața Viru. Acestea găzduiesc echipamentul de ascultare și înregistrare (unele deghizate inteligent), telefoane, uniforme și o mașină de scris.

Puțini oameni știau vreodată aceste camere au existat și au fost expuse doar în anii 1990, când KGB a fugit orașul. Ei au vărsat lumina la modul în care controlul și subversiv