UPDATED MARCH 2026! My first trip to Tallinn, the charming capital of Estonia, was fantastic. So many people visit Tallinn as a day trip from nearby Helsinki, Finland, but the city truly deserves longer than just a few hours!
Heading to Tallinn? Here are 22 things you must do on a trip to Tallinn!
1) Admire the Town Hall Square
Home to perhaps some of the most beautiful buildings in Tallinn, the Town Hall Square is the focal point of the Old Town. It should definitely be your first stop on a trip to Tallinn. Besides that it’s a great way to get your bearings, you can admire the buildings ringing the square. Don’t miss the statue of Thomas, the patron/symbol of Tallinn, on top of the Town Hall building! Pro tip: come early in the morning, around 7:00am, and you’ll have the whole place to yourself!
2) Eat elk soup in Ill Draakon
One of the most popular restaurants in Tallinn (and one of the few around the Town Hall Square that isn’t overpriced!) is the medieval-themed Ill Draakon. Elk soup is definitely the main thing to order – there isn’t much else besides a selection of pastries (and beer of course!). The restaurant is meant to take you back in time, so it’s all lit by candles and there are no eating utensils.
3) Wander the streets in Old Town
The best way to enjoy Tallinn? Wander the charming, cobblestone streets of the Old Town without any sense of purpose. The streets seem to transport you to a different era, and I felt like I was walking in a fairytale!
4) Explore secret passageways
Tallinn really does make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Part of the city’s charm are the hidden alleyways and passages sprinkled throughout the Old Town. Mark them on the map before you set off, to make sure you can find them! Don’t miss Catherine’s Passage, the Master’s Courtyard, and the White Bread Passage.
5) Discover Tallinn’s beautiful churches
Tallinn’s Old Town is full of magnificent churches. St. Olaf’s Church is the most popular, as the views from the tower are meant to be some of the best in town! Holy Spirit Church is located right behind the main square. St. Mary’s Church (the Dome Church) is Tallinn’s oldest, dating back to at least 1240. Give yourself plenty of time to explore, even if you’re not religious!
6) Marvel at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
This church is so grand, it gets its own number! A Russian Orthodox church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was built in between 1894 and 1900, and is still a functioning church to this day. If you’ve never seen a Russian Orthodox church before, you’ll be amazed at the interior!
7) Say hello to the Prime Minister’s House and the Estonian Parliament
The house of the Estonian Prime Minister is located not far from Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in the Toompea area. The beautiful pink Parliament building is located right across from the cathedral! Make sure to visit both as you wander around the Old Town.
8) Walk the old City Walls
Unfortunately, there is only a small section of Tallinn’s City Walls that is open to the public. However, it’s absolutely worth it for the views across the Old Town! Entrance to the walls costs 5€ – when I went this was payable in cash only, but hopefully it’s changed. Don’t miss the upstairs room for a view of the covered city wall itself!
9) See Fat Margaret’s Tower
One of the largest remaining towers of the City Walls is Fat Margaret’s Tower, the entrance of which is one end of the Old Town. Part of it formerly housed a prison, and it’s now home to a maritime museum with an observation platform and cafe on the roof.
10) Discover Estonia’s history of occupation
Estonia became an independent country in 1918, but was invaded by the Soviets, the Nazis, and then the Soviets again. It remained a part of the Soviet Union until 1991. While the Occupation Museum was unfortunately closed when I visited, it’s well worth a trip to the KGB Prison Cells Museum. You can see the basement prison cells that housed those unlucky enough to be picked by the KGB, and learn about the prisoners kept there. If you have time, pre-book a tour at Hotel Viru – during the Soviet era, it was the only hotel in Tallinn for foreigners. It also housed the KGB on the 23rd floor!
11) Visit Freedom Square
Another of Tallinn’s main squares, Freedom Square sits right on the edge of the Old Town. The monument commemorates Estonia’s independence in 1918, and those who lost their lives fighting for it. It looks very pretty at night!
12) Kiek en de Kok
Head underground for a guided tour of Tallinn’s tunnels! Begun by the Swedes in the 16th-century, the tour takes you back in time (and deeper underground) to learn about the function and use of the city’s bastions. The tour costs 16€ but it’s well worth it – make sure to book in advance.
13) See the city walls in the Freedom Square parking lot
Don’t have the time or money to book a tour of Tallinn’s tunnels? Head underground to the parking lots beneath Freedom Square and you can see them for free! This is probably the coolest parking lot I’ve ever been to – bits of the old fortifications stand right next to modern cars! This is one of my top insider tips from Tallinn and I was definitely impressed.
14) Admire the view over Tallinn from Toompea’s viewpoints (at sunset!)
There are two exceptional viewpoints of Tallinn in Toompea. My favorite is Kohtu, although I definitely recommend seeing both. Come at sunset for a simply stunning scene in this fairytale city! Seeing the sunset here was one of my favorite things I did in Tallinn.
15) Explore the Linnehalla complex
Get out of Tallinn’s Old Town and walk to see Linnehalla. This giant concrete structure was built for the 1980 Soviet Olympics and was also used as a concert venue. It was meant to provide defense if the Finns attacked the Soviet Union by sea. It’s a gritty reminder of the brutalist architecture the Soviets brought with them. Be careful for broken glass – lots of locals will come up here to drink before hitting the clubs! This was definitely one of my favorite places in the city. You can now go inside on a guided tour with the Estonian Center for Architecture, which sounds amazing!
16) Visit Kadriorg Park
If you’re looking for Peter the Great’s imperial palace in Tallinn, Kadriorg Park is where you need to go! You can see the beautiful Baroque palace, but Peter the Great actually spent most of his time in Tallinn and Kadriorg in a smaller, white house behind the palace. It’s called the Majamuseum, which I think is pretty cool – my name (Maja) apparently means “house” in Estonian! KUMU Art Museum is located in Kadriorg and is the top art museum in the city.
17) Find the Pervert Statue in Tallinn’s Old Town
If you’re looking for random sculptures, this is just about as funny and creepy as they come! Dubbed the Pervert Statue, head to Pikk street (at the intersection of Hobusepea street) to find this small statue. As the legend goes, the old man was caught looking over his opera glasses into the building next door, as the merchant’s wife undressed. To get back at the peeper, the merchant had a sculpture made of the man – so that every time he looked over, he was reminded of his own lechery. Make sure to look up otherwise you’ll miss it!
18) See the Linda Statue in Hirve Park
This statue, called Linda, is located in the center of Hirve park, in Toompea. During the Soviet era, it became an unofficial memorial to those who had been exiled to Siberia. People would lay flowers here to commemorate their loved ones, often at great personal risk. The plaque next to it reads: “To remember those who were taken away. Their oppression is screaming towards the sky” in Estonian.
19) Stroll through Balti Jaam
If you want to visit Tallinn’s up-and-coming area, head to the train station and explore the market! Balti Jaam is meant to be Tallinn’s biggest market, with lots of nice places to eat. Definitely come hungry to this spot!
20) Eat gelato from the Gelato Ladies
I’m a sucker for good ice cream, and stumbling across this place in Tallinn’s Old Town was a real treat! Soft, creamy, and delicious, they’ve got loads of flavors to choose from. They make their own waffle cones, and I couldn’t recommend them enough!
21) Check out the trendy Telliskivi Creative City
Located in an old factory complex outside the Old Town, Telliskivi is the hipster center of Tallinn. Come here for cool shops, hip cafes, bars, and restaurants, events and exhibitions, and more. I didn’t get here on my trip to Tallinn and I’m kicking myself about it! Don’t miss this area.
22) Take a day trip to Helsinki
Have more time in Tallinn? Take a day trip to Helsinki! I took the Tallink ferry to Helsinki for the day and had a blast. So many people visit Tallinn as a day trip from Helsinki, but I did it the opposite way around. Of course, there’s enough to see in both capitals to merit a longer stay. But if this is your only visit to the Baltics and you don’t have plans to visit Finland, it’s a fun day trip.
There’s loads more to do in Tallinn if you have the time: explore the up-and-coming neighborhood of Kalamaja, see the Seaplane Harbor Museum, visit the Tallinn TV Tower, and head outside the center to Pirita or the Estonian Open Air Museum.
Planning Your Trip to Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital of Estonia, which is part of both the European Union and the Schengen Zone, and uses Euros for their currency. Nearly everything in the Old Town of Tallinn is within walking distance. Tallinn has a good tram system that connects the other neighborhoods, plus there’s also a city bus system. Tallinn airport is easy to get to from the city center by bus – I use Skyscanner to find the best flight deals. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. Interested in a tour in Tallinn? Check out these tour options!
Where I Stayed in Tallinn
Unfortunately, the place where I stayed in Tallinn has permanently closed since my visit. Here are a few recommendations for places to stay around Tallinn, to suit every budget and accommodation style:
- Budget: Fat Margaret’s – a clean and convenient hostel in the Old Town and close to the port, with free pool/sauna access in the morning
- Budget:Old Town Munkendorf – great value for money in this hostel steps away from Town Hall Square
- Mid-range: Citybox Tallinn City Center – sleek, modern design in a three-star hotel with a basic communal kitchen
- Mid-range: Tallinn City Apartments Residence – cozy apartments with kitchenettes and a prime location in the Old Town
- Boutique: Nunne Boutique Hotel – a stunning four-star boutique hotel in the Old Town with tasty breakfast and an on-site spa
- Boutique: Revelton Suites Tallinn – gorgeous, plush suites with all the amenities you need like a kitchen and washing machine
Tallinn is a fantastic destination in the Baltics, and certainly worth a visit! It’s a city I would love to return to – there’s a lot to see and do here to keep you busy. I hope this guide helps planning a trip to Tallinn!
Have you ever been to Tallinn? What were your favorite things in the city?
You might also like my posts:
What to Do in Vilnius, A Hidden Baltic Gem
Why I Love Visiting Eastern Europe – And Why You Should, Too
How Much Does it Cost to Travel the Baltics for 5 Days?
What to Do With 1 Day in Helsinki
The Ultimate Guide to Gdansk, Poland
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