Best Things to See and Do in Tallinn

Are you looking for the best things to see and do in Tallinn? This Baltic capital is a compact city with a medieval heart and lots of interesting things to do and see. Most of these tourist attractions are concentrated in the Old Town, while others are located outside the medieval walls. Also, on the map below you will find all the best things we recommend to see and do.

Located in the Old Town, the heart of Tallinn, this old square is the perfect place to start your visit. Raekoja Plats is surrounded by small cobbled streets, with local restaurants and shops. In addition, the entire area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most important building in the square is the impressive Gothic Town Hall. You will also find an ancient pharmacy and pastel-coloured houses. Moreover, at Christmas, this old square is filled with typical markets and it’s home to the town’s Christmas tree.

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is an Orthodox cathedral situated up on Toompea Hill. With its onion-domed structure, this cathedral is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. It was completed in 1900 by the architect Mikhail Preobrazhensky and dedicated to Saint Alexander Nevsky. In addition, the cathedral boasts 11 bells, including Tallinn’s largest 15-ton bell, icons and various mosaics inside.

Located a few kilometers from the city center stands the Kadriorg Palace with its homonym park. The Kadriorg Palace is a Baroque residence designed by the Italian architect Niccolò Michetti. Moreover, the palace was built by Russian tsar Peter the Great for his wife Catherine. Its park is the perfect place for a stroll and also for taking beautiful photos! The inner rooms of the Kadriorg Palace are home to the nation’s best art museums, with many Estonian and international paintings.

To get a bit off the tourist track, you can visit Tallinn’s most famous market: the Balti Jaama Turg. This market is located less than a kilometer walk outside the Old Town right next to Tallinn’s main train station. In addition, there is a car park exactly below the market if you have a car like us. Inside you can buy fruit, vegetable, meat and other typical foods from local vendors. Instead, on the upper floor, there are numerous beauty stores, antique shops and vintage clothing sellers. In addition to this, you can taste the local food in one of the many food stalls. In particular, we ate delicious bao at Baojaam.

This alleyway is one of the most famous and oldest in Tallinn. In addition, it hosts several craft workshops where artisans create and sell their creations. Therefore, in this small street, you can buy glassware, ceramics, hats, jewelry, hand-painted silk and more.

Tallinn boasts stunning viewing platforms with incredible views of the Old Town. Most of these lookout points are free and often crowded especially during sunset. Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform is located in the Toompea part of the city. This place is also famous for the catchy quote “the times we had” on the wall. Plus, it’s only a few steps away from Patkuli Viewing Platform, another perfect viewpoint in Tallinn. In fact, from this platform, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Gulf of Finland, the castle towers and the church spires.

Another place you shouldn’t miss on your visit to Tallinn is Telliskivi Creative City. This is the creative heart of this city where you can find creative companies, design shops and art galleries. Moreover, in this industrial complex, there are cafes, restaurants and even an ice cream parlor. Are you a fan of flea markets? Telliskivi Creative City hosts a popular flea market every Saturday!

Located about 8 km from the center of Tallinn in Rocca al Mare, this museum is one of the things we liked most about the Estonian capital. The Estonian Open Air Museum is a forested park where traditional Estonian village life is recreated. In its 72 hectares of land, there are about 80 buildings including a church, a schoolhouse, mills, net sheds, twelve farmyards and a fire station. Perfect reconstruction of a rural village from the 18th century.

Definitely, a museum not to be missed if you visit Tallinn. The Seaplane Harbor Museum (called Lennusadam in Estonian) is located in a building originally constructed as a hangar for seaplanes. This hangar boasts an area of 8000 m². It can be considered a museum of modern conception with several interactive activities, especially for children. In fact, in the hangar, it’s possible to try a submarine and flight simulators. In addition, there is a pool where people can sail miniature ships and look at aquatic animals. The main attraction in the hangar is the 1936 Lembit submarine. Moreover, you can purchase a second ticket to visit one of the three steam-powered icebreakers from the early 20th century called the Suur Tõll.

The Skywheel of Tallinn is part of the T1 Mall. This observation wheel reaches a peak height of 120 meters above sea level. Prices start at €10 for a standard ticket. However, you can purchase more exclusive packages with a bottle of chilled champagne. We recommend that you book your ticket at sunset for a magnificent view of the city.

Website: https://superskypark.ee/toode/vaateratas/

The capital of Estonia boasts five public beaches perfect for fun under the sun. Due to the long summer days in Estonia, people populate the beaches until sunset (9-10 pm in summer). In fact, the first time we visited Kakumäe beach at 7 pm, and it was full of people! The water was a bit cold, however, it was pleasant and relaxing to spend a few hours on the beach. In addition to Kakumäe, Tallinn’s other beaches are Pirita Beach, Stroomi Beach, Pikakari Beach and Harku Beach.

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