Your ultimate guide to Tallinn

Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is often likened to a fairy tale, and it's hard to disagree with that description.

Wandering through the cobblestone streets of the Old Town, surrounded by ancient ramparts, soaring gothic church spires, and elegant merchant houses, one can easily picture a knight of the Teutonic Order passing by.

Yet, Tallinn is a city of many layers. The haunting memories of Soviet occupation have left both emotional and architectural imprints, while the city's bright digital future is on the horizon. In Estonia, known for its tech-savvy culture and the highest number of start-ups per capita, even young children can learn to code.

Tallinn also features world-class museums, a vibrant cultural landscape, and access to nature. Its evolving cuisine fuses Nordic, German, and Russian flavors, offering a wealth of experiences for curious travelers.

When is the best time to visit Tallinn?

Tallinn showcases clearly defined seasons throughout the year.

Despite the local humor about summer (“three weeks of bad skiing weather”), the months of June, July, and August are the most spectacular time to explore the country. Nature bursts into bloom, outdoor terraces come alive, and the long days stretch on (thanks to nearly white nights at these latitudes), bringing smiles even to the grumpiest locals. After long, harsh winters, Estonians truly cherish summer: it’s a season to rejuvenate at summer cottages by lakes or along the coast. 

Midsummer festivities (Jaanipäev) and the Singing Festival (Laulupidu, held every five years) are particularly lively, making this an excellent time to immerse yourself in Estonian culture. However, be prepared for crowds of cruise ship tourists during the summer days, which can make the quaint Old Town feel quite cramped. Accommodation prices tend to rise during this season.

Spring and autumn offer fewer tourists and more affordable prices, but keep in mind that the weather can be highly unpredictable. March, April, and May often see the return of winter, with snow not being unusual during these months. Just as Gogol described St. Petersburg, one might say that Tallinn’s winds blow from all directions at once. In November, the Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) attracts cinephiles from across the Baltics.

Winter in Tallinn is cold, snowy, and dark. To fend off the winter blues, locals retreat to saunas and stay active on illuminated cross-country ski trails. Sports centers in Pirita and Nõmme offer rental equipment. In December, ice rinks pop up throughout the city, and Raekoja plats (Town Hall Square) transforms into a charming Christmas market. Warm up with glöggi (mulled wine with almonds and raisins), verivorst (blood sausage), and hapukapsas (sauerkraut).

How long should I stay in Tallinn?

You can navigate the picturesque cobbled streets of the small Old Town in just a day, but don’t feel rushed. If you set aside two days, you’ll have the chance to include Kadriorg, a vast park featuring two of the finest art museums in the city. Spending three, four, or more days allows for a more leisurely pace and the opportunity to venture further afield. 

Enhance your itinerary by visiting additional museums (such as the Estonian Open Air Museum, Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom, and the Seaplane Harbour), lacing up your hiking boots to enjoy some urban nature, or discovering Tallinn’s striking brutalist Soviet architecture.

Alternatively, explore the less touristy areas of the city that reveal different sides of Tallinn. Kalamaja offers charming wooden houses and a bohemian atmosphere, while Rottermanni, once industrial, now hosts chic restaurants and boutique shops. Telliskivi is a vibrant hipster neighborhood, and Pirita provides seaside charm. Don’t miss Lasnamäe, one of the large residential districts built during Soviet times, characterized by concrete blocks, quirky kiosks, and nail salons, all interconnected by elephant paths.

Is getting around Tallinn easy?

Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport is located just 4 km from the city center, linking the Estonian capital to over 50 destinations across Europe. Due to tram infrastructure upgrades expected to complete by February 2025, a bus currently connects the airport to the Old Town. Regular ferries also depart from the Port of Tallinn to Helsinki (Finland), Stockholm (Sweden), and Mariehamn for the Åland Islands (summer only).

Trains to domestic locations like Tartu, Narva, Paldiski, and Viljandi depart from Balti jaam (Baltic station). Four daily trains head to Valga, a border town connecting Estonia with Latvia's rail network. Tickets can be purchased through Elron. Local buses from Balti jaam connect Tallinn to the surrounding countryside, while long-distance buses to major cities in the Baltics and beyond leave from Bussijaam (bus station), 2 km from the Old Town. For schedules and tickets, visit Tpilet.

The Old Town is best explored on foot, so you might not need public transport at all. If you do, buses are generally reliable, modern, and easy to use. Utilize Google Maps or the Peatus route planner. You can purchase a green transportation card from kiosks or supermarkets and add credit or simply swipe your credit card on the bus. Note that tickets cannot be bought from the driver. Taxis are reasonably priced, and for an easy ride, download the Bolt app, Estonia's popular alternative to Uber.

Must-see attractions in Tallinn

Medieval charm in the Old Town

Tallinn’s Old Town, celebrated by UNESCO as one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval city centers, invites spontaneous exploration. Its cobblestone streets lead you past ancient ramparts, defense towers, soaring church spires, and the oldest continuously operating pharmacy in Europe. The real joy lies in discovering the many Instagram-worthy hidden corners, romantic courtyards, and winding alleys. Make your way up to Toompea, the hill overlooking Tallinn, where viewpoints reveal stunning vistas over red-tiled roofs, and keep an eye out for the resident seagull, Steven, who loves to pose for photos.

Nowhere in Tallinn does the spirit of the Middle Ages come alive as vividly as behind the pale white façade of Olde Hansa. Step into a candlelit dining room, and you’ll feel transported to the 15th century, well before Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. Once a dining spot for the wealthy—bishops and noblemen from the Hanseatic city of Reval, the old German name for Tallinn—you can now savor “medieval” dishes made from ingredients that were common at the time. Potatoes, tomatoes, pumpkins, and even Coca-Cola are absent from the menu, although coffee is an exception. Instead, you can enjoy brown bear stew, chanterelles, and blueberry jam. On a budget? The medieval tavern III Draakon, just around the corner, captures the same historic ambiance.

Experience the tranquility of forest bathing

As one of the last places in Europe to embrace Christianity, Estonians are true nature enthusiasts who revere the sun, sacred oak trees, and glacial boulders. This connection to nature is deeper here than in many other parts of Europe. Even the busiest marketing manager from a trendy Telliskivi startup will often escape the urban hustle to forage for berries and mushrooms in the country’s vast forests and bogs. Indeed, Estonians have been practicing forest bathing long before it became a trend.

If you can't escape the city, don't worry! Tallinn offers plenty of easily accessible urban nature. Within city limits, you can explore trails and boardwalks through a bog (Pääsküla Bog), a vibrant river valley (Pirita River Valley Nature Reserve), and wooded areas (Harku, Merimetsa). Alternatively, visit the Paljassaare peninsula, where bird colonies inhabit a landscape featuring decaying Soviet bunkers. Pirita and Stroomi are the city’s most popular beaches.

Enjoy a rejuvenating sauna experience

Estonians may not make as much noise about their sauna culture as their Finno-Ugric neighbors across the Gulf of Finland, but their connection to the sauna is just as strong. Current estimates suggest there are around 100,000 saunas in Estonia, roughly one for every 13 residents. Traditionally, the sauna (saun in Estonian) has been a sacred space where generations of women gave birth. Today, it's still a place for Estonians to relax and confide in one another.

If you're staying at a hotel in Tallinn, you’ll likely have access to a sauna. For a more authentic experience, however, visit a public sauna like Kalma Saun, Raua Saun, or Tallinn Saun—the city's oldest public sauna featuring brick ceilings and chandeliers. The vaudeville club Heldeke! and craft beer taproom Põhjala also offer sauna sessions. Feeling adventurous? Take a winter swim in the Baltic Sea before warming up in the sauna. Both the winter swimming club Lennusulps and community sauna Logi Saun provide access to the chilly waters.

Immerse yourself in culture at Kadriorg

Kadriorg, an elegant park located east of the Old Town, is home to the presidential palace and two art museums. In KUMU, you'll find seven floors brimming with Estonian art, while the Kadriorg Art Museum displays early Russian and European works in a baroque summer residence constructed by Tsar Peter the Great.

If the weather permits, enjoy a picnic in the Japanese garden or by the swan pond. The nearby organic deli NOP can provide you with everything you need, from sea buckthorn cake and tomato/kimchi juice to jars of marinated delicacies.

My favorite activity in Tallinn

Unlike its Baltic neighbors Latvia and Lithuania, which have no islands, Estonia boasts a remarkable collection—now totaling 2,317 islands, up from 2,222. In the summer, I relish escaping the city for a day trip to the tranquil island of Aegna, nestled in Tallinn Bay, with a population of just 16. The natural landscape here offers a miniature version of Estonia: rocky shorelines, sandy beaches, lush coniferous and deciduous forests, scattered glacial boulders, playful foxes in the heath, and even a free camping area! During the summer months, a pop-up café opens by the port.

What is the budget I need for Tallinn?

In the wake of the Ukraine war, inflation has caused prices in the Baltics to rise more sharply than in other parts of Europe. Tallinn is no longer one of the most budget-friendly city break destinations on the continent. However, resourceful travelers can still discover great value compared to many Western European capitals. If you venture away from the touristy eateries around Town Hall Square, you can snag lunch deals for just €5 to €9. Accommodation rates fluctuate significantly depending on the season.

Hostel dorm bed: €15-€25 Basic room for two: starting at €40 Self-catering apartment (including Airbnb): from €45 Public transport ticket: €2 Coffee: €2-€3 Pirukas (pie) at a café: €2-€3 Dinner for two: €50-€80 Beer at the bar: €4-€6 Kohuke (curd cheese bar) from the supermarket: €0.30-€0.60