Why you need to visit Tallinn, Estonia. Tallinn may once have been famed as a cheap go-to destination for rowdy stag parties, but there is so much more to this beautiful city than that. Filled with pastel coloured houses and pretty squares, Tallinn is a photographer’s dream. Tallinn’s old town is incredibly well-preserved, with some of the best examples of medieval architecture in northern Europe. Read on for what to see in this charming Baltic town.
Remember to buy travel insurance for your trip. Receive a 5% discount on Heymondo travel insurance.
Want someone else to do the organising? Book a 3-day culture and history tour in Tallinn.
Wander Around the Old Town Square
The best thing about Tallinn’s old town is that is all doable on foot. You can relax and wander around the pretty cobbled side streets in peace. Everything centers on the Raekoja plats (old town square). Here, you’ll find bars and restaurants aplenty, surrounded by the distinctive tall merchants’ houses on all sides. Visit in winter and you’ll find the town Christmas tree and a vibrant Christmas market. Join a guided Old Town Tallinn historical walking tour.
Walk the Town Walls
Tallinn is a city best enjoyed from above. And what better way to see it than to climb up winding spiral stairs to the top of the city walls? From here you’ll be able to look out over the distinctive red rooftops that make the Estonian capital so charming.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
This stunning Russian Orthodox cathedral was built in 1900, when Tallinn was still part of the Russian empire. It was almost destroyed at one point as some Estonians see it as a symbol of oppression. However, the beautiful cathedral has now been restored. Book a guided tour (lead by a Deacon) around the cathedral. You will learn about the Orthodox religion in Estonia, and also get to see areas of the cathedral that are normally closed to the public.
Kohtuotsa Viewpoint
The perfect place to get your bearings in the city. The Kohtuotsa viewpoint affords stunning views over the pretty red rooftops of Tallinn’s old town. Only a short walk from the main square, you can’t miss it.
Kadriorg Palace
A short tram ride from the city centre will take you out to Kadriorg Palace. An impressive 18th century estate complete with colourful facade and exquisite gardens. The palace was built for the Russian Tsar Peter the Great in 1718. He used to use the palace as one of his summer residences. (Although rumour has it that the Tsar didn’t actually stay in the palace, preferring more modest accommodation.).
Coffee and Pastries
Tallinn is a cafe-lover’s heaven, with cute little coffee shops hidden away all over the city. I can highly recommend RØST (they do the most divine pastries). And also the Kalamaja area, where you’ll find the Telliskivi creative city. A former industrial area, it now houses Tallinn’s coolest bars, cafes and restaurants.
Read about the best pastries in Tallinn here.
How to integrate Tallinn into a longer trip
Hopefully you’re found this post on Why you need to visit Tallinn, Estonia useful. But, did you know that Helsinki is only a 1.5 hour ferry trip away from Tallinn? (You can even book a guided day tour of Tallinn from Helsinki here). And from Helsinki you can continue on to St Petersburg. You can get a special short-term easy Russian visa as a ferry passenger? Or, head in the other direction and hop on a bus to Riga. It’s only 5 hours and the journey goes quickly if you have some good series on Netflix pre-downloaded.
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[…] city and extremely well-connected by ferry. From here you can sail to Stockholm, Sweden or Tallinn, Estonia (close enough for a day trip!). You can even get a ferry all the way to Travemünde, […]