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Have you thought about visiting Tallinn, Estonia? Have you even heard of Estonia? Neither had I. I bet you didn’t know that Skype was invented here! Tallinn, Estonia’s capital city, is one of Europe’s most charming and underrated destinations. Sitting along the Baltic Sea, Tallinn blends medieval history with a creative, modern energy, making it ideal for a weekend getaway or a day trip on a cruise trip. From cobblestone streets and Gothic towers to trendy neighborhoods and seaside walks, there’s no shortage of memorable things to do in Tallinn. This guide is going to cover basic information, along with recommendations for both the summer and winter seasons. I first visited Tallinn on a Baltic Sea cruise in August 2018 and recently returned for the Christmas markets in December 2025, so you can rest assured… this guide covers it all!
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Brief Background On Estonia
Estonia is a small Nordic country on the Baltic Sea with a population of only one million. Half of Estonia’s land is forest, so most residents live in the capital, Tallinn, or in the countryside. The spoken language is Estonian, they are a part of the EU, and they use the Euro.
Estonia has a cool, temperate climate with 4 distinct seasons, featuring cold, snowy winters and mild, pleasant summers. Expect short, dark days in winter (the sun rises at ~9am and sets around 3:30pm) and long daylight hours in summer, with spring and fall bringing cooler temperatures and fewer crowds.
Where Is Tallinn?
Tallinn is located in Northern Europe on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland, directly across the water from Helsinki. You can easily take a ferry from Finland to Tallinn. The city is also accessible by direct flights from many European hubs. Its compact size makes it easy to explore on foot, especially within the historic center.
What Is Tallinn Known For?
Tallinn is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. Tallinn is best known for its beautifully preserved medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that feels straight out of a fairytale. Every building is painted a different color, and every street is made of cobblestone. There are musicians on every corner, and the locals are so friendly! The city is so quaint — it truly looks like it’s been stopped in time. The city is also famous for its stone city walls, watchtowers, merchant houses, and red-roofed skyline.
Beyond its historic charm, Tallinn is also recognized as one of Europe’s most digitally advanced cities, with a thriving café culture, creative districts, and seasonal events like festive Christmas markets.
How To Get To Tallinn, Estonia
By Plane
Getting to Tallinn is straightforward, whether you’re arriving by air or sea. Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport (TLL) is located just a few kilometers from the city center, making it one of the most conveniently located airports in Europe. From the airport, you can reach Old Town in about 15 minutes by taxi, rideshare (Uber or Bolt), or public transport, which makes flying into Tallinn an easy option for international travelers.
By Boat
Tallinn is also a popular stop for Baltic Sea cruises, with ships docking at the Tallinn Cruise Terminal, just a short distance from the Old Town. From the terminal, it’s possible to walk into the historic center in around 20–30 minutes, or take a quick taxi or shuttle bus if you’re short on time. This makes it easy to experience many of the top things to do in Tallinn even on a one-day cruise stop.
One of the most common and scenic ways to reach Tallinn is by ferry from Helsinki, Finland. Ferries run frequently throughout the day, operated by several companies, and the crossing takes approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. Tickets are generally affordable, with prices typically ranging from €20 to €40 one way, depending on the operator, time of day, and season.
Many travelers choose to do Tallinn as a day trip from Helsinki, while others arrive with luggage and stay several nights to fully explore the city.
By Bus
Several bus routes connect the Baltic countries! We used Lux Express to travel between Tallinn and Riga, and again from Riga to Vilnius and I couldn’t recommend it more. The journey between cities is just ~4 hours and the bus tickets were only about 20 Euro.
The coach buses were the nicest I’ve ever seen — they had bathrooms, a coffee machine on board, individual TVs at every seat, free WiFi, etc.
Things To Do In Tallinn, Estonia
The city of Tallinn is divided into an Upper Town, which was ruled by the aristocracy, and a Lower Town, ruled by merchants and craftsmen during the Middle Ages. The entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, enclosed in original stone walls with watch towers. I separated these recommendations by season, as the city has a completely different feel with differing events depending on the time of year you visit.
Things To Do In Tallinn In The Summer
Old Town Walking Tour
While visiting during the summer months, my family and I took a walking tour of Tallinn that included visiting churches and a scenic look out in the Upper Town (Patkuli Viewing Platform). We also explored the main square, town hall, and market in the Lower Town.
During the walking tour, you’ll visit the Upper Town, also called Toompea Hill. Here you’ll visit St. Mary’s Cathedral, the oldest church in the city (dates back to the 13th century) and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, one of Tallinn’s most iconic landmarks. You’ll learn about Tallinn’s plethora of Russian-influenced architecture and complicated history.
Estonia first became part of the Russian Empire in the 1700s, and was later part of the Soviet Union for ~50 years until 1991 when it restored its independence.
Town Hall Square
One of the most iconic things to do in Tallinn is wandering through its Old Town. Start at Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats), the heart of the city, where pastel-colored buildings surround a medieval town hall. Even during the summer months, there is a market in Town Hall Square that sells handmade goods, flowers, local jams and pastries, and Christmas ornaments. I bought myself an ornament and a fur hat, because even though it was August, it was chilly!
Raeapteek is considered the oldest continuously operating pharmacy in Europe. It dates back to 1422. It’s located right in Tallinn’s Town Hall Square. Still functioning today, it has served townspeople for centuries and now includes a small museum section where visitors can learn about medieval medicine and the pharmacy’s long history… don’t miss it!
Walk Along The Medieval City Walls
Tallinn has one of the best-preserved medieval city walls in Europe. Walking along the walls and climbing historic towers like Fat Margaret or Kiek in de Kök offers a unique glimpse into the city’s past and provides excellent views over Old Town and the modern skyline beyond.
Pro-tip: Walk near the Viru Gate, the iconic twin-towered entrance to the Old Town and one of the city’s most photographed landmarks, to find the entrance up to the walkable portion of the city walls. It should cost just ~4 Euro per person to climb.
Estonia is known for its cakes, so for lunch we went to a cafe and ordered coffee and pastries (very European). More on cozy cafes below in the winter section!
Things To Do In Tallinn In The Winter
Explore The Christmas Market
Did you know Tallinn has the longest standing tradition of a public Christmas tree display in Europe? The tradition dates back to the 1400s, and even today, you can still find a Christmas tree standing in the exact same spot in Town Hall Square every year!
If you’re planning a trip to Tallinn between mid November and early January, check out this guide to the best Christmas markets (and decor!) around Europe. It covers Tallinn, and also nearby Riga, Latvia and Vilnius, Lithuania.
Visit A Cozy Cafe
Tallinn is famous for its cozy cafe culture. They are all over the Old Town. Whether you visit during the summer or winter months, be sure to visit Cafe Maiasmokk, Estonia’s oldest café. This cafe dates back to 1864 and still serves traditional pastries, cakes, and marzipan treats. It’s located in the heart of the Old Town and has a beautiful interior too!
Eat At Olde Hansa
This experience is a top thing to do in Tallinn year-round, but was extra cozy during the winter months.
I use social media and read of other blogs in preparation for my own trips, and this restaurant was listed everywhere. Olde Hansa is a popular medieval-themed restaurant in Tallinn’s Old Town that offers an immersive dining experience inspired by 15th-16th century Estonia.
The restaurant serves traditional Estonian dishes prepared with historical recipes. They use period-appropriate ingredients and cooking methods, and the staff dress in medieval costumes. It’s a favorite for visitors looking to step back in time while enjoying authentic local cuisine.
While you will absolutely feel like you stepped right into a scene of Game of Thrones — complete with dinner by candlelight and drinking wine from clay jugs, I do want to set expectations for the food… all dishes here are literally from medieval times. Meaning, they didn’t even serve potatoes because they didn’t exist yet. Expect bear, various game meats, salmon, parsnips, etc on the menu. It wasn’t the best food I’ve ever had, but the atmosphere was super unique!
That brings us to the end of this guide all about things to do in Tallinn, Estonia. If you get the chance to visit this gem of a city, maybe on a Baltic cruise, I hope you love it as much as I did!
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