Things to do in Tallinn: the Old Town, Kadriorg and Kalamaja
Tallinn is Estonia's capital, with a walled medieval Old Town, a palace park and a harbor district of wooden houses and converted factories. Two days cover it, three if you add the open-air museum. The one thing to know is that cruise ships and ferries fill the Old Town in the middle of the day, so go early or late.
The short answer
- First trip
- Walk the Old Town early, climb Toompea for the view, then spend an afternoon in Kadriorg or Kalamaja.
- Where to stay
- The Old Town for sights, Rotermann for a modern base, Kalamaja for wooden houses and cafes.
- How many days
- Two days for the city. Add a third for the open-air museum or Lahemaa National Park.
- Best time to go
- June to August for long light, December for the Christmas market, January for snow if you can take the cold.
- Book ahead
- Dinner in the Old Town at weekends, and any Helsinki ferry on a summer Friday.
- From the airport
- Tram lines T2 and T4 run from Tallinn Airport to the center. A single ticket costs €2.
Where to stay in Tallinn, in brief
Old Town (Vanalinn)
sights and first-timers
The walled medieval center, with the Lower Town and Toompea hill. Everything is on foot, on cobbles and hills. It is busy in the middle of the day and loud on Friday and Saturday nights.
Rotermann Quarter and Viru
a modern base next to the Old Town
Converted salt and grain warehouses next to the Old Town, with shops, restaurants and the ferry terminal a short walk away. Less atmosphere, quieter nights.
Kalamaja and Telliskivi
wooden houses, cafes and a local feel
The district north-west of the Old Town, with painted wooden houses, the Telliskivi Creative City and the Balti Jaam market. A fifteen to twenty minute walk or a short tram ride to the center.
Kadriorg
quiet and parkland
A calm residential area around the palace park, with museums and old villas. Further from the Old Town, so you use the tram, and there are fewer places to eat.
Things to do in Tallinn
Old Town and Town Hall Square
The medieval Lower Town is built around the old market square, with the Gothic town hall on one side. Walk the lanes off Pikk and Vene streets for the quieter corners.
Toompea hill and the viewing platforms
The Upper Town, with Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Toompea Castle and two free viewing platforms looking over the red roofs. Go early or at sunset.
The town wall and Viru Gate
Long stretches of the 14th-century wall and many of its towers survive. Walk the sections you can enter, or follow the wall from the outside along Müürivahe street.
St Olaf's Church tower
A climb up a steep spiral stair for a view of the Old Town and the harbor. Not for anyone nervous of heights or narrow steps.
Kadriorg Park and Palace
A baroque palace and park built for Peter the Great, with the Kumu art museum a short walk away. Good for a slow half-day, particularly in autumn.
Telliskivi Creative City and Kalamaja
Former factory buildings now holding cafes, studios, a flea market and bars, next to streets of old wooden houses. Busiest at weekends.
Estonian Open Air Museum
Farmhouses, a windmill and a wooden church moved from across Estonia to a seaside site west of the center. Allow half a day and dress for the weather.
Seaplane Harbour (Lennusadam)
A maritime museum in a concrete seaplane hangar, with a submarine, an icebreaker and a large collection of boats. Good in rain.
Noblessner and the seafront
A former submarine yard turned into a harbor district of restaurants, apartments and a photography museum. Pair it with the coastal path toward the old harbor.
A sauna
Saunas are part of Estonian life, and several public ones in the city and by the sea take visitors. Check the dress and mixed-use rules before you go.
a few days ahead on winter weekends
What to book before you go
These sell out. Most of the rest of Tallinn can be decided on the day.
Every tour and ticket in Tallinn, and which to pick- Old Town dinner at weekendsone to two weeks ahead
The best known restaurants inside the walls fill on Friday and Saturday, and the Christmas season is busier still.
- Helsinki ferry ticketsa few days ahead in summer
Fast ferries run many times a day, but summer Fridays and Sundays and Christmas markets fill the cheaper departures.
- A sauna sessiona few days ahead in winter
Private and shared sessions are limited, and weekends sell out first.
What to skip in Tallinn
- The Old Town at midday in summer
Cruise passengers and ferry day-trippers fill the lanes from late morning to mid-afternoon. See the Old Town before ten or after six, and use the middle of the day for Kadriorg or Kalamaja.
- Eating on the Town Hall Square terraces
The setting is good and the prices are high. Walk two streets away, or go to Telliskivi or Rotermann for a better meal.
- Souvenir shops selling amber and 'Viking' items
Much of it is imported. For something local, look for wool, linen, ceramics and rye bread in the craft shops on Katariina Passage and in Telliskivi.
Best time to visit Tallinn
June to August has long days, with light until late in the evening, and terraces open. It is also the busiest time, and ferries and cruise ships crowd the Old Town. May and September are quieter and still pleasant.
December brings the Christmas market on Town Hall Square, with cold and dark afternoons. January and February are cold and can be snowy. Dress warmly, and you will find the cafes and saunas full.
- From Tallinn AirportTram lines T2 and T4 serve the airport, and the stop is at the northern end of the terminal. A single ticket is €2 and valid for one hour, and you can pay by contactless card on board.
- From the ferry terminalsThe harbor is a ten to fifteen minute walk from the Old Town, and tram T2 stops at the old harbor. Taxis are cheap, and ride-hailing apps are widely used.
- Trams and busesThe network covers the whole city. Tickets are cheaper with a travel card or contactless payment on board. Free travel applies only to registered Tallinn residents.
- On footThe Old Town, Rotermann and the harbor are all within fifteen minutes of each other. Toompea and some lanes are steep and cobbled, so wear flat, grippy shoes.
Tallinn in two days
- Day 1
The Old Town early, Toompea and its viewing platforms, the town wall, then lunch in Rotermann and the Seaplane Harbour in the afternoon.
- Day 2
Kadriorg Park and the Kumu museum in the morning, then Kalamaja and Telliskivi in the afternoon, and dinner in Noblessner or the Old Town.
Day trips from Tallinn
- HelsinkiThe fast ferries take about two hours each way, with many sailings a day from Tallinn's old harbor. Take a morning boat and an evening return for a day in the Finnish capital.
- Lahemaa National ParkManor houses, forest and a rocky coast about an hour east by car. Buses reach Palmse and Sagadi, but a car or a tour gives you more of the park.
- PärnuEstonia's seaside resort town, about two hours by bus. Best from late spring to early autumn, for the beach and the spa hotels.
Tallinn: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Tallinn?
Two days cover the Old Town, Toompea, Kadriorg and Kalamaja. Add a third for the Open Air Museum or Lahemaa National Park.
Is Tallinn worth visiting?
Yes, for a short break. The medieval Old Town is well preserved, the city is compact, and the food and cafes are good. It is smaller than most capitals, so two or three days is enough.
Is Tallinn expensive?
Less than the Nordic capitals, and a little more than it used to be. Restaurant prices inside the Old Town are higher than outside the walls.
What is the best time to visit Tallinn?
June to August for long days, December for the Christmas market. May and September have fewer crowds.
Can you do Tallinn as a day trip from Helsinki?
Yes. Fast ferries take about two hours, so a morning boat from Helsinki gives you a day. An overnight stay gives you the Old Town without the crowds.
Is Tallinn easy to get around?
Yes. The center is small and walkable, trams and buses cover the rest, and the airport is on the tram line.
Does Tallinn charge a tourist tax?
Not as far as we can find. Estonia has no national or city tourist tax, and the idea has been discussed without a decision. Check your booking terms for anything the hotel adds.
What currency does Estonia use?
The euro. Cards and contactless payments are accepted almost everywhere, including trams and small cafes.