Tallinn, cosa vedere nella perla del Mar Baltico

Tallinn, capital of Estonia, is a medieval city perhaps small in size, but great in potential: ancient buildings and suggestive colors make it one of the favorite destinations for tourists. Here is a guide to help you best organize your trip to Tallinn: what to see, how to get around, where to sleep and what to eat.

What to visit in Tallinn: places of interest in the Estonian capital

The city of Tallinn, Estonia is not very large and, armed with comfortable shoes, you can visit it on foot in one day. Yes, if you are wondering how to get around Tallinn to fully enjoy its beauties, we recommend doing so on foot. This guide will help you understand what to see in Tallinn and what to do during your stay.

1 Old Town

The Old Town is the oldest part of Tallinn and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also known as the Upper Town, it represents the most characteristic area of Tallinn. Being mostly closed to traffic, it can be visited on foot. In our list “What to visit in Tallinn” it is definitely in first place. It is precisely in this area that you can find the nightlife of Tallinn, also thanks to the large number of students who live in this city that hosts Tallinn University, the third university in Estonia.

2 Raadhuiskwartier Tallinn

Gelegen op het Raadhuisplein, is het het enige voorbeeld van een gotisch stadhuis in Noord-Europa. Uniek in zijn soort vanwege de 64 meter hoge toren. De top bereiken kost wat inspanning – een klim van 115 treden – maar we kunnen verzekeren dat het de moeite waard is: er wacht je een adembenemend uitzicht over de stad!

3 Vene Street

Vene Street is the most unique street in Tallinn and is famous for having been the street of Russian merchants in the past. It will be fascinating to watch the artisans working along St. Catherine’s Passage, under the medieval arches in the historic center. Vene Street is certainly one of the things to see in Tallinn.

4 Church of St. Olaf

The Church of Olaf is one of the earliest buildings constructed in Tallinn. It is a Gothic church particularly known for its bell tower, which is as high as 124 meters: it is, in fact, among the tallest buildings in all of Europe.

5 Church of the Holy Spirit

On your tour of Tallinn, you must stop at the Church of the Holy Spirit to admire its baroque interiors, the Renaissance pulpit, and especially the famous painted clock on the facade, considered one of the oldest in Estonia.

6 Convent of Saint Bridget

Convent of Saint Bridget: these are the remains of an ancient convent. We recommend visiting it at sunset to take beautiful photos.

7 Kadriorg Palace

Kadriorg Palace is a magnificent Baroque-style palace, once the residence of the Tsar. Today home to the Estonian National Art Museum, the palace and its gardens are one of the main highlights on your “Things to do in Tallinn” list.

8 Museums of Tallinn

The Estonian capital certainly does not lack important museums. Depending on the length of your stay, you can decide which museums to visit. We recommend not missing the Applied Art and Design Museum and Rocca al Mare, an open-air museum that will captivate you.

Tallinn in a nutshell: how to get there, where to sleep, what to eat

9 How to get to Tallinn

Once you reach Tallinn airport, the Tallinn Airport Lennart Meri, you can get to the city center, about 4 km away, by bus or taxi. Currently, Tallinn does not have a railway or metro service connecting the airport.

10 What to eat in Tallinn

There are many restaurants in Tallinn where you can eat typical cuisine. Don’t miss the chance to try dishes based on marinated eel, sult boiled pork, and leib, the typical black bread of Estonia.

11 Where to stay in Tallinn

Costs for a stay in Tallinn are slightly higher compared to other Baltic capitals, but you can still find good deals by booking well in advance. When choosing your hotel in Tallinn we definitely recommend the Old Town area, a reference point for monuments and museums and, at the same time, for restaurants and bars.