The medieval town of Tallinn was full of unexpected highlights and it is definitely somewhere we think you should consider visiting. Tallinn had been on our radar for awhile, but due to it’s location (north east Europe) and other priorities, it hadn’t found itself on any of our previous Europe trips. What we expected was a picturesque old town, and what we got what that and so much more! Read on for our detailed Tallinn guide, including the artsy bohemian area you can’t miss, the best coffee, good food, best things to do, and so much more.
What we loved about Tallinn
These are a few of the things we loved during our visit, and things we think you should do during your stay in Tallinn.
The Tallinn Old Town
This feels like a real life fairytale when you walk through the old town. The medieval walled town is one of our favourites in Europe! It’s so well preserved, with colourful buildings, cathedrals and ‘Rapunzel like’ towers throughout. It’s seriously picturesque, and one of the best things to do on your visit to Tallinn is explore and get lost in the old town. We have listed a few of our favourite things to do in the old town below:
- Sit in the Tallinn main square: This was one of our favourite main squares in Europe. Sure it’s picturesque, many in Europe are. What we enjoyed was how there was a multitude of areas to sit and people watch. The vibe in summer was special, and we visited a few times with some food to relax and soak it up. There’s many bars and restaurants lining the square, or you can easily grab some take-away or supermarket grub. A Tallinn must.
- Enjoy the best views in Tallinn: When a town is postcard pretty, you need to find some view points to enjoy the beauty, and take some photos. You best believe we did both. See below for our favourite views in Tallinn:
– Kohtuotsa viewing platform: Located in the heart of the ‘upper part’ of Tallinn old town, Kohtuotsa viewing platform offers one of the best views in Tallinn. Soak up the views, it’s a must!
– Patkuli viewing platform: Definitely one of the best views in Tallinn, offering a stunning perspective of the town and the circular turrets. A must in Tallinn.
– Views from the Tallinn old town wall fortifications: there are multiple locations you can climb the walls for a small fee, including Hellemann Tower and near the Danish Gardens. The views are excellent!
– Toompea park: this park located outside the walls gives you a lovely perspective of the city and the town.
- The medieval feel of the town: Due to the well preserved nature of Tallinn’s old town, the city has a very ‘medieval feel’. Many of the restaurants in the touristic part of town have leant into this with costumes and décor, which adds a nice touch when wandering the streets. The old historic street ‘St Catherine’s passage’ is a good example of this and a must visit.
The Bohemian Kalamaja:
The suburb of Kalamaja was a delightful surprise that we didn’t expect from our Tallinn visit. The whole area is home to a mix of attractions, including traditional Estonian houses, street art, a food market, and the key attractions, the Telliskivi area. The Telliskivi Creative City is located in a former industrial complex of Tallinn, about a 15 minute walk from the old town. Home to excellent restaurants, cafes, art galleries, boutique shops, start ups, live music, famous museums (think Fotografiska Tallinn) and more. Founded in 2007, the area has grown along with the increasing creative and tech boom in Estonia. Visiting Telliskivi is a must, and it is an excellent spot for coffee, drinks, or dinner (see a few recommendations below).
The Estonian prices!
If you are sick of paying crazy prices in Europe then Tallinn might be the city for you! Expect to pay 30-50% less than many other European city destinations, meaning this is an extremely affordable city for a holiday.
The coffee culture in Tallinn
You know we love a city with good coffee, and Tallinn didn’t disappoint. We have been observing a trend in the upcoming, artsy, student-town, tech-boom cities and areas of Europe (think Tallinn, Brno, Leiden, Sodermalm and more). Talllinn had numerous excellent coffee shops and cafes, some which we have listed below. Don’t expect cheap coffee prices, as it seems despite the budget friendly nature of Tallinn, coffee prices are similar to many places in Europe. See some of the best café’s in Tallinn below..
Best Coffee in Tallinn:
- The Brick Coffee Roastery
- Cafe kiosk no2
- Cafe kiosk no1
- Rost
- Fika Cafe
- Varav
- OA Coffeeshop
Tallinn isn’t very busy!
Have you visited a European city in summer and been overwhelmed with crazy crowds and long lines. The benefit of stepping away from the ‘tourist path’ to a destination like Tallinn is there aren’t many crowds. We could get in to every restaurant we wanted, streets had a vibe but weren’t crowded, and attractions had no lines. We strongly advise you to consider alternative summer destinations in Europe to beat the crowds and Tallinn should be high on your list.
Learning about the history on a ‘free walking tour’
Tallinn has a very interesting history, something we briefly learned about on a free walking tour with an excellent local guide. We loved hearing from a local about the tumultuous relationship with Russia and it’s role in the Soviet Union, and the more recent independence and how the country has had to emerge from corruption. The more recent 20 years have seen Tallinn begin to flourish, and establish itself as a technology hub. We definitely urge you to do a ‘free walking tour’ (don’t forget to tip the guides) when you visit Tallinn.
A few other places to consider checking out in Tallinn include:
- The Cultural Kilometre – a street full of art and culture not far from the city
- The traditional Estonian wooden houses – see streets in Kalamaja like ‘Valgevase, Kalju, Kungla, Köie, and Niine’.
- The Balti Jaama Turg Market (Kalamaja Market): A renovated market hall with 3 levels including food, boutiques and clothing.
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral: An impressive cathedral with a mixed history. Worth checking out.
- Check out the many statues in the city, including the Three bronze monks located near the Danish gardens.
Where to eat and drink in Tallinn?
This isn’t an exhaustive list, as Tallinn has a great hospitality culture. We have already detailed some of our favourite cafes, and mentioned the Telliskivi areas for great food and bars. However, we will list some excellent options we either sampled ourself, or were highly recommended by locals.
Restaurants/Food in Tallinn:
- Restaurant F-Hoone: An institution in the Kalamaja that is a must for brunch, dinner or even just drinks. Make sure you check F-Hoone out!
- Must Poodle: Located in the old town, this café had an excellent brunch menu, and we loved the omlette’s here.
- Moon: One we didn’t get a chance to visit, but had locals rave about it. You may need to book in advance.
- Rataskaevu 16: One of the most popular, and highly rated restaurants in the old town. You may need to book for dinner.
- Kompressor – cheap eats in main square – savoury and sweet pancakes.
Bars in Tallinn:
- Whisper Sister: A speakeasy that is definitely worth visiting. Enter via calling a number on the door. You’ll find themed rooms and top notch cocktails.
- Junimperium Gin distillery: Gin lovers don’t miss this place.
- Kopli Couture: A vintage shop that doubles as a bar. Worth checking out.
- Pohja Konn: One of the more popular bars/pubs in the Telliskivi area, worth visiting for a drink.
- Nudist Winery: A ‘vibey’ wine bar in the Telliskivi area.
- Vaat brewery and taproom: One of a few boutique brewery’s with great beers.
- St Vitus: Another Telliskivi special worth checking out.
Best Coffee in Tallinn:
- The Brick Coffee Roastery
- Cafe kiosk no2
- Cafe kiosk no1
- Rost
- Fika Cafe
- Varav
- OA Coffeeshop
How long should you stay in Tallinn for?
We visited for 3 nights, and left feeling like this was the perfect amount of time. We think that a stay between 2-4 nights would be ideal for a variety for reasons.. there’s a fair bit to see and do even though Tallinn’s old town in small. There are excellent café and hospitality options. The Kalamaja area is worth exploring well. And Tallinn isn’t that close to other key tourist areas, so it can be harder to reach than other cities.
Spend a bit longer in the region!
We recommend you consider visiting other destinations in close proximity like Riga ( only a few hour bus ride away) and Helsinki (a short ferry away and a viable Tallinn day trip option).
Where should you stay in Tallinn?
We recommend you stay in the Tallinn old town. This is where all of the ‘action’ is, and despite our love for the Telliskivi area, there isn’t much accommodation nearby here. The accommodation in the old town is also very budget friendly. See where we stayed in Tallinn here, an perfectly located apartment. You can also check out a few more great options below:
- Merchants House Hotel
- Citybox Hotel
- Taanilinna Hotell
- Rija Old Town Hotel
- Dream a little.. here’s a 5 star option to get you excited – Hotel Telegraaf
- See more Tallinn accommodation here!
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