7 Lovely Things to Do in Tallinn Old Town, Estonia
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission (at no cost to you).
Forget the map in Tallinn Old Town.
Dating back at least 1,000 years, the Estonian capital’s well-preserved Old Town is a jumble of cobblestone alleys, squares buzzing with cafes and bars, attractive shops and medieval merchant houses. Gothic spires from towering churches watch over it all, adding to the fairy-tale charm.
Like so many wonderful old towns in Europe, the Old Town of Tallin is perfect for soaking up its years of history by strolling aimlessly – and letting your curiosity guide your feet.
On our visit, we enjoyed the following seven delightful experiences.
Where to start walking through Tallinn
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the historic Old Town of Tallinn is divided into two sections – Toompea Hill (upper town) and the lower town.
We started our walking tour of Tallinn Old Town in Toompea Hill.
But it doesn’t really matter where you start.
Two narrow, steep streets – the “Long Leg” (used by horses in days gone by) and the “Short Leg” (an alley with stairs for people) connect Toompea with the Lower Town.
Tallinn is also small enough that you won’t get too lost. (If you do, just ask a local to point you in the direction you want to go.)
7 Best things to do in Tallinn Old Town
Okay, let’s go explore this picture-perfect Old Town!
1) Visit Toompea Castle
Sitting proudly atop Toompea Hill, Toompea Castle is hard to miss – especially with Estonia’s blue, black and white flag fluttering from its tower.
The castle itself dates back to the 1200s, a medieval stronghold that once protected the city. But the eye-catching pink Baroque palace you see today? That was added in the 18th century during Russian rule, giving the castle a dash of elegance.
These days, the castle houses Estonia’s parliament.
Toompea Castle is open to the public, and in the spring, summer and fall, tour guides give visitors free guided tours. See here to book your free tour.
2) See the Cathedral of Saint Mary the Virgin
Also known as the “Dome Church,” the Cathedral of St. Mary the Virgin is Estonia’s oldest church, built sometime before 1233. It’s also located on Toompea Hill.
The inside is decorated with elaborate medieval coats of arms from noble families from the 17th to 20th centuries, and tombstones pave the floor.
Entrance to the church is free.
For a small fee, you can climb to the top of the 226-foot spire for jaw-dropping views of Tallinn Old Town below.
3) Ogle the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
The splendid onion-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral faces Toompea Castle.
We were told most Estonians don’t really like the cathedral. It was built in 1900, when Estonia was part of the Russian Empire, so it’s an unpleasant reminder of Russian domination.
Still, its beauty is undeniable.
The cathedral’s striking façade, topped with five black domes, is a stunning example of Russian Orthodox architecture. Step inside, and you’ll find it just as impressive, with richly adorned mosaics, intricate icons and shimmering chandeliers casting a soft glow over the space.
4) Look out for eye-catching oddities and decorations
When sightseeing in Tallinn, you never know what you’ll see by looking up!
Be sure to look out for the drain pipe shaped like a large cowboy boot, complete with spurs.
And don’t overlook the wrought-iron street lamps and gates.
5) Enjoy Raekoja Plats (Tallinn Old Town Square)
The Town Hall Square bustles with life.
Thankfully, benches invite you to sit down and engage in some interesting people watching!
We saw a young maiden dressed in period costume, tied to a cart and being dragged along the cobblestone square – advertising for a museum or medieval dungeon attraction?
The square is also home to the oldest pharmacy in all of Europe, the Tallinn Town Hall Pharmacy, still operating today. We popped in to buy throat lozenges and Sudafed (for the inevitable travel sniffles).
The Burchart family operated the pharmacy from the 1500s and ran it until the early 1900s.
As a sideline, they also invented marzipan which, in addition to being delicious, was originally used as a cure for many ills, including flu, headache and jealousy.
We also stopped in at Olde Hansa, a restaurant/shop lining the square, where we couldn’t resist trying their famous spicy, sugared almonds. Addictive!
By the way, you won’t go hungry in the city – there are many great cafes and restaurants in Tallinn.
6) View Saint Olaf’s Church
When Saint Olaf’s Church was built in the 12th century (rebuilt in the 14th century), the idea was to erect a church so tall it would attract ships (and commerce) from miles around.
And at one time – between 1549 and 1625 – the church was indeed the tallest building in the world.
Today, at over 400 feet high, it’s still a recognizable landmark – and one of Tallinn’s most photographed sites!
If you’ve seen photos of Tallinn, you’ve seen photos of Saint Olaf’s Church!
7) Go shopping in Tallinn Old Town
As you wander through the Old Town, you’ll pass lots of cute little shops.
What catches your fancy? A sweet pastry? Amber jewelry? Cloth dolls or matryoshka (nesting) dolls from Russia? We usually don’t collect too many souvenirs when we travel, but we do end up collecting lots of photos!
Guided walking tour of Tallinn
If you’d prefer a guided experience, here’s a highly-rated small group walking tour (two hours long).
It kicks off at the Town Hall Square, where you’ll learn a little about the history of Estonia. You’ll then visit key spots like St. Nicholas Church, Freedom Square, the old fortress walls, Toompea Castle and St. Mary’s Cathedral. Plus, you’ll finish at a couple of scenic viewpoints with breathtaking views of the city.
Enjoy exploring Tallinn!
Pin this Tallin Old Town travel guide!
Our top travel tips and resources
→ General trip planning: TripAdvisor is a helpful starting point, with loads of user reviews on hotels, restaurants and things to do.
→ Hotels: Booking.com is our go-to for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – often at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. (We especially like Booking.com’s flexible cancellation policy!) You can also find excellent discounted rates on Expedia, especially for hotels in the U.S. and Mexico.
→ Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
→ Flights: For the best flights, we search on Google Flights first. Expedia and Kayak are then perfect for snagging the cheapest tickets. (They’re often non-refundable, though, so for more flexibility, we book directly with the airline, even if it costs more.)
→ Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!
→ Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.
→ Car rental: Renting a car can be a great way to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies for the lowest rates.
→ Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.
→ Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)
→ Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find cool hotels and other useful trip planning info.
If you make a booking or purchase through our site, we may earn a small commission (at no cost to you). Thanks!
About the authors
What a great way to introduce Tallinn! I’ve never been there, even though I live close by – in Poland. I need to make sure I visit my neighbors soon!
Yes, you’ll have to visit Tallinn! So close for you… And by the way, we loved visiting Gdansk in your native Poland too :-). Have a look at our Gdansk post with pictures.
Tallinn is such a pretty medievel town – some lovely photos which have inspired me to make a return visit. Where did you stay?
We didn’t stay in Tallinn – we visited Tallinn for a day while on our Baltic cruise on the “Viking Star.” It would be nice to stay longer though…
Pretty looking town and the ironwork quite spectacular. Tallinn (and Riga) places we’d like to see, we’ve never been to the Baltics.
I like Orthodox churches – we’ve just arrived in Belgrade (Serbia) and lots of those onion shaped domes.
Frank
Those onion-shaped domes are quite the sight, aren’t they? Very striking… We look forward to reading your Belgrade posts :-). Enjoy!
Your eyes and camera have captured such wonderful architectural details. What a beautiful place!
Indeed! Tallinn is a very beautiful port-of-call on a Baltic cruise…
I love the boot shaped lamp. And the woman behind the cart, weird. :)
Yes, that boot-shaped drain pipe is a cool feature – but it’s easy to miss if you’re not on the lookout for it…