Tallinn, Estonia – off the beaten path and fun things to do!

Last updated on May 17th, 2026 at 05:35 am

Tallinn was a surprise! Think of cobblestone streets, colored houses, fairytale towers, winding alleyways, and signs of creativity at every turn and you have Tallinn – a city that feels straight out of a storybook medieval, and yet modern at the same time!

What is great is how easy it is to explore by foot, the cool cafés and great food, and the fact that it has a seriously laid-back vibe – all without the huge crowds of other European capitals.

In this post I cover the ‘must-sees’ of Tallinn, but also give you a whole lot of other less usual and fun things to do on your visit.

First a few important links to use when you plan your trip. They are affiliate links, but I use them all for my travels, and if you do too it will help me keep producing this content – and at no extra cost to you. Cheers!

Plan for your trip

Flights – use skyscanner or booking.com to find and book your flight – I often find the same flight for a lot cheaper than booking direct with the airline!

Insurance – Use EKTA or SafetyWing. TBH I usually use EKTA – they accept any nationality, any age and its ok if you are already traveling – which is perfect for me!

Accommodation – use booking.com or for a hostel – Hostelworld. I use both.

Internet – buy a yesim eSim or Airalo before you go. I use both depending on where I am going.

Buses, trains, ferries – 12Go is always my first option for buses, ferries and trains

Car rental – use DiscoverCars – they are my ‘go-to’ car rental site

Hiking – I use AllTrails for online and offline hiking trails – it means you know exactly where you are on the trail and makes getting lost a lot harder!!

Tours and Activities – book with Viator, GetYourGuide, or Eatwith. Top recommendations for Tallin are:

• Guided Old Town Historical Walking Tour
• Day Trip to Lahemaa National Park
• Hidden Tallinn: Soviet Walking Tour
• Tallinn food and bike tour

Thanks so much if you use one of these links – it costs you nothing but helps me keep writing!!

Travel tips for visiting Tallinn

1. The Tallinn Card
If you have even the remotest interest in the museums and art galleries that Tallin has to offer then the best investment you can make is the Tallinn Card. This gives free entry to 36 museums and 12 other top sights, as well as all the public transport, and it pays for itself quickly. Buy it on GetYourGuide (for some reason it was slightly cheaper for me there at the time!)

The Tallinn Card has an app you can download to use – it is really good for planning your trip and visits. I recommend you plan your trip to get to all of the places with entry fees that you want to visit on one or two days, then do the free things and any tour like a city tour on another day.

2. Museum Sundays
If you are planning a trip ahead of time to Tallinn, then consider including the first Sunday of the month as then a number of the museums in Tallin are free! You can see the list and register for this on the museum website. Note you do have to register ahead of time!

3. Bolt is cheap and very convenient!
Make sure you have the Bolt app (similar to Uber). Unlike other things in Tallinn, it is cheap and can be cheaper than the bus if there are two of you! For example for two of us to visit Kadriorg Park, it cost €4 for the two of us on the bus, but to go door to door back to our hotel (more convenient) it was only €3.30!

4. Buses and trams are easy to use and relatively cheap
At the same time the buses and trams are great too. €2 per hour so if you are going far eg to the TV tower then it is a great way to go. You don’t need to buy a card – just tap your bankcard when you get on and that’s it. No tap off either. If you get on another bus or tram within the hour then tap again – it will register you but wont take any more money.

5. Toompea Castle
If you want to visit inside Toompea Castle – the Estonian Parliament, you must you must book well ahead of your visit. (It is usually booked out months ahead.)

The 15 best (usual) things to do in Tallinn

Tallinn is a place you can see in a day at a superficial level – the Old Town being the primary drawcard, or enjoy at a more leisurely pace and in much more depth over a few days to even a week if you add in some day trips or visit every art gallery, museum, and other city sights.

Estonia has more museums per capita than any other nation and it becomes very clear when you start wandering around Tallinn – there is almost one on every corner! You do feel the strong cultural vibe too – it also has a lot of art galleries and theaters!

It is worth noting that Tallinn is a very relaxed place – also with great cafes and food to relax in and over (I don’t often mention food as you know). It would be hard to get stressed here!

Read on for my 15 best (usual) things to do in Tallinn, as well as 15 unusual or more off the beaten path things to do in Tallinn too. Anything you can do for free is noted. Otherwise there is an entry fee – unless you have a Tallinn Card which includes entry to almost all of these sights. Enjoy!

1. Take a tour of the old city

I do recommend you start this way – it will give you your bearings, some history of the city and what you are seeing, and you can then go back and see the things that interest you in more detail later. I also recommend at least a two-hour tour to get you started. Great city tour options are:

• Guided Old Town Historical Walking Tour (2 hours)
• Medieval Tallinn 2-Hour Old Town Walking Tour
• Tales of Tallinn 4 Hour Sightseeing Tour
• And if you are visiting on a cruise this is for you – Deluxe Tallinn Small-Group Shore Excursion

2. Spend time in the town square and town hall (free to look, entry fee for town hall)

The Town Hall Square has been a marketplace since the Middle Ages, and is still often a venue for fairs, festivals and concerts. At Christmas it is the center of the towns Christmas Market with a huge Christmas Tree. On an ordinary day you can enjoy the restaurants around the edge of the square and visit the 13th-century Gothic Town Hall.

The Town Hall was built between 1402 and 1404 along with its well known tower and its weather vane known as Old Thomas! You can climb the tower and its 115 steps – they do get quite steep as you get higher – similar to the towers in the old city walls.

3. Visit the oldest pharmacy in Europe (free to enter, entry fee for an optional tour)

Right in the corner of the town square is an old door and a few steps – you can easily miss unless you are looking for it! This is the entrance to the Raeapteek Town Hall Pharmacy which has been in this exact place since at least 1422. It is recognized as one of the oldest continuously running pharmacies in Europe and the oldest to have been in the one place.

It is an absolutely fascinating place! You can learn about medieval healing – including herbal remedies as well as the intriguing things that were sold here in the past! A price list from 1695 includes various waters, fats, oils, tinctures, ointments and medicinal teas. But it also includes things like burnt bees, stallion hoofs, burnt hedgehogs, earthworm oil, bleached dog faeces and human fat!

This used to be not just a pharmacy but a meeting place where lords and other important townspeople would meet for a cup of tea or a glass of claret and hear the news!  It is still a modern day pharmacy with the museum being a tourist attraction. Check the website to ask about a tour!

4. Take in the views from at least one viewing platform (free)

The best in the “high town” are the Patkuli Viewing Platform and the Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform. Both of these look over the old town and its towers and church spires and domes as well as the lovely old buildings and cobbled streets. I wouldn’t bother with the Bishops Garden viewing Platform as it looks over the newer parts of the city and is not that interesting!

You can also take in the views from the TV Tower or the bell tower of St. Mary`s Cathedral (entry fee for both) – see no 5 and 9 below. There are a few other places for views too – see no 1 and 2 in the 15 more unusual things to do!

5. Head east – get really high in the TV tower, visit the Pirita Convent ruins, and check out the Viimsi Open Air Museum

The TV Tower is 70 meters (574 feet) high and has massive views!! You can also can “Walk the Edge” if you feel like a bit of an adrenaline rush! Unfortunately I didn’t make it as I simply ran out of time. But as it is well reviewed I have included it!

Note: The restaurant in the TV tower has not had good reviews of late so maybe check that before you think about eating there!

Nearby, is Pirita beach which has good views across to the city and can apparently be pleasant in the summer! And, also the ruins of the Convent of St. Bridget (Pirita Klooster) are quite lovely and impressive in size!

In the same general area, you can also learn about farm and fishing village life in the Viimsi Open Air Museum. It is small but informative and also has a very good market on Saturdays.

6. Enjoy Kadriorg Park, Palace and Art Museum – and the Presidents Residence

There is plenty to do here – the park has some lovely gardens worth a wander – including a Japanese Garden and pretty lake area. But the main drawcards are:

• The Office of the President of the Republic of Estonia – an imposing and attractive building – especially for me who loves a pink building!
• The Kadriorg Art Museum which is housed in the beautiful old Kadriorg Palace. The Palace was built by Peter the Great as a summer palace in the early 1700s.
• The Luigetiigi Pavilion and lake in the gardens of Kadriorg Palace.
• Peter the Great House Museum – surprisingly full of items that Peter once used in his lifetime.

See the next item in the list for the Estonian KUMU Art Museum. Its also just up on the hill above this park!

7.  Visit an art museum or gallery – notably the KUMU Estonian Art Museum

The Kumu Art Museum is huge – three floors – and its an interesting modern space! This is the best art museum in Tallin and has Estonian art from across different historical periods up to contemporary art.

8. Get some shots in Towers Square and at Viru Gate (free)

From the outside of the old city there is one place that gives you a good view of the walls and a number of the towers all at once. It is in Towers Square – a nice little green space in itself. (See the photo earlier in this post.) This is also close to Rannamägi park and garden which is on top of old bastion defences and gives another good view of the city.

Viru Gate is on the other side of the old town and just very attractive to see. It was part of the Tallinn city defence system and is a popular photo spot!

9. Enjoy the peace of the beautiful churches and climb the Bell Tower of the Cathedral of Saint Mary (free to enter, entry fee to climb the bell tower)

There are so many lovely cathedrals and churches in Tallinn that I cannot list them all. To me the best to spend time in are the gorgeous-inside-and-out Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, St Olaf’s Church, and St. Mary`s Cathedral. Although it is worth popping into others you will pass as well as many have beautiful interiors.

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was completed in 1900 when Estonia was part of the Russian Empire. It is quite obvious from the outside! Take note of the mosaics inside too.

St Olaf’s Church was once, many years ago, the tallest building in Europe. It still has a dominant position in the Tallinn old town skyline! It was built in the 13th century but the Gothic architecture you see now was created in the 14th and 15th centuries. You can attend a service here on Sundays!

St. Mary`s Cathedral was built in 1233 and has gravestones from the 13-18th centuries as well as coat of arms epitaphs from the 17-20th centuries! You can also climb the baroque-style bell tower for lovely views over the city.

Note that the vast majority of the cathedrals and churches do not allow photography inside!

10. Get down to the stunning Maritime Museum at the Seaplane Harbor

Its not just for maritime buffs! The building alone is worth seeing and I would rate this as the top museum to visit – so its gets its own spot on my list. The museum is inside historic seaplane hangars! You get to see a submarine (Lembit), a 100 year old icebreaker (Suur Tõll) and a seaplane (Short 184) amongst other things.

This Tallinn Old Town tour includes the Seaplane Harbour and is a perfect option!

11. Visit at least one or two of the small niche museums

You have soooo much choice its crazy. Tallinn doesn’t have one big museum with everything in it – instead it has masses of niche museums!

These are just some of the niche museums you can visit in Tallinn – its worth picking a few and adding them to your itinerary:
Peter the Great House Museum, the Museum of Orders of Knighthood, the Estonian Health Museum, the Puppetry Museum, the Estonian Natural History Museum, the Museum of Russian Icons, the Photo Museum, the Museum of Orders of Knighthood, the Torture Museum, the Arsenal and Weaponry Museum…….

The KGB Prison Museum is another niche museum, and I mention it in particular as it is one of the most chilling, given how recently it was used! (See the photos above.) If you are interested in the KGB and Soviet era you might like this Hidden Tallinn: Soviet Walking Tour.

Probably the biggest museum is the Tallinn City Museum – which is quite cool in terms of the building alone – it was a medieval merchants home at one time. If you are into procelain, it also has a collection that is well worth seeing!

12. Climb the Hellerman Tower, Kiek In De Kök, the Nun Tower and walk the old city walls (free to see, entry fee to towers and walkways)

The amount of old city walls and towers that still exist in Tallinn is fantastic! You can walk around the outside or inside of the old city and see most of it still in tact. There are three particular towers that are worth going inside (with a fee) if you are in the city. Note that the towers have some pretty steep spiral staircases – some with large steps. The towers are:

• Nunna Tower Walkway. This is a long stretch of wall to walk along with three towers to climb. The stairs are steep and spiral but you get good views of the medieval city.
• Hellemann Tower Walkway. There are two towers to climb with those spiral staircases. And one of the longest stretches of wall to walk and pretty views over nearby rooftops!
• Kiek In De Kök. There are four towers – with houses built into them. There is also the Fortifications Museum, with exhibitions on Tallinn’s military history and explanations of the city walls and towers. You can go in the very cool underground bastion passageways if you go in the museum!

If you only choose one then Kiek in De Kök is my choice for its views and underground passages.

13. Visit Fat Margaret! (free to see, entry fee)

Its the fattest roundest tower of them all – and quite imposing as you enter the city from that side! It now houses the Estonian Maritime Museum – not to be confused with the Maritime Museum in Seaplane Harbor! Even if you don’t want to visit the museum it is worth walking by and seeing Fat Margaret!

14. Tour Toompea Castle – if you can! (free)

Toompea Castle is the current home of the Estonian Parliament! Its pretty in pink and conveniently located opposite the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

The original castle was built in 1219 but destroyed and replaced with the current castle in the 14th century. It was the seat of the Knights of the Sword for several centuries.

Note: The castle is open to tours during week days only and you must book ahead on the website. This books out months ahead so if you are planning a trip book as soon as you know your dates! Otherwise it is nice to see from the outside!

15. Go to the bog!

Finally – a popular and worthwhile thing to do is to visit the bog! Near Tallinn is Lahemaa National park and its definitely worth a day trip. Here you get to walk in Estonia’s amazing and fabulous bogs on boardwalks. If you have an extra day or have had enough of the museums and art galleries – do it! You can take a Bolt (just organise the return trip before you leave) or go on one of these tours:

• Laheemaa National Park day trip – on Viator
• Day Trip to Lahemaa National Park – on Get Your Guide

And now – 15 Unusual things to do in Tallin to make it even more interesting

These are mostly things people pass by doing – some are better known than others, and I think its worth adding a few to your itinerary depending on what interests you!

1. “There is Nothing Here” – so say the KGB, but find out for yourself!

This is probably the most well known thing on this list but I have put it here as many people visit the KGB Prison Museum in the Old Town (which I also recommend) but not this spot! At the Sokos Hotel Viru you can take a really interesting tour (approx 1hour) and hear the stories of the days when the KGB had a branch on its 23rd floor (the lifts stop at the 22nd floor).

Enter via a door that has “There is nothing here” written on it!! You will see the paraphernalia they used to bug the rooms, record the activities of staff and guests – including things like the dining plates with microphones built into them! I wont say more but it is a fun and interesting tour that you might skip and I recommend you at least think about adding it to your list!

Another option is to take this Hidden Tallinn: Soviet Walking Tour and get Soviet era stories and see key sites from a passionate local. You can then choose to come to the Viru hotel later or not – all in all I find this era really interesting, so if you are like me then I recommend both!

Note: You also get great views from the Viewing Platforms on Level 23 – see the feature photo at the top of this post!

2. Visit the Soviet Statue graveyard and the Tallinna Linnahall – remnants of “that” era!

One more thing on the Soviet Era! Out behind the small but attractive Maarjamäe Castle (definitely worth visiting if you have a Tallin Pass) is a little Soviet statue graveyard. Of course it features such persons as Stalin and Lenin! Each piece tells you who it is, where the statue used to be and a bit more about it. These are statues that were ripped down after the end of the Soviet era in Estonia.

The Linnahall was used for the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics – the ones that were boycotted by much of the west! The building’s exterior is now covered in graffiti and looks like a very run down piece of old soviet architecture. You can walk around and enjoy the graffiti and the view from the top of the Linnahall, but you can only go inside on a guided tour – which you must book ahead. Inside will probably be the most surprising thing you see in Tallinn!

3. Check out the PoCo Pop And Contemporary Art Museum or Popkunstimuuseum

Its a few minutes walk from the old town and got plenty of famous names to it! PoCo Pop Art only opened in 2023 and is mostly from a private collection.

You will see work from Warhol, Banksy, Koons, Lichtenstein, Haring, Hirst, Murakami, Wesselman, Kusama and new contemporary artists. If you have any interest in contemporary art at all it is a must see.

And if you don’t have a Tallin Card you can buy a ticket here.

4. You wont believe what you find in the banned books museum – yes banned books!

Not only is it free to enter the Banned Books Museum, it is also a fascinating read! (Pun intended.) Learn about books that have been banned around the world for their subversive or immoral content!

Just in the childrens section you will see books like Where the Wild Things Are, Little Red Riding Hood, Noddy, Watership Down…….

And did you know Winnie the Pooh was banned at one time – with probably the most amusing reason why! Go and see the museum to find out why!

5. By some flowers by Viru Gate and explore Kissing Hill!

Right outside Viru Gates, are lots of flower stalls – and the flowers were so cheap I couldn’t help but buy some for my hotel room!! Crazy I know – but I had them for a few days!

But behind the flower stalls is a small park on a small hill – Musumägi park, and it is quite cute. There are a few statues of kissing couples and so it is nicknamed Kissing Hill!

A good spot to go if you are on a romantic break!

6. Mooch in the lovely little artisan courtyard at Meistrite Hoov

It is touristy in a way, but not in another, and somehow I liked it! The Meistrite Hoov courtyard has a cafe with sweet goodies and its buildings house a number of artisans with quality work – from silk dying to pottery to woodwork and more.

I was there in early spring not midsummer, but I saw so many people just walk by this little courtyard and there were few there on my visit, so I have added it in this list!

7. Visit Freedom Square and sit and listen to Chopin!

Just a little bit of fun. Sit on this seat – Chopini pink – near Freedom Square and let it play! Freedom Square is a ceebration of independence. Its on the way to Kiek in de Kök so easy to fit into your walking around the old town!

8. Get good luck rubbing buttons

Probably known by quite a few, but maybe not in the usual lists of things to do is to get yourself some luck! In Tallin is a statue of a chimney sweep – and if you rub his buttons you will get good luck. Time will tell for me!

Fun fact – this is one of twenty statues worldwide that you can rub one portion or another of for good luck! Others include the Porcellino in Florence, Molly Malone in Dublin, The Little Princess in Budapest and Philbert the Pig in Sydney!

9. See the tombstones in St Catherine’s Passage

Its a passageway off a non-descript little courtyard beside the St. Catherine’s Monastery (one of the oldest churches in the city from 1246), but along the walls of the passageway are huge tombstones on display – it looks like they were made for giants! It really is quite medieval feeling despite being quite bland in a way!

10. Find the Telliskivi Creative City and its murals

Close to the train station and Balti Jaam Market (no 10 below) is the Telliskivi Creative City. It is an old industrial area that has been regenerated into studios, theatres, galleries, design shops, cafes and restaurants and there are plenty of events here.

The street art and murals are also a big drawcard. Its fun just to wander around and see what you find!

11. Eat and shop at the Balti Jaam Market

The Balti Jaam market is by the Tallinn train station and very easy to get to from the Old Town. You can buy fresh local produce as well as all sorts of crafts and home made goodies like preserves.

There are also plenty of lovely cafes (its hard to choose one) with all kinds of food. Basically its a yummy space and place! Fortunately staff can generally speak English as it is a locals area and menus and signage is in Estonian! Its a fun place to go for lunch on your day out.

12. Jump on an unusual bike tour of the city for a lot of fun, food and fascination

This Tallinn food and bike tour takes you to some interesting parts of the city for something more than just the old town. You go to bohemian Kalamaja district, plus the Balti Jaam Market, the Patarei sea fortress, and the seaplane harbor! Finish off with a delicious lunch and drink! I do recommend!!!

13. See the chimney tower from the Stalker Movie….and a bit more art (free)

Stalker was released in 1979 and is a Soviet science fiction art film with a bit of a cult following. The huge chimney / smoke stack, where it was filmed, represented the oppressive, decaying industrial world outside the mysterious “Zone.” The same “UN chimney” is alive and well in a industrial area near the Linnahall (no 2 above) and is now protected.

Around the tower are more art buildings. (They really are a creative bunch.) The Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia (EKKM) is on one side and is free, and a very fun and slightly crazy museum indeed. On the other side is the Tallinn Creative Hub which is a funky space in an old industrial building , now used for conferences, workspaces and events.

14. Eat an authentic Estonian meal at home with Evita!

Have a four course authentic Estonian meal with local products in a local home. Evita is the host for this excellent meal (just click on this link to see some of the food offered) and it’s a great way to meet and talk to locals as well as eat delicious local food!

PS – not that I talk about restaurants very often, but we ate at an excellent vegan restaurant (my daughter is vegan) and its worth mentioning whether you are vegan or not – the name is Vegan Restoran V!! There are other highly rated restaurants in the same street – Rataskaevu Street, which is known for its food!

15. Check out the “Rusalka” Memorial and get some sea air!

The Rusalka Memorial was the first monument designed and built by an Estonian sculptor in 1902!

The memorial is on the coast, over the road from Kadriorg Park so easy to combine with a trip to the park.

It was built in memory of the victims of the Rusalka shipwreck which sank in a storm in 1893 in the Gulf of Finland with no survivors of the 177 crew.

Frequently Asked Questions about Tallinn

Q: How long do I need in Tallinn?
A: As said, you can see the main sights of the Old Town in a day, but to do only that would mean missing out on some of the more unusual and interesting aspects of the town and its environs. I suggest an absolute minimum of two days and better if you have three or four- especially if you want to spend time in some of the museums and art galleries, plus learn about the soviet era or go on a day trip outside of town!

Q: When is the best time to visit?
A: Christmas time can be beautiful with snow covering rooftops and the huge Christmas tree in the Town Square along with the Christmas Market. It will be cold – but you can warm up in the many cafes, bars and restaurants! Spring was a great time – chilly but bright blue skies (we were lucky) and a lack of crowds. I would expect Oct-Nov to be the same. I imagine in summer it is more crowded but warmer and sunnier!

Q: Is the Tallinn Card worth it?
A: Yes for at least a day, if you plan ahead and visit all the things you want to see with an entry fee on the day you have the card. If you visit a few top sights you will save money.

Q: What should I not miss?
A: Wandering around the old town without a plan and just enjoying what you find, an old city tour and a soviet-era tour to give you the history and local stories from the times. Top highlights include:

• Tallinn Old Town – wander its medieval streets and squares
• Kadriorg Palace – baroque palace and park
• Toompea Castle – the historic seat of power and current Parliament
• Alexander Nevsky Cathedral – a beautiful Russian Orthodox church
• St Olaf’s Church – once the tallest building in the world

Where to stay in Tallin

Higher End – The Burman Hotel – Member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World or Hotel Telegraaf, Autograph Collection

Mid Range – Nunne Boutique Hotel or Radisson Collection Hotel, Tallinn

Budget – City Yard Inn Hotel (I stayed here and recommend it especially for its kitchenette in the room, cleanliness and easy late checkout!) or try the Taanilinna Hotell or Old Town Boho Guesthouse.

Backpacker – Viru Backpackers or Fat Margaret’s

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