Visit Tallinn

Tallinn is a city where thirteenth century stone walls meet the glass towers of a modern digital hub. It serves as a fascinating base for a Tallinn road trip because of its position on the rocky Gulf of Finland. You should explore the Lower Town to find the Raeapteek which is one of the oldest continuously running pharmacies in Europe and has been in the same building since 1422. The local culture is found in the Kalamaja district where colorful wooden houses and the Seaplane Harbour museum show the city's maritime history. For a unique view climb the stairs of Saint Olavs Church which was once the tallest building in the world and gives a panoramic look at the Baltic harbor.

The city geography is defined by the limestone cliff of Toompea where the parliament sits in a pink palace overlooking the lower streets. You should visit the Rotermann Quarter where old salt storage buildings and grain elevators have been turned into a modern district of shops and restaurants. The air is clear and the light in the summer stays late into the night because of the city's northern latitude. You can find the remnants of the Soviet era in the concrete architecture of the Linnahall which sits on the water like a massive abandoned fortress. Tallinn is a city of red roofs and fiber optic cables that feels safe and forward looking.

Driving out of the city toward the east takes you into the Lahemaa National Park where the road follows the rugged coastline and the pine forests. The highway to the south is the main artery connecting Estonia to the rest of the Baltic states. You will notice the landscape is flat and filled with bogs and glacial boulders that have sat in the woods since the ice age. Tallinn is a city of medieval gates and innovative startups that provides a quiet and organized start to your adventure. It is the gateway to the northern wilderness.

Top sights to visitTown Hall Pharmacy  Step inside the Raeapteek to see the oldest continuously operating pharmacy in the world, dating back to 1422. Browse the back room museum to see bizarre medieval cures like dried toads and burnt hedgehogs. It is a fascinating look at how far medicine has come while you are right on the main square.
Kalamaja Wooden Houses  Take a slow drive through the side streets of this neighborhood to admire the Tallinn Houses with their colorful wooden facades. Stop at a local bakery in a converted garage for a coffee and a piece of Estonian black bread. This area perfectly captures the shift of the city from an industrial port to a creative hub.
Toompea Viewpoints  Walk to the Kohtuotsa platform for the most famous view of the red rooftops and the Baltic Sea. Look for the inscription on the wall as you take in the panoramic skyline. This is the best place to visualize the layout of the medieval walls before you explore them.
Telliskivi Creative City  Wander through this complex of former railway warehouses to find vibrant street art and local designer boutiques. Grab a craft beer at a bar made from a shipping container and soak in the energy of the startup scene in Estonia. It is the modern heartbeat of Tallinn that balances out the medieval old town.
Patarei Sea Fortress  Walk along the coastal path to see the imposing limestone walls of this former naval fortress and prison. Explore the raw, untouched courtyards to feel the weight of the complex history of the city during the twentieth century. This massive structure offers a cinematic and slightly eerie atmosphere right on the edge of the sea.
The Fat Margaret Tower  Visit the Great Coastal Gate and look up at the thinnest city wall connected to the widest tower. Head to the roof of the Maritime Museum inside for a clear view of the modern ferry terminal and the old harbor. It is a powerful reminder of how Tallinn has always been a gateway between the sea and the land.
Kadriorg Park Palace  Drive a few minutes east of the center to walk through the formal gardens of this baroque palace built by Peter the Great. Hunt for the presidential palace hidden among the oak trees and watch the silent changing of the guard. This is a grand, royal escape that offers a colorful contrast to the stone heavy medieval center.
Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform  Visit at dusk to watch the light change over the church spires and the modern skyscrapers in the distance. Use the telescopes to zoom in on the Gulf of Finland and watch the massive ferries depart for Helsinki. It is a peaceful spot that makes the history of the city feel tangible.
The Great Guild Hall  Enter the Estonian History Museum to see the grand gothic hall where wealthy merchants once controlled the trade of the city. Explore the Spirit of Survival exhibit to understand how Estonians have maintained their culture through centuries of occupation. The building itself is a masterpiece of Hanseatic architecture from the fifteenth century.
KUMU Art Museum  Hike through the park to find this futuristic building carved directly into a limestone cliff. Explore the galleries to see how Estonian art has evolved from romantic landscapes to bold, modern installations. The architecture alone is worth the visit because it features sharp angles and massive glass windows.
Viru Bog Trail  Take a thirty minute drive out of the city to walk the wooden boardwalks through an ancient, mossy landscape. Climb the observation tower to see the small, dark lakes reflecting the sky. It is a quiet, ethereal nature reset that is essential for any Estonian road trip.
St Catherines Passage  Walk through this narrow, arched alley to find workshops where you can watch glass blowers and weavers at work. Buy a handmade piece of linen or a glass ornament directly from the artist who made it. This is the most atmospheric street in Tallinn, where the sounds of hammers and looms still echo off the stone.

Hotel deals

Weather forecast

Top Local Experiences

Explore with a Local Expert

Like to plan a trip to Tallinn?

Enter your location and we’ll help you plan your adventure

History of Tallinn

Tallinn is the best-preserved Hanseatic trading port in Northern Europe, a city that grew rich on the white gold of salt and the trade between East and West. Its massive limestone walls and twenty-six watchtowers were so effective that the city was never successfully taken by force during the Middle Ages. The Lower Town was the domain of wealthy German merchants, while the Toompea Hill was the seat of the foreign knights and governors who ruled the land, creating a physical divide between the money and the power.

The history of Estonia is a long saga of The Era of Seven Occupations, with Danes, Swedes, Germans, and Russians all taking their turn at the helm of Tallinn. Through it all, the Estonians kept their language and culture alive through song. The Great Singing Revolution of the late 1980s saw hundreds of thousands of people gather at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds to sing forbidden national anthems, a peaceful defiance that eventually led to the restoration of their independence from the Soviet Union.

Tallinn today is a world leader in digital innovation, often called the Silicon Valley of the North, but it has never abandoned its medieval roots. You can pay for your parking with an app while standing under a 14th-century church spire. The city is a fascinating mix of ancient cobblestones, industrial warehouses turned into creative hubs, and glass skyscrapers. It is a compact, vertical city where the salty Baltic breeze reminds you that this has always been a gateway to the world.