Attractions in Tallinn

Tallinn offers a number of attractions and sights. First and foremost in church buildings and magnificent buildings, yes, architecture in general. There are some good museums and monuments, but it is primarily walks in the city that provide lasting memories. Other theme parks and cultural events are limited.

Toompea Citadel and castle

This is the most remarkable building in Tallinn. The building is considered to be from the first half of the 13th century. In the 18th century, the Russians converted the citadel into a palace and castle.

Tallinn Cathedral

The Tallinn Cathedral was built in the middle of the 13th century and is an exciting mix of styles. In the 15th century, the church was converted into a Gothic basilica, and it received a Baroque-style tower in the 18th century.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Next door to Toompea Castle is Nevsky Cathedral [see photo first in article]. For many, this very special building is the most notable sight in Tallinn. The cathedral has five domes and is in typical Russian style. The cathedral is an operating Russian Orthodox church to this day.

St. Nicholas Church

This is probably a church built in the middle of the 13th century. The church has a typical Gothic style and was built for the German business people who settled in Tallinn. St. Nicholas Church must be visited inside because of its interior and its relics.

Estonian Art Museum

At Kiriku place 1, Estonia’s art museum is located in a beautiful building from the mid-17th century. The museum has a permanent exhibition of Estonian art from the 19th century to World War II. There are also art from famous Russian and European artists here.

Tallinn City Museum

This museum is located in the middle of Tallinn’s historic center on Vene 17 Street. The building dates from the 1300s. The Tallinn City Museum tells the city’s history until modern times. There are movies, pictures and objects here.

St. Olaf Church

This church is located in the street Lai 50, which was a Scandinavian trading area. The church dates from the 13th century, and the spire extends almost 160 meters above the ground. The church was nearly destroyed in a fire in 1820, but was repaired and reopened in 1840. Today St. Olaf’s Church is a Baptist church.

Peter the Great’s Museum

In the street Mäekalda 2 is the museum of Peter the Great. He occupied the Baltic in the 18th century and was much in Tallinn. The building is a typical example of 17th century architecture in this area.

History Museum

In the street Pirita tee lies the Estonian Historical Museum. The building is very beautiful and is the favorite of many “understanding” enthusiasts. Outside you see a monument in honor of Soviet soldiers. This obelisk is 35 meters high.

TV tower

This tower is 314 meters high and has a vantage point 170 meters above the ground which is open to the public. Entrance fee is approx. 50 Estonian crowns for adults and 15 Estonian crowns for children. The TV tower was created to ensure the best possible TV images during the 1980 Moscow Olympics. The tower is located in the Pirita area.

Kadriorg Park

This park was put into use in 1714 when the Russian tsar Peter I lived in Tallinn. Both the palace located in the park itself and the park complex were a project given to the Italian architect Niccolo Michetti. This architect later became Russian chief architect, albeit unofficially. The park’s main attraction is Lake Swan. You will find the park in the Kadriorg area.

Tallinn Zoo

Tallinn Zoo was opened in 1939 and specializes in birds of prey and mountain goats. The zoo is located in the Veskimetsa area. Click here for maps and directions.

Tourist in Tallinn

Tallinn is not one of the largest cities, but as is often the case in Eastern Europe, the districts are spread over quite large areas which means that in order to see everything, you have to use other means of access than your feet. For most people, however, most of the time will be spent on the historic center, since that is where most of the sights are. And with such a beautifully preserved old town, you are committed to spending time on it when you first arrive in Tallinn.

Day 1 in Tallinn Attractions and Tourist

There are no better options than exploring the historic center of Tallinn on foot. The entire area is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List and is an impressive collection of well-preserved buildings and attractions.

You start at the town hall square (Raekoja place). This place was considered the center of medieval Tallinn and has had many names over the years. Keep in mind that there has been urban development here since the 1100s. The most impressive building on the square is the town hall. This is one of the very few Gothic town halls in Northern Europe. The building was originally erected as early as 1322. Also note the pharmacy located by the square (Raekoja plass 11). This is considered perhaps the oldest pharmacy in the world. Pharmacy has been documented here since 1422, but probably even longer.

From here you go the Apteegi street to the main street Vene. You will now arrive right on Katarine’s passage, one of the most romantic places in Tallinn and really a place that should be experienced in winter when the snow settles strategically around the street. The most striking monument you see now is the Dominican Monastery (the address is Vene 16). The Dominicans came to Tallinn in 1229. This is also the origin of the neighboring church (Vene 24), called St. Nicholas Church. Follow Vene street further north until you reach Brokus plass. Turn left into the street Olevimagi until you reach the street named Pikk. Take off to the towers of St. Olaf’s Church. This church is one of the main attractions in Tallinn, and is actually named after Olav the Holy. In the 19th century, this church was one of the tallest buildings in the world. The church must once have had a tower 159 meters up. Today, the height of the tower is 123.7 meters.

Now follow the street Lai back. You will, among other things, pass by Hueck’s House (Lai 29), which has played an important role in Tallinn’s history. The two lime trees you see in front of the house should be planted by the Russian czar Peter I. The magnificent medieval house you see in Lai 23 is Tallinn’s city theater. Turn onto Vaimu Street and you’re back on Pikk Street. If you go to the town hall square, you will quickly see the Blackhead House (no. 26), which is a great Renaissance building from the late 16th century, Laugsbygget Oleviste (no. 24), which has represented craftsmen and workers since the 1400s. other traders from Scandinavia and Finland, and not least Laugsbygget Kanut (no. 20), which belonged to a religious lodge, but later became an association for craftsmen and skilled workers. The house with No. 17 was the lodge for the richest and most powerful. A little closer to the town hall square you will find the Church of the Holy Ghost. It must have existed since the first half of the 13th century, but today’s edition dates back to the 1300s.

End the day with shopping in the old town, and do not hesitate to take a taxi to, for example, the Viru Center, located in the street Viru vältak 4/6. This center is also linked to another shopping center called Tallinna Kaubamaja. Thus, everything should be arranged in order for you to be able to satisfy your shopping needs.

Spend the evening at the Olde Hanse restaurant at Vanu Square. Here, both food and surroundings are attractions in their own right, and you are guaranteed to have an exciting and enjoyable end to the evening. If the hotel room doesn’t tempt you yet, Tallinn has a good night life.

Day 2 in Tallinn Attractions and Tourist

Start your day at the Keskturg market on Keldrimäe 9 street, not far from the Reval Hotel Olümpia (built for the 1980 Olympics), located southeast of the old town. Calculate 15 minutes to walk or 5 minutes by taxi. The square offers plenty of food, vegetables and fruits, as well as souvenirs and cheap clothes. If you are looking for objects from the old Soviet Union, this might be the place.

After the square visit, we recommend that you take Toompea for a closer look. Historically, this was the realm of power and the clergy. Start the walk at the junction of Harju and Müürivahe not far from the town hall square. Notice the city gate. Medieval Tallinn originally had six such city gates that one had to pass to enter the city. Turn right at the junction (if you have the town hall square behind you) and go to the street Lühike. You will now see the cannon tower Kiek in de Kök. The tower was at the end of the 1400s 36 meters high and the most magnificent in all of Tallinn. Just behind the tower you reach the city wall. In the mid-1500s, all of Tallinn was surrounded by a wall between 2 and 3 meters thick and over 13 meters high. In total, there were 40 defense towers along the wall. The beautiful garden you pass is called Dannebrog, and reflects on the Danish king Valdemar II who conquered Tallinn in the early 13th century.

Follow the signs to Lossi Place, where you will find the magnificent Alexander Nevski Cathedral. Onion judgments are called these Russian Orthodox Churches in common. The church dates from the late 19th century. The cathedral is the largest cathedral in Tallinn and is dedicated to Duke Alexander Nevski.

From here you go up the Toom-Kooli street to Kiriku place and Toomkirik (the cathedral), which is called the Church of the Virgin Mary. The church burned down almost in 1684, but was rebuilt with Baroque-style towers in the late 1770s. From the cathedral, follow the Rahukohtu road to Stenbock’s house and a viewing platform that gives you a great overview of Tallinn. Here you see St. Olav’s Church, the harbor and the city wall. Now follow the route down to Kohtu for more great views, before walking along the city wall down back to the Old Town.

If you have time to spare, we can suggest a taxi ride to Kadriorg for relaxation in the old Tsar park. If not, enjoy the Old Town with food and drink. End the evening at the “bar without a name” – Bar Nimeta. The bar was opened in 1995 by a Scottish football supporter, and to this day the bar shows lots of international football. Here you also get reasonable light meals (including breakfast and lunch if you pass earlier in the day) as well as “happy hours” and lots of happy music.