30 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN TALLIN

When we told our Instagram that we were going to Tallinn, everyone told us the same thing: it is a fairytale city. And wow it is! Next we will tell you 30 things to see and do in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, yes, before letting us tell you that the Baltic Queen could well be the scene of a Disney movie, with its warm light, its pointed roofs, the medieval streets ... Although it could also be a medieval novel, with public executions in the square, droppings flying from the windows (as usual, we go) and guild workshops working early.

Luckily, flying droppings are no longer a problem of our time 🙂 Now, let's tell you toooodo what to enjoy in this beautiful and flirtatious city:

1. Did you know that the historic center of Tallinn is surrounded by 2 km of medieval walls? The most impressive thing is that they are original and are dotted with up to 20 watchtowers (torn), with a conical roof of reddish tiles, that form that unmistakable image of Tallinn. There are a couple of sections of this wall where you can walk (you will see that there is a kind of elongated wooden balcony on the inside), paying about € 3. Although we will talk about other higher panoramic points later, it is a way of seeing the city from another point of view. These are the sections open to the public:

• Section between Hellemann Tower and Munkadetagune Tower
• Section between Nunna, Sauna and Kuldjala Towers
• Stretch between Stable Tower and Maiden Tower

2. The main door to go through these walls and enter fully to discover Tallinn is the Viru Gate. And not only today, in the past it was one of the few access roads to the fortified city. When you leave it behind you, walk along Viru Street, full of shops and restaurants. And look at the mini market on the left: our favorite plan was to take advantage of their coffee and bun offer for € 1.5, and have breakfast on the stairs under the town hall 😉

3. The Town Hall Square (Raekoda Plats) is the medieval heart of Tallinn. Here some of the emblems of the city meet, so it is absolutely essential. Our advice is to go at least twice, once during the day and once at night, since the atmosphere changes a lot. The jewel in the crown is the town hall, with its beautiful gothic style, and its enormous tower 64 meters to which you can climb (only up to an intermediate level) to have beautiful views of the city. The price is € 3 and only opens from May 15 to September 15 (more info). Curiosity: crowning the tower there is a weather vane of the “Old thomas“, A figure that protects the city since medieval times and has become one of the symbols of Tallinn.

4. In the same square there is another building that attracts attention: Pharmacy Raeaoteek. It is one of the oldest operating pharmacies in Europe, serving since 1422! You can enter freely and inside are exposed super ancient objects. It is even said that here was the place where marzipan was invented. True or false? Who knows! What we do know is that it is one of the best things what to see in Tallinn (and free!), so don't miss it 😉

5. Approach the passage of Santa Catalina, a small medieval cobbled alley that preserves the pure essence of what the city was a few centuries ago. Nearby there is also the Dominican Monastery of Santa Catalina, where for 5 € you can visit some rooms and what is left of the cloister. We prefer the entrance courtyard and turn around 😉

Flower market in front of the Viru Gate

6. Another very photogenic corner is the Saiakang passage, right next to the old pharmacy and an antique shop that we advise you to visit (with lots of propaganda and Nazi objects and the II GM). On the other side of the arch of this alley you will come across a very flirtatious little red house. They say it is the smallest in the entire city. It currently houses a craft store, but its name "house of the priest" suggests that here, in the past, lived a man of faith hehe.

7. But be careful because the surprises don't end here. A few meters you will have several very interesting buildings, the first will be the Church of the Holy Spirit, whose facade shows the oldest clock in the city. But in front of this church we can enter the historic Maiasmokk Cafe, which has been open since 1864. And finally, in this corner of Tallinn an imposing yellow building rises, which in its day was the headquarters of one of the most powerful merchant guilds, and today houses the Estonia History Museum.

8. The Pikk street It is the longest and one of the most beautiful in the historic center, so we recommend you to go from top to bottom several times. In addition, at number 71 you will see one of the icons of the city: the 3 medieval houses, known as “The three sisters" Now it houses a boutique hotel and a little bit posh restaurant.

9. Are you in love with doors? In Tallinn then the heart of so much love will explode, because they are a pass! Old, new, large, small, colored, sober, restored, falling ... There is something for everyone! Our favorite? The of the House of the Blackheads, the headquarters of this brotherhood of medieval merchants, which today houses several rooms with exhibitions and events. It is on Pikk Street No. 26.

10. If you continue along this same street you will reach the San Olaf Church, famous for its high tower of more than 120 meters that, in its time, came to have the highest building record in the world! Today you can climb the tower (as soon as you finish your works) and enjoy the panoramic view, yes, you will have to pay about € 3 and climb more than 200 steps. Not suitable for those who suffer from vertigo.

Panorama of Tallinn, with in the background the Tower of San Olaf

11. You will have reached one end of the old town and, therefore, another access door to the medieval city: the Margarita Tower "La Gorda". As you can imagine by the nickname, this tower is rather wide waist and somewhat short, and it was used as a warehouse for weapons and gunpowder.

12. But we are not going out, it is time to head to the upper city, towards Toompea hill. You can tour the beautiful Pikk Jalg street and reach two of the best lookouts of the city: that of Kohtoutsa (where is the famous wall with the phrase "The times we had"), and that of Patkuli. Tip: also go up at sunset so that the light is perfect. For us, one of the best things to do in Tallinn.

13. If you want to discover a little tourist corner of Tallinn but very evocative, go down the stairs from the Patkuli viewpoint and surround the walls on its outer side to realize its truly impressive dimensions. It won't take you 10 minutes to get back up, this time next to the Troompea Castle, current seat of the Estonian Parliament.

14. In the upper city of Tallinn there are the two main cathedrals of the city: the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral of orthodox faith and that can be visited for free. And the Santa Maria Cathedral, which costs € 5, including access to the viewpoint of its tower with beautiful views of the historic center. The first one was built in the late 1800s, during the time of the Russian Empire and today is Unesco Heritage. The second was opened around 1230 and is the seat of the Evangelical Lutheran church in the country.

15. But not all are places to purify the soul. In Tallinn there is a place that was a real nightmare: a prison where he KGB interrogated, locked up and tortured alleged enemies of the regime. At present these spaces have been reused to show these terrible events, with an entry of € 5.

One of the best viewpoints in Tallinn

Tired? Pueeeeees, you have a few things to see and do in Tallinn ... cheer up!

16. It is not the only site related to the Soviet past of Estonia, which lasted from 1940 until the dissolution of the USSR. The Viru Hotel It was the only hotel in the city that welcomed tourists at that time, and they say that the 23rd floor was entirely reserved for the KGB. Today, the old hotel houses the KGB Museum, where you can see objects of Soviet propaganda, documents and membership of the members of the Committee for State Security. Admission is € 11.

17. Another very interesting option to learn more about the Soviet years is the Museum of the Occupation (Vabamun Museum of Occupation and Freedom), where there is an interactive exhibition that deals with the recent history of Estonia, the Soviet occupation and the struggle for freedom. Admission is € 11. Recommended audio guide in Spanish. More info.

18. A place where the conquest of the liberation of the Estonian people is celebrated is the Freedom Square, with the monument to the War of Independence. A large open space and meeting place.

19. Although the Russians entered the country long before the Soviet Union existed. From the year 1721 and until I GM Estonia was under the dominion of the Russian Empire of the Czars. The best example of that time is found in the Kadriorg Park: the Kadriog Palace It was one of the summer residences of Tsar Peter the Great and, while not enjoying the luxury of the Palaces of St. Petersburg, it is nothing but not bad. The Palace can be visited and, in addition, it is surrounded by a beautiful garden.

20. Enjoy the rest of the park and reach the Kumu Museum, with exhibitions of Estonian art (from the 18th century onwards) and focused on collections of modern and contemporary art. The building is a real past, and received the award of "European Museum" in 2008. The entrance costs € 10 and be careful because it closes on Mondays.

Kadriog Palace

21. North of the park and on the way to the Baltic Sea, you will see the monument to “Rusalka”, reminiscent of the 177 victims of the Russian ship Rusalka, which was shipwrecked off the coast of Tallinn in 1893. It represents an angel who, in his hands, holds the Orthodox cross. Curiosity: in the Russian tradition, “rusalka”Is how the mermaids are known, who with their songs, bewitched men and imprisoned them under the water, until their death (macabre coincidence).

22. Returning to the historic center of Tallinn, do not miss the Towers Square, a super nice corner from where you can see perfectly the medieval wall and some of its characteristic towers.

23. To learn more about the history of these fortifications and the historical events of Tallinn, we recommend the Kiek in de Kölk Museum and the Bastion Tunnels. It is a museum inside one of Tallinn's largest and most important towers with quite interesting interactive exhibits, as you ascend from the underground floor of the tunnels to the top of the building, where a cafeteria with good views awaits you. The price is not super cheap: it costs € 14, but it may be worth it.

24. Are you passionate about medieval times, but do you prefer to experience it in your stomach rather than in a museum? In the streets of Tallinn there are several taverns that reproduce quite accurately the old medieval tascas. The best known is the Olde Hansa, although cheap cheap is not. But if you travel with budget low cost do not despair, because there is a more accessible alternative ... we talk about III Draakon, a much more Spartan tavern where, however, you can taste very rich soups and meat pies. And yes, also with medieval atmosphere. Here we tell you other restaurants where to eat in Tallinn well and cheaply.

25. And for a cool beer there are several options, one of the best is the Koht bar, with a huge supply of craft beer. Also in the historic center we have the bar Hell hunt, with cheap beer and good dishes to eat (also has a great terrace). Another place that brewers will like is the Beer house, although this is rather a restaurant ... and it is very cool!

Part of the walls of Tallinn

26. But not all life in Tallinn runs in its medieval streets. If you want to know his most hipster and modern side you have to approach the Rotermanni neighborhood, an old industrial area, with large brick and metal buildings, which has undergone an incredible transformation. Now it is a district with trendy bars and restaurants. The same happened with the Kalamaja neighborhood, which in its years was the fishing area of ​​the city and today mixes wooden buildings with the latest premises. The truth is that they are our favorite things to see in Tallinn.

27. Another original neighborhood to know is Telliskivi Creative City, the financial and design district of the capital of Estonia. Because maybe you don't know, but Estonia is a super pointer country: here companies like Skype or Transferwife were born, people vote online and they invented a residence visa for digital nomads!

28. The tallest building in the country is the TV tower, with more than 300 meters, and that has a viewpoint at a height of 170 meters (be careful because you can also walk on it!). But it is not the only place to have views of vertigo: the rooftop bar of the Radisson Blu Hotel It offers an unforgettable panorama of Tallinn ... yes, unless you are not a hotel guest you have to pay a handful of euros to climb. Keep that in mind.

29. If it's hot and you feel like spending a Beach's day (Do not expect a tropical paradise), the best option is Pirita Beach, it is also quite close to the Television Tower. It is the plan preferred by the locals on summer weekends 😉

30. Do you have more time on your visit to Tallinn? Then we propose a few excursions:

• One is the one that takes you to know the Lahemaa National Park, an area full of trails, such as Viru Raba, to be in contact with nature. The ideal is to go by car (it takes an hour to arrive) but there are also tours like this.
• Take a ferry and go to Helsinki: yes, you heard right! The capital of Finland is a stone's throw from Tallinn. It is 2 hours by boat (and what a boat!) And if you ride it well, you can make the visit in the day (although we recommend you spend at least one night there). You can buy the round trip tickets here.

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is amazing!

Here we leave you this map where we mark the places you cannot miss on your trip to Tallinn:

The truth is that we spent some great days in this city, and we hope you also enjoy your stay in the capital of Estonia. Do you know more things to see and do in Tallinn?

Video: UNEDITED Estonia - Tallinn Facts and Guide. How 2 Travelers (April 2024).