Nestled on the Baltic Sea, Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, has a charming old town. We spent one day in Tallinn during our road trip round the Baltics. This was sufficient for a whistle stop of Tallinn’s old town, admiring the historic architecture and seeing some of the city’s top attractions.
How to get to Tallinn
We visited Tallinn on a Baltic Road Trip, starting in Latvia and travelling north on Route 4 (E67), which runs the length of Estonia. Tallinn also has an airport and a train station, which connect the city with many other European countries and beyond. Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport, which markets itself as the world’s cosiest airport, is just south of the city centre. There are frequent buses between the two. Tickets cost €2.
Getting Around Tallinn
As capital cities go, Tallinn is tiny, with a population of just 450,000. The compact old town with its narrow cobbled streets is best visited on foot. I planned the route below to cover most of the city’s main attractions in one day. It covers a total of 2 miles and is mostly flat, with a short climb at the end to access Toompea Hill.
Where to stay in Tallinn
We stayed at the Metropol Hotel on the northern edge of the city, a short walk from both the old town and the port.
Tallinn in 1 Day Itinerary
| Day 1 | Drive to Tallinn Accommodation – Metropol Hotel Tallinn Town Hall Holy Spirit Lutheran Church Great Guild Hall Tallinn Town Wall Fat Margaret Freedom Square Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral Parliament of Estonia Toompea Hill |
Drive to Tallinn
We drive through Estonia up Route E67 until we reach Tallinn. We only have one day here, which is sufficient for a quick spin round some of the city’s main attractions. To be honest, we’ve already been to Riga and Vilnius and the Baltic capitals are all starting to merge into one in my brain…
Accommodation – Metropol Hotel
We chose the Metropol Hotel because it is conveniently located, reasonably priced and has on-site parking (€20 a day outdoors or €25 for garage parking) bookable online in advance).
Tallinn Town Hall
Once checked into our hotel, we set off on our sightseeing extravaganza. We start in the Town Hall Square. Surrounded by colourful merchant houses, this picturesque square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The 15th Century Gothic Tallinn Town Hall, with its impressive tower, looms over the bustling square. During the summer (and on other key dates), it is possible to visit the interior of the Town Hall. In summer, you can also climb the Town Hall Tower for a bird’s eye view of the capital.
Check the website for exact opening times. Adult entry to the Town Hall costs €7, the Tower is €6 or purchase a combined ticket for €12. It was closed when we visited, so we move swiftly on…
Holy Spirit Lutheran Church
The striking medieval Holy Spirit Lutheran Church houses Tallinn’s oldest clock. Visitors are welcome to explore the captivating interior with its beautiful stained glass windows. It is a tall building in a small square which I was determined (unsuccessfully) to photograph in its entirety.
Great Guild Hall
The Great Guild Hall is another building dating from the 15th Century. The hall once served as the meeting place for the city’s influential merchants and artisans. Today, it houses the Estonian History Museum, where visitors can delve into Estonia’s past.
The Great Guild Hall is open daily except Monday (it is also closed on Tuesdays during the winter months) from 10 am until 6 pm. Adult entry costs €7. Coming from a country where museums are free, we thought this was rather steep, so we move swiftly on once more.
Tallinn Town Wall
The old town was once surrounded by a wall, with construction dating back as far as 1265. Much of Tallinn Town Wall still stands today, including 26 towers, two gates and fragments of two more gates. This imposing structure is part of the reason why Tallinn’s old town was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status.
We have purchased picnic supplies, which we intended to eat in a park next to the wall at Towers’ Square. This doesn’t get off to a good start when the old man settles down to eat at what looks like a picnic bench, but is apparently an art installation! After some searching, we find a legitimate picnic bench for our al fresco lunch.
Fat Margaret
Fat Margaret is a 16th Century tower which forms part of the Town Walls. The name derives from the fact that the tower is the widest part of the town’s fortifications.
Fat Margaret now houses the Estonian Maritime Museum. The museum charts the city’s maritime past and has its own shipwreck. It is open daily except Mondays from 10 am until 6 pm. Adult entry costs €15.
Freedom Square
Picnic devoured, we sett off once more, passing through Freedom Square. This bustling square is adorned with monuments and serves as a venue for concerts, festivals, and political gatherings. The focal point is an enormous memorial which pays homage to Estonia’s struggle for independence.
Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral
Aleksander Nevsky Cathedral is an iconic symbol of Tallinn. This magnificent Russian Orthodox cathedral, built in 1900, is a masterpiece of architecture, featuring intricate onion domes and an ornate interior. Somewhat ironically, the cathedral fell into disrepair during Russian occupation and was subsequently meticulously restored following independence.
If there is no service in progress, you may visit the interior of the cathedral, but not take photographs.
Parliament of Estonia
The Parliament of Estonia is housed in a formidable pink palace once belonging to Catherine the Great, known as Toompea Castle. While entry to the castle is restricted, visitors can admire its exterior.
It may possible to visit inside the castle on a guided tour. Note: Tours are very popular, so it is advisable to book well in advance. Tours for individual visitors sometimes take place on Fridays at 11 am. Further details can be found here.
St Mary’s Lutheran Cathedral
Our exploration of Tallinn continues with a visit to St Mary’s Lutheran Cathedral. This beautiful church, dating back to the 13th century, is the oldest church in Tallinn and features a distinctive Baroque spire. Inside, the cathedral has numerous tombs and coats of arms.
The cathedral is open to visitors daily from 9 am until 5 pm. If the weather is good and there is no service in progress, it is also possible to climb the Bell Tower beneath the spire. A donation of €2 is required to enter the church. Climbing the tower costs €5.
Toompea Hill
We round our trip off with a climb up Toompea Hill. This elevated area is home to many imposing buildings and offers panoramic views of the city.
Patkuli Viewing Platform provides a perfect vantage point to enjoy vistas of the city below with Tallinn Bay sparkling in the background.
- Trip taken: September 2016
- Updated: April 2025
I hope you found the above information useful. For guides to more destinations in the 50+ countries we have visited, check out my full list of Independent Travel Itineraries here.
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