Tallinn

One of the best-preserved medieval old towns in Northern Europe, with fairy-tale walls, towers and spires. It's just 2 hours by ferry from Helsinki and makes the first stop on a Baltic trip.

Tallinn sits on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland in northern Estonia, about 80 km across the water from Helsinki. It has around 450,000 residents and is the capital of Estonia. From the 13th century the Danes and the Teutonic Order built a fortified town here, and it later became an important Hanseatic trading port. The Old Town has kept an almost intact medieval street layout, about 1.9 km of town wall and more than 20 towers, and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The Old Town has two levels. Toompea Hill, the Upper Town, was the seat of the nobility and bishops, and today holds the Parliament (Toompea Castle), the Orthodox cathedral, St. Mary's Cathedral and two viewing platforms. The Lower Town was the city of merchants and craftsmen. It centers on Town Hall Square, and its narrow lanes are packed with guild halls, churches and medieval-themed restaurants. Outside the Old Town, about 2 km to the east are Kadriorg Palace and Park, built by Peter the Great, and Kumu, the Art Museum of Estonia. To the west, beside the railway, is Telliskivi Creative City, a former factory complex. On the northern waterfront is the Seaplane Harbour Maritime Museum. Climate: June–August is the best season, at about 16–22°C with up to 18 hours of daylight. In December the Christmas market on Town Hall Square is wonderfully fairy-tale, though temperatures often stay below 0°C and it gets dark soon after 3 p.m. Getting there: from Helsinki's West Harbour, Tallink, Viking Line and Eckerö ferries take about 2–2.5 hours, and the Old Town is a 15-minute walk from the terminal. Tallinn Airport is about 4 km from the center, and tram line 4 takes about 20 minutes. City public transport is free for holders of an Estonian resident card, and visitors can tap a contactless bank card on board to buy a ticket. We suggest staying 1–2 days: one day for the Upper and Lower Town, half a day for Kadriorg, and half a day for Telliskivi or the harbor. Notes: the Old Town has steep cobblestone streets, so wear non-slip flat shoes. Cards are accepted almost everywhere in Estonia. On summer cruise-ship days the Old Town is very crowded in the morning, so visit sights outside the walls in the morning and stroll the Old Town in the evening.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries