Wondering whether Tallinn is worth visiting?
Well the answer, in my opinion, is yes!
In fact, not only do I think the Estonian capital is worth visiting, I actually think that next year, it’s set to become one of the hottest destinations in Europe.
So from its architecture, accessibility and affordability, through to the best things to do in Tallinn, here’s why I think this amazing city should be high on your travel bucket list…
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My trip to Estonia was sponsored by Visit Estonia but, as always, all views are my own.
This page contains affiliate links meaning Big World Small Pockets may receive a small commission on any purchases at no extra cost to you.
#1 One of the Best Preserved Medieval Cities in Europe
If think it’s pretty obvious what I mean by this point and why it makes Tallinn worth visiting, but in case you need me to spell it out, then Tallinn has a fantastically preserved ancient Old Town!
Boasting 1.6km of ancient city walls and 26 remaining towers, this Medieval centre was actually built back in the 1300s, although expansion continued right up to the 17th century.
Constructed in 2 parts – the larger, more Gothic-influenced Lower Town designed for traders and the smaller Upper Town built for the ruling elite – Tallinn’s most elevated part was initially settled by the Danes who arrived in Estonia in 1219.
After this, German merchants settled in the Lower Town and established a town centre there.
In the mid 1300s, big riots staged by Estonian peasants forced the Danes to leave and sell the Upper Town to the German Order.
The German nobility then went on to run life in Baltics and control Tallinn for several hundred years, in turn pledging allegiance to Swedish kings at the end of the 1500s and the Russian Tsar in the 1700s, until Estonia finally declared independence for the first time in 1918.
Now the thriving capital of Estonia, and still an important trading point to this day, Tallinn’s Old Town became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 and was named the Green Capital of Europe in 2023.
The jewel in the crown of this city (and certainly the image of Tallinn you’re likely to have from Instagram), Tallinn’s Old Town – which is Medieval in origin – has been immaculately preserved / restored and is beautifully bright and colourful, not to mention wonderfully photogenic.
And in real life, it’s even more impressive than the photos!
Visiting Tallinn, you’ll realise just how ancient the Old Town is here, not to mention just how amazingly well-maintained it is.
Walking around, you can easily imagine the Medieval people of the city trundling down the cobbled streets to the market as the church bells pealed in the background.
It really feels like stepping back in time.
And this makes Tallinn very special indeed.
If you’ve been to Ghent or Krakow or Strasbourg, you’ll have seen some amazing Medieval cities, and in my opinion, Tallinn is up there with them!
#2 Accessible
Another reason Tallinn is worth visiting is because it’s very accessible.
Easy to get to by air, flights to Tallinn take about 3 hours from London and run regularly from airports across the UK and Europe with airlines like easyJet and Air Baltic.
As always, I use Skyscanner to find the best prices and am pleased to report that my Air Baltic evening flight from London Gatwick to Tallinn was easy and straightforward.
Once you land in Tallinn, the other thing that then makes the city very accessible, is how close to the airport the centre is.
In just 20 minutes by taxi, you can drive from the airport to the Old Town of Tallinn with ease.
And, in a world where so often it takes ages to get out to distant city airports, Tallinn airport’s proximity is super refreshing.
You can also, of course, drive easily to Tallinn, especially from other Baltic cities, including Riga, which is only about 4-5 hours away.
If you want to hire a car to get to Tallinn, then I recommend Discover Cars.
Finally, you can also get to Tallinn by ferry from Helsinki in Finland – which is just a few hours away.
A great way to combine 2 cities into one trip, getting the boat from Tallinn to Helsinki or visa-versa, also makes it very accessible and easy to visit both these capitals in a short amount of time.
#3 Stag Do Crowds Have Gone
This is definitely one of the top reason why Tallinn is worth visiting… at least it is in my opinion!
Because I suppose this reason to visit Tallinn really depends on the sort of person you are!
If you are a fan of stag do’s, then maybe you’ll be sad Tallinn isn’t really working to encourage them anymore but, if like the rest of us, you’re absolutely delighted herds of lager louts aren’t wandering the streets, you’ll be pleased!
Due to its cheap beer, Tallinn used to be a favourite hotspot for men out celebrating their groom-to-be friend, but thankfully things have definitely changed.
In recent years, Tallinn has moved away from this form of tourism to offer a far more sophisticated, cultural and historical travel experience.
And this has been helped, in part, by the growth and development of the Estonian economy, which has meant Tallinn has become slightly more expensive (or that at least the beer has!) and this has kept those travelling primarily for this purpose, away!
#4 Affordable
But even though Tallinn has got more expensive to travel in recent years, driven by the rapid and effective development of the Estonian economy and the top quality of life enjoyed here, it’s good to know Tallinn is still wonderfully affordable in comparison to many European capitals.
This is definitely a top reason to visit this city!
Similar in costs to travelling to Lisbon, Tallinn offers excellent value for money in my opinion.
This is especially true if you visit this city as part of a weekend break which, given Tallinn’s accessibility, is easy to do.
#5 Fab Historical Things to Do
But what to do when you’re in Tallinn?
Well, one of the key things to enjoy here is the historical sites of this city, particularly around the Old Town of course.
Within these Medieval walls, you can find a whole heap of top historical sites, including the Dome Church (otherwise known as St Mary’s Cathedral), the Town Hall, St Olaf Church (which is the tallest building in the city) and both the Short Leg and the Long Leg – 2 important streets that lead from the Lower Town to the Upper Town and visa versa.
Don’t miss visiting the Danish King’s Garden either, or the oldest continual functioning pharmacy in Europe (it’s been operating on the same spot since 1422!), and is known as the Town Councils Pharmacy.
The Russian Orthodox Church, built in the 1900’s, is also worth quickly stepping inside, otherwise you can admire its recognisable 3m high outline and 11 bells on Tallinn’s skyline from just about anywhere!
The Bastion Passages are another great historical thing to do in Tallinn with their well-curated chronological exhibition and make sure you don’t miss the fantastic St. Nicholas’ Church and Museum.
Entrance here costs 12€, but is well worth it thanks to the glass elevator, recently installed, which allows visitors to reach the tower and enjoy amazing encased 360 degree views over Tallinn – including the coastline, city walls and red-roofed patchwork of the Lower Town.
In the museum downstairs, which now occupies the former church building, you can see a great range of artwork and historic paintings, including the famous Dance of Death, which dates back to the 15th century and is now the most expensive art piece in Estonia.
#6 Great Restaurants
But it’s not just historical things to do in Tallinn, there’s also a rapidly growing acclaimed food scene in this city too, which makes the Estonian capital well-worth visiting.
I’ve actually written a whole post about the 10 places I recommend eating and drinking in Tallinn, but if you want to sample another spot, then the White Guide is an excellent barometer for restaurants across the Nordic countries, including Estonia – just look out for the square sign on the doors of restaurants and cafes around the city.
But if there’s one place you don’t want to miss dining while you are Tallinn, it’s Fotographiska, which is located in the Telliskivi area of the city and is committed to ethical and zero-waster fine dining.
#7 Wonderful Cultural Attractions
And talking of Telliskivi, this is absolutely a part of Tallinn you should visit, not least because it wonderfully exemplifies the modern part of the city, as well as the cultural and cool side to Tallinn that makes this city so fab.
An old industrial area, connected to the railway, Telliskivi has now been transformed into a thriving district full of unique, independent businesses and brands all with an eco, sustainable and local alignment.
There’s now around 300 small businesses operating here, along with markets, public, squares, bars, restaurants, hotels and shops.
A unique ecosystem of vibrance, Telliskivi wonderfully exemplifies the progressive and trendy side to Tallinn and how this city is rich in contemporary culture, as well as historical importance.
While in Telliskivi, don’t miss the street art of Edward von Longus (known as the Estonian Banksy), the Baltic Station market (an indoor foodie haven) or Junimperium (a fantastic place for local gin tasting and tours).
There’s also cultural offerings in the Old Town too, with Katherine’s Passage being a particularly favourite thanks to its artist studios, where local women create and sell unique, stylish gifts.
And over in the newer part of Tallinn, the fantastic PoCo Museum, has just opened and is a mecca for pop art fans with an incredible collection that boasts an extensive collection, includign pieces from Warhol, Banksy and Herring.
#8 Saunas
And finally, another of the top things to do in Tallinn, that makes visiting this city worthwhile is to sample a slice of traditional Estonian sauna culture.
Many people associate sauna culture with Finland but, as I quickly learnt in Tallinn, it’s a huge part of traditional Estonian culture too.
2023 has been the year of the sauna in Estonia and personally, I couldn’t be more here for it!
While there are some great authentic experiences to be had in the public saunas of Tallinn, for something more special I highly recommend heading to IgluPark, which is the Noblessner area of the city.
Here you can enjoy amazing private sauna experiences in wooden cabins with traditional wood-fired heat.
Each cabin has its own relaxing warm space, before you enter a glass door to the real heated part, where it’s time to sweat, chat and relax.
The saunas are usually enjoyed in rounds, with cold plunges in between enjoyed either in showers found in separate pods, or by descending a few steps to plunge into the refreshing Baltic Sea for the full authentic experience!
I absolutely love traditional saunas and, getting to enjoy this one in Tallinn, hugely added to my travel enjoyment in this city.
#9 Christmas Markets
Running from the beginning of December until the beginning of January, Tallinn’ Christmas markets are another fab thing to do in this city during the colder months.
Open daily 10am-10pm and located in the Town Hall Square, this fabulous festive feast boasts over 100 stalls filled with mulled wine, gingerbread and unique, traditional wares from hand-knitted woollens to beautiful festive decorations.
Go in the evening for the best atmosphere and to indulge in traditional Estonian delicacies such as black pudding and sauerkraut, while enjoying live performances and carol singing.
#10 Top Day Trip Potential
But another reason I think Tallinn is worth visiting is for the great day trips you can enjoy around the city.
As a small capital, it really doesn’t take long to get out of Tallinn and once you’re beyond the main urban you’ll quickly find yourself in beautiful Estonian countryside.
Hiring a car is the way to go here for flexibility, and then simply choose whether you want to visit the Estonian coastline or countryside, as both can be enjoyed in under an hour!
If you fancy a coastline and forest getaway, then my overnight excursion from Tallinn to a beautiful mirror cabin in the woods, was the ideal addition to my time in the capital.
You can read all about it here.
Otherwise, waterfalls, villages, walks and cycle tracks are all possible day trips from Tallinn (check out these fab options), and of course, you can also hop over to Helsinki on the ferry to enjoy a day in Finland if you want too!
#11 Friendly, Safe & Easy
And finally, I really think Tallinn is worth visiting because it’s friendly, safe and easy.
As a small capital city, with under 1 million people, it’s quite relaxed and simple to get around here.
The weather is comfortable at most times of the year, the Euro is the currency and almost every one (especially in the tourism industry) speaks English and is extremely friendly and hospitable.
I felt very relaxed in Tallinn and would totally recommend it as an option for solo female travellers.
Either as a wonderful weekend city break, or as part of a trip across northern Europe, Tallinn gets a big tick in the box from me!
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Mini Travel Guide to Tallinn
How to Get There?
Fly to Tallinn from across Europe with easyJet and AirBaltic.
As always I use Skyscanner to get the best deals.
When to Visit?
Head to Tallinn in the summer for long, sunny sightseeing days or in the winter for cosy saunas and snowy views.
How Long to Stay?
I recommend a stay of 2-4 days in Tallinn.
How to Get Around?
Use local trains or buses to get around the country from Tallinn, or else hire a car – I recommend Discover Cars for the job.
What to Pack?
Check out my complete Estonia packing list (for both summer or winter trips to Tallinn) here.
Travel Insurance
World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while travelling and claim online from anywhere in the world.
Alternatively, if you’re a long-term traveller, digital nomad or frequent remote worker seeking travel health cover, check out Safetywing’s Nomad Insurance policies.
Travel Money
The easy way to spend abroad with real exchange rates, no markups and no sneaky transaction fees, you can use your Wise card just like a debit card in Tallinn… and it links easily with Google and Apple pay – sold! Grab yours here.
PIN IT TO PINTEREST!
And that’s my guide to whether Tallinn is worth visiting and the top things to do there.
As I’m sure you can tell, I loved my time travelling in this city and highly recommend it.
Do you have any questions about visiting Tallinn?
Don’t hesitate to drop them into the comments box below and I’ll get back to you…
