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Tallinn, Estonia may not be the first destination you think of for a European getaway, but this underrated capital should definitely be on your travel bucket list!
I first visited Tallinn two years ago on a cruise; we only stopped for one day in this charming city on the Baltic Sea, but I was immediately fascinated by the fairytale old town.
I knew I had only scratched the surface of what the city had to offer, so I was excited to come back to Tallinn for a few days this summer and explore more of it.
This is why Tallinn is becoming increasingly popular among travelers, and why you should plan a trip there as soon as possible!
A gem on the Baltic Sea
First let’s see where exactly Tallinn is located.
The capital of Estonia is located directly on the Baltic Sea. Historically, this strategic location made it an important port city for centuries.
Estonia is part of the Baltic region, which also includes Latvia and Lithuania, both of which are located in the south. Finland is located north of Estonia, across the Baltic Sea.
Medieval charm and modern style
The juxtaposition between old and new is striking in Tallinn.
There’s the Old City, which is by far the most famous part of the city. With its cobbled streets, church towers and fortifications with conical roofs, Tallinn’s Old Town is straight out of a storybook. This is where the majority of tourists in Tallinn come, and it’s not hard to see why.
On my first visit to Tallinn I took one free walking tour that provided a great overview of the old city.
But as special as the Old Town is, there is so much more than Tallinn! Even if you only have a short time in Tallinn, I recommend leaving the old town at least once.
One of the easiest ways to do that is to visit Telliskivi Creative City. Once an industrial complex, this neighborhood has been revitalized into one of Tallinn’s coolest neighborhoods, and is just a twenty-minute walk from the Old Town.
In Telliskivi Creative City you can… Photography photography museum. Normally I’m not a big fan of photography, but I was blown away by how creative and immersive the exhibits here were.
There are also numerous restaurants, galleries and boutiques in Telliskivi Creative City. Many of these are concentrated in Balti Jaama Turga cool covered market spread over three levels.
Since I had more time in Tallinn, I also did the Kobli neighbourhood. It’s a little further away (about 30 minutes by tram from the Old Town), but it’s a great way to get off the beaten track and discover a more local side of Tallinn.
Don’t miss the delicious Karjase Sai bakery and the super cozy Pohjala READ bookstore here.
Cool museums and great views
During my three days in Tallinn I took advantage of the Tallinn map to visit as many museums and attractions as possible. With this pass you have free access to more than 40 different museums and attractions.
If you’re like me and want to visit as many museums and attractions as possible during your trip, then the Tallinn Card might be worth it for you.
Since many museums and attractions in Tallinn have an entrance fee of €5 to €15, you can end up saving money depending on how much you plan to visit.
My favorite museums in Tallinn ended up being the Kadriorg Art Museum and the Kumu Art Museum. Located a short tram ride from the old city, these two museums continue the theme of old and new: the Kadriorg Art Museum is housed in a beautiful 18th-century palace, while the nearby Kumu Art Museum has beautiful modern architecture.
You can easily visit both museums in one morning – and I highly recommend you stop by Katharinenthal Kohvik then have a bite to eat. This was the nicest cafe I visited in Tallinn and it has a beautiful terrace where you can enjoy the view of the adjacent park while you eat or enjoy a cup of coffee.
My favorite place was in the old town St. Nicholas Church and Museum. This impressive medieval church houses an equally impressive art museum that is definitely worth a visit.
You can also go to the sky deck for a fantastic 360 degree view of the Old Town. And unlike some of the other viewing platforms I’ve visited in Tallinn, this one has an elevator, so you don’t have to worry about climbing over 230 steps to reach the top!
A fantastic city without the crowds
One great thing about Tallinn (and Estonia as a whole) is that it still flies somewhat under the tourist radar, especially among American tourists.
Are Nothing such as Amsterdam or Venice, two European cities that have become infamous in recent years for the consequences of overtourism.
Tallinn is a great destination if you are looking for a relaxing city trip. It is also an ideal destination for solo female travelers like me; it is among the top five safest cities in Europe.
Where to stay in Tallinn
I was a guest at Nordic Hotel Forum for three nights in Tallinn, and it was the most ideal place to stay!
This 4-star hotel is located just outside Tallinn’s Old Town, allowing you to easily walk to many of the city’s top attractions. There is also a tram stop one minute from the hotel that takes you directly to the Kadriorg Art Museum and the Kumu Art Museum.
Aside from the convenient central location, I loved the amenities this hotel offered, such as an indoor pool and hot tub with city views.
The free breakfast buffet offered at Nordic Hotel Forum is also one of the better hotel breakfasts I’ve had in a long time – there was so much variety (everything from fresh fruit smoothies to vegan schnitzel!) and it was the perfect way to fuel up for a day exploring Tallinn.
Transport to Tallinn
One of the reasons Tallinn is becoming increasingly popular with travelers is because it is a stopover on many cruises (like the one I did two years ago) and a popular destination for day trips from Helsinki, Finland. (Tallinn is just a two-hour ferry ride from Helsinki.)
However, both options only give you a day to explore Tallinn, and I highly recommend spending more time than that! Three days was a large amount of time for me.
There are currently no direct flights from the US to Tallinn, but you can easily connect via any major European city to get here. Or you can take the Tallink ferry from Helsinki, which has better flight connections to cities around the world.
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The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
