What are the best things to do in Tallinn?
Top picks in Tallinn include Tallinn Old Town UNESCO, Toompea Castle and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Town Hall Square, Kadriorg Palace. See the full list and itinerary on this Tallinn travel guide.
🇪🇪 Estonia travel guide
Europe · Northern Europe
Tallinn Travel Guide
Things to do in Tallinn — Explore Tallinn
Photo: Jorge Franganillo · CC BY 2.0
Why visit Tallinn
On the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is a city of over 450,000 inhabitants (2023). It is home to a third of the country's population, and is also the capital of Harju County in Northern Estonia. In a striking contrast to its Old Town, its immediate outskirts are filled with a cluster of modern office towers, with intermittent architectural monuments to the Soviet era. Further out, you will find a bewildering variety of historic and modern neighbourhoods, religious, civic, industrial and maritime heritage. This… (Source: Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA.)
Tallinn is a stop in Estonia, not a country-in-a-weekend. Plan about 3 days. If time is short, prioritise Tallinn Old Town UNESCO, Toompea Castle and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Town Hall Square instead of racing the whole list. Mid-range ground costs are about 65–140 USD per person per day, excluding international flights. Best time: May–June & September–October for mild weather and thinner crowds. Rankings, stay length and cost bands on this page come from Global Itinerary’s trip-planning models.
Best time
May–June & September–October for mild weather and thinner crowds
Weather
Temperate, with warm summers and cool winters
Experiences
Things to do in Tallinn
1
Tallinn Old Town UNESCO
2
Toompea Castle and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
3
Town Hall Square
4
Kadriorg Palace
5
Kumu Art Museum
6
Telliskivi Creative City
7
Seaplane Harbour (Lennusadam)
8
St Olaf's Church tower
Budget travel
Free things to do in Tallinn
Tallinn Old Town UNESCO
Toompea Castle and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Town Hall Square
Seaplane Harbour (Lennusadam)
St Olaf's Church tower
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
St. Mary's Cathedral
Mostly free or pay-what-you-like — always double-check opening times and any seasonal fees before you go.
Plan your trip
Tallinn itinerary (3 days)
- 1
Day 1
Icons & landmarks
- Visit Toompea Castle
- Visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- Visit St. Mary's Cathedral
- Eat at Maiasmokk
- 2
Day 2
Culture & neighborhoods
- Visit Viru Gate
- Visit Town Hall Square
- Visit Atlantis H2O Aquapark
- Eat at Pub Kompressor
- 3
Day 3
Markets, parks & hidden corners
- Visit Pirita Beach
- Eat at III Draakon
Prefer a full 12-day trip with costs and FAQs? Read the Tallinn itinerary guide.
Budget
Tallinn trip cost
Budget
USD 30–50
per person / day
Mid-range
USD 65–140
per person / day
Luxury
USD 160–265+
per person / day
Typical on-the-ground spend in Tallinn, Estonia. Hostel/guesthouse + local meals ≈ budget; comfortable hotels + mix of dining ≈ mid-range; luxury hotels and fine dining ≈ luxury. Figures exclude international flights.
Trip budget estimator
Typical mid-range for Tallinn
Estimated total (USD)
$2,250
≈ $1,125 per person · $321 per day group total
Ground costs ≈ $100/person/day (lodging + food + transport + activities)
Defaults match Tallinn mid-range ground costs (budget 30–50 · mid 65–140 · luxury 160–265+ USD/day). Edit freely — flights vary by origin.
Where to eat
Local favourites
Maiasmokk
The oldest still operating café in Tallinn, dating back to 1864. Coffee, tea, chocolate and various sweet and savoury pastries at quite chea
Pub Kompressor
Very tasty and varied pancakes. There are also other dishes. Fantastic place with great food and drinks, especially kvass!
III Draakon
If you'd like to scoop nostalgia. Very interesting to eat in a special way. They have a small menu to offer but very good and very typical.
Pizza Grande
Very cozy place. Delicious pizza, affordable prices, pleasant service. Great environment.
- $
Loca
Pizza, falafel, hummus, soup, beer. Fast food joint with wild staff and increasing customer service.
- $
Borsch j Varenyk
Great place to enjoy home-made Ukranian food
Where to stay
Tourist favourites & top-rated
- $
Euphoria
The place with a character. Painted walls, daily events, workshops and unplugged concerts make this place different from other hostels. A mu
- $
Fat Margeret's
Hostel with a big living room, kitchen and a lot of clean toilets and showers. Free Wi-Fi.
Knight House
- $
Monk's Bunk
Even booking a place here online (either through the well known suspects or their own website), does not mean they have accommodation availa
Shopping
- Viru Keskus
- Foorum Keskus
- Kaubamaja
- Melon Kaubanduskeskus
- Stockmann
- Rocca al Mare kaubanduskeskus
Nightlife
- Café Mademoiselle
- Wabadus Kohvik
- Beer House
- The Dubliner
- Drink Baar
- Hell Hunt
Museums & culture
- Toompea Castle
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- St. Mary's Cathedral
In pictures
Tallinn gallery
Photos: Jorge Franganillo, Ben Bender, Metsavend, Diego Delso, Jaan Künnap — via Wikimedia Commons
Good to know
Tallinn travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Tallinn?
May–June & September–October for mild weather and thinner crowds.
How many days do I need in Tallinn?
Plan at least 3 days in Tallinn for the highlights on our suggested itinerary; add more time for day trips.
Where should I stay in Tallinn?
Popular stays in Tallinn include Euphoria, Fat Margeret's, Knight House. Book central areas if you want to walk to major sights.
How much does a trip to Tallinn cost?
On the ground in Tallinn (excluding international flights), budget travellers often spend about 30–50 per person per day, mid-range about 65–140, and luxury about 160–265+ (USD). Typical on-the-ground spend in Tallinn, Estonia. Hostel/guesthouse + local meals ≈ budget; comfortable hotels + mix of dining ≈ mid-range; luxury hotels and fine dining ≈ luxury.
Keep exploring
