Tallinn is very well connected to the rest of Europe. You can travel to Estonia by bus, train, plane and by ferry. We flew there from Dublin with Ryanair for 100 euros (return trip). 

You may consider visiting Tallinn from Helsinki with the ferry. As the cost of living is much higher in Finland than in Estonia, we recommend the other way round. Make Tallinn your base, and take the ferry from Estonia to go to Helsinki. 

If you're traveling through the Baltic States, the capital cities are well connected to one another by bus. Flixbus provides regular connections between Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn.

From Tallinn Airport, it is super easy to join the city center. The Bus number 2 will take you to Tammsaare Park, just a few steps from Viru Gate, in about 20 minutes. The journey takes around 18 minutes by taxi and costs just under 10 euros.

Tallinn is a popular tourist destination, with almost 700,000 visitors every year. It's also a very attractive destination for Erasmus students and bachelor/bachelorette parties. Finns take the ferry to party the night away, and stock up on cheap booze.

Because of their history, most Estonians speak Finnish and/or Russian in addition to their own language. English is also widely spoken. If you have a school level of English, you'll find it easy to talk to the locals.

Tallinn is known as the most connected city in the world. From voting to tax declarations, every administrative task is digitized in Estonia. You won't have any network problems on your trip!

Estonia has been using the euro since 2011.

If you visit Estonia in winter, be prepared for extreme temperatures. Between -5 and -20 degrees! We were there in mid-March, at the dawn of spring, and the temperature was minus -10 degrees. It was impossible for us to stay outside for too long, even if we were well covered up. Nevertheless, it gave us a very good excuse to try out a number of cafés and restaurants! In summer, the average temperature is 18 degrees.

Tallinn is an ideal destination for a long weekend, combined with a day trip to Helsinki or Riga. Check our articles about Riga and Helsinki to know more about those two destinations.

Our itinerary begins at the Viru Gate, certainly the most iconic gate to enter the old town and start visiting Tallinn. Two stone barbicans face each other to welcome visitors into the city, where Viru Street will lead them to the central square. These two towers form part of the defensive wall that has surrounded Tallinn since the fourteenth century, much of which is still incredibly well preserved. In the past, the city had eight gates like the Viru Gate. 

Viru Gate and Viru Street are pedestrian zones. You can wander along this cobblestone street without worrying about cars or scooters. 

In front of Viru Gate, you can find Tallinn's flower market. Open in summer and winter alike, this market features fourteen stalls lined up in a mix of colorful flowers right up to the Viru Gate.

Walk up Viru street to reach the Town Hall Square. Tallinn Town Hall is the oldest town hall in Northern Europe. It was first mentioned in 1322. Today, this Gothic building is incredibly well preserved, despite the bombing the city suffered in March 1944. The tower of the town hall is adorned with a golden weathervane depicting a warrior with a flag. It is one of the town's symbols and is called "Old Thomas" by the locals.

On the City Hall Square, you can find the oldest pharmacy in Europe, Tallinn's City Hall Pharmacy. An unusual place, to say the least, not to be missed! This pharmacy has been operating since the fifteenth century and is still in business today. There is a small museum inside the pharmacy, where you can learn more about the pharmacy’s history and some of the remedies used in the Middle Ages.

Admission is free.

Continue along Mundi Street to reach the Kalev Marzipan Museum and the Maiasmokk café as they share the same building. Welcome to one of the city's oldest cafés! Its appearance has been the same since 1864. Take a seat in one of the red velvet chairs in the large hall and enjoy a warm cup of coffee with a marzipan from Kalev, an Estonian confectioner.

After this nice coffee break, walk up to the Church of St. Nicholas which is only 5 minutes away. Dating back to the Middle Ages, this church was partially destroyed when Tallinn was bombed by the Soviet army. The church has since been restored and even opened an observation platform on its steeple.

Continue towards Liberty Square. From the square you cannot miss the Victory Column from the Independence war, a pedestal decorated with a Liberty Star. This is a memorial to the 4,000 Estonians who fell in the Estonian War of Independence between 1918 and 1920.

Reach the Kiek in de Kök tower, an imposing artillery tower forming part of Tallinn's city walls. Its name is unusual, to say the least, as it means "Take a look in the kitchen". The tower got its name from its occupants' ability to see into the kitchens of neighboring homes. Today, the tower houses a museum dedicated to the city's fortifications. It is also the entry to the underground tunnels that, together with the towers and ramparts, form Tallinn's defense system.

Walk along the ramparts till you reach the Danish Kings' Garden. This garden offers one of the finest views of the city and the church of St. Nicholas. It takes its name from a legend. It is said that the Danish flag once fell from the sky at this very spot during the Danish invasion of Estonia, changing the course of the battle in favor of King Valdemar II.

Retrace your steps a little to admire the Russian Orthodox Church of Alexander Nevsky.

Opposite the Orthodox Church is Toompea Castle. With its pink Baroque façade, the castle now houses the Riigikogu, the Estonian parliament. On the side of the building, you can see the Hermann Tower, from which the Estonian flag flies.

Continue toward Tallinn's St. Mary's Cathedral. This emblematic Tallinn cathedral dates back to the 13th century. It can be visited for a donation. The bell tower is also accessible for a beautiful view of the city.

A few steps further on is the Kohtuotsa observation platform. From this small square, you'll have a breathtaking view of the rooftops of the old town, Pikk Street, Tallinn's ramparts and the ferries coming and going from Finland.

Fun fact - The observation platform is occupied by a couple of gulls chasing the tourists for a little snack. Meet Steven Seagull and his wife! Steven even has his own Instagram account - steve.the.seagull.

Just a few meters further on is a second observation platform, Patkuli. From here, you can admire St. Olaf's church and its imposing bell tower. This church dates back to the thirteenth century and is said to have been struck by lightning at least 10 times.

Retrace your steps to walk along the prettiest streets in Tallinn's Old Town. These are Pikk and Mundi streets. 

Mundi Street links Town Hall Square to Pikk Street. Pikk Street links the Pika jala väravatorn gate to the waterfront. Stroll along these cobbled streets to admire the colorful buildings and browse the souvenir stores. We were captivated by the beauty of each building's facades, adorned with medieval wooden doors.

Continue on to another of Tallinn's not-to-be-missed streets, Katerina Street. A medieval street that you can access from Vene Street through a small passageway. This street is said to have been built over 700 years ago. Walking down Katerina Street truly feels like stepping back in time! You'll find plenty of craftsmen's workshops, but also lots of visitors. 

Katerina Street will take you to the Hellemann Tower, which is open to visitors from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. We highly recommend a visit to the tower and ramparts to enjoy one of the best views of Tallinn, while having an insight into the city's defense system. The ramparts link the Hellemann Tower, through which you will enter, to the Munkadetagune Tower.

Round off your day in Tallinn with a visit to the Rotermanni district, located right between the Old Town and the harbor.

On the way is the Hotel Viru. You can’t miss this huge white building located close to Viru Gate. This 4-star hotel was first opened in the 1970s. It is famous for having allowed its guests to be spied on during the Soviet era. Almost 60 rooms and restaurant tables were equipped with microphones. The 23rd floor was long kept secret as it housed KGB offices and a radio station. Today, this floor houses the KGB museum where you can see the installations used at the time to spy on hotel guests.

Rotermanni is a former industrial zone, now converted into a trendy district. It is a lively meeting place day and night, with modern apartments, a shopping center and numerous cafés and restaurants. We tried out l'Orangerie while enjoying a coffee and watching the passers-by.

Finish your day in Tallinn with a lovely dinner in one of the Old Town's restaurants. Below are our recommendations.

Tallinn's medieval heritage is celebrated without moderation in this concept restaurant that will take you back in time. Candlelight, dishes served on terracotta plates, right down to the costumed staff who call themselves 'servant' and ask you if you'd like to pay with magic! Prices are a little high compared with other restaurants in the Old Town, but this is surely due to the unique experience provided by Olde Hansa. A must when visiting Tallinn!

Olde Hansa does offer vegetarian options, but these are fairly limited.

Located in the heart of the old town, this restaurant serves delicious meals made from local farmer products in a charming and cozy atmosphere. The menu is limited, but includes vegan and vegetarian options. It's also a good address for those who want to try moose meat, an Estonian specialty.

Located next to Rataskaevu, Peet Ruut is a charming Vegan restaurant.