1 day itinerary in Tallinn's Old Town, Estonia: top things to see and do.

Tallinn's medieval Old Town is one of Europe's finest and proudly listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can easily spend a day wandering through cobblestone lanes that wind past beautifully preserved pastel-coloured houses, all culminating in the grand Town Hall Square, a historic hub surrounded by mighty stone walls and defensive towers. It's no wonder that Estonia's capital is known as the Pearl of the Baltic.

You might also be interested in buying a 24 hour Tallinn Card for your visit: This convenient tourist pass offers free entry to over 50 of the city's top museums and attractions, including many of the viewpoints and historical sites mentioned in this guide. It also provides unlimited use of Tallinn's public transport, and while the Old Town is very walkable, it would cover your journey to and from the airport. If you're staying longer, this definitely comes into its own as you can catch the tram or bus further afield to Kadriorg Palace, the TV Tower or the Seaplane Museum.

If you only have one day in Tallinn, here's how we'd recommend spending it:

Morning:

Start your day exploring the Upper Old Town:

First stop: Toompea Hill, serving for centuries as the seat of power for rulers and nobles. Its elevated position offered natural defense and commanding views, a role it continues to play today. From here, you can tick off Tallinn's two famous viewpoints. First, head to Patkuli Viewing Platform. This is where you can capture that familiar postcard image of four defensive towers with their iconic red-tiled fairytale roofs, with the mighty St. Olav's Church Tower soaring behind them.

A short walk away, past elegant administrative buildings, is Kohtsuotsa Viewing Platform, our particular favourite. Here you can enjoy vast sweeping views across the whole Old Town, all the way to the sparkling Baltic Sea where ferries set sail for Finland. At the moment, someone has graffitied the world Tallinn on the wall next to the view, which makes for a very Instagrammable shot.

After soaking in the views from Toompea Hill, delve deeper into its history:

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral: This stunning, ornate Russian Orthodox cathedral, with its distinctive onion domes, stands in stark contrast to the rest of Toompea. Built between 1894 and 1900 during a period of intense Russification, it was deliberately placed opposite Toompea Castle to symbolize Russian imperial power. Because of this, it has long been viewed by many Estonians as a symbol of past Russian oppression, and there were even serious discussions and plans in the 1920s and 30s to demolish it following Estonian independence. Ultimately, due to high demolition costs and a considerable Orthodox minority, it was never torn down. Today, its intricate mosaics and impressive architecture are undeniably striking and definitely worth a visit, offering a unique glimpse into Estonia's complex history

Toompea Castle: A mix of architectural styles, Toompea Castle has been a seat of power for centuries. You'll immediately notice its striking bright pink facade as you leave Alexander Nevsky Cathedral; a baroque palace built on the foundations of the medieval fortress that today houses the Estonian Parliament.

Coffee break:

Maiden Tower (Neitsitorn) Head down hill from the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and through an arch in the city wall to the Danish King's Garden, where you'll find the entrance to the Maiden Tower. Not just a historic landmark; it also houses a lovely café where you can enjoy a coffee with an Old Town view from the wall itself! N.B. the cafe is only accessible through the museum ticket barrier, so you'll need to pay to visit *Free with the Tallinn Card. However, you can also buy a combined ticket and access the next stop on your Tallinn itinerary:

Kiek in de Kök Fortifications Museum: Immerse yourself in Tallinn's military history at this fascinating museum, housed within one of the city's mightiest cannon towers, Kiek in de Kök (stop giggling at the back, it means "Peek into the Kitchen"). You can handle armour, see an impressive collection of cannons and swords and learn more about the history of Tallinn's defenses and medieval warfare. Be sure to climb up to the top floor for incredible views of the Old Town and Toompea Hill and don't miss the Bastion Tunnels, part of your combined ticket. Originally built as secret military passages for troop and ammunition movement, they were later used as storage facilities, then as vital air-raid shelters during World War II and even as nuclear fallout shelters during the Soviet era. More recently the tunnels were a refuge for the homeless and a secret hangout for the punk scene. *Free with the Tallinn Card

Head Down to the Lower Old Town:

As you descend from Toompea Hill, you'll immediately notice that the Lower Old Town feels distinctly older. This is because a devastating fire in the 17th century destroyed many of the medieval buildings up on Toompea, while the Lower Town largely survived.

Pikk Street: Take a stroll along Pikk Street ("Long Street"), one of Tallinn's main thoroughfares. It's lined with beautifully preserved medieval buildings, showcasing the city's rich architectural heritage. Pause outside number 26, the House of the Blackheads (Mustpeade Maja), one of the most famous and visually striking buildings on Pikk Street. It was the former headquarters of the Brotherhood of Blackheads, a medieval guild of unmarried merchants and has a very decorative door (often seen on postcards) featuring the iconic "Moor's head" symbol above it.

Lunch time!

A popular spot for a hearty and affordable lunch, Pub Kompressor (3 Rataskaevu tn) is famous for its massive filled pancakes, available in both sweet and savory varieties, for under €10. Because of its popularity and fantastic value, you'll often find a queue forming at the door, especially during peak lunch hours, but don't let that deter you! The wait is well worth it and the queue typically moves quickly.

Alternatively, pre book lunch at Tore Toit, upstairs at 33 Vene tn where a fabulous traditional Estonian 2 course lunch is served daily from 12:00-16:00. We've written a full guide to this lovely restaurant which you can read here.

Afternoon:

Town Hall Square (Raekoja Plats): As you venture further down a narrow street called Voorimehe, you'll reach the undisputed heart of the Old Town: Town Hall Square. This grand, open space is surrounded by a magnificent ensemble of historic buildings, chief among them the striking 13th century Town Hall itself, a Gothic masterpiece with its distinctive skinny tower. The square always feels alive with activity - depending on the season, it might be bustling with outdoor cafes, hosting vibrant markets selling local crafts and treats, or perhaps even transformed for festive events, carrying on centuries of tradition. This is also where you'll find the Town Hall Pharmacy Museum - dating from 1422, it still has a working dispensary/counter and the small free museum has a display of bonkers ye olde remedies like bats blood, viper fat, a mummified hand and sun bleached dog poo!! Thank goodness for the NHS...

St. Catherine's Passage (Katariina käik): Step back in time in one of Tallinn's most unique and atmospheric medieval lanes. This narrow passage is still home to artisan workshops, known as St. Catherine's Guild and you can still watch craftspeople at work, creating traditional goods like ceramics, glass, leather, and textiles, much as they would have done centuries ago. It runs alongside the remains of the Dominican Monastery of St. Catherine, which once dominated this part of the city - there are still fascinating fragments of its arcades and gravestones embedded in the walls.

Hot chocolate at Pierre Chocolaterie: Time for another pitstop! Indulge your sweet tooth at this lovely chocolate shop, tucked away within the charming, cobbled Masters' Courtyard. On a sunny day, take a seat at one of the rustic tables outside and treat yourself to one of their legendary rich hot chocolates, or if the weather's not playing ball, head inside to a whimsical hideaway full of velvet and vintage art. *10% discount with the Tallinn Card

Hellemann Tower and Wall: Explore a 200m of well-preserved section of Tallinn's city wall. Climb Hellemann Tower for lovely views back across to Toompea Hill and walk the length of the wall for a sense of what it was like to defend this medieval city. *Free with the Tallinn Card

NB. The order of this section works best after lunch at Kompressor. If you ate at Tore Toit, do Hellemann Tower and St Catherine's Passage first then work your way back past Pierre Choclaterie to the Town Hall Square.

Evening:

Dinner at Olde Hansa: This popular restaurant right behind the Town Hall offers a full-blown medieval dining experience, complete with waiters in period costumes, candlelit tables and live music played on authentic historic instruments from 18:00-21:00, Wednesday to Sunday. The menu focuses on traditional Hanseatic fare, featuring hearty meat platters with options like elk, boar, and bear, alongside game sausages, fish, and spiced vegetables, all prepared using techniques and ingredients from centuries past. It's an immersive experience designed to transport you back to Tallinn's prosperous merchant days, with dark honey beer served in ceramic steins. Be sure to reserve a table in advance, this place is definitely touristy but a lot of fun! *10% discount with the Tallinn Card

Catch a sunset: If your legs will handle it after a full day of sightseeing, why not finish your day were it started: up on Toompea Hill at either Kohtsuotsa or Patkuli Viewing Platform, watching the red tiled roofs of the Old Town glow in the setting sun.

Alternatively, you could watch the light fade with a cocktail in hand at ISSEI Restaurant & Bar. Perched on the 24th floor of the Radisson Collection Hotel (3 Rävala puiestee), ISSEI offers wonderful panoramic views of the Old Town the modern city skyline from their open air terrace. If you need a late night snack, their inventive Japanese-Peruvian fusion menu features light bites such as yuca fries with shichimi togarashi and teriyaki chicken tacos (kitchen open until 11pm).

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