Tallinn with a toddler: 8 top things our 18 month old loved
- teamthomastravels
- Jul 7
- 4 min read
Planning a city break to Tallinn with a little one? We just got back from our trip with Jamie, who's about to turn 18 months, and let me tell you, it's a wonderfully family-friendly city! While a medieval Old Town might not immediately scream "toddler paradise," we found plenty to keep our little adventurer entertained. Here are some of the things Jamie absolutely adored, and our top tips for making your trip smooth:
Jamie's Top Tallinn Hits for a fun and family friendly city break:
Kadriorg Park: This isn't just any park; it's a massive green oasis surrounding the beautiful Kadriorg Palace, and it's absolutely perfect for little legs to stretch and run around. We found a brilliant playground and sandpit right beside the Children's Museum. The museum itself looked fantastic for slightly older kids, but beyond Jamie's current interest level, the outdoor play area was a huge hit. There was also an ice cream van there when we visited!
Olde Hansa Restaurant: Okay, this might seem like a slightly unconventional pick for a toddler, but Jamie ADORED the live medieval music. Plus, at Olde Hansa, you're genuinely encouraged to bang your hands on the table after each song, which he thoroughly enjoyed joining in with. It was chaotic, loud, and surprisingly fun for all of us.
Estonian Maritime Museum (Fat Margaret & Seaplane Harbour): Both branches of the Estonian Maritime Museum proved to be brilliant for kids. Fat Margaret, the massive cannon tower, and the incredible Seaplane Harbour offer very hands-on experiences. Think toys to play with, interactive screens for curious fingers, costumes to try on, and even soft play areas. The sheer scale of the Seaplane hangar means there's so much space for a toddler to run freely – a huge bonus when they need to burn off some energy!
Town Hall Square: The heart of the Old Town itself became a mini-adventure playground for Jamie. He loved the rope hammock swings, endless pigeons to chase, and the sheer vibrancy of the colourful buildings to look at. It's a great spot to let them wander (supervised, of course!) and soak in the atmosphere.
Play Areas Galore: You'll be pleased to know that Tallinn has playgrounds seemingly everywhere, often just minutes from the Old Town's main attractions! Our favourites were Towers Square (Tornide Väljak), which has a good sandpit, swings, and a fantastic wooden fort to explore, and Tammsaare Park, offering slides, things to climb on, and some lovely outdoor musical instruments to play with. For finding other playgrounds on the fly, a quick search for "Lasteväljak" and "Mänguväljak" on Google Maps will show you plenty of options.
Exploring the City Walls & Towers: Jamie seemed to really enjoy being up close with the city's ancient defenses. Exploring places like Kiek in de Kök and other accessible parts of the city walls meant playing with (foam) swords, touching the ancient armour on display, and patting the rough stone walls. It felt like a real-life fairytale fortress.
Going to the Spa! This was possibly the biggest surprise hit! We spent an amazing afternoon at Ring Spaa & Saunas, and here's a key cultural difference: in Estonia, the sauna and spa are genuinely for all ages, even toddlers, which means no side eye for bringing the littles along! Ring Spaa is particularly kiddie-friendly, boasting a fabulous play pool area with slides, water jets, and bubbles. Plus, Jamie was allowed in the jacuzzi and even the steam rooms (briefly, of course!). It was so much fun – if you head over to our Instagram, we've made a reel all about our visit, showing just how much he loved it.
What About Pushchairs/Strollers?
Our top tip for visiting Tallinn with a toddler: Ditch the pushchair! At least for the Old Town. Those charming cobblestone streets, steep hills, and winding historic staircases are simply not buggy-friendly. If you want to really explore – walk the city walls, delve into Kiek in de Kök and the Bastion Tunnels, or brave the climb up St. Olav's Church Tower – you'll absolutely need a backpack carrier.
We swear by the Traveller Child Carrier from Little Life. (not an ad, we just love recommending it and often get asked about it while travelling!) It's brilliant because it's lightweight and small enough to be a carry-on bag on a flight, yet incredibly comfy for both Jamie and us, thanks to its padded shoulder and waist straps. Crucially, it has enough storage for a day's worth of nappies, snacks, drinks, and a change of clothes.
To give you a realistic expectation: the only attractions we visited that had a lift were Kadriorg Palace, Niguliste Museum, the Seaplane Museum, and Fat Margaret Maritime Museum. Everywhere else? Stairs. Lots of them. So, plan accordingly!
Ready for Your Tallinn Family Adventure?
Tallinn might be famous for its medieval charm, but as we discovered with Jamie, it's also a surprisingly toddler-friendly city with plenty to offer little explorers. While navigating the cobbled streets with a pushchair can be tricky, swapping it for a carrier, embracing the playgrounds, and diving into the interactive museums makes for truly memorable days. It's a city where ancient history meets modern fun, even for the smallest travellers, so get ready to create some incredible family memories in Estonia's captivating capital!
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