10 Fun Things to do in Tallinn

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Tallinn: A Throwback into Medieval Times

The Baltics seem to be a secret, yet Tallinn is slowly becoming more and more popular. Just a quick boat ride away from Helsinki, Tallinn is one of the gems of the baltic. With medieval city walls, winding old town streets, and a constant stream of live medieval musical performances, Tallinn is a great experience.

City Walls

10. KGB Museum: inside a hotel, the artifacts of the KGB are on display, showcasing a dark side in Estonian history and the impact that the Soviet Union had on Estonian society. Although inside a hotel, this museum is an important visit as it shows the controlling nature of dictatorships and totalitarian governments and is an interesting look into the past.

9. Paks Margareeta: this impressive tower, just off the port, is your first impression of Old Town. The intimidating tower also houses the Maritime Museum for those interested in a little history of the Baltic Sea and maritime history in Estonia.

8. Museum of Occupations: each of the Baltics has their own museum detailing the occupation by the Nazis and the Soviets. It is an important part of history, one in which many atrocities were occurred, therefore making this museum an important tool to keep the memory alive and hopefully prevent further atrocities.

Kohtuosta Viewing Platform

7. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral: this beautiful Russian Orthodox cathedral on top of Toompea hill offers a different and unique style to Tallinn. Built in the Russian revivalist style, it adds a unique beauty to the city, and the inside is absolutely beautiful. It is worth the stop when wandering the neighborhood.

6. Patkuli Viewing Platform: this lookout point near the tower of the city, gives a great view of the ocean, the small park, and a bit of the city. This platform is less busy than the Kohtuosta viewing platform, making it a bit easier to admire the surroundings.

Kohtuosta Viewing Platform

5. Tallinn Town Hall: this 13th Century building in the city center can be seen from many vantage points. But taking a moment to admire the building, as well as the cute houses in the square surrounding it, is a must do.

4. City Walls: since Tallinn has kept much of its medieval architecture, there are still city walls surrounding the old town today. And you can climb up and walk part of these city walls, which is great because you get another unique view of the city.

Town Hall

3. Toompea: this neighborhood on the hill is a great place to wander around and explore some history. Every corner seems to represent a different time period in history, whether medieval or under communist occupation. And the park nearby is also a nice oasis in an already calm city.

2. Toompea Castle: this 9th century fortress is the home of the House of Parliament, so visiting the old castle is a bit of a challenge. However, the beautiful complexes are worth the look, and you can visit some of the old towers of the castle and admire the views of the city from there.

1. Kohtuosta Viewing Platform: this beautiful lookout near the castle gives the best view of Tallinn. You can see the winding streets and the beautiful church steeples. And what makes it even more enjoyable is the tasteful quote "the times we had" on the wall near the lookout, making you stop and appreciate the moment.

Kohtuosta Viewing Platform