Estonia
Tallinn
Walled Hanseatic Old Town with a market on Town Hall Square; 2 to 3 nights. Below: 5 sights, 2 places to eat and 1 shop, plus how Tallinn fits into a longer trip.
- Places
- 9
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Late Nov – Dec
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- February
- Wettest month
- June
5 See · 2 Eat · 1 Shop · 1 Stay
Tallinn & Riga
from our route notes
21°C / 70°F avg high
-3°C / 27°F avg high
about 72 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Tallinn
9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
The landmarks we would not skip in Tallinn across Vanalinn and Toompea. 3 of them are free.
Photo: Hei1972 · CC BY-SA 4.0SeeTallinn Town Hall
Gothic town hall from 1404, the oldest surviving in Northern Europe, with Old Thomas the weathervane on its spire.
Tip The tower is open only in summer; the hall itself opens for concerts and tours.
Photo: Jimpaz · CC BY-SA 3.0SeeKohtuotsa viewing platform
Toompea terrace looking over red and snow-covered roofs to St Olaf's spire and the harbour.
Tip Come at sunrise, which in December is after 9 a.m.
Photo: Marmuras · CC BY-SA 4.0SeeAlexander Nevsky Cathedral
Onion-domed Russian Orthodox cathedral from 1900 on Toompea, opposite the Estonian parliament in Toompea Castle.
Tip Dress modestly and skip photos inside.
Photo: Tusklikupreili · CC BY-SA 4.0SeeSt Nicholas' Church
Medieval church now run as a museum of sacred art, home to Bernt Notke's Danse Macabre painting.
Tip Organ concerts are held on weekend afternoons.
Photo: Tusklikupreili · CC BY-SA 4.0SeeViru Gate
Two 14th-century towers marking the eastern entrance to the Old Town, with a flower market along the wall.
Eat
2 places to eat in Vanalinn, picked for groups who care about the food.
Photo: JIP · CC BY-SA 3.0EatOlde Hansa
Candlelit medieval-themed restaurant in a merchant's house off Town Hall Square, serving game, honey beer and spiced almonds.
Tip Book ahead in December, especially for evenings.
- Eat
Rataskaevu 16
Small Old Town restaurant serving modern Estonian food, known for its braised elk roast.
Tip Reservations are needed most evenings.
Shop
1 shop in Vanalinn for browsing and souvenirs.
Photo: jonathan exon · CC BY-SA 3.0ShopTallinn Christmas Market
Wooden stalls, a tall fir and mulled-wine counters fill Town Hall Square, where Tallinn says a tree stood as early as 1441.
Tip Try verivorst blood sausage and hot glögi; the tree is lit on the first Sunday of Advent.
Stay
Places to stay in Tallinn in Vanalinn.
Photo: Henrik Heino · CC BY 3.0StayHotel Telegraaf
Hotel in the 1878 former telegraph office on Vene Street, a short walk from Town Hall Square.
How to fit Tallinn into a trip
Tallinn is stop 1 of 2 on our Tallinn & Riga route. Follow it as-is or lift Tallinn into your own plan.
Stop 1 of 2
Tallinn & Riga
Two medieval squares, two first Christmas trees
- Trip length
- 5 days
- Best season
- Late Nov – Dec
- Pace
- easy
- Next: Riga
Getting here and onward
- Tallinn to RigaRiga is about 279 km / 173 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Tallinn month by month
Average daily highs run from -3°C / 27°F in February to 21°C / 70°F in July. June is the wettest month, with about 72 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan-2° / 28°F average high
- Feb-3° / 27°F average high
- Mar1° / 33°F average high
- Apr6° / 44°F average high
- May13° / 55°F average high
- Jun17° / 63°F average high
- Jul21° / 70°F average high
- Aug20° / 68°F average high
- Sep16° / 60°F average high
- Oct9° / 48°F average high
- Nov4° / 39°F average high, in our recommended season
- Dec0° / 33°F average high, in our recommended season
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Tallinn weather and the best time to visit →
Near Tallinn
3 other destinations from our guides within about 400 km (249 mi), measured in a straight line.
Tallinn questions, answered
How many days do you need in Tallinn?
Our route notes suggest 2–3 nights in Tallinn. On our Tallinn & Riga route it is stop 1 of 2 in a 5-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 8 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Tallinn best known for?
Walled Hanseatic Old Town with a market on Town Hall Square; 2 to 3 nights. Standouts on our list: Tallinn Town Hall (Gothic town hall from 1404, the oldest surviving in Northern Europe, with Old Thomas the weathervane on its spire); Kohtuotsa viewing platform (Toompea terrace looking over red and snow-covered roofs to St Olaf's spire and the harbour); Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Onion-domed Russian Orthodox cathedral from 1900 on Toompea, opposite the Estonian parliament in Toompea Castle).
When is the best time to visit Tallinn?
Our Tallinn & Riga route is best Late Nov – Dec. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (21°C / 70°F), the coolest in February (-3°C / 27°F) and the most rain in June (about 72 mm).
What are the best things to do in Tallinn?
Start with Tallinn Town Hall, Kohtuotsa viewing platform, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, St Nicholas' Church and Viru Gate. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 5 sights, 2 places to eat, 1 shop and 1 place to stay.
Where should a group eat in Tallinn?
Our picks: Olde Hansa (Vanalinn); Rataskaevu 16 (Vanalinn). Book ahead in December, especially for evenings (Olde Hansa).
What is near Tallinn?
The closest destinations in our guides are Helsinki (about 82 km / 51 mi), Riga (about 279 km / 173 mi) and Stockholm (about 378 km / 235 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Tallinn with your crew
Open the Tallinn & Riga route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.