Tallinn in a Day: What to Do With 24 Hours

Tallinn is one of the best one-day cities in Europe. The medieval Old Town is one of the best-preserved in the world, small enough to walk in a morning, and full of genuinely striking Gothic and Baroque architecture. It's also less crowded than more famous medieval cities, which makes exploring it on a short visit pleasant rather than exhausting.

Getting In and Out

Tallinn Airport is around 4 kilometres from the Old Town. Taxis and rideshares take around 10 minutes. Ferries from Helsinki take 2 hours 30 minutes and arrive at the passenger port adjacent to the Old Town, which is one of the most convenient ferry arrivals in Europe. Ferries from Stockholm arrive after an overnight crossing.

Morning

Start at the Lower Town. Walk through the Viru Gate, the 14th-century twin towers that are the most photographed entrance to the Old Town, and along Viru Street to the Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats). The Gothic Town Hall is one of the best-preserved medieval town halls in northern Europe and the square around it is the heart of the Old Town.

Walk the towers and walls. Several of the medieval defensive towers along the northern edge of the Old Town are open to climb. The Fat Margaret Tower at the seaward end of Pikk Street and the towers along Toompea Hill are all accessible. The walls themselves can be walked for sections.

Afternoon

Climb Toompea Hill to the upper town. Toompea Castle (now the Estonian Parliament) and the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (a Russian Orthodox cathedral built during the Tsarist period) sit side by side at the top. The viewing platforms at Kohtuotsa and Patkuli give the best views over the Lower Town's red-tiled rooftops.

Lunch at the Old Town Market Hall or at one of the restaurants around Town Hall Square. Estonian food leans toward hearty northern European cooking: black rye bread, smoked fish, elk and wild boar dishes. The Lido cafeteria-style restaurants in the city give good value for traditional food.

The Telliskivi Creative City, a 15-minute walk from the Old Town, is Tallinn's best neighbourhood for contemporary food, design shops, and weekend markets. Worth the walk in the afternoon.

Evening (if time allows)

The Old Town in the evening, after the cruise ship day-trippers have left, is a different experience. The streets quiet down and the medieval character of the place is easier to appreciate.

Kadriorg, the baroque palace and park built by Peter the Great, is around 15 minutes from the Old Town by tram. The Kumu Art Museum (Estonian and international modern art) is adjacent and excellent.