In this guide, we will cover the best things to do in Tallinn, Estonia. Another cheap weekend away in Europe, yes, again. You can’t really blame me, though, can you?

Living in the UK means the temptation to travel in Europe is constant. With the short flights and prices that don’t break the bank, it’s honestly too easy to just book something last-minute without too much of a plan. I don’t think there is anything better than a little spontaneous trip and ticking off a new country.

This time it was Tallinn in Estonia. I found some genuinely cheap flights, every single person I’d spoken to who’d raved about it, so that was really all the convincing I needed. I didn’t know a huge amount about the city before I landed, just that the old town was supposed to be stunning and that it wouldn’t cost a fortune to enjoy properly. What more could I want?

If you’re thinking about planning your own trip to Tallinn, this is your full 48-hour guide, everything I got up to, where I ate, what I’d recommend doing, and a few tips I picked up along the way. Let’s get into it.

A 48-hour guide to visiting Tallinn, Estonia

As soon as we arrived in Tallinn (Estonia’s capital, right on the Baltic Sea), the cobbled streets and quaint architecture made us feel like we had stepped straight into a fairy tale. Tallinn, to this day, has a stunning medieval vibe, and it’s easy to forget what year it actually is.

We stayed 2 nights, and I think that was perfect, especially in the freezing February weather. Though February was a cold month in Tallinn, I would still recommend visiting then, as everything looks so pretty in the snow. If I were to return, I’d like to go to the Christmas markets and maybe do a dual trip with Helsinki, as it’s very easy to get to by boat.

Getting to Tallinn, Estonia

From the UK there are plenty of flights flying directly into Tallinn with Ryanair, Easyjet and Wizzair usually being the cheapest.

The flight time from the UK is just 2 hours and 45 minutes, making Tallinn perfect for a quick city break or a great place to start when visiting the Baltics.

When you arrive at Tallinn airport, transport to the city couldn’t be easier. Just hop on a tram, and you will be in the city within 25 minutes. An Uber or local taxi costs about €5 at the time of writing.

Once you get to the centre and begin exploring, everything is within walking distance, so there’s no need to get a daily or weekly transport pass unless you are planning to visit areas outside of the city.

Accommodation in Tallinn Estonia:

We chose to stay at Old House Apartments based on recommendations, and we were not disappointed. The room we stayed in had a sauna and an open fire, which is just what you need when it’s -5 outside! The staff were super helpful and friendly, and the apartment had everything we needed. We even stayed overnight to cook, which was very cosy.

For a cheaper option, Red Emperor Hostel is great, location-wise and has everything you would need for a quick trip away.

Places to eat and drink whilst in Tallinn, Estonia

Everywhere we went this weekend, we were impressed, so I’ve listed all the best restaurants, bars and cafes in Tallinn, so you can take your pick…

• Olde Hansa – Probably the most popular restaurant and features on most blogs about Tallinn, but for good reason. The place has a real medieval atmosphere with rustic food and huge portions, local ale is served in clay mugs and the only light comes from the candles on the tables and around the hall. We only went for lunch but saw a few people getting the medieval feast which consisted of around 20 different sharing dishes and looked absolutely delicious!
• Peppersack – Go for the sword fights, stay for the food! Sword fights are every evening at 8 pm. We’d already eaten when we arrived, so we just had drinks, but we seriously regretted it as everything looked and smelled amazing.
• Secret Garden Club – This restaurant/bar/club stands out from the rest of the city for being very modern and sleek; the food is a mix of traditional and modern. I opted for soup in a bread bowl, which was fantastic.
• Draakon – An authentic medieval pub, staff are in character, it feels a bit like you are in a cosy cave, they have a very small traditional menu and I very much doubt they take card payments.
• Beer house – Everywhere we go, we always seem to end up in a German beer house! This place did not disappoint with live music, dancing, beer tasting and great sausages!
• Labor – A very strange little bar we stumbled across where all drinks are served in test tubes, good for something a bit different and a bit of a boogie at the end of a night.
• The Oak House Cigar Lounge  – I have no idea how we ended up here! But my partner loved it. Hundreds of different types of cigars and whiskey (don’t worry, they do wine too) in a small lounge with a members club feel.
• Epic coffee – Located in the old town with all the herbal blends and nut milks. They do matcha too!
• Pop ‘Kohtuotsa viewing platform’ into your Google Maps. Amazing views of Tallinn!
• Telliskivi creative city 
• F-Honne restaurant in Telliskivi – Order the Pumpkin and chickpea falafel with rocket-quinoa salad and cashew cream (G,L,V)
• They had mulled wine everywhere!
• Coffee/lunch at one of the main restaurants in the Town Hall Square (the main square pictured below with all the pretty coloured buildings)

• See my bucket list of van life road trips in Europe here.

The best things to do in Tallinn, Estonia

Tales Of Reval tour

This one’s brilliant, honestly. It’s a free walking tour, but the guides are all in character, proper medieval dress up and everything, explaining all the history of the old town in the lower part of the city while cracking jokes and telling stories (as if they were actually alive during that time).

It finishes with a shot of medieval pepper liquor, which, fair warning, is not good! Like, genuinely not good. But it’s such an authentic little touch that you can’t really be mad about it. Wrap up warm, though. Tallinn gets really cold, even when you’re not expecting it, and definitely tip the guides at the end. They really do work for their tips.

Once you’re done with the lower town, I’d recommend heading up to the upper part of the city. There are 3 main viewpoints looking out over Tallinn, and each one gives you a slightly different angle on the rooftops, the spires, and the whole medieval skyline stretched out below you. Worth doing all three if you’ve got the time, honestly.

Kohtuotsa lookout was my favourite, but definitely the busiest

Kohtuotsa lookout was my favourite, but definitely the busiest too.

Kohtuotsa is on the northern side of Toompea hill, and honestly, you’ll know you’re close because you’ll just start seeing crowds of people with their phones out. Follow them, and you’ll find it.

It’s busy for a reason, though. The view from here is the one you’ve probably seen in every Tallinn Instagram photo ever: those orange, red, and yellow rooftops, with church spires poking up between them. It’s a very pretty view, almost like someone’s photoshopped it!

The next is the Patkuli viewing platform

This one’s a bit farther from Kohtuotsa, and honestly, way fewer people bother to find it, which already makes it worth the walk. From here, you get a completely different view; instead of rooftops, you’re looking straight out towards the sea, the Gulf of Finland stretching off into the distance. On a clear day, you can see for miles.

There’s something nice about the quiet up here, too. Good spot to just chill in for a few minutes and take it all in before heading back down.

Finally, the Danish King’s Gardens

These are pretty quiet compared to the other two, tucked away and easy to miss if you’re not looking for them. There are a few statues dotted around the garden, and they’re genuinely a bit unsettling. More than once, I turned a corner and jumped because one of them was just standing there, staring off into nothing. Apparently, they light up at night, which sounds cool but also terrifying. Worth a wander though, and there’s a nice little bit of history to the gardens too.

Walk 15 minutes out of town to the industrial art centre of Telliskivi for lunch

Walk 15 minutes out of town to the industrial art centre of Telliskivi to go for lunch.

Definitely worth the walk out. Telliskivi is this old industrial complex turned into a trendier creative hub, converted warehouses, street art, little independent shops and cafes dotted around. Feels completely different from the old town, in a good way.

We had the dreamiest lunch here at F-Honne. If you’re anything like me and love a menu filled with avocado, hummus and vegetarian goodness, you’ll love this place. It’s basically like someone airlifted a Shoreditch café straight into Tallinn. And best of all? It was so reasonably priced, my meal was £8, which for that quality of food felt like an actual steal.

Aleksander Nevski Katedraali

Honestly, you can’t miss this one; it’s impossible to walk past without stopping to stare for a bit. It’s a Russian Orthodox church built in 1900, with huge onion-shaped domes that make it look completely out of place next to the rest of the old town. It’s named after Alexander Nevsky, the Russian hero who saw off the Teutonic Knights back in the thirteenth century, so lots of history behind it too.

It’s dark, quiet, and full of gold, with icons everywhere and incense in the air; the whole atmosphere is completely different from anything else in the city.

Tallinna Raekoja Plats

This is the main square which has served as a marketplace since the eleventh century and sits in the centre of the Old Town. It’s a gorgeous meeting place, spot for coffee in Tallinn or to enjoy a lunch Al Fresco.

The Old Town

You literally cannot visit without seeing the Old Town in Tallinn Estonia. This is where the majority of the earlier points are located. The old town is home to ridiculously photogenic 14th- and 15th-century architecture with its medieval walls, cobblestone streets and medieval dining options. Take some time to wander around, explore and see it from above at one of the earlier viewpoints mentioned.

Other things you can do in Tallinn Estonia include:

• Ice skating.
• Christmas markets (obviously seasonal!)
• Open-air museum which is about 10 minutes outside the city.
• St Olaf’s Church (which is incredibly small considering it used to be the tallest building in the world)

Top tips for visiting Tallinn, Estonia

• It’s not as cheap as everyone makes out – prices have been rising in recent years, and in any of the main areas you’re still likely to pay around 5 euros per beer.
• Bring a small backpack for a weekend trip – if you have ever flown with Wizz Air you will know hand luggage isn’t included!! Every time we fly with them, we watch as passengers kick off at airline staff, hold everyone up and then finally pay the fees. Personally, I think you can just bring a small backpack for a weekend trip, but if you want to bring luggage, it’s cheaper to book Wizz Air priority, which lets you bring a small suitcase on board.
• Bring lots of layers! I know I have already mentioned, but it is freezing in February, 
• Try to visit at Christmas if you can, it looks beautiful!
• Tie your visit into an Eastern Europe trip, so look into tagging on a second destination if you have longer than a weekend.
• Bring good walking shoes – most of what you will be doing involves walking, steps and hills. 
• Although it’s not somewhere I would stay for weeks, it’s definitely more than a day trip. If you are coming from Helsinki or similar, make sure you stay overnight, as that’s when the city really comes alive!

• See my 21 cheap places to visit in Europe here

• See my 22 top tips for travelling in Europe here.

Have you been to Tallinn, Estonia?

What were your favourite spots? We’d love to know!?

Love Katie from Travels By Katie

You can see more of Katie’s adventures on her Instagram here.