Tallinn, Estonia is a bit more of an off-the-beaten-track capital to visit in Europe, but if you only have 24 hours Estonia you must spend your one day in Tallinn.
An old Baltic Sea port, Tallinn’s old town stands sentinel over the sea and is complimented by quite a modern ‘new’ town behind it, comprised of higher rise buildings.
Tallinn is right on the Baltic Sea, not too far across the channel from Helsinki and connected via ferry from many other Baltic cities. You can reach Tallinn by ferry from Stockholm, Riga, Helsinki, various ports in Germany, and even Denmark or Poland.
The most characteristic part of Tallinn, Estonia is its beautiful old walled town. The town is protected by high stone walls, which nowadays you can climb and walk to come upon stunning views of the colorful city. There are many churches and beautiful buildings in town, too. The skyline is characterized by green pointed steeples, eastern european-style baubles, brick-red roofs, red-pointed castle towers, and classic colorful eastern European architecture.
Believe it or not, Tallinn is one of the up-and-coming worldly centers for tech startups. Many tech companies find their way here to find talented workers and also hire international workers from around the world. If you are looking to work internationally, Tallinn has lots of opportunities!
What to Do in Tallinn in One Day
The main thing to do in one day in Tallinn Estonia is to fully explore Tallinn old town. My favorite way to travel is to simply wander around a place and get wonderfully lost. The old town is incredible, and you can come upon many beautiful restaurants and buildings that look like you are actually inside a fairy tale.
If you wanted something a bit more guided you could also book a well-rated Welcome Tour with a Local or a classic Hop On Hop Off bus tour, which would give you more range in your sightseeing in less time!
Viru Gate
These are the main gates of town that are incredibly well preserved and comprise the beginning of the old town walls. Many people sit just outside these gates on a park wall for the sunset. Viru Gate also lights up at night for a lovely evening scene.
Check Out the Tallinn Markets and Stalls
If you are entering the main old town gate, Viru Gate, you can turn directly right to see a row of markets backed up against the tall Tallinn old town walls. Here you can find some classic Estonian souvenirs, and LOTS of amazing soft knitted goods.
Tallinn is known for its lovely comfy sweaters, scarves, socks, and gloves. You will quickly notice the comfortable style as you walk by these markets, and it’s hard not to pick up a little something as a token of the city. They have tons of colorful gloves and hats, and these were the hardest for me to resist as they would have fit most easily in my backpack!
Tallinn Town Hall Square
The main square in Tallinn is called Town Hall Square (as you can see the Town Hall there) and is full of beautiful colored buildings and Estonian history/architecture. This is the place where you will often hear live bands playing, see any town gatherings that take place, or an ideal spot for a coffee of a wine on the patio while people-watching.
Keep Your Eye Out For Medieval Characters
Because the town is so medieval in architecture and design, people actually dress up in traditional garb to work at restaurants or hang around town. Although obviously classically touristy, this is a pretty cool way to feel immersed in the historical town and understand a bit about its roots. Just keep your eye out for higher prices and tourist scams in the busier parts of town.
Walk the Old Town Walls for some Great Views
Near the markets is an entry way to climb some winding stairs and walk along a portion of the Tallinn old town walls. These look north over the entire town and provide pretty views over everything. It’s not the best view in town but there are definitely some worthwhile photo ops.
Other Viewpoints You Need to See with One Day in Tallinn
The north part of town, closest to the sea, has the viewpoints that really deliver the goods. One of them, Patkuli Vaateplatvorm (Viewing Platform), faces more west and has a perfect view of the sunset. The other, Kohtuotsa Vaateplatvorm, is exactly central and gives quite literally a jaw-dropping view over the entire town skyline.
Try to head to hese viewpoints above when you first arrive into Tallinn so you can get a fel for the city layout and vibe.
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St Catherine’s Passage
It’s hard to miss one of the most charming street of old town – St Catherine’s Passage. This historic street used to be guild houses, and it feels like you’ve stepped back in time when you meander down the cobblestone streets and peer inside 5-foot-high wooden doors with pointed tops.
Today it’s still a popular shopping spot in Tallinn, and a great place to grab a souvenir when you can only explore Tallinn in one day.
Cathedrals + Churches in Tallinn in 1 Day
It’s hard not to notice the bigger cathedrals and churches when looking at old town. The Aleksander Nevsky Cathedral and the St Nicolas Church are some of the main ones to check out – the latter of which is also a museum!
I’m personally now the biggest fan of visiting many churches when I travel, but these ones are worth noting as they’re easy to have a quick look inside and also grace the Tallinn Skyline with their iconic steeples and baubles.
Go on a Walk, Ride, or Picnic in Some Parks Around Town
There are some massive parks surrounding the town that would be lovely for a bike ride or an afternoon walk. Many of the locals will flock to the parks on a nice warm day, to feel as if they have a bit of nature in the middle of the city.
Tallinn is actually surrounded almost on all sides by parks and grassy areas, so make sure to get a little bit of nature in your city adventure. You can book a 2hr Bike Tour of Tallinn if you would like to see more of these!
Have a Delicious Dinner in Tallinn – Restaurant Recommendations for Tallinn in 1 Day
Although I only had a short time, I can still recommend a few amazing places to eat during your one day in Tallinn. If you are more of a foodie, the Tallinn Food Tour with Food Sightseeing Estonia is supposed to be great, or for fitness foodies you can try the unique Bicycle Culinary Tour with City Bike Ltd!
Relaxed + Typical Food: Pub Kompressor Pancake Restaurant
This place will be completely packed out whenever you decide to go, and for a good reason too! This place serves thick, rich, packed pancakes that can be sweet or savory. It was probably the richest thing I’ve ever had, but my savory meat + cheese pancake was to die for.
Pancakes are a typical type of food to eat in Estonia, so head here for breakfast, lunch, OR dinner for an indulgent meal AND Estonian culture@!
Beg/Vegas: Vegan Restoran V
If you know me you know I am not a vegetarian/vegan normally, but I do enjoy dabbling with different types of food… veg/vegan included! I settled in on this place after I was wandering around town, not realizing it was still light at 9pm and it was far past dinner time. I got a vegan soup and beet burger here and it was one of my favorite meals! I would highly recommend this classy little scrumptious place.
Upmarket Estonian: Restaurant Rataskaevu 16
So I didn;t get t eat here THIS time but it was recommeded to me both by my airbnb host and another local I met, so you know it must be good! It’s got beautifully presented plates with creative ingredient combinations that will really ‘wow’ you.
Where To Watch the Sunset in Tallinn
Tallinnaa Linnahall
I noticed this graffiti-covered building while walking around town, and made note to check it out later in the day as it would perfectly face the sunset…. and it was perfect indeed! I was definitely not the only one with this idea; many residents were hanging out here with shopping bags full of beers and watching the sunset together as well.
Toompea Hill + Castle
This big hill and park overlooks the city with a perfect view towards the sunset (over the old town, too). Explore the gardens and castle before sunset, then find a perfect spot to watch it sink below the horizon behind some of the beautoful old town towers.
Old Town Lookout Points
The lookout points I mentioned above would be perfect to see the sunset, or you could join locals in sitting one the wall just outside old town’s main street entrance to soak up the last rays of sun.
If You Have a Bit More than One Day in Tallinn
Maritime Museum
The maritime museum is a popular spot to visit, and one of the must-do things to do in Tallinn. It has loads of exhibits on everything boats, sailing, and water. Your ticket can also include admission to explore some huge and historical ships in the harbor as well.
Local Events in Tallinn
I was lucky to be in Tallinn on the day of a Spring market and carnival, which was incredible for me to explore. I met some locals who told me about it, and the next day I wandered through a market selling all kinds of incredible home-baked goods and saw adorable performances put on by local school children.
I always say it is important to check events going on whenever you are traveling through an area, because attending a cultural event (I was definitely the only non-Estonian there!) is a great way to get to know a place.
Where I Stayed in Tallinn
I was here right before a season of working on jam-packed boats in Croatia, so I found a lovely Airbnb just outside town to catch up on the blogging and enjoy an expansive view of the harbor for not even $35/night! It’s so cheap here.
But, for those who are even more budget, there are lots of hostels on Hostelworld for less than $10-$20!
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