What to see in Tallinn in 1, 2, 3 days – route, photo, map, mini guide
The capital of Estonia, a kind of oasis of the Middle Ages, has always been and remains a desirable place for filming many feature films about the past. It is the special flavor of Tallinn (former Revel) with its architectural and cultural monuments, with narrow cobbled streets that conveys the atmosphere of past eras, old fairy tales. The combination of nostalgically cute patriarchy with bright modernity makes visiting Tallinn extraordinarily interesting. We will tell you what to see in Tallinn in 1, 2 and 3 days. We also marked all interesting places on the map.
What to see in 1 day
Even if you have only 1 day of stay left, it will leave the most unforgettable impressions of the main attractions of the Estonian capital.
The Dome Cathedral
The Dome Cathedral is the oldest temple in Tallinn (1229) – the hallmark of the city, a world-famous religious building dedicated to the Holy Virgin Mary. It contains the graves of great personalities, knights and eminent nobles, as evidenced by tombstones and sarcophagi (107), which are works of art sculpture of their time. A special atmosphere reigns here, imbued with high spirituality created by Saturday organ music concerts.
Open for visits: Thu – Tue, 09.00-18.00. Address: Doma Laukums, 1.
Entrance fee: 5 Ls.
Church of Oleviste (St. Olaf)
Church of Oleviste, considered until the 19th century. the tallest building in the world, built in the 13th century. This is one of the main symbols of the city, famous for its unsurpassed spire (124 m), which makes an amazing impression.
Address: Lai, 50. Open to all comers – Mon. – Sun, 11.00-17.00.
Entrance price: adult – 1.5 €, children – 0.6 €.
City wall of Tallinn
This is a unique monument of medieval fortifications, with many watchtowers. Colossal buildings – evidence of reliable protection from enemies, a symbol of the enormous work of their creators, impress to the core. In the tower “Fat Margaret” is the Maritime Museum with interesting exhibits.
Open for guests and residents of the city – Wed-Sun, 10.00-18.00. Tickets: adult – 3.20 €; det. – 1.6 €; seventh – 5.11 €.
Toompea Castle
Toompea Castle is an ensemble of ancient buildings, with a unique tower “Long German”. For many centuries, the castle complex housed the authorities, and now the country's parliament is located.
Address: Lossi plats, 1. Excursions – Mon.-Fri., 10.00-16.00. The price is 8 euros.
Kadriorg Palace
The Kadriorg Palace, built under Peter I as a gift to his wife-empress, was the royal residence before the revolution of 1917. The magnificent Baroque building is surrounded by a park, the landscape beauty of which amazes with the beauty and perfection of lines. Now the palace houses a rich collection of works of foreign art.
Address: A. Weizenberqi 37.
Opening hours: Thu – Sun, 10.00-17.00. Ticket price: 5 ls
What to see in 2 days
For 2 days there is an opportunity to see a number of other, no less interesting objects shrouded in romance.
Viru Gate
The Viru Gate is a symbolic “door” to the Old Town, once a powerful entrance structure with thick walls and towers, erected in the 14th century. The original appearance of the gate has been lost, only 2 towers and the wall of the small entrance remain, from which excursions around medieval Tallinn begin. But even the remains of the ancient gates are very impressive.
Catherine Cain
Katarina kain (Katarina Lane) is also called the Craftsmen's Yard because of the various workshops for the production of glass, leather and ceramic souvenirs located in it. At first, the lane was named after the church of St. Catherine, built 7 centuries ago. The spirit of the true Middle Ages reigns here, thanks to the ancient monastery and the same houses located in a row. The lane tour is an exciting journey into the past and present.
Dollhouse
Dollhouse – a museum of author's dolls, opened in the Old Town in 2010, began with the organization of an international doll exhibition in Tallinn. The purpose of its opening is not only to popularize the art of making dolls, but also a charity event. Famous Estonian people began to create dolls, learning how to do it from experienced craftsmen, and selling exclusive samples at auctions. Exhibitions and master classes are regularly held here, where you can see real puppet masterpieces.
Address: st. Vienna, 12/1B. Open for visits: Tue-Sun, 11.00-18.00.
Entrance price: adults – 5 €, student – 4.5 €, free of charge. – children under 3 years old.
What to see in 3 days
A three-day stay in Tallinn is a happy opportunity to see the most significant historical and architectural monuments of world significance.
town hall
The Town Hall, the Gothic building of which was erected 600 years ago, is the only well-preserved example of such structures in Northern Europe. Each century has added new elements, and the result is an architectural masterpiece, with a tall spire crowned with a unique weather vane in the form of a figurine of Old Thomas. Skillful craftsmen from Reval decorated the town hall with forged copper weirs – dragon heads. You can climb up from the basement along the stairs (115 steps) to the tower and from there, from a height of 64 meters, survey the amazing panorama of the city.
Address: Town Hall Square, 1. Excursion to the tower – from 27. 06 to 31. 08, Mon-Sat – 10.00-16.00. Entrance price – adult. – 4€, det. – 2 €.
Dominican monastery
The Dominican monastery is the oldest Catholic monastery in Europe, founded by St. Dominic in honor of St. Catherine (13th century). The sacred remains of monastery buildings, a garden, a chapel, the ruins of a church, a barn, located in the Lower City, now serve as a museum. The works of stone-cutters of medieval Tallinn, objects of monastic life, symbols of spirituality and other exhibits are stored here. In summer, various concerts and theatrical performances are organized in the courtyard. A visit to the monastery is a touch to the mysterious past.
Big Guild
The Great Guild is a building of the 15th century, with a Gothic portal, massive doors and lancet window openings, built by Tallinn merchants. Trading sessions, magnificent festivities, luxurious feasts were held here, the scope of which is striking in the amount of food eaten and drunk (according to archival data). By visiting the Great Guild, which now houses the Historical Museum, you can learn a lot of interesting things about the merchant, trade, cultural, family and household traditions of Estonians. The expositions of the new exhibition “11 thousand years of Estonian history” tell about this.
Address: st. Pikk, 17.
Open: May-September – Mon-Sun, 10.00-18.00; oct.-apr. – Thu – Tue -10.00-18.00. Tickets: 5 €, concessions – 3 €.
If you have not yet chosen a hotel in Tallinn, we recommend that you pay attention to the options below. All of them are located in the city center, have a high rating and offer the best conditions.