For Cruise Visitors

You'll be happy to know that most of the city's absolute, must-see attractions are clustered together in Old Town, making them easy to fit into a tight itinerary.
 

There’s no better place to start than Town Hall Square, the historic heart of the city. Here you can visit the imposing, gothic Town Hall, climb its 64m tower for spectacular views of the city, then duck into the 15th-century Town Prison, now home to Tallinn’s Museum of Photography. 

Tallinn’s beloved medieval churches are nearby, including the 14th-century Holy Spirit Church with its intricate, carved wood interior, Niguliste Church, now a museum of church art, and the gigantic, 13th-century Oleviste Church, once the tallest building in the world. It has its own tower to climb, for those who dare. The Cathedral of St. Mary the Virgin, a short climb up Toompea hill, is filled with spectacular artwork and the elaborate coats of arms of Estonia's nobility. From here it's a short walk to the view platforms that look out over the rest of Old Town.
 
If you have time for a history museum, the Tallinn City Museum, situated in a medieval dwelling that dates from the 14th century, is an excellent choice. The displays here show the development of the town from its very beginning to the present day. For an extensive overview of Estonian history in general, your best bet is the newly-revamped Estonian History Museum in the striking Great Guild Hall nearby.

A nearly 2km stretch of medieval Town Wall protects Old Town, as do two massive cannon towers: Kiek in de Kök houses a museum on Tallinn’s defences and serves as the gateway to the fascinating Bastion Tunnels hidden under Toompea hill, while Fat Margaret’s Tower is home to the Estonian Maritime Museum. 
Art-lovers should budget some time to visit the park-like Kadriorg district, home to the beautiful, baroque Kadriorg Palace and the adjacent Mikkel Museum, both dedicated to foreign art. Estonian art is on display at the nation’s newest and largest art museum, Kumu Art Museum, just up the street.
 
Before heading back to the port, you can do a bit of shopping, and you’ll probably want to relax for a while in one of the city’s excellent restaurants and cafés.