Must See


In Tallinn for a limited time? Want to make sure you've hit all the main sights? Here's a list of ten attractions that you'll definitely want to put on your itinerary. We've included extended descriptions of each one to give you the necessary on-site background, and to help you narrow down the list even further if needed.

Town Hall Square

Picturesque Town Hall Square has been the undisputed hub of Old Town for the last eight centuries. Surrounded by elaborate merchant houses and, in summer, packed with café tables, it's a natural magnet for tourists. Historically it served as a market and meeting place, and was the site of at least one execution. Today, the square remains the social heart of the city...

Town Wall & Towers

A large part of what gives Old Town its character is the system of walls and towers that surrounds it. Work on the town’s defenses first began in 1265, but the current outline of the wall dates to the 14th century. By its heyday in the 16th century, the wall was 2.4 km long, 14-16 m high, up to 3m thick, and included 46 towers...

St. Olav’s Church and Tower

Once upon a time, from 1549 to 1625 to be exact, this 13th-century church was the tallest building in the world. But its gigantic, 159-metre spire, which was probably meant to act as a signpost for approaching ships, also turned out to be a very effective lightning rod. Throughout the church's history its steeple has been hit repeatedly by lightning, completely burning down the structure three times...

St. Catherine’s Passage & Masters’ Courtyard

Easily the most photogenic of Old Town’s lanes, St. Catherine is a narrow walkway that runs between Vene and Müürivahe streets, along the back of what was St. Catherine’s Church. What makes the passage particularly interesting is that it's home to the St. Catherine's Guild...

Toompea Castle and Pikk Hermann Tower

Toompea Castle has been the seat of power in Estonia ever since the German Knights of the Sword first built a stone fortress here in 1227-29. Even these days it’s home to the nation’s Parliament...

Freedom Square

In summer of 2009 the residents of Tallinn were given back a vital piece of their city's heritage: Freedom Square (Vabaduse väljak). From the last days of the Tsars and through Estonia's first period of independence, this open area at the edge of Old Town had been a place of national symbolism and civic pride, as well as a favourite public gathering spot...

The Rotermann Quarter

To see where Tallinn is heading in the 21st century, take a stroll through the Rotermann Quarter, a former factory complex that sits between Old Town and the Passenger Port. What was a collection of dilapidated buildings just a decade ago is now a bustling commercial and cultural centre, whose avant-garde architecture stands as a powerful symbol of just how far Tallinn has come in re-inventing itself in recent years...

Kadriorg  Park and Palace

Kadriorg is a quiet, leafy area within easy walking distance of Old Town. After Russian emperor Peter the Great conquered the Baltics in the early 1700s he established an estate and public park on this spot. He named the area Ekaterinenthal after his wife Catherine I.  The elaborate Baroque palace he had built – along with the surrounding forests, ponds and fountains – are still the neighbourhood’s prime draw...

Song Festival Grounds

This sprawling event venue in Kadriorg has a special place in the hearts of Estonians. It was here in 1988 that the Singing Revolution, a massive, musical demonstration against Soviet rule, set Estonia on its road towards independence...