Tallinn, Estonia is an important port city on the Baltic.  It is located across the water from Helsinki, Finland.  The city has a rich heritage stretching back 5,000 years.  The medieval heritage dates back to 1219 when the area was conquered by the Danes.  The city is emerging as a modern European city with strong links to her rich history.  Having been occupied by a host of other nations for the majority of the past 800 years, Tallinn is the capital of a nation proud of her independence.

I spent three days in Tallinn as a mini vacation accompanying a business trip to Helsinki, Finland.  I arrived at the Helsinki airport and took a taxi directly to the port (about a half hour drive).  Ships are regularly departing between Helsinki and Tallinn, with a variety of quality and pricing available.  I arrived in time for the 10 AM departure and had a choice between Viking Lines and Tallink.  I took Viking over (3 1/2 hours) and returned on Tallink (less than two hours).  The Viking ferry was much cheaper, but crowded and unattractive.  Tallink was sleek and comfortable, but was double the price.  Either way, options abound for travelers who want to visit both cities.

For tourists, the city can most easily be divided among attractions that are located in Old Town Tallinn and attractions that are on the outskirts of Old Town.  Therefore, it makes sense to divide this review into the two areas.  For additional savings, visitors should consider purchasing a multi-day Tallincard (if you are there for three days, that allows the most time and best value).  I purchased two two-day passes for around forty or forty-five dollars each and pretty much broke even because I visited on a Monday and Tuesday, when many of the museums are closed.  Public transportation can be found in abundance in the city and taxicabs are cheap.  So getting around should be fairly easy.

Attraction in Old Town Tallinn

For a good overview of Old Town Tallinn, I would recommend taking the walking tour offered by City Bike. City Bike is located at 33 Uus Street, Tallinn. The walking tour is a one-hour (plus) walking tour that highlights much of the history of Old Town. It starts at the Fat Margaret Tower, runs along the old town wall, stops at Toompea, and finishes in the Town Hall Square. The tour is 250 EEK (About $2.50 US, per person).

Holy Spirit Church is located at 2 Puhavaimu, Tallinn, Estonia.  The church is one of the oldest structures in Tallinn, dating back to the Fourteenth Century.  The ornate carved wood features on the interior of the church date back to the Fifteenth Century and include a wood altar and one of the oldest pulpits in Estonia.  The church is open to visitors from May through September between 9 AM and 4 PM from Monday through Saturday.  The rest of the year, visitors are welcome between 10 AM and 2 PM, Monday through Friday.  Admission to the church is 15 EEK, which is about $1.50 US.
Freedom Square is located on the southeastern corner of Old Town Tallinn below Toompea. The plaza is free to visit. The square features a large memorial to Estonia's independence. It is a nice area to relax and people watch. There are several restaurants nearby. Kiek in de Kok, Alexander Nevsky Chapel and Hermann Tower are just a short walk up the hill from the plaza.

Dominican Monastery Claustrum is located at 33 Muurivahe, Tallinn, Estonia.  Admission to the monastery runs 90 EEK, which is rather steep at around nine US dollars.  The tour includes a monks' dormitory, refrectory library and more.  An Energy Pillar that is said to have mysterious physical and spiritual powers is located in the cellar.  The monastery is open June through August from 10:30 AM until 5:00 PM every day of the week.

To experience the medieval connection, a visit to Tallin's Old Town Wall offers an inexpensive opportunity. The tickets run about 15 EEK (about $1.50 US) each. The tickets allow visitors to experience three of the wall towers and a stretch of the wall. The vantage point offers a picturesque view of Old Town Tallinn.

Kalev Marzipan Room is located at 16 Pikk, Tallinn, Estonia.  Admission is free.  The Marzipan room is more of a candy shop than it is a museum.  Marzipan is an ancient treat that traces its roots to Tallinn in the Fourteenth Century.  You can purchase some goodies to take home, and watch marzipan treats being created.

Another interesting tower view of the city can be found at Toompea Castle. The tower flies the flag that signifies the ruling government in Estonia. It proudly flies the bold blue, black and white bars of Estonian independence. The seat of Estonian government can be found in the attached parliament building. Toompea Castle is open for tours from 10 am until 4 pm.

Toomas The Train offers an opportunity for younger visitors to enjoy an Old Town attraction.  The train costs 70 EEK, which is about seven US dollars.  It is located at Kullassepa Tanav which is just south of Town Hall Square.  The twenty minute train ride gives visitors an opportunity to view the city while resting their feet a bit.  From May through September, the train run on Saturday and Sunday from 12 PM until 5 PM.  During June through August, the train runs during the same hours, every day of the week.

A bit further North of Toomas The Train is Harju Ice Rink.  This attraction is located on Harju Street, chargin a 90 EEK (about nine US dollars) admission.  The Ice Rink is open between November 15 through the following March from 10 AM until 10 PM every day of the week.  With the Tallincard, visitors can spend an hour skating for free.
A must-see experience in Tallinn is Kiek in de Kok. This tower (literally translated "peek in the kitchen") offers great views of the city as well as an amazing medieval museum. Admission to Kiek in de Kok runs around seven dollars (US) and does not include admission to the nearby underground tunnels. However, the tunnel tour begins on the first floor of this museum. The museum is open from 10:30 AM until 6:00 PM Tuesday through Sunday during the months of May through October. The rest of the year, the museum closes an hour earlier, at 5:00 PM. The museum is closed on Mondays. This tour is free with the Tallincard.

While visiting Kiek in de Kok, don't miss the adjacent Bastion Tunnel Tour. Tours of the Tallinn Bastion Tunnels may be scheduled ahead of time by calling 372 644 6686. The tours are conducted in several languages, so calling ahead will allow you to determine the start time for the language tour you are interested in. The tour does not operate on Monday, but is available the rest of the week between 10:30 AM and 6:00 PM (between March and October). The rest of the year, the tours finish at 5:00 PM.

While you are at Toompea visiting Kiek in de Kok, the Bastion Tunnel tour and Toompea Castle, save a few minutes to stop in to Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. The Cathedral was built in 1900 and offers some architectural balance to the medieval structures that form the majority of Old Town Tallinn. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral welcomes visitors Monday through Friday from 8 AM until 7 PM. On Saturday, the chapel is open from 8 AM until 8 PM. Sunday hours are 8 AM through 7 PM. There is no admission charge to visit the cathedral.

Estonian Health Care Museum is located at 30 Lai, Tallinn, Estonia.  For 40 EEK (about four US dollars), visitors can learn about the human body.  This museum is geared toward school children, but may be interesting to visitors of any age.  The museum is open year-round from 11 AM until 6 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.

Just about across the street from the Estonian Health Care Museum is the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design.  Celebrating examples of Estonian applied art over the past century, the museum itself is located in an old granary.  Admission is 40 EEK, which translates to about four US dollars.  The museum is open year-round from 11 AM until 6 PM, Wedenesday through Sunday.

Another must-see attraction in the heart of Old Town Tallinn is the Tallinn City Museum (Tallinna Linnamuuseum). The Tallinn City Museum (Linnamuseum) is located at 17 Vene in the Western part of Old Town. The museum charges 50 EEK (around five US Dollars) admission. This museum is closed on Tuesdays. The museum opens at 10:30 AM each day and closes at 5:00 PM between the months of November and February. It closes at 6:00 PM the rest of the year. This tour is free with the Tallincard.

Another interesting museum in Old Town Tallinn is the Photography Museum, which is housed in an ancient Fifteenth Century prison. The Tallinn Photography Museum is located at 4 Raekoja in Tallinn. It is just off the Tallinn Town Hall Square, directly behind the Old Town Hall. The museum charges 30 EEK (about three US dollars admission). Entrance if free if you have the Tallinncard. The museum is closed on Wednesdays. It opens at 10:30 AM the rest of the week. The museum closes at 5:00 PM during the months of November through February and stays open until 6:00 PM the rest of the year.

Families visiting Old Town Tallinn with children may want to consider a visit to the NUKU Museum of Puppet Arts (which is adjacent to the Kalev Chocolate Shop). The museum is located at 8 Nunne Street. The museum is closed on Mondays. It is open from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM the rest of the week. Admission runs 75 EEK (approximately $7.50 US dollars).

Adamson Eric Musuem is located at 3 Lukike Jalg. It celebrates one of the most versatile Estonian artists of the Twentieth Century. The museum is located in a medieval house. It is closed on Monday and Tuesday. The museum keeps the same hours year round, opening at 11:00 AM and closing at 6:00 PM. Admission is 30 EEK (about three US dollars). It is free with the Tallincard.

Estonian Museum of Natural History is located at 29 Lai Street, Tallinn. The museum is closed on Monday and Tuesday. The museum is open from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM year round. The museum charges a very reasonable admission charge of 30 EEK, which is about three US dollars. The museum highlights the flora and fauna indigenous to the region.

Estonian Maritime Museum is located at 70 Pikk Street, Tallinn. The museum charges a 50 EEK admission (about five US dollars). The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. It is open from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM during the rest of the week. It is located at Fat Margaret Tower on the Northern tip of Old Town Tallinn. Housed on four floors of the museum, Estonia's maritime history is displayed with artifacts from a variety of eras.

Niguliste Museum is located at 3 Niguliste Street, Tallinn. The museum charges a 50 EEK (about five US dollars) admission. The museum is closed on Monday and Tuesday. It is open from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM the rest of the week. This museum is located with a thirteenth century church and is dedicated to church art. Crafts from Estonia's medieval craft and merchants guilds are among the artifacts on display.

The Town Hall and Cellar celebrate the rich history of one of the oldest town hall's in existence. The Town Hall is located at 1 Raekoja Plats, Tallinn. Admission is 60 EEK (about six US dollars). The museum is open between July and August from 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. It is closed on Sundays and during the rest of the year. The Town Hall Tower is a separate admission of 45 EEK (about $4.50 US) and is open from May through August from 11:00 AM until 6:00 PM every day of the week.

Attractions Beyond Old Town Tallinn
Getting around outside of Old Town requires some public transportation.  This can be a taxi cab, the excellent bus system, a tolley train, bicycle rentals or even tour lines.  The red, blue and green tours take visitors around to key attractions for two to three US dollars.  The buses and train run less than a dollar.  All of these modes of transportation (other than taxi and bicycle rentals) are free with the Tallincard.

Tallinn Panorama and Terra Feminarum Morning Cruise begins at the Port of Tallinn.  The cruise is free with the Tallincard or 300 EEK (thirty US dollars).  This would be an excellent, money-saving use of the Tallincard that would pay for itself.  The boat excursion lasts for half a day and includes a three-hour visit to the island of Terra Feminarum.  The tour departs at 10 AM, Friday through Sunday between June and August.

Tallinn Panorama Evening Cruise is another excellent way to save money with the Tallincard.  The price is also 300 EEK, or thirty US dollars.  This tour leaves port at 5 PM, Friday through Sunday, June through August.  This tour is slightly shorter at two hours and does not include a shore excursion at Terra Feminarum.

Bicycle Welcome Tours leave from City Bike every day at 11 AM (another leaves at 5 PM between May and August).  The tour runs 250 EEK, which translates to around 25 US dollars.  We were going to take this tour during our visit, but the weather turned cold and rainy on the day we planned our tour.  This two-hour bike excursion visits several of the attractions outside of Old Town including the Palace, the Song Festival Grounds and Pirita Beach.

The Estonian History Museum is located at 56 Pirita Tee, Tallinn, Estonia.  The museum charges 45 EEK (about $4.50 US) admission.  This museum is a complement to the Tallinn City Museum, celebrating Estonia's rich history and documenting the occupations.  The museum is open year-round from 10 AM until 5 PM, Wednesday through Sunday.

Estonian Open Air Museum is located at 12 Vabaohumuuseumi tee, Tallinn, Estonia.  The museum has a period flavor with structures  reprenting the Eighteenth through the Twentieth Century.  Handicrafts are sold at the museum along with traditional foods.  The museum charges 50 to 95 EEK (five to ten US dollars).  It is open from 10 AM until 10 PM all week long during the months of April through September.  The rest of the year, the hours run from 10 AM until 5 PM.

Eduard Vilde Museum is dedicated to one of Estonia's famous authors.  The museum is located at 3 Roheline Aas, Tallinn, Estonia.  The museum is located in the house where Vilde resided in Kadriorg Park.  The house is furnished as it would have looked when the author lived there between 1927 until his death in 1933.  Admission is 30 EEK, or about three US dollars.  It is open year-round from 11 AM until 6 PM, Wednesday through Monday.

Discovery Center Energy is a museum located at 29 Pohja pst., Tallinn, Estonia.  This children-oriented museum offers interactive exhibits designed for family fun.  It is located in a former power station and focuses on electricity.  The museum charges 40 EEK (about four US dollars) admission and is open year-round from 10 AM until 6 PM.  THe museum is closed on Sundays.

Museum of Occupations is located at 8 Toompea just outside Old Town Tallinn.  The museum is dedicated to the years 1939 through 1991 when Estonia regained her independence.  It focuses on how real people coped from day to day through audio-visual displays.  Admission is 30 EEK (about three US dollars).  The museum is open year-round from 11 AM until 6 PM and is closed on Mondays.

Peter the Great's Cottage is located at 2 Maekalda, Tallinn, Estonia.  The Russian Tsar lived in this cottage during his visits to Tallinn during the Eighteenth Century.  The cottage is located among the other attractions at Kadriorg Park.  Some of Peter the Great's personal belongings are on display at the cottage.  Admission is 30 EEK (about three US dollars).  The museum is open from 11 AM until 7 PM, Tuesday through Sunday (during May through August).  The rest of the year, visitors are welcome between 11 AM and 4 PM, Wednesday through Sunday.

As evidenced in this review, Tallin has many, many attractions to keep visitors occupied.  This list is far from comprehensive, but provides insight into the wide, eclectic array of museums and attractions for tourists to this beautiful port city.  A family could easily spend a week in Tallinn without running out of things to do.  I highly recommend a trip to this city.  Five stars.

Recommended: Yes

Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Jun - Aug