Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, is such an underrated European city break.
It really offers the best of both worlds IMHO. The pastel-coloured fairytale Old Town gives you total Prague vibes, and the edgy, industrial Kalamaja area feels more like Berlin or East London. So I mean, really, it has it all. I definitely recommend a visit.
But what I did find in my prior research of the city is that most blog posts and guides about Tallinn tend to list a load of buildings in the top things to do. And tbh I think that’s just one thing to do y’know, appreciate the architecture (it’s the first one on this list). So hopefully I’m offering you something different – some cool and fun things to actually do whilst you’re in this pretty city (not just looking at buildings). Let me know what you think!
Cool Things To Do in Tallinn
Stroll Around The Old Town
Tallinn’s Old Town is bloody beaut, that’s for sure. And there are a lot of landmarks to check out on your stroll around this part of town. There’s St Olaf’s Church and the beautiful Viru Gate to the city with gorge terracotta-topped spires. Also check out the Town Hall Square which has markets on some days and semi-cringey amateur dramatics being played out.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
One place I do recommend checking out in more detail though is the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
From the outside, the beautiful Russian architecture is one of my favourite things in the Tallinn skyline. But inside, it’s just as beautiful. You can’t actually take photos inside but it’s really colourful with lots of gold, and pretty red, white and blue piping that reminds me of airmail envelopes. V nice cathedral all round.
Viewing Platforms On Toompea
Toompea is a big hill in Tallinn’s Old Town but right at the top you’ll find a few viewing platforms looking out in different directions across the city – there doesn’t seem to be signs, you just have to wander until you find them! But the best one is definitely Kohtuotsa viewing platform, which has an epic view of the Old Town with its spires and terracotta rooves.
It’s also where you will have seen photos on Instagram with an orange wall that says ‘The Times We Had.’ Alas, when I visited it had been painted over and someone had graffiti-ed it back on without quite the charm of its predecessor! But there are lots of really cool little quotes around this area regardless.
Visit A Medieval Restaurant
One of Tallinn’s quirks is that it has a few Medieval restaurants. These are restaurants that replicate almost exactly what it would have been like in Tallinn during this era.
I visited Olde Hansa and was really impressed with how far they take it. It’s completely lit by candlelight, and the staff call you m’lady or m’lord and are generally just really funny and charming. They also don’t serve anything that wasn’t available in medieval times in Estonia – so there are no potatoes or tomatoes on the menu. But y’know what there was? BEAR. Freaky.
I went for the “Vegetarian Dish” which is a bit worrying when they don’t actually say what it is. But actually it was delicious – butternut squash, saffron bulgar wheat, a bean pie, pickled veg and a mushroom sauce. A bit random but authentic.
It is pretty pricey, this ain’t making my cheap eats list, but quite a cool experience nonetheless!
Check Out Telliskivi
Now moving on to the hipster area of Kalamaja, there are a few interesting places to check out here.
First up is Telliskivi, Tallinn’s “creative centre” located in a cluster of industrial buildings. Here you’ll find independant boutiques, cool cafes, art galleries and lots of street art. It’s a really nice place to wander. The shopping was a bit pricier than I expected, it’s more yummy mummy than cheap vintage, but it’s still lovely to window shop.
Try La Muu for organic ice cream made onsite and head to F-Hoone, an amazing restaurant, for lunch or dinner. I’ve heard they do good brekkie too actually! Ooh and Revel Cafe is so pretty for a coffee stop.
Explore DEPOO
DEPOO is right next to Telliskivi and is a collection of shipping containers near the railway line that have been converted into street food vendors. There’s crepes and kebabs and coffee, the works.
My fave spot there though is Peatus, an original Moscow-Tallinn passenger train that’s been converted into a bar and nightclub! I never went in the evening when they have a DJ and stuff (because I’m 103 years old) but we popped in for a drink in the afternoon and really loved it. Such a cool little find!
There’s also some banging vintage shops along here that are a lot more affordable.
Grab A Bite At Balti Jaama Turg
Finally along here you’ll find Balti Jaama Turg, a large indoor and outdoor market. The market itself is a bit lame to be honest, it’s more fruit & veg and trinkets. But they have a few more awesome street food options that are good for lunch. As well as cakes and ice cream and desserts, so y’know, winning.
DEPOO and Telliskivi have a lot more going on for sure, but you might as well pop in whilst you’re in the area, right?
Lennusadam Seaplane Harbour
Stay with me here. When you hear there’s a museum about seaplanes it doesn’t sounds massively appealing does it? But Lennusadam Seaplane Harbour is an experience.
It’s super modern, situated in a giant hanger, and has a real life submarine you can explore. Plus it’s really immersive and interactive. You can fly a plane in a simulator, dress up for fun photos, have a paper aeroplane competition and drive little boats on the water. It’s so much fun.
Oh and you get to explore some of the ships on the harbour and pretend you’re in Titanic too. Just me?
Overall I was super impressed with Tallinn as a city break destination. The Estonian capital has a lot going for it and I really can’t believe that more people don’t visit! If you’re looking for an underrated city to explore, without the hoards of people you see in Rome or Paris, Tallinn is right up your street, pal.
Let me know what you think in the comments below, tweet me or find me over on Insta!
Total Blogger Transparency: I enjoyed my stay in Tallinn courtesy of Visit Estonia but all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I wouldn’t play you like that, shorty.