There's more in Tallinn than just the Medieval Old Town. Locals might actually tell you to get out of there and go see the real Tallinn, be it taking a tram to the funky and bohemian Kalamaja, picturesque Kadriorg or seaside Pirita. Don't get us wrong – we love the Old Town, we just don't want you to think Estonia is a big theme park and all locals sell roasted almonds in baggy clothes. Instead, breathe in the art and culture in the little galleries or visit some of the more alternative sights until they're still here to remind us of the days, like the Soviet concert hall near the harbour or the flea market at the train station.
Balti Jaam Market
Shop like a Soviet
Mart Virkus /
In the context of the bygone Soviet times, the market could be considered an ...
Börsi Passage
The walk of fame and shame
Kalev Külaase /
In 2010, the small passage next to the Grand Guild building in the Old Town received an ...
Katariina Quai
A Non-touristic panorama of Tallinn
Kalev Külaase /
Katariina Quai is something totally different to the bustling theme-park that is the old ...
Master's Courtyard
Hidden artisan retreat
Mart Virkus /
One of the most medieval looking alleys in the whole of Tallinn, complete with giant old ...
Park of Kadriorg
Take a walk in the czar's park
Mart Virkus /
They call Tallinn the green city, and with good reason. Take a wrong turn and you might find ...
Roof of Linnahall
It's big
Mart Virkus /
The Soviets built this thing for the Olympic regatta of 1980 set to take place in Tallinn ...
Cat's Well
Well, what a good idea!
Mart Virkus /
It was believed that the water spirits hold a grudge for Tallinn and that they wish the ...
Circular Stone
Five famous spires of Tallinn
Mart Virkus /
Most of us don't even know about it. So if you're a tourist, introduce it to locals :)
Culture Kilometre
The kilometre that's 2.2 kilometres
Mart Virkus /
The Culture Kilometre is the closest thing northern Tallinn has to a promenade. The path ...
Estonian National Library
A fortress of knowledge
Mart Virkus /
The library, the biggest in the Baltic states, was completed in 1993 and it's been a crucial ...
Harju Hill
Little hill, big legacy
Mart Virkus /
The Harju hill used to be an amazing place where people could grab a beer and browse through ...
Hirve Park
Scenic hangout with a secret
Mart Virkus /
Just a stone's throw away from the Pikk Hermann tower on the Toompea hill is... well, another ...
Kohtu Viewplatform
Picture-perfect skyline
Mart Virkus /
The Tallinn Old Town is actually not that big, but that doesn't mean you can't get lost. The ...
Kultuurikatel
Stage for the unorthodox
Ülane Vilumets /
Kultuurikatel, or the “Culture Cauldron” is a funky new addition to Tallinn’s already ...
Maarjamäe War Memorial
A manmade mountain
Mart Virkus /
In the Soviet Union size really did matter. Be it submarines, planes or microcomputers ...
Olympic Village
Moscow Olympics in Tallinn
Mart Virkus /
Looking more like an abandoned cruise ship than a hotel, the Soviet Olympic village ...
Pilsticker Tower & Stairs
Lost tourist's alleyway
Ülane Vilumets /
This is a really secret courtyard behind the Toompea castle. It’s only known by locals and ...
Pirita Beach
Fun in the sun
Mart Virkus /
Pirita beach is the most popular one in Tallinn, so you shouldn't expect a lot of privacy ...
Pirita River Valley
Where locals workout
Kalev Külaase /
Just a couple of bus stops from Old Town in an amazing valley you will find yourself among ...
Presidential Palace
The prez lives here!
Mart Virkus /
On the other side of the Kadriorg Palace you'll find the Estonian “White House” - that is, the ...
Rotermann Quarter
The living, growing, breathing city
Mart Virkus /
Locals love this area as a place to work, shop, eat and relax. There are always a lot of cool and ...
Seegi Church
The little church that could
Mart Virkus /
There are some monuments that stand the test of time, and the test of modernisation. This ...
Song Festival Grounds
Stuff of revolutions
Ülane Vilumets /
There's probably no other place in Tallinn that resonates with the local people and their ...
St. Catherine’s Passage
The real medieval street
Mart Virkus /
St Catherine's passage is a small medieval street with things on the... uh... nevermind, you'll ...
St Olaf's Church Viewplatform
Tallest building in the world!
Mart Virkus /
Today, the church is home to a Baptist congregation, but its list of former operators ...
Telliskivi
City secrets
Mart Virkus /
Telliskivi can be considered an umbrella organisation for everything creative and ...
The Ruins of Pirita Monastery
An iconic gothic giant
Mart Virkus /
Today, as you're walking around the Pirita district, the old monastery ruins might seem a bit ...
TV Tower
Thrills in the sky
Ülane Vilumets /
The highest viewpoint in Tallinn was reopened in 2012 and quickly became one of the city’s ...
Ukrainian Church
The smallest openable window in Tallinn
Mart Virkus /
This has got to be our favourite church in Tallinn. The building itself looks just a little ...
Uus Maailm
A state of mind
Mart Virkus /
Uus Maailm, or the “New World”, is sometimes referred to as “the hippie district”, but it's really ...
Väike-Õismäe
Concrete jungle
Mart Virkus /
Back in the day, the Õismäe district used to be that hi-tech ultra-modern neighbourhood ...
Walk around the city wall
Alternative walk through the old town
Mart Virkus /
We love the Tallinn Old Town. It's a marvel of medieval architecture and we love its snaking ...