Tallinn

Medieval old town, hidden dives & Baltic breezes

Browse Tallinn

Find hotels in Tallinn Book tours & experiences

Tallinn is one of the most rewarding places to explore, and this local guide brings together the best things to do, where to eat and where to stay in one place. Highlights include Tallinn Old Town, Toompea and Kadriorg Park. Food lovers should not miss Sitsimae Kelder and Rataskaevu 16. Below you will find 11 hand-picked local recommendations across sights, restaurants, hotels and tours, which you can filter by category and budget to plan the perfect trip, whether you have a weekend or a week.

Tallinn at a glance

Ideal stay: 2 to 3 days
Best time to visit: spring and autumn
Highlights: Tallinn Old Town and Toompea
Where to stay: Old Town and Kadriorg
Local picks: 11 hand-chosen recommendations
Getting around: walkable, plus easy public transport

Local tips for Tallinn

Stories and neighbourhood know-how from our local guides.

Local tips7 Things Only Tourists Do in Tallinn (and What Locals Do Instead)The seven tourist traps of Tallinn and the local alternatives, from Telliskivi and Kalamaja to the Balti Jaam market.

Local tipsBest Things to Do in Tallinn: A Local’s GuideThe best things to do in Tallinn, chosen by locals: top sights, where to eat, where to stay and the…

Where to stay in Tallinn

Compare live hotel prices and availability on the map. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Telliskivi / Kalamaja

Ariran

★ 4.2

Balti Jaam Market

Balti Jaama Turg is Tallinn’s most exciting market — a brilliantly reinvented food-and-flea market beside the Baltic railway station, on the edge of the hip Kalamaja district. A slick 2017 redevelopment turned…

★ 4.6

Veerenni (Baltika Quarter)

Baltika Moetänav

Cocorito

Cocorito is a fun, informal shot-and-shisha bar in central Tallinn, a popular warm-up spot for a night out in the old town. Downstairs is a lively shot bar with a big cocktail…

Kalamaja

Depoo

Depoo is Tallinn’s laid-back answer to the food hall: an open-air street-food yard in the creative Kalamaja district, where kitchens set up shop inside repurposed shipping containers, old railway wagons and a…

★ 4.4

Day trip

From Tallinn: Return Day Trip Ferry to Helsinki

★ 4.8

Old Town

Hell Hunt

Hell Hunt (‘the gentle wolf’) opened in 1993, making it Estonia’s oldest pub, and it’s still where Old Town locals actually drink. The house light and dark draughts are the go-to order, with 60-odd other beers behind the bar if you want to roam. In summer grab a spot on the terrace across the street in the courtyard. Tip: it fills up fast on weekend evenings — come before 8pm for a table.

Old Town

Hotel Telegraaf

$$$

Old Town

Humana Vintage

Why it matters: Humana Estonia has run this Old Town vintage shop since the early 2000s as part of a nonprofit reuse chain that has spent over 20 years funding education, healthcare and community development projects in Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Every retro coat or pair of boots you buy on Aia funds that work. The racks turn over completely every five weeks, so regulars swing by on new-collection Mondays for first pick of Soviet-era finds and genuine European vintage. It’s a two-minute walk from the Old Town’s Viru Gate.

Kadriorg

Kadriorg Park

The baroque park and palace Peter the Great built for Catherine.

★ 4.6

Rotermann

Kalev Chocolate Shop (Rotermann)

Centre

KGB Museum

The preserved secret KGB floor atop the Soviet-era Hotel Viru.

★ 4.5

Old Town (Vanalinn)

Koht (Kuldne Lõvi)

Kadriorg

Kumu Art Museum

Estonias striking flagship art museum in Kadriorg park.

★ 4.6

Lounge 24

Lounge 24 has arguably the best view in the city. In fact, we’re thinking the only reason they built the Radisson Blu Hotel is so that they could put this lounge at…

Old Town (Vanalinn)

Must Puudel

Must Puudel (“Black Poodle”) is a quirky café-bar tucked into Tallinn’s Old Town on Kuninga street, pouring good coffee in Moomin mugs by day and mixing cocktails by night. The eclectic 70s-Estonia interior is packed with curios worth a slow look, and the summer terrace looks out over the Old Town towers. Try the homemade cakes with your coffee, or swing back after dark for the cocktail menu. Tip: weekend evenings get busy, so grab an outdoor table early if the weather’s good.

Before you go

Things we recommend sorting before any trip. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Travel medical insuranceSafetyWing's Nomad Insurance works like a subscription: pay by the month, cover in most countries worldwide, and you can sign up even after your trip has started.Check prices on SafetyWing

Data the moment you landAn Airalo eSIM gets your phone online in 200+ destinations before you even leave the airport - no SIM swap, no surprise roaming bill. Use code UNLIMITED4YOU for 15% off your first Unlimited eSIM (through Sept 30, 2026).Get an eSIM on Airalo

Book your trip to Tallinn

Find the best hotels and book tours and experiences, all in one place.

Find hotels in Tallinn Book tours and experiences

Tallinn travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Tallinn?

Two to three days is enough to enjoy the highlights of Tallinn at a relaxed pace.

Where is the best area to stay in Tallinn?

Stay central and walkable to the main sights for a first visit.

What are the best things to do in Tallinn?

Browse the local picks above, from top sights and museums to where to eat and stay. Or read our best things to do in Tallinn guide.

What is the best time to visit Tallinn?

Spring and autumn usually bring the most comfortable weather and thinner crowds, though Tallinn is worth visiting year-round.

Plan your trip to Tallinn

Five decisions most people make next, with what we actually recommend for each.

Where to stay

The Old Town is walkable but busy when cruise ships are in; Kalamaja and Telliskivi are quieter and ten minutes out.

Compare places to stay in Tallinn →

Tours & experiences worth booking

The ones we would actually book, plus everything else on offer.

Attractions & tickets

Worth pre-booking in high season.

Where to eat

Places locals actually go.

Beyond the centre

Worth the extra tram ride.

Accommodation and tour comparison links are affiliate links - they may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. Everything else on this page links to our own guides.

Local impact in Tallinn

Places where your spending does something specific. Verified by us, and no affiliate links here.

Humana VintageOld Town vintage shop run since the early 2000s as part of a nonprofit reuse chain.
UuskasutuskeskusNonprofit reuse centre keeping roughly 250,000 items a month out of landfill.
Mondo CraftsShop of MTU Mondo, an Estonian development and humanitarian organisation.