Tallinn is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. We recommend you go! He impressed and conquered us. For you, we have compiled an itinerary for an introductory walk around the city. We tell and show you where to go and what to see in one or two days.
Look for author's interesting excursions on the sites Sputnik8 and Tripster. Individual and group, no crowds of tourists and in Russian.
We arrived in Tallinn by bus from St. Petersburg and walked to the Old Town on foot from the main station through the sleeping areas and skyscrapers of Tallinn City. First impression: everything is clean, neat, modest and dignified.
What epithets come to mind when remembering the Old Town in Tallinn? Fabulous and gingerbread. There you want to squeak with delight - everything is so magical. Doors, windows, turrets, tiles, paving stones - everything is like from the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm or Andersen. We are still critics, but in Tallinn our inner critic shut up.
What to see in Tallinn in 1 day?
Dedicate it to Vana Tallinn - Old town... It was divided into two parts - the upper city of Toompea and the lower one, where artisans lived.
Even with the abundance of tourists, Vana Tallinn has not lost its medieval spirit. For a start, it is best to just walk and look into the quiet crooked streets and small courtyards - without being tied to the sights. Do you know this hackneyed phrase "get lost among the narrow streets"? So, Tallinn is exactly the place where it is better to get lost. The old town is very compact, you can quickly get around it on foot.
To many, this advice will seem outrageous. How is it - to come and not see all the main attractions? We understand. Therefore, after you feel the atmosphere, you can go in search of attractions. Keep a list of those places that we saw in Tallinn in 1 day. True, there are not many of them, because we wandered more at random.
Town hall and square
Small, beautiful, photogenic. The town hall itself is interesting - pay attention to the drains in the form of dragons. There are many nuances with the dates and times of visiting the town hall, so it's better to take a look at the official website. The ticket costs 5 euros, entrance to the tower is paid separately - 3 euros. The tower is closed during the winter.
The building has a very atmospheric cafe III Draakon, stylized as a medieval tavern. Be sure to stop by and warm up! There is delicious venison soup.
At home
- Three Sisters, Three Brothers and Father and Son. Architectural ensembles of medieval houses. Addresses: Pikk 71 / Tolli 2, Lai 38 and Kuninga, 1 respectively.
- House of the Brotherhood of Blackheads. Address: Pikk, 26.
- The oldest pharmacy in Europe is located on the Town Hall Square - from the 15th century (Raeapteek - no. 11). There is also a museum inside, where you can find out how medieval people were treated.
- The house on the corner of the Town Hall Square is a medieval building. Address: Vanaturu kael, 3.
Streets of the Old Town
As we already wrote, we advise you to just wander. The most beautiful streets:
- Viru street and Viru gate.
- Pikk street.
- Long Leg Street (Pikk jalg).
- Muurvahe street.
- Lai Street.
- Verine Street is the narrowest in the city.
- Streets Gumnaasiumi, Kooli and Laboratooriumi along the fortress wall.
- Börsi käik street is a kind of time machine. Historical dates are marked on the paving slabs.
- St. Catherine's Passage - Katariina Käik. A charming medieval street with workshops.
- Our favorite is Aida street. There you will see a medieval theater building and a summer stage. Very picturesque! The street itself also looks medieval. Especially good in the evening, under the light of lanterns.
Observation Decks and Towers
There are a lot of sites and all are gorgeous! The most famous are in the Upper Town.
- Patkuli;
- Kohtuotsa;
- Piiskopi;
- Kuberneri aed;
- from the stairs Pilstickeri trepp;
- in the garden of the Danish king (Taani kuninga aed);
- from the tower of the town hall;
- from the Church of Oleviste.
About 18 towers have survived. Most popular: Long Hermann, Fat Margarita, Virus Gate, Kiek in de Kök. We will not list all the sites and towers - just find them on the map in the MAPS.ME application.
Churches and cathedrals
- Church of the Holy Spirit (Püha Vaimu kirik). An ancient church founded in 1319. It has not been rebuilt since 1684! There is a clock on the wall, reminiscent of the Prague astronomical clock.
- Church of Oleviste, or St. Olaf (Oleviste kirik). Tallest building in the city. The view is good, but the tower is closed during the winter.
- Church of Niguliste, or St. Nicholas (Niguliste kirik). We lived next to her and admired her.
- Dome Cathedral (Toomkirik).
- Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky.
Toompea castle
The castle was not at all impressed. Now the Estonian parliament is working there - seemingly very modest, you can't even say that the parliament. It looks like a city administration.
Excursions in Tallinn
If you don't want to plan your trip and read about the sights, get a sightseeing or thematic city tour. You can order in Russian in advance on the website sputnik8.com or on the Tripster:
What to see in Tallinn in 2 days?
On the second day, you should leave the Old Town and pay attention to other areas of the city.
Rotermanni
A quarter for those interested in modern architecture. Just imagine: all these beautiful buildings are former abandoned factories!
Gorhall, port and Baltic Sea
Go to admire the harsh Baltic Sea. On the coast there is an abandoned city hall building (Linnahall), all covered with graffiti. There you will find observation platforms.
Kalamaja
Cheerful colorful wooden houses in a quiet area near the Old Town. This is a former fishing port.
Pirita
In the area, visit the TV Tower, the tallest building. From there, a panorama opens, and for an additional fee, you can add extreme and walk along the edge. Another attraction is the authentic ruins of the monastery of St. Brigid.
Kadriorg
The Baroque palace built by Peter the Great, a beautiful park, the Peter the Great House Museum, the Kumu Art Museum - all this is in Kadriorg.
