Tallinn Old Town

Tallinn’s Old Town is the city’s medieval heart — towers, walls, cobblestones, and viewpoints that make it easy to understand why people fall in love with Tallinn fast.

It’s also UNESCO-listed: the Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn was inscribed in 1997. That’s a fancy way of saying the core is genuinely historic — not a rebuilt “theme” street.

The best plan is a “soft map”: have a few anchors, then wander.

Lower Town is where the merchant city feel lives: lanes, courtyards, guild stories, and the classic Old Town “getting lost” magic.

Upper Town (Toompea) is where you go for viewpoints, cathedrals, and the sense of power/history sitting above the rooftops: Toompea.

A great first-visit loop is literally “low → high → low”:

• Viru Gate → Town Hall Square → Kohtuotsa / Patkuli → a cafe stop

• Town Hall Square — the center of gravity.
• Viru Gate — a classic entry.
• Toompea — the upper city and the best viewpoints.
• St. Catherine’s Passage — a quick “medieval lane” moment.
• Town Hall Pharmacy (Raeapteek) — a small, fascinating detour.

• Go early for quieter streets.
• Take breaks in cafes instead of trying to “cover ground.”
• Save your viewpoints for golden hour.

For a full Old Town + Toompea loop, use Walking Routes in Tallinn.