Old Town Essentials
Start here for the classic Tallinn story:
Toompea + Viewpoints
For views and “upper city” atmosphere:
Beyond the Old Town
Modern and cultural Tallinn sights worth adding:
- Freedom Square + Victory Column (great “city center” anchor)
- Kadriorg Palace (pair with Kadriorg)
- Linnahall (seaside brutalism + sunset steps)
- Pirita Convent Ruins (pair with Pirita)
- Tallinn TV Tower (near Pirita)
- Patarei Prison (pair with Noblessner)
- Song Festival Grounds
Green Tallinn (A Different Kind of Sightseeing)
If you want a calmer day with more walking and less “checking off”:
- Kadriorg Japanese Garden
- Tallinn Botanic Garden
- Tallinn Zoo (especially good for families)
Beaches & nature walks inside the city:
- Stroomi Beach for a park‑backed city beach day
- Kakumäe Beach for wide sand and sunset light
- Pikakari Beach for a wilder shoreline vibe
- Paljassaare Conservation Area for coastal paths and a “wild Tallinn” feel
- Lake Harku for a freshwater swim-and-walk option
Start here for the full overview: Beaches in Tallinn.
For a family itinerary, start with Tallinn With Kids.
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Place
Viru Gate
Viru Gate is one of Tallinn’s most iconic entrances into the Old Town — a perfect starting point for medieval wandering, photos, and a Town Hall Square loop.
Place
Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats)
Town Hall Square is Tallinn’s historic heart: cafes, seasonal markets, and the perfect anchor for an Old Town day. Here’s how to enjoy it in every season.
Place
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is one of Tallinn’s most striking landmarks on Toompea hill — a powerful architectural contrast against the medieval Old Town.
Place
St. Olaf’s Church
St. Olaf’s Church is one of Tallinn’s most iconic spires — and, when the observation platform is open, one of the most rewarding Old Town viewpoints for skyline photos.
Place
Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform
Kohtuotsa is the classic Tallinn viewpoint: sweeping Old Town rooftops and the perfect golden hour stop on a Toompea walk.
Place
Patkuli Viewing Platform
Patkuli viewing platform offers a dramatic perspective over Tallinn’s city walls and lower city — a perfect stop when you want a different angle than Kohtuotsa.
Place
Freedom Square (Vabaduse väljak) + Victory Column
Freedom Square is Tallinn’s modern civic heart at the edge of the Old Town — a spacious, open landmark anchored by the Victory Column and perfect for starting (or ending) a central Tallinn walk.
Place
Linnahall
Linnahall is Tallinn’s iconic seaside monument to late-20th-century architecture — a vast, stepped concrete structure near the harbor that feels like brutalism meets Baltic Sea air.
Place
Pirita Convent Ruins (St. Bridget’s Convent)
The Pirita Convent ruins are a powerful medieval landmark by the river in Pirita — an atmospheric stop that pairs beautifully with Pirita Beach, the TV Tower, and a sea-air afternoon.
Place
Danish King’s Garden (Taani Kuninga Aed)
Danish King’s Garden is a small, scenic park space on Toompea’s slope — perfect for a calm pause between cathedral sights, viewpoints, and your Old Town wandering route.
Place
Pikk Hermann Tower
Pikk Hermann is one of Tallinn’s most symbolic towers on Toompea — closely tied to Estonian statehood and best experienced as part of a Toompea walk with viewpoints, cathedrals, and castle views.
Place
Kadriorg Japanese Garden
Kadriorg’s Japanese Garden is one of Tallinn’s calmest, most beautiful outdoor corners — a quiet design-forward walk inside Kadriorg Park that feels especially good in spring, summer, and early autumn.
Place
Tallinn Zoo
Tallinn Zoo is a big, walk-heavy outing in a forested setting — one of the best choices in Tallinn for families, animal lovers, and travelers who want a spacious half-day beyond the Old Town.
Place
Tallinn Botanic Garden
Tallinn Botanic Garden is a peaceful, plant-forward escape in Pirita — ideal for a slow half-day with greenhouses, seasonal outdoor areas, and a calm contrast to Old Town sightseeing.
Place
Stroomi Beach (Pelgurand)
Stroomi is Tallinn’s easy, family-friendly city beach: a wide stretch of sand with a big park behind it, perfect for picnics, sea-air walks, and a low-effort summer afternoon.
Place
Kakumäe Beach
Kakumäe is one of Tallinn’s best modern sandy beaches: wide, open, and easy to love on a warm day — ideal for swimming, long shoreline walks, and sunset light.
Place
Pikakari Beach
Pikakari is a Tallinn beach with a wilder, nature-edge feel — a lovely spot for sea air, sunset, and pairing the shoreline with a walk in nearby Paljassaare.
Place
Lake Harku (Harku järv)
Lake Harku is a freshwater Tallinn swim-and-walk option: a relaxed summer spot with a different vibe than the Baltic Sea beaches — great when you want nature without leaving the city.
Place
Paljassaare Conservation Area
Paljassaare is one of Tallinn’s best “wait, this is still the city?” escapes: coastal paths, birdlife, and a calm, wild feeling right on the edge of the Baltic Sea.
Place
Tallinn City Wall
The Tallinn City Wall is one of the Old Town’s defining features: medieval fortifications, towers, and viewpoints that make the city feel like a storybook.
Place
St. Catherine’s Passage
St. Catherine’s Passage is one of Tallinn’s most atmospheric Old Town lanes — a quick, quiet detour that feels like stepping into medieval Tallinn.
Place
Toompea Castle
Toompea Castle sits at the political and historical center of Tallinn’s upper city — today it’s where Estonia’s parliament (Riigikogu) works, and it’s one of the best ‘context’ stops on a Toompea walk.
Place
St. Mary’s Cathedral (Toomkirik)
St. Mary’s Cathedral on Toompea hill is one of Tallinn’s most historic churches. Here’s how to include it in a Toompea + viewpoint walk.
Place
Kadriorg Palace
Kadriorg Palace is one of Tallinn’s most elegant sights. Here’s how to experience it as part of a Kadriorg park day with museums and slow walks.
Place
Tallinn TV Tower
Tallinn TV Tower is a panoramic modern sight near Pirita. Here’s how to visit, what to pair it with, and how to make it part of a seaside day.
Place
Patarei Prison (Patarei Sea Fortress)
Patarei is one of Tallinn’s most powerful historic sites — intense, atmospheric, and best paired with a Noblessner waterfront afternoon and the Seaplane Harbour.
Place
Estonian Song Festival Grounds (Lauluväljak)
Tallinn’s Song Festival Grounds are a major cultural site — a place that explains Estonia’s relationship to music and collective identity. Here’s how to visit as part of a Kadriorg/Pirita day.