Tallinn, Estonia is one of the prettiest, fairytale towns in northern Europe. Walking through the old town feels like stepping through the pages of a storybook. There are so many beautiful, photo-worthy spots in the historic center.
If you’re planning a trip to Estonia (on a cruise, or a trip through the Baltics), here’s a guide to the most beautiful, must-see places in Tallinn that you won’t want to miss.
If you’ve only got one day in Tallinn, use this post as a checklist to make sure you see all the best places in Tallinn, Estonia!
TIP: Click the link above to see the exact location on the map where the picture was taken.
The main square in Tallinn is lined with colorful buildings, shops, and restaurants with terraces. It’s the perfect spot for people watching. If you need an afternoon break have a seat on the terrace at Kehrwieder Saiakang Chocolaterie for the best iced coffee in Tallinn and some fabulous chocolate truffles!
The gothic town hall was built in the 1200s!! So crazy to be walking through such an old city. Can you imagine all the history that’s taken place here??
Oh my gosh, how beautiful is this Russian orthodox church??
I can’t get over the architecture!
Colorful Street with Church Bell Tower
Tallinn is very easily explored on foot. Most of the streets in the old town are pedestrian-only. There are many narrow, cobblestone streets to explore!
Estonia is one of the three countries that make up the Baltic states — along with Latvia and Lithuania. Each one has a beautiful capital city. Riga was one of my favorites, and the sunset hot air balloon ride in Lithuania was unforgettable! If you have a week, you can easily visit all three of these unique countries.
I worked with JayWay Travel to plan my trip to the Baltics. They created a custom itinerary just for me so I could see the best of all three countries in one week.
After creating your personalized itinerary, JayWay Travel will book everything and take care of all the little details for you. You just tell them what you want to do and they do the rest, including booking hotels, transportation, tours, excursions, restaurants, and more! They take care of every little detail. I never had to worry about a thing!
JayWay Travel takes all the stress out of planning — all you have to do is show up and enjoy your perfectly planned itinerary.
There’s a cafe near the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral with the most gorgeous petunias on the terrace!
This petunia looks like the galaxy!
It’s called a Night Sky petunia. I saw them everywhere in Tallinn!
House of the Brotherhood of Black Heads
The best view in Tallinn is from St. Olaf’s Church! You have a 360 degree panoramic view.
On the right you can see the towers on the old fortification wall that surrounded the city
If you don’t want to climb the tower, there are two other free viewing platforms in Tallinn where you can have a view over the city.
Where to Stay
If you’re looking for the best place to stay in Tallinn, I highly recommend the luxury, 5-star Hotel Telegraaf. This bed was sooo comfy!!!
The location could not be more perfect. The hotel is right in the heart of old town Tallinn, literally a 2-minute walk from the Town Square.
Rooms have air conditioning and heating. Breakfast and free WiFi are included. There’s also an indoor pool and a spa with a Jacuzzi, sauna, and steam bath — all complimentary for guests to use and enjoy! It’s the perfect way to relax after exploring Tallinn on foot all day.
How cute was this telephone in my room?? The hotel gets its name because the building used to be the Estonian Telegraph company.
We had beautiful weather when we were in Tallinn, so we had breakfast outside on the terrace every day, but you could eat inside also.
How beautiful is this restaurant?? You can also have dinner here in the evening. The restaurant, Tchaikovsky, features Russian cuisine paired with music.
How cute are these peacock napkins??!
See more of our posts from the Baltics!
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I’ve been so curious about, Estonia. Now I’m definitely adding it to my list. Great info as always!
It really is a beautiful town! If you can look at the cruise ship schedule and plan to be there when there are the least cruise ships it’s even better! :)
I love these posts, too! Don’t travel much as I am a homebody and am afraid to go to Walmart by myself, so I live vicariously through you and these stunning photo’s!
Amanda I love these posts! You are so thorough and your pictures are outstanding. Tallinn was a cruise stop for us a few years ago. We really didn’t know what to expect and it turned out to be one of our favorite spots.