Tallinn itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Tallinn, day by day: Town Hall Square, St Olaf's Church tower, the Toompea viewpoints, the Dome Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Kiek in de Kök first, then Kalamaja, the Seaplane Harbour, Telliskivi Creative City, Kadriorg, Kumu and the Balti Jaama market food hall as you add a day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Tallinn in 1 day
Day 1
Kohtuotsa viewing platform
Toompea viewpoint looking over the red roofs and spires of the Lower Town towards the sea; popular at sunset.
Patkuli viewing platform
Viewpoint on the north side of Toompea, reached by a long stairway, looking over the city wall, St Olaf's and the port.
St Mary's Cathedral (Dome Church)
Tallinn's oldest church, a Lutheran cathedral on Toompea filled with carved coats of arms of noble families; the tower can be climbed.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Onion-domed Russian Orthodox cathedral of the 1890s on Toompea, facing the Estonian parliament, with a richly decorated interior.
Kiek in de Kök and the Bastion Passages
Fifteenth-century artillery tower with a museum of the town's defences and guided walks through the tunnels under the bastions.
St Nicholas' Church (Niguliste Museum)
Medieval church now a museum of church art, home to Bernt Notke's Danse Macabre painting, with organ concerts.
Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats)
The Old Town's main square in front of the Gothic town hall, lined with cafes and home to a Christmas market in winter.
Katariina käik
A narrow medieval lane beside the old Dominican monastery, with tombstones on the walls and craft workshops.
Viru Gate
Two round medieval towers at the eastern entrance to the Old Town, leading onto busy Viru Street.
Tallinn in 2 days
Day 1
Viru Gate
Two round medieval towers at the eastern entrance to the Old Town, leading onto busy Viru Street.
Katariina käik
A narrow medieval lane beside the old Dominican monastery, with tombstones on the walls and craft workshops.
Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats)
The Old Town's main square in front of the Gothic town hall, lined with cafes and home to a Christmas market in winter.
Kohtuotsa viewing platform
Toompea viewpoint looking over the red roofs and spires of the Lower Town towards the sea; popular at sunset.
Patkuli viewing platform
Viewpoint on the north side of Toompea, reached by a long stairway, looking over the city wall, St Olaf's and the port.
St Nicholas' Church (Niguliste Museum)
Medieval church now a museum of church art, home to Bernt Notke's Danse Macabre painting, with organ concerts.
Kiek in de Kök and the Bastion Passages
Fifteenth-century artillery tower with a museum of the town's defences and guided walks through the tunnels under the bastions.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Onion-domed Russian Orthodox cathedral of the 1890s on Toompea, facing the Estonian parliament, with a richly decorated interior.
St Mary's Cathedral (Dome Church)
Tallinn's oldest church, a Lutheran cathedral on Toompea filled with carved coats of arms of noble families; the tower can be climbed.
Telliskivi Creative City
Former factory complex turned into a lively hub of street art, design shops, galleries, bars and restaurants, busiest in the evening.
Kalamaja
Old fishermen's district of colourful wooden houses just north of the Old Town, with cafes, parks and a relaxed neighbourhood feel.
Day 2
Kadriorg Palace and Park
Baroque palace built for Peter the Great, now an art museum, in a large park with ponds, flower gardens and the president's palace.
Seaplane Harbour (Lennusadam)
Maritime museum in 1910s concrete seaplane hangars, with a submarine to walk through, an icebreaker outside and hands-on exhibits.
St Olaf's Church tower
Medieval church once among the tallest buildings in the world; its tower climb gives a wide view over the Old Town and harbour.
Kumu Art Museum
Estonia's national art museum in a modern building at the edge of Kadriorg Park, covering Estonian art from the 18th century to today.
Watch: Tallinn
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Tallinn
May to September has the long light days and the mildest weather, with near-endless evenings around midsummer in June; it is also the busiest season, when cruise ships call. Winter is cold, dark and often snowy, but the Christmas market on Town Hall Square is a popular reason to go in December. Spring and early autumn are quieter, cool and changeable.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Tallinn on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Tallinn on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Tallinn on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Estonia from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Tallinn
- St Olaf's Church tower is open only in the warmer months, roughly spring to autumn; the climb is long, narrow and steep.
- Many museums, including Kumu, Kiek in de Kök, the Niguliste Museum and the Seaplane Harbour, are closed on Mondays; check before planning a day.
- Cruise-ship groups fill the Old Town from late morning; Town Hall Square and the Toompea viewpoints are quieter early or in the evening.
- Trams run from the Old Town edge to Kadriorg, and Kalamaja, Telliskivi and the Balti Jaama market are a short walk from the Old Town.
- The Old Town's cobblestones are uneven and steep up to Toompea, so wear comfortable shoes; Telliskivi and the market are good for an evening meal or drink.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kadriorg Palace and Park: A.Savin, FAL
- Kiek in de Kök and the Bastion Passages: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 3.0 ee
- Kohtuotsa viewing platform: Guillaume Speurt, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Seaplane Harbour (Lennusadam): Rene Seeman, CC BY-SA 3.0 ee
- St Mary's Cathedral (Dome Church): Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
- St Nicholas' Church (Niguliste Museum): Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
- St Olaf's Church tower: Olga Itenberg, CC BY 2.0
- Telliskivi Creative City: Liilia Moroz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats): kallerna, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Viru Gate: Maigi, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
