Day Trip to Tallinn

Tallinn is a Perfect Destination for a Weekend City Break or a Day Trip (depending how far you are coming)

Are you looking for a quick getaway filled with history, culture, and picturesque views? Look no further than the charming city of Tallinn, Estonia. By the Gulf of Finland, on the shores of the Baltic Sea . Just a flight away from your hometown or a short (2 hours) ferry ride away from Helsinki, Finland. Tallinn truly is the perfect destination for a nice city trip filled with exploration and adventure.

Why Tallinn?

Tallinn is an old historic city that effortlessly blends Medieval charm with modern amenities. With its well-preserved Old Town, where a lot is true and authentic from Medieval times, with its cobblestone streets, and stunning architecture, Tallinn feels like a true adventure back in time. But besides letting you admire its Medieval beauty, Tallinn is also has a lot to offer as a vibrant modern city, offering great choice of trendy cafes, good restaurants, fascinating boutique shops, and a thriving arts scene.

What to See and Do

1. Explore the Old Town

Start your day trip by wandering through Tallinn’s Old Town – a UNESCO World Heritage site. Marvel at the Medieval architecture, climb to the top of Toompea Hill, where the Parliament Building is and visit the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral right opposite it. Then continue your nice stroll through the upper town historic streets to the nearby viewing place to take in the truly amazing panoramic views of the city. You see the Medieval town, the sea views and the most modern glass skyscrapers of the IT and financial city in the same view. You will love it!

2. Visit Kadriorg Palace

Take a stroll through Kadriorg Park and visit Kadriorg Palace, a Baroque era palace that was built by Peter the Great for his wife Catherine I. Explore the palace grounds, the rose garden, visit the Kadriorg Art Museum, full of wonderful masterpieces, and enjoy a peaceful moment by the Swan Pond. There are also some nice cafes in the area.

3. Visit KUMU Art Museum in Kadriorg

In Kadriorg Park you will also find KUMU, an art museum that is definitely worth a visit.

4. Discover Telliskivi Creative City

For a taste of Tallinn’s modern times artsy side, head to Telliskivi Creative City. This former industrial complex is now a hub for artists, designers, and entrepreneurs. A lot of the IT crowd used to hang out here too, while the predecessors of the today’s Estonian IT unicorns were startups. Bright creative minds met here and still do, in addition to the new Ülemiste City area. Browse the Telliskivi Creative City for unique art and handicraft shops, enjoy a coffee, a pint of beer, or a glass of wine at one of the hip cafes, and pick up some unique souvenirs – handmade Estonian art.

4. Try Estonian Cuisine

While in Tallinn – do try some traditional Estonian dishes. Sample hearty soups, savoury pies, a herring sandwich with boiled egg and fresh onion (kiluvõileib) that pairs well with a shot or two of ice-cold local vodka. 😊 Try a nice choice of local sweet pastries at one of the city’s many restaurants, cafes or food stalls. Besides a lot of cosy and characterful restaurants, Tallinn also has some Michelin starred ones. And be sure to wash the nice meals down with a glass of local craft beer as there is a huge number of local proud breweries. Beer brewing is an old tradition in Estonia. And be brave to try a shot of local sweet-tasting rum-based liquor “Vana Tallinn” (NB! It is strong = 40 % to 80 % :P, depending on the brand). Our favourite is the creamy one. Vana Tallinn can be enjoyed on its own, or better even – in a local version of “Irish Coffee” i.e. coffee with a shot of Vana Tallinn liquor in it and whipped cream on top. Yummy!

5. Open Air Museum – Rocca al Mare Vabaõhumuuseum

It is a museum, where you can walk around in nice greenery and look how Estonians used to live centuries ago. It has small historic dwelling houses and model farms for you to tell the story.

6. Visit the history museums

Besides art museums there are lovely museums about the history of Tallinn and Estonia. Please see our Tallinn Directory listings for more details. The choice is good. Something for everyone. As Estonia a maritime country the best maritime museum in Europe – Lennusadam – is also worth a visit.

7. Go to the beach

Being situated by the sea, Tallinn has beaches too! In summertime with nice weather, it is lovely to spend time for example at Pirita beach, that has also a forest next to it, some cafes and restaurants, including a surfers’ cafe. As the climate in Estonia is Nordic and beach season is very short, some Estonian beaches do not have all the facilities, but the main beaches do. Make sure to look them up on our page.