Tallinn isEstonia's capital and largest city. Tallinn is an important port of the Baltic Sea, with the busy passenger section of the port reaching the foothill of the picturesque medieval Old Town, which has been astonishingly well preserved and was inscribed on theUNESCO World Heritage List in 1997.
On the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is a city of over 450,000 inhabitants (2023). It is home to a third of the country's population, and is also the capital of Harju County inNorthern Estonia.
In a striking contrast to its Old Town, its immediate outskirts are filled with a cluster of modern office towers, with intermittent architectural monuments to theSoviet era. Further out, you will find a bewildering variety of historic and modern neighbourhoods, religious, civic, industrial and maritime heritage. This all provides for the city seeing very sizeable tourist traffic given its size, which in turn means the infrastructure is robust and extensive.
Tallinn is a historic city dating back to medieval times. The first fortress on Toompea was built around 1050 and Tallinn was possibly first recorded on a world map in 1154. In 1219, the city was conquered by Valdemar II of Denmark and it became a member of theHanseatic League in 1285. The city, known asReval at the time, prospered as a trading town in the 14th century, and much of Tallinn's historic centre was built at this time.
Tallinn then became a pawn in the geopolitical games of its big neighbours, passing intoSwedish hands in 1561 and then to theRussian Empire under Peter the Great in 1710. ByWorld War I and the ensuing brief Estonian independence (starting 1918) Tallinn's population had reached 150,000.
Estonia was occupied by theSoviet Union in 1940, conquered by Nazi Germany (1941–44), and then retaken by the Soviets. InWorld War II, the city was quite extensively bombed by the Soviets, although luckily the medieval town survived. The Soviet Union undertook a program of massive East Slavic migration, and just over 40% of Tallinn's current inhabitants are Slavic (compared to an average of 28% for the entire country). On 20 August 1991, Estonia declared independence and Tallinn became its capital once again.
Today Tallinn is a bustling, gleaming city. However, among the tall glassy buildings and corporate headquarters, Tallinn retains an inner charm seldom found elsewhere. Estonia considers itself a Northern European/Nordic country, with very close ethnic, linguistic and cultural ties toFinland and cultural ties to Scandinavia, and visiting Tallinn you will find a mix of at least three architectures in this very visual city—old Europe (the city walls with rustic buildings and charming living areas with well-preserved and colourful wooden houses of bourgeois taste of 1920s), Soviet brutalist (concrete apartment blocks), and modern Europe (including McDonald's next to the city walls!)
Tourism is important for Tallinn and this is especially visible in the old town where almost every door leads into a souvenir shop, restaurant or bar. Unsurprisingly the majority of visitors are day trippers from Finland. The neighbours from across the bay usually know their way around without a map and have already seen the sights of Tallinn a couple of times. They come to enjoy low prices on practically all goods and services from restaurant meals to fuel and even plastic surgeries, not to forget as much alcohol as the customs regulations allow you to bring into Finland!
Tallinn is made up of 8 administrative districts (linnaosa), which are further divided into numerous quarters (asum). Most of the points of interest to tourists are located in the seaside districts. The districts of Tallinn are:
| Tallinn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At these latitudes winters are dark and cold and temperatures under -20°C are not unheard of from December to February. Thankfully, the sea moderates the winter temperatures a bit compared to continental cities with similar temperatures likeMoscow.
Spring is the driest season and while there are often sub-zero temperatures at night until well into May, the snow usually disappears towards the end of March and the days are getting gradually warmer. Summer months are pleasant with day temperatures between +20°C and +30°C in July and August, however if it's raining, temperatures are lower. The summer is the best time of the year to visit Tallinn. Although Tallinn doesn't experience the Midnight Sun, in the middle of the summer it doesn't get really dark at night.
Usually you will need your jacket again towards the latter half of September. The autumn is the "rain season" and with both temperatures and the leaves falling, Tallinn doesn't look very attractive this time of the year. However the greyness is covered up by the snow that usually arrives in early December. Visiting Tallinn in December when the Old Town is beautifully covered in snow and Christmas decorations is not a bad idea.
The most commonferry route is fromHelsinki,Finland to Tallinn Port, which has upwards of 20 departures daily. Depending on the ferry, journey time is 1½-3½ hours. Prices average €16-30 one way, depending on operator, season (summer costs more), day of week (Fridays and Saturdays cost more) and time of day (to Tallinn in the morning and back in the evening is popular and hence more expensive). Particularly popular areday cruises, which can go for as little as €19 return. All ferries also carry cars, from €25 one way. Bicycles can be taken for around €5 one way. Bikes on car ferries must go through vehicle check-in, which closes earlier than passenger check-in, so plan for extra time.
The following companies operate ferries between Tallinn and Helsinki:
Eckerö and Viking usually have the cheaper fares, as they are more geared towards day-trippers and the party crowd who come to have a great time on board and tend to spend more in the bars, restaurants and shops on board. Tallink is more geared towards frequent travellers such as Estonians working in Finland.
.jpg)
See alsoBaltic Sea ferries andCruising the Baltic Sea for details on travelling in by ferry.
All ferries dock atReisisadam port, to the north of the center. Tallink uses59.443424.76731Terminal D at the south-eastern side of the bay and Eckerö and Viking the59.444724.76192Terminal A/B at the northwestern side. Walking between the two terminals takes about 5 minutes over a pedestrian bridge crossing the marina. At Terminal A/B you can grab a usefulfree city map just before exiting the terminal. From there, tram 2 operates to the city centre (A. Laikmaa stop) and the intercity bus station (Bussijaam) in one direction, and to the train and regional bus station (Balti jaam stop) in the other direction. Or, you can take a leisurely 15-min walk toward the Old Town that is easily visible from the terminals. View amap of route 2.
The walk from the port to the center has improved a lot compared to the olden days as most of the developments along Sadama street have been completed, and the road crossings have been made more pedestrian-friendly.
You can sail with a yacht toOld City Marina, the harbour for recreational vessels.
(updated Jul 2020)Getting there/away:
You can also hop on one of the hourlyLux Express buses toTartu. They stop in front of the terminal. Tickets are cheaper online in advance, but can be also bought from the driver or from the ticket machine installed on the ground floor of the terminal building. Buses to other Estonian destinations depart from the city bus station (see below) and do not stop at the airport.
Since Jan 2025, one train a day runs fromVilnius in Lithuania, leaving at 07:00 and reachingRiga in Latvia about 11:45, then Valga, Tartu and Tallinn around 17:30. The return westbound leaves Tallinn at 10:25 and Riga at 16:50 to reach Vilnius around 21:00.
(updated Jan 2020)Frequent buses operate between Tallinn and other cities inEstonia. Domestic bus schedules and prices can be found atTpilet.ee andPeatus.ee (a good trip planner as well).
International buses run frequently between Tallinn andRiga,Latvia (4½ hr) with continuing service toVilnius,Lithuania and the rest of Europe. A few buses also still run between Tallinn andSt. Petersburg,Russia (€25-30, 8 hr). Free Wi-Fi is usually available on board.
The following bus companies operate international bus service to/from Tallinn:
The Old Town is best navigated on foot, not that you have much choice. A network of buses, trams and trolleybuses covers the rest of the city. There is an abundance of relatively cheap taxis. Before you jump in a random taxi car make sure you check the price on the window of the car. In Tallinn there are more than 20 taxi companies and some can be a rip-off.
TLT operates frequent bus, trolley and tram services daily 06:00-23:59.Timetables andmaps are available in English.
Põhja-Eesti Public Transport Centre[dead link] is a local authority which organizes public transport in Harju County, the province surrounding Tallinn.
Public transport is cheaper in and around Tallinn than overland prices of the same distance. This is due to the zone structure of Tallinn. Thus, many sights even an hour away from Tallinn (e.g.Jägala Falls) are highly affordable, as long as they are within the zones. Information aboutzone boundaries[dead link] andticket prices[dead link] are available.
Public transport is free for residents of Tallinn. If you are not a resident, you'll need a ticket from the driver. The ticket price for each trip is €2. Note that no change will be given.
It is possible also to use a contactless payment card (Mastercard, Maestro, Visa and Visa Electron) to buy a one-hour (60 min) ticket for €1.50, then you must use public transport front door. As you board a public transport vehicle, you will be required to validate your trip every time by swiping the payment card at the rectangular orange validators in the front of the vehicle. If you see a green light, your trip has been validated. The system tracks your daily usage and automatically bills your bank account for the cheapest ticket you are entitled to for the day, meaning the maximum you will pay in a single day for an unlimited amount of trips is the price of a one-day ticket (€4.50).
Rechargeable "green card" (Ühiskaart), which is a brand new, cash-free, and smart way of payment. Use your card totouch a bright orange box every time you enter the bus: a single 1-hour ticket (€1.50, transfer allowed) will be charged automatically and on each day individual tickets will total until the price of the day ticket (€4.5) is reached (as of March 2020). Alternatively, the card can be charged for unlimited travel for 3 days, 5 days, or one month. Get this card from one of the abundant R-kiosks for €2, a refundable deposit which is only refundable in limited locations. Refund is available at the R-Kiosk of the Tallinn Airport, Old City Harbour Terminal A and D, Balti jaam and the service desk of bus station (details). You can charge the card immediately ordo it later on-line (major credit cards accepted).
If you have internet access, you can purchase a single ride for €1.50 or day ticket for €4.50 online by debit/credit cards (multiple rides/passengers can be purchased at the same time) usingPilet.ee website or mobile app. After payment, you will receive a QR code which can be scanned at the bright orange box only on the front door of the bus/tram as proof of payment. You can also loadpilet.ee mobile app to buy tickets.
TheTallinn Card includes unlimited use of public transport.
Bus, trams, and trolleybuses form an extensive network with the major bus hub atEstonia. Some lines also terminate at the nearby underground bus hub underneathViru Keskus. Vehicles are coloured according to their type. City buses are green, trams are mostly red/white, and trolleybuses are blue. Except for some 'retro' trams, the entire fleet of city transport is low-floor and accessible.
Due to fleet and contact network renewal, the trolleybuses are temporarily out of service until 2026, and replaced by regular buses with an 8 in front if the line number (e.g. trolleybus route 1 is now bus route 81)
Tallinn has many different taxi companies and independent taxis. There is no standardised base price or price per km. Some tourist scam taxis have absurdly high prices, and as long as those prices are displayed on the sticker in the window and on the dashboard, they are completely legal. The locals never take those taxis: their solemodus operandi is to prey on innocent tourists. Do as the locals do, and order a taxi by phone.
Do not accept offers from taxi drivers waiting at the harbour or train station. Do not accept offers from taxi drivers who approach you at the airport. The same goes for any taxi that looks shabby or does not carry the logo of one of the reputable companies. Also be wary of taxis that look overly luxurious: large Mercedes, TV-screens inside, usually only a very small and vague logo on the door. If you're obviously drunk and are taking one of those questionable taxis from the harbour, you might be driven to some bar or strip club the taxi driver is collaborating with. Usually you will proceed to have a few drinks there without asking for the price and will then be presented with ahuge bill. Taxis hanging out in front of nightclubs often have the highest prices.
Ride-hailing services (Bolt, Uber, Yandex.Taxi) are very common in Tallinn, seeEstonia#By taxi.
Some reputable local taxi companies are (rates as of July 2020):
Other taxi companies (rates as of July 2020):
The road rules and driving style in Tallinn can be confusing to tourists. The one and two way roads change frequently and some signposts are not descriptive. Another peculiarity to be found are roads with three lanes where you need to be a local to know if the lane in the middle is meant for traffic going in your direction or in the opposite direction. Traffic jams in Tallinn clear very quickly, however. The speed limit in Tallinn is 50 km/h, except some major streets such as Laagna tee, Pärnu mnt., Paldiski mnt., Peterburi tee etc., which have a speed limit of 70 km/h.
CityBee[dead link] andBolt Drive offer freely accessible vehicle rental services in Tallinn. Cars can be picked up and dropped off in public car parks.
There is an abundance of parking, but you have to pay for it. In some cases you can park free of charge for 15 minutes, but for an average traveller that is of course not enough. To find a cheaper parking area, Parkopaedia mobile app generally helps, with up-to-date prices mapped for most central parking locations; it won't tell the current availability, though. €1.50 per hour, €5 for 24 hr at Europark within walking distance from the downtown is a somewhat typical cost.
The locations of ticket machines, and other methods for paying for parking, aren't always obvious. The ticket machines are the easiest way of paying for your parking. With the ticket machine, just pay the price for the time you wish to park, push the green button, take the ticket and put it inside the windscreen where the parking attendant can see it. Prepare coins in advance, as credit cards and paper money are only accepted by parking machines in large indoor parkings, while breaking money can be difficult to find nearby. Mobile phone payment is popular with locals, but requires a local mobile contract to use it. For tourists the mobile app "PARGI.EE" can be used to find prices and pay for parking either for street parking or for some of the most popular parking garages.
For a rental car, a few helpful tips to avoid being fined are:
Signs prohibiting parking are not always well visible, one example is the area between the Terminal D in the port and the Norde Centrum shopping centre. Look out for signs with the wordEramaa - this is Estonian for "private" and means that parking is either prohibited or available for a fee.
There are more than 180 km of bicycle roads in Tallinn. The Eurovelo international route goes from west to east, giving you a good chance to ride comfortably through the city. Many bicycle roads are in green parts of the city and are meant more for recreation, although suitable for commuting. You can ride on every road, and use the sidewalk, though you must heed the pedestrians. Many hostels have bike rentals for their guests.
The Old Town of Tallinn is very comfortably covered on foot.
Audio guides in several languages are available for small charge at the tourist centres.
TheTenet tour is a showcase of sets of the 2020 filmTenet. TheTallinn history tour is a walk through the city's long history.
According to myth, the hill was built on top of the grave of legendary Estonian king Kalev, but more historically, its solid limestone and the site of the Danish castle that founded the city in 1219. Toompea was the home of the Danish and later Baltic German aristocracy and relations between the toffs and the plebs were often inflamed, which is why it's surrounded by thick walls and there's a gate tower (1380) guarding the entrance. Check out theviewpoints, some of which give great views over the city. There's also a cluster ofamber (merevaik) shops around here (no Estonian origin but popular among cruise tourists).
(updated Aug 2021)
The medieval Old Town (Vanalinn) of Tallinn was built in the 15-17th centuries, and is excellently preserved. It contains a large part of Tallinn's sights and is the only UNESCO world heritage site entirely in Estonia. As clichéd it may sound — you can't say you've been to Tallinn if you haven't visited the old town. This compact area is best explored on foot.
(updated Sep 2017)
(updated Sep 2025)
(updated Aug 2025)(updated Aug 2025)(updated Sep 2025) .jpg)
.JPG)
(updated Jun 2025) (updated Oct 2018) 
A beautiful and rich seaside resort district with mostly wooden buildings from the 18th to 20th centuries, and 20th-century Art Deco and Functionalist structures. It also includes the baroque pearl of Estonia, the Kadriorg Palace and Garden.
(updated Aug 2025)_(7637588430).jpg)
Includes forest parks, Botanic Gardens and Metsakalmistu (the last resting place of well-known Estonians). A few km east of the city centre along the seaside road.
(updated Sep 2025)(updated Aug 2025) 
(updated Aug 2019)
(updated Aug 2025)
(updated Sep 2022)(updated Aug 2025)Also, check out other sights withinNorth Estonia, which could allow for aday trip from Tallinn.
(updated Oct 2018)(updated Jul 2020)(updated Jun 2021)(updated Jun 2021) 
A flag system that regulates swimming. A green flag means it is safe swim, a yellow flag means you can swim, but it isn't recommended and a red flag means swimming is not advised, go in at your own risk.
.jpg)
(updated Jul 2024) 
English language teachers with TEFL certificates or equivalent are in demand. Especially during periods of Summer School and/or TOEFL test times, teachers have good opportunities.
Jobs for non-Estonian speakers are less common in other fields, although several IT companies have English based job openings. Compared to Finland or other Scandic countries salaries are lower in Estonia. Estonia is part of the EU and Eurozone, so work permits are easy for EU citizens. All others will need to apply for work permits.
Digital nomads may take advantage of the several coworking spaces, with new ones still popping up from time to time. Among the bigger ones are, for example,Spring Hub andLift99 (the latter being application-only and strongly connected to the local startup scene). Thenational library[dead link], which is a few hundred metres south of the city centre, offers plenty of space and good free internet connectivity during opening hours.
Tallinn may be cheap compared to other major European cities, but it is no longer the bargain deal it once was. Though not overtly touristy, it is much more expensive than the rest of the country. If you come here for an authentic Estonian and inexpensive experience, this is the wrong place. Prices can be comparable to Munich and Milan.
(updated Dec 2024) For boutiques and souvenirs, your best choice isViru street in the Old Town and its side streets. There are many stalls selling traditional items like woolen pullovers, crystal and amber. Be prepared tobargain in order to get a reasonable price, however bargaining is only accepted at some places. Even though Baltic amber and Russian matryoshka dolls are widely available in souvenir boutiques, neither are related to Estonia or its culture and are sold in Estonian souvenir boutiques mainly because they sell well to tourists.
(updated Oct 2018) 
(updated Oct 2015)
(updated Oct 2018)
The Old Town is packed with restaurants claiming to offer authentic Estonian food, particularly on and aroundRaekoja plats. Prices at restaurants near the Raekoja Plats are generally more expensive, yet offer the same quality of food, as restaurants off this main square. Prices are steep by Estonian standards, but still much cheaper than neighbouring Helsinki, which explains why on weekends they're always packed with day tripping Finns.
(updated May 2022)(updated May 2022)(updated May 2022)(updated May 2022) (updated May 2022)(updated May 2022)(updated Sep 2017)(updated Feb 2024)
(updated Oct 2024) (updated Feb 2024)(updated Oct 2018)(updated Dec 2019)(updated Oct 2018) 
(updated Nov 2015) (updated Jun 2019)(updated Feb 2020)
There are plenty of nice cafés, especially in the centre. Among the interesting ones:
(updated Jun 2023)(updated Oct 2018).jpg)
Tallinn's crazy nightlife is out of proportion to the city's small size. The days of armed mafiosos are over and these days any drunken fights tend to involve stag parties. Exercise some caution in choosing your venue, as some strip clubs and regular clubs make their money by fleecing tourists who come in for a drink. In local places, beers cost €2.50-4.
(updated Mar 2020) These are still quite central; they are just not in the old town.
East:
North:
Double vision in Tallinn
|
| This guide uses the following price ranges for a standarddouble room: | |
| Budget | up to €50 a night |
| Mid-range | €50-€100 |
| Splurge | over €100 a night |
(updated Oct 2018) (updated Mar 2019) 
Tallinn is easily among Europe's safest capitals, with violent crime being rare and petty crime being negligible compared to other cities.
However, various governments warn against the risk of beingpickpocketed, particularly in the Old Town. Watch your valuables closely, especially on public transport and at Viru Street.
The stigmatized neighbourhoods of Kopli and Lasnamäe – both predominantly Russian-speaking areas known as hotbeds for the notorious "Gopnik" culture – are probably best to be avoided after dark, although they are a lot safer than the "bad neighbourhoods" in Western European or North American cities. In suburbs of the city it is always best to avoid heavily drunk people.
The biggest trap to tourists in Tallinn is getting ripped off by taxi drivers or in "gentlemen's clubs". Many of the latter are known for theirexorbitant prices and hidden "fees". Credit card skimming and other similar scams are common practice in those establishments. Stay away, unless you particularly enjoy losing your month's pay in a few hours.
People who arrive to Tallinn by camper van or just by car should be careful and not leave valuables in their vehicles. Unfortunately it's not rare that cars with foreign plates are looted. Those crimes are committed mainly in the area of Tallinn's passenger port and nearby streets where many camper vans stop. There are safer official car parks, but they are often harder to find, their location might not be very good, and you have to pay quite a lot of money.
Winters in Tallinn, indeed all of Estonia, are milder than in Scandinavia and Russia, but slippery roads are common. Be careful of icy pavements in the winter which can be a hazard especially outside of the central areas.
During the Soviet period the city's name was rendered in English asTallin, a transliteration from the city's name in Russian:Таллин. That spelling should be avoided today.
Wi-Fi are available in many public areas as well as restaurants, hotels and bars, many of them can be used free of charge. The sitewifi.ee maintains a list of wireless networks.
If you want to send a post card, almost every place selling something also has post cards. However they seldom have stamps. Check theweb page of the Estonian Post[dead link] for post office locations, this is where you can purchase stamps.
Many details can also be found here:https://www.embassypages.com/estonia
59.4365224.737217Canada,Toom-Kooli 13, 2nd floor,☏+372 627 3311,fax:+372 627 3312,tallinn@canada.ee. 
China,Narva Mnt.98,☏+372 6 015 830,fax:+372 6 015 833,chinaemb@online.ee.M-F 09:00-12:00, 14:00-18:00.(updated Feb 2024)
59.4365224.74058Finland,Kohtu 4,☏+372-6103 200,fax:+372 610 3281,sanomat.tal@formin.fi. 
59.43727924.7542439[formerly dead link]Georgia,Viru väljak 2, 10111 Tallinn,☏+372 698 8590,tallinn.emb@mfa.gov.ge.(updated Feb 2020)
59.4289224.7375110Germany,Toom-Kuninga 11,☏+372 627 5300,+372 627 5304 (emergencies),info@tallinn.diplo.de. 
59.4346424.7472411Greece,Pärnu Mnt 12, 1st Floor 101 48 Tallinn,☏+372 640 3560,+372 5349 6007 (emergencies),fax:+372 640 3561,gremb.tal@mfa.gr. 
59.4416224.7447812Macedonia,Suurtüki 4A-12, 10133 Tallinn,☏+372 644 0479.(updated Feb 2020)
59.4380424.7407713Netherlands,Rahukohtu 4-I,☏+372 680 5500,tal-ca@minbuza.nl. 
Romania,Ravala pst.5, et.5,☏+372 715 1610,fax:+372 715 1613,tallinn@mae.ro.M-F 8:30-16:30.(updated Dec 2021)
59.4390624.74714Sweden,Pikk 28,☏+372 640 5600,swedemb@neti.ee. 
59.4326624.7316815United Kingdom,Wismari 6,☏+372 667 4700,fax:+372 667 4725,TallinnConsular.Enquiries@fco.gov.uk.By appointment: M-Th: 10:00-Midday, 13:30-15:00. 
59.4304724.7516516United States,Kentmanni 20,☏+372 668 8100,fax:+372 668 8265,USASaatkond@state.gov. | Routes through Tallinn |
Helsinki← ← | N  S | →Pärnu→Riga |
| END← | NW  SE | →Tartu→Luhamaa |
| Stockholm←← | W  E | →Narva→Saint Petersburg |
| Paldiski←Keila← | W  E | →END |
| Thiscity travel guide toTallinnhasguide status. It has a variety of good, quality information including hotels, restaurants, attractions and travel details.Please contribute and help us make it astar! |
