Things to Do in Tallinn

About Tallinn

Where cobblestoned medieval charm meets cutting-edge digital innovation, Tallinn defies easy categorization. This Baltic capital wears its centuries like layers of intrigue—Gothic spires pierce the skyline above a city that became the world's first to offer digital residency, while snow-dusted ramparts guard a culture that's fiercely preserved yet refreshingly forward-thinking. Here, the past doesn't merely coexist with the future; it dances with it through seasons of endless summer light and crystalline winter darkness.

Travel Tips

• Purchase a Tallinn Card for unlimited public transport and free entry to over 40 museums and attractions; the city's buses, trams, and trolleybuses are excellent, but note that public transport is actually free for registered Tallinn residents.

• Always carry cash euros alongside your card, as many smaller cafés, restaurants in Old Town, and the famous Balti Jaama Market still prefer or only accept cash payments.

• Book restaurants in advance during summer (June-August) and winter holiday season, especially in the medieval Old Town where popular spots like Olde Hansa and III Draakon fill up quickly with tour groups.

• Don't limit yourself to Old Town—explore the hip Kalamaja and Telliskivi Creative City districts for authentic local cafés, street art, and restaurants where prices are 30-40% lower than the tourist center.

When to Visit

Tallinn's optimal visiting window is May to early September when temperatures range from 15-22°C, though summer (June-August) brings the trade-off of crushing Old Town crowds and higher accommodation prices that can triple during peak weeks. December offers magical Christmas markets in Raekoja plats (Town Hall Square) with temperatures hovering around -2 to 2°C, making it ideal for atmospheric winter experiences, though daylight lasts only 6 hours and persistent dampness makes it feel colder than the thermometer suggests. Late April to May presents the sweet spot for budget travelers: temperatures climb to 8-15°C, the medieval Old Town isn't yet overrun, and you'll catch the Spring Days festival (Tallinna Kevadpäevad) featuring outdoor concerts, while avoiding the winter's bone-chilling Baltic winds and darkness. June 23-24 specifically draws massive crowds for Jaaniõhtu (Midsummer Night) celebrations with bonfires throughout Estonia, but book months ahead as locals flood coastal areas and accommodation vanishes. January through March offers rock-bottom prices and hauntingly empty cobblestone streets, but temperatures of -5 to -10°C combined with 60-70% humidity, biting sea winds, and only 7-8 hours of grey daylight make this strictly for hardcore winter enthusiasts willing to spend most time in museums and cafés rather than exploring outdoors.