Tallinn attractions

Built around 15-feet high, five-feet thick, and a mile and a half long, the defensive wall of Estonia’s capital city was first constructed in 1265. Though the original wall was altered and strengthened in the 14th century, only a few sections of the masonry ramparts, and 26 of its defense towers, exist today. Travelers can walk along the base, through passageways, and on top of some of the sections of the wall.

Northeast of the city center, Pirita is a seaside district of Tallinn best known for its long stretch of beach and reputation as one of Tallinn’s wealthiest areas. Besides Pirita Beach, the district’s most important landmarks are the 15th century ruins of Pirita Convent, the Tallinn TV Tower, and the expansive Tallinn Botanic Garden.

Telliskivi Creative City is a reinvigorated warehouse district where street art lines the walls, located between Tallinn station and its railyard. Shopping streets lead between warehouses that have been converted into a cultural complex of entrepreneurial businesses and artistic institutions, where everything from art galleries and theaters to cafés, museums, and breweries can be found.

One of Estonia’s grandest baroque mansions, Palmse Manor (Palmse Mois) in Lahemaa National Park dates back to the late 13th century, when it was part of Tallinn's St. Michael's nunnery. Restored to its former glory, it’s now an open-air museum and its buildings are under state protection as architectural monuments.

Stalls of fresh produce and handicrafts stand alongside a food court offering international dishes at Tallinn’s Balti Jaam Market. Across from the city’s train station, the market is housed in a modern angular structure, with both indoor and outdoor communal areas. Street art and unusual features, such as a converted tram, make it a vibrant space that’s not just for shoppers.

Inspired by Scandinavian open-air museums and founded in 1957, the Estonian Open Air Museum (Eesti vabaõhumuuseum) is a collection of rural farmhouses and other historical buildings from the 18th to the 20th centuries. It is a unique glimpse into different architectural styles found across Estonia, and examines various social strata and celebrates daily life in the countryside.

The Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom in Tallinn traces the history of Estonia during its occupation by the Nazis and then the Soviet Union from 1940 to 1991. By charting the crimes against Estonia’s peoples and their fight for freedom during these periods, visitors can gain a poignant window into the country’s recent past.

Situated in Tallinn Old Town, Tallinn Legends offers an immersive journey through key events and places in the city’s medieval history. Theatrical and interactive experiences featuring actors, mechanical figures, and special effects bring the bygone city to life in dramatic and memorable ways ideal for families and history buffs.

Located on the right bank of the Pirita River, the Tallinn Botanic Garden (Tallinna Botaanikaaed) is the largest and most biodiverse botanic garden in the country. From its modern row of greenhouses—home to foreign, exotic, and local plant varietals—to the more than 6,000 plant species spread out across hundreds of acres, this botanic garden is perfect for plant enthusiasts and casual visitors alike.

Sagadi Manor (Sagadi Mois) has stood in what is now Lahemaa National Park for 500 years, dating from Estonia’s Baltic-German period. Having been restored to its former glory, the manor is now open to visitors who can explore the rooms and gardens while learning about its history and admiring its romantic architecture.