Tallinn is a city with fairy-tale medieval surrounds, rich history and plenty of unique and amazing sights. Whether you want to relax in style or explore and learn, Tallinn is an ideal European city break.
Taking a day trip to Tallinn from Helsinki is the perfect way to visit this beautiful city if you are short on time. Tallinn is also a great option for a longer stay. You’ll find as you read along that there are more than enough activities to keep you occupied for a weekend break or more.
Whether you plan to catch the ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn on your own or you’re looking to book an organised Tallinn day trip, read on to find all of my top recommendations below.
This guide will show you how to get to Tallinn, where to catch the best views, find the top attractions and eat the tastiest food. Make the most of your day trip to Tallinn from Helsinki by knowing exactly what to do in Tallinn before you even arrive.
Toompea Hill from the top of St. Olaf’s Tower
Table of Contents
Day Trip to Tallinn from Helsinki – How to Spend One Day in Tallinn
Best Tallinn Activities
Before we dive into the best way to spend one day in Tallinn, I would recommend checking out these popular Tallinn activities.
Tallinn Walking Tour
One of the best things to do when visiting a new city is taking a walking tour to learn some history first hand from a local guide.
This popular walking tour is the perfect intro to Tallinn and lasts anywhere between 2-6 hours. It will aim to show you the very best of Tallinn through the eyes of a local.
Your guide will take you to the best landmarks and attractions around the Old Town while providing you with fascinating stories and insider’s tips along the way.
➤Find tour prices and availability here
The view from Patkuli platform
Old Town Tallinn
In 1997 the Old Town of Tallinn became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe!
Tallinn’s Old Town is actually divided into two separate areas, the lower town and the upper town (also known as Toompea). They were once considered to be two completely different cities.
Both sections of the Old Town can easily be explored by foot in one day. When visiting Tallinn on a day trip from Helsinki, you will have no trouble covering all of the top sites.
Sometimes getting lost is the best way to see a new place! When we first arrived in Tallinn, we did just that. Explore the many twisting cobblestone side streets and cute squares. From almost any angle you will find great views of the town’s church towers and beautiful facades.
Early morning at the Town Hall Square
Town Hall Square
The heart of the Old Town and a place you that will usually find bustling with tourists (unless you wake up early). It’s right here that you will find Tallinn’s 13th century town hall and its massive tower. It happens to be the oldest town hall building in the entire Scandinavian region!
Beautiful medieval buildings and outdoor restaurants surround the square. It’s the perfect place to relax with a drink in the afternoon and take in the atmosphere from one of the many patios. There are plenty of events and medieval festivals held here throughout the year.
If you’re lucky enough to visit Tallinn around Christmas time, this is where you will find the famous markets. Hundreds of stalls brighten up the square surrounding a large Christmas tree. This is one of the best Christmas Markets in Europe and it takes place every year from Nov 24th – Jan 7th.
Tallinn Town Hall Square
Defensive Walls
Talk a walk along part of the city’s well-preserved 13th century fortifications and explore the insides of its towers. You can access one part of the wall through the Kiek in de Kok Museum.
Other sections of the wall are accessible from the north entrance to the Old Town, find the exact location here. The other is from the Hellmann Tower near the west gate.
From the town walls you’ll get a great view over the city and learn a little bit about the history as you go. To enter the fortifications, it costs €3 per person.
Toompea Hill
This large limestone hill sits high above the rest of Tallinn and features buildings that date to the 13th century. For centuries, there have been fortifications and towers here, defending the city from attacks.
Toompea is also known as the “upper old town” and it is home to some of the most beautiful and iconic buildings in Tallinn. This area is an absolute must-see on your day trip to Tallinn. You will likely spend a large portion of your day exploring this area.
Due to a devastating fire in the 17th century, most of the buildings of Toompea had to be replaced. You’ll notice that the buildings are newer and have a different appearance from the rest of Tallinn.
This is where you will find Toompea Castle and the majestic Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. There are various viewing platforms offering spectacular views over the Old Town.
Toompea Castle
Toompea Castle
Although it is no longer a proper castle, this building has been the seat of power in Estonia for centuries. Built on a hilltop overlooking the city below, this beautiful castle is currently used to house the Estonian parliament.
The building dates back to the 13th century but has seen many changes and renovations to its appearance over the years. From the front, you’ll see a lovely pink palace however the back of the building resembles an early medieval castle.
If you want to visit the inside of Toompea Castle you must book a guided tour in advance. On our day trip to Tallinn, we simply passed by the front to admire the castle and snap a few photos.
Find more information on booking a free guided tour of the castle at the official website.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
This stunning example of Russian Orthodox architecture dates from 1900, when Estonia was part of the Russian Empire.
The massive and richly decorated cathedral with its onion domes is one of the largest Orthodox cathedrals in the world. It’s easily the most impressive church I’ve ever seen!
When we first saw the cathedral mid-day, it was completely crowded with tourists. We knew the only way we could really appreciate its grandeur was to return first thing the next morning.
If you want to see this amazing church with minimal crowds, I would recommend heading there by 8am. Entrance to the cathedral is free for those who are interested to have a look inside.
Opening Hours – 7am-7pm daily
Tickets – Free entry
St Olav’s Church and Tower
Tallinn’s largest and tallest medieval building can be found within the lower Old Town. This beautiful Gothic church and its 124 metre tower date back to the 13th century. During the medieval times, this tower was actually considered the tallest in the world!
From April to October you can climb the steep and narrow winding staircase to the top of St Olaf’s Church tower. From here you can admire a spectacular panoramic view of Tallinn’s Old Town and Toompea Hill.
Climbing the 232 steps to the viewing platform may be a challenge but the view makes it worth the effort! Find more info about opening hours and updated ticket prices by visiting this website.
Opening Hours – 10am – 6pm daily
Tickets – €5/adult, free/child
Town Hall Square, Tallinn Estonia
Find the Best Viewpoints in Tallinn
Toompea’s many viewing platforms offer a variety of breath-taking views over Tallinn’s lower Old Town. To capture the best views of Toompea Hill, head to St. Olav’s Church and climb the tower.
- Patkuli Viewing Platform – Climb up the 157 steps from the Old Town to arrive at this viewing platform. From the top you will see beautiful views over the red-tiled rooftops as well as Tallinn’s new city and its high rises. You’ll get a good view of the city walls from this angle. From this point, you can also begin exploring the rest of Toompea.
- Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform – Head here after Patkuli platform as it’s also situated on Toompea Hill. This viewing platform is a large terrace where you’ll take in perfect views over the entire city, with the Gulf of Finland in the background.
- Kiek in de Kök Tower– It’s definitely worthwhile to explore this tower, which offers some great views of the city, harbour and Toompea. Learn about Tallinn’s history while browsing through the many historic weapons on display inside the tower. The ticket also allows access to several other towers.
- St. Olav’s Church Tower – One of the best views in town, this cannot be missed on your day trip to Tallinn! This was my favourite view of Tallinn as you can really take in the entire essence of this special place.
Peeking out at the Old Town from inside the Kiek in de Kök Tower
Eat Lunch at a Medieval Tavern
For all the foodies out there, you are in luck! Tallinn’s restaurant scene has plenty of amazing dining choices. You’ll find everything from traditional medieval pubs to fine dining and modern European cuisine.
There’s also a decent selection of places offering delicious vegetarian and plant-based options. You’ll have more choices than you know what to do with when it comes to finding a place to eat.
You can’t day trip to Tallinn and not try one of its many traditional, medieval taverns. They should be high on your list when it comes to picking out a place to eat!
Olde Hansa!
Great Cuisine:
- Vegan Restoran V – Coming in at #3 on TripAdvisor, this gem offers many vegan and vegetarian options. Make sure to book it ahead of time as it’s very popular and not very big.
- Rataskaevu 16 – We got in too late to eat here as it had already booked out for the evening. According to TripAdvisor, this is Tallinn’s #1 restaurant and it’s a short walk from the Town Hall Square. Rataskaevu 16 serves Scandinavian, International, and Eastern European cuisine. It’s also vegetarian and vegan friendly and offers gluten-free options.
Traditional Experiences:
- III Draakon – This place is a must! The food here wasn’t incredible but it’s totally worth it just for the atmosphere and medieval vibes. Located under the Town Hall building, this is a small medieval-themed tavern. Everything about this place is true to the times, from the menu to the quirky bar-maids.
- Olde Hansa – Another traditional restaurant full of character and charm. It’s a little more expensive, but you’re paying for more than just a meal. The venue is candle lit and has medieval music playing in the background. The staff are all dressed the part as they serve traditional Hanseatic dishes. This place is a bit touristy, but it’s worth it to go for one meal.
Quick Bites:
- Kompressor – We stopped in here for a quick lunch to break up our sightseeing day. For €7-8 you can choose one of their many delicious and super filling pancakes to fuel the rest of your day’s explorations. I had the tomato, feta and pesto pancake and it was one of the best meals I had on our day trip to Tallinn!
Town Hall Square early in the morning
Spending Longer Than One Day in Tallinn?
Perhaps you have more time to spend in Tallinn and are seeking some additional activities. From museums to day trips, below are some great things to check out in and around the city.
Tallinn Food Tour
Taste the traditional flavours of Estonia on a guided food and drinks tour of Tallinn. This 3 hour tour will educate you about the history of Estonian cuisine while tasting a variety of drinks, dishes and desserts.
Get off the tourist track and discover some local favourite restaurants where you’ll find a more authentic dining experience. The food tour includes drinks, food and a local tour guide. See more detailed info at the link below.
➤Find tour prices and availability here
Lennusadam Seaplane Harbour Museum
Learn all about maritime history in the Baltics by visiting this informative and highly rated museum in Tallinn. Walk through a large submarine from the 1930’s and explore a large collection of exhibits that will take you back through time.
One of the many highlights of this maritime museum is seeing a sunken ship from the 16th century. You can find Lennusadam on the harbour of Tallinn, outside of the Old Town. To get there, take the bus 73 and get off at the “Lennusadam” stop.
Opening Hours – 10am – 6pm daily (closed on Mondays)
Tickets – €15/adult, €8/child
Kadriorg Art Museum
The Kadriorg Art Museum is housed within a gorgeous 18th century palace surrounded by manicured gardens. This is the only museum in the country that features early European and Russian paintings and sculptures.
This is a great addition to your Tallinn itinerary if you’re