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Looking for Flights to Tallinn?
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Flights to Tallinn: Explore the Capital of Estonia
Tallinn is the capital of Estonia, located on the Baltic Sea, and it feels like a journey into the Middle Ages. Tallinn, Estonia’s largest city with around 430,000 residents, is located on the Gulf of Finland, approximately 50 miles from Helsinki. It is the largest city in the country, where you pay with the Euro. The city is best known for its Old Town, which is the best-preserved medieval city center in all of Northern Europe. With its cobblestone streets, churches, and historic city walls, it creates a unique atmosphere for your Tallinn vacations!
The Old Town, with its impressive defensive walls still well-preserved, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The oldest streets and buildings there date back to the 11th century. Tallinn is a compact city with numerous cultural and historical offerings and plenty of attractions for visitors.
Getting to Tallinn
There are several options for getting to Tallinn. You can travel by plane, ferry, bus, or car.
Several airlines offer flights to Tallinn from cities like Los Angeles and New York. Flights land at Tallinn Lennart Meri Airport, located about 2.5 miles from the city center.
Tallinn travel by ferry takes much longer from a neighboring city — about 28 hours — but it’s a popular option because you can enjoy stunning views of the Baltic Sea and its coasts.
Alternatively, if you are already traveling nearby, you can take a long-distance bus, for example, from Berlin. This journey can take over 35 hours, depending on your departure point. If you’re not a fan of flying or crossing the sea, this option is a good choice.
Driving your own car is another option, though the journey is long. You’ll travel through several countries — Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia — giving you the opportunity to make short stops as you like.
Best Time for Tallinn Flights
The late spring months and summer are ideal for booking Tallinn flights and Tallinn hotels. Due to the continental, cool-temperate climate, late autumn and winter bring snow and freezing temperatures, with only a few hours of daylight. In June, around midsummer, the city enjoys long days with mild evenings.
Another highlight is the Tallinn Medieval Days, which take place every July. During this event, the Town Hall Square turns into a medieval marketplace where traders and artists meet. While actors and musicians entertain visitors, children can try archery or attend a knight school.
For those who visit Tallinn in November, despite the cold temperatures, the St. Martin’s Market is not to be missed. The largest craft and folk event in Estonia is held annually on the weekend closest to St. Martin’s Day.
How Long Should You Book Hotels in Tallinn?
For your city trip to Tallinn, we recommend hotels in Tallinn for at least two full days, but ideally three or four. This gives you enough time to visit the main attractions and soak in the atmosphere of the city. Especially if you have a long journey, such as by ferry, or plan to take additional trips from Tallinn, you should allow plenty of time for travel.
Must-Do Activities on Tallinn Vacations
Whether you’re looking for delicious meals, shopping till you drop, or experiencing Tallinn’s nightlife, there’s plenty to do in Estonia’s capital. Here are some of the best tips for your city trip to Tallinn.
Shopping
Shopping fans will find Tallinn to be a paradise. The city has a wide variety of galleries and shops where you can purchase handmade art, ranging from clothing to jewelry, ceramics, and even furniture. Unique designs are guaranteed. Fashionable clothing, shoes, and accessories can be found in the Old Town, the Rotermann Quarter, and in the large shopping centers. A full day of shopping is definitely in order!
Pirate tip: Visit the St. Catherine’s Passage in the Old Town. Here, you can see medieval workshops where artisans make glass and ceramic works, jewelry, textiles, and more. Afterward, you can buy your favorite pieces.
Food and drink
Hearty, robust, and rustic — this describes Estonian cuisine quite well. It’s not too far from traditional German home cooking. Estonian specialties include head cheese, stuffed cabbage rolls, and blood sausage. Pork and beef roasts, as well as elk meat stews, are also very popular. Various potato dishes often accompany the meals.
For traditional Estonian food, visit Eesti Maja near the Old Town. If you’re looking for a medieval experience, head to Olde Hansa, where you can enjoy rustic meals and watch servers dressed in medieval attire bring dishes like elk and mead.
Not a fan of Estonian food? No problem! Many restaurants and cafés in Tallinn serve international cuisine, including Italian, Asian, sushi, and steak.
Museums
Culture enthusiasts will love Tallinn’s many museums. The Kumu Art Museum is the largest and most modern art museum in the Baltic states and one of Northern Europe’s most important museums. Opened in 2006, it focuses on Estonian art.
Another cultural highlight is the Open-Air Museum, which offers a glimpse into the rural life of Estonia in the 18th and 19th centuries. The museum features 14 historic farmhouses, a church, a pub, a school, a shop, and more — just like a real village.
Interested in ships and ports? Don’t miss the Seafaring Museum, where you can learn about the history of navigation, fishing, and shipbuilding, as well as view over a hundred ship models.
Nightlife
If you want to party in Tallinn, you’re in luck. The city has numerous clubs that promise exciting nights. Popular nightclubs, usually open on Fridays and Saturdays, include:
Privé
Vabank
Club Hollywood
Venus
These clubs are located in or around the Old Town and primarily play current hits, with Privé offering more electronic music for a younger crowd. For a more alternative experience, head to the hip Telliskivi district, where you’ll find bars and clubs with a unique vibe. If you prefer a relaxing drink, check out one of the chic cocktail bars in the area.
Day trips
If you’ve planned an extra day or two for your Tallinn vacation, consider taking a day trip to Helsinki. The Finnish capital is just under 56 miles away, and it’s no surprise that ferries between the two cities are some of the most popular international routes.
The crossing takes about two hours. If you leave early in the morning, you’ll have the whole day to explore Helsinki. Visit the Suomenlinna fortress, the Senate Square with its impressive cathedral, and the famous protected market hall. In the evening, take the ferry back to Tallinn.
Alternatively, a sailing tour around Tallinn Bay offers fantastic views of the city from the water.
Ultimate Tip
A must-do during Tallinn vacations is to take a walk through the Old Town, Vanillin, the oldest part of the city. Built in the 13th and 14th centuries, it’s incredibly well-preserved and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997. You’ll experience more medieval charm here than anywhere else in Tallinn.
The Old Town is divided into two parts: the higher Domberg and the lower Lower Town. Both areas are home to important landmarks, including the Tallinn Cathedral and the Old Town Hall. The famous Tallinn City Wall, 1.15 miles long and still boasting 26 of its original more than 40 towers, runs between the two sections. One of these towers, the Fat Margaret, has a diameter of nearly 80 feet.
Attractions in Tallinn
In addition to the many historical buildings in the Old Town, Tallinn offers other attractions. Notable sights include the 1,030-foot-high TV Tower, which offers views of the Finnish coast on clear days.
Also worth seeing is the Katharinental Castle in the Kadriorg district, built by Peter the Great for Catherine I.
Other popular tourist spots are the Tallinn Seaplane Harbour Lennusadam and the trendy creative hub, Telliskivi, located in a former industrial complex at the borders of the Kalmaja and Pelgulinna neighborhoods. Here, you’ll find studios, galleries, design shops, and restaurants, and there’s a flea market every Saturday.
Let the medieval atmosphere enchant you, and discover the historic Baltic metropolis on your city trip to Tallinn!
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