Tallinn in 24 hours - Touring the Baltics Part 1/3

For all my travels across Europe, the Baltics states had eluded me. So with a short 3 day break upcoming, I decided to give them a visit…all 3 of them in 3 days! First stop, Tallinn, Estonia.

Getting there:

Plane: As it is a capital city, Tallinn is very accessible and has an international airport, connected to both major and budget airlines.

I took a Wizz Air flight from London to Tallinn.

Side note: my flight was significantly delayed leaving me with very limited time in Tallinn (thanks Wizz Air!).

Time to visit:

April or September.

I travelled at the beginning of April and the weather was relatively cool but not freezing, 10-12° C, during the day, and 6-8° C in the evening. It gets very cold during the winters which has its own charm, but I can see the challenges of exploring it in below freezing conditions.

Things to do:

Given my limited time, my trip was centred around the medieval Old Town of Tallinn, Vanalinn. From its iconic churches and cathedrals to the picturesque viewpoints, there is a lot to do in Tallinn and I really had to prioritise where to go.

Luckily, the main attractions are near each other and can easily be covered by foot (more details in the suggested itinerary below).

Where to stay:

I would recommend staying near the Old Town, and though I only did a day trip, I did stop by to check out the Hestia Hotel Barons in the Old Town, which looked like a good three star option.

(Disclaimer: this is not sponsored).

Tallinn in (less than) a day suggested itinerary:

9:00am: Start at the Old Town Square, Raekoja Plats and enjoy a coffee or breakfast at one of the many cafes in the area whilst enjoying a view of the Town Hall.

10:00am: Make your way to the Aleksander Nevsky Cathedral, Tallinn’s most iconic Cathedral, it is a short walk from the Old Town Square.

11:00am: Warm up for a mini hike to the many viewpoints of Tallinn, my personal favourite was the Kohtuotsa viewing platform that has a great view of the Old Town. The Patkuli viewing platform is a short walk from there so if you have made the effort you might as well check that out too but it was not as impressive as Kohtuotsa.

View from the Kohtuotsa viewing platform.

1:00pm: Not had enough of viewpoints? Then head to the Toompea Hill for more breathtaking views of the city, followed by a trip to the Toompea Castle.

3:00pm: A quick stop at the impressive Freedom Square, just at the edge of the Old Town.

Beyond this, there is a lot more to do in Tallinn, like St. Olaf’s Church and the Balti Jaam Market, but thanks to my time constraints I could only do a whistle stop tour of the city and was off to the bus stop for my next destination.

Tips and what you should know:

Currency: The local currency is Euro, and the usage of cards is very common, even the souvenir shops. I literally did not spend a single euro in cash.

Cost: It is at par with most European cities, excluding London and Paris. A decent meal is around €10-12, you will definitely get better value for money if you eat outside the Old Town.
Language: Most people speak English and it is not a problem at all.
Transport: If you visit for a short period and only do the main sites, they can easily be covered on foot. There are buses but I did not use them. Taxi’s and apps like Uber and Bolt are very available.

Final Verdict on Tallinn:

It is a great place for short weekend break if you’re some Old Town vibes and hang out at some nice bars and cafes.

I would love to visit again in more detail but beyond a couple of days, I do not think these is much to do, unless you go on to explore Estonia beyond Tallinn.