Not everyone has necessarily heard of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, a little(ish) country on the Baltic Sea. But everyone who has been lucky enough to visit Tallinn will likely rave about it! This charming, historical city, which happens to be a tech haven surrounded by pristine nature, very rarely disappoints any traveler.
So, if you’re asking yourself: “Is Tallinn worth visiting?” The answer is probably yes.
Of course, I believe in making informed decisions—and although it pains me to, because I love Tallinn so, I’ll go over a few reasons why some travelers may prefer not to visit Tallinn, along with 14 reasons to visit Tallinn.
Table of Contents
Why some travelers avoid Tallinn
It has long and dark winters
Tallinn is quite far north—not far from Finland, in fact—and therefore has the stereotypically long, dark winters of northern Europe. This means very few hours in the day with little sunlight, not to mention some gray skies and cold, wet weather (often with snow).
While this gives me all the cozy feelings, especially in December, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
You might get lost in translation
The Estonian language is a unique one! Part of a small language family, the Finno-Ugric family, Estonian stands out compared to much of Europe. Estonian’s closest relatives are Finland (not too surprising, as it’s just a hop across the Baltic to Helsinki) and Hungarian (random).
So, if you’re hoping your Slavic or Scandic language roots will help you in Estonia, don’t count on it! This means things may get lost in translation, so that is something to consider before you visit.
Of course, thanks to Estonia’s long history of Russian occupation, many do still speak Russian there. Is this a pro or a con? You decide.
It’s not the easiest to reach
Estonia, as previously discussed, is far north, and not the easiest to reach! With Russia on one border, Latvia on the other, and then the Baltic Sea, Tallinn is a bit out of the way for your typical European journey.
That doesn’t mean it’s not worth it, and you can easily get there from Helsinki, Finland with a short ferry ride—but definitely something else to keep in mind while you consider Estonia.
Why Tallinn is worth visiting
1. Tallinn is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe
Tallinn’s Old Town is known as one of the most well-preserved medieval cities in Europe.
Surrounded by the town walls (more on those later!), the center has essentially remained intact since the 13th century, despite various wars and sieges and the Iron Curtain. It probably goes without saying, but that means that Tallinn is ridiculously charming.
2. Tallinn’s Old Town is contained and walkable
Speaking of Old Town—not only is it charming and beautiful, but it’s also fairly small, and infinitely walkable.
You can enter Old Town through the historic Viru Gate, an opening in the old city walls. From there, many of the picturesque alleys and small streets lead to the gorgeous Old Town Square (Raekoja Plats), filled with cafes and shops, museums, and markets.
From the square, it’s an easy walk up Toompea Hill, the site of Estonia’s parliament (plus churches, a castle, ruins, and some killer views from the iconic Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform).
3. To walk along the ancient city walls
Yes, Tallinn’s medieval town walls are still intact, as well—and you can still walk on certain sections. The Walls of Tallinn not only give you a bird’s eye view of the beautiful Old Town, but also the rest of Tallinn, and even out to the Baltic Sea.
The only section open for tourists is located at Hellemann Tower, one of the historic observation towers that leads to the Town Wall Walkway.
4. For the sauna culture
Estonia, like much of northern Europe, has a long history of sauna culture (the first record of saunas in Estonia is in the 13th century). As you can imagine, Estonians take their sauna time seriously—and chances are, when you’re there, you’ll be able to partake in that sauna culture for yourself.
5. For the coastline and nearby islands
Estonia has over 2,000 islands dotting its coastline… I mean, who knew? Tallinn’s location right on the coast of the Baltic Sea gives easy access to these many wonderful islands, plus beaches and rocky coastlines.
Tallinn is also well-positioned and well-connected for points even further onward, like Helsinki, Stockholm, Riga, and St. Petersburg.
6. For the local, historical cafes
Tallinn has some seriously amazing cafes in the Old Town and scattered throughout the city. The oldest cafe in town, Maiasmokk, has been running for over 150 years, and serving delectable pastries and coffee for most of this time.
Besides the classic Maiasmokk, you’ll find cozy cafes in cellars, airy cafes with a fancier vibe, hipster cafes serving things like waffles, and basic eateries serving Estonian standards such as blood sausage or herring… In short, you’re guaranteed to find a cafe in Tallinn that you’ll love.
7. Estonian brown bread is delicious
Speaking of Estonian standard dishes, one of the most famous (and the best, in my opinion) is their rye bread, or brown bread. The Estonians have perfected the art of rye bread, if you ask me, which is often served with warm butter.
You can eat it at every meal if you wish, and you probably should, because you only live once and all that.
8. It’s surrounded by forests
Not only does Estonia have miles of coastline and islands, but it also has miles of forest. Around 50% of Estonia is forest, and visiting Tallinn means easy access to some of these pristine acres of woods. Pro tip: many of these forests also contain the best spas and saunas!
9. It’s easy to stay connected
Although it seems like it would be removed from the rest of the world, thanks to its location, Estonia is very connected.
Not only is the internet in Tallinn generally strong and reliable (and often easily found and/or free), but Tallinn is also home to internet giants like Skype.
Tallinn also pioneered one of the first digital nomad visas in Europe, so you know the internet has gotta be fast to support these new transplants/remote workers!
10. It has some of the cleanest air in the world
If you’ve ever lived in a place with air pollution, you know the impact it has on your lungs and breathing. While breathing the air in Tallinn, you can basically taste the freshness—and this is because the air is quite literally fresher.
The World Health Organization has consistently ranked Estonia as having some of the cleanest air in the world, and Estonia is also known for its approach to the environment and sustainability.
11. Tallinn has a magical Christmas season
Tallinn’s Christmas Market has been voted, several times, as one of the best in Europe! It’s not hard to see why—set in the already-magical Old Town Square, the addition of the lights and market booths, not to mention the giant tree, will make you burst at the seams with Christmas spirit.
And maybe burst a little from all of the delicious mulled wine (glogg in Estonian) and various eats and treats you’ll be imbibing.
12. Tallinn is where marzipan was invented (maybe)
The precise origin of marzipan, that unique European almond paste candy, is unknown—but Tallinn is one of the contenders as the site of the great marzipan origin story!
Whether Tallinn is where it was invented or not (although when in Estonia, you should probably go with yes), it does have a very long history of marzipan.
Marzipan was often prescribed to cure various ailments back in medieval times, which obviously isn’t the case anymore, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try as much as you can when in Tallinn.
13. To embrace medieval and Viking history
Experience Tallinn’s long and rich history, from the Vikings to the medieval times and to the Soviet occupation, for yourself!
Visit the Estonian History Museum or the Town Hall Pharmacy (the oldest continually running pharmacy in Europe, from the 1400s), Toompea Castle, or take a tour of a nearby Viking village.
14. To wander the charming cobbled streets
Once you step onto the cobbled streets of Old Town Tallinn, you’ll feel as if they’re taking you back in time.
Meander past 12th-century churches, along medieval city walls, up hills towards castles, and through tiny alleys that take you to markets that have been there for hundreds of years. Every new corner will bring a new surprise, a new cafe, a new piece of history or beauty to explore.
Conclusion
Now that you have all the facts about Tallinn (or at least some of the most important reasons for visiting), has your answer to “Is Tallinn worth visiting?” been answered? I hope so!
Traveling is individual to every person, of course, but most people who make it to Tallinn rarely have any regrets. And who could blame them?
Would you go to Tallinn? Have you been? If so, what else would you add to this list?
