The Top 10 Things To Do And See In Tallinn's Old Town

Raekoja Plats, or Town Hall Square in English, has been the heart of the Old Town for almost a millennium. Unsurprisingly, this is where visitors will find the Town Hall, a Gothic building with a tall spire dominating the square. The spire’s vane, depicting a soldier, is known as ‘Old Thomas’ and is one of the most important symbols of the city. Life bustles around this impressive building, with cafés and restaurants taking over the square as soon as the weather allows it, alongside occasional festivals and outdoor markets.

Toompea Hill is at the heart of Estonian history and legend but as far as we’re concerned one thing’s for sure: no visitor should leave Tallinn without making the climb from the lower Old Town. There, Tallinn’s most beautiful 18th- and 19th-century buildings overlook the rest, making for breath-taking panoramas stretching as far back as the sea. In particular, Toompea Castle, whose walls seem to be an extension of the hill, makes for an impressive sight from any angle. There are also viewing platforms here and there, from which visitors can admire the views and take pictures.

The 13th-century St. Nicholas’ Church now houses a branch of the Art Museum of Estonia. It features an enticing collection of medieval religious art, including Renaissance altars and chandeliers. It is also known for its excellent acoustics—there are organ concerts every Saturday and Sunday. But, more importantly, the church is also home to one of Tallinn’s most famous works of art, a large fragment of Bernt Notke’s masterpiece Danse Macabre. The whole artwork used to be found in St Mary’s Church in Lubeck but it was unfortunately destroyed during World War II, and even then it was only a copy of the original, also destroyed. Though the origin of the Tallinn fragment is unclear, it’s the last remaining copy of this masterpiece so don’t miss it.

Tallinn has beautiful architecture and culture but it’s also an active city with many bars and clubs. Most of the nightlife is concentrated in the Old Town, though the district of Kalamaja is gaining traction. For a city of its size, Tallinn has a lot to offer in terms of going out. Good bars include Labor, where drinks are served in test tubes and beakers, and trendy Red Emperor, but there are many, so don’t hesitate to explore. For clubbing, there’s everything from mainstream to underground. Check out, for instance, the iconic Club Studio.

Address: Laabor, Suur-Karja 10, Tallinn, Estonia, +372 5699 4160; Red Emperor Bar, Aia 10, Tallinn, Estonia, +372 608 7387; Club Studio, Sauna 1, Tallinn, Estonia, +372 5894 3261

The Old Town is full of great restaurants for all budgets—why not take advantage of a visit to discover Estonian cuisine? The popular Kuldse Notsu, or Golden Piglet in English, offers typical Estonian fare like homemade cheese and honey beer in a rustic setting. There’s also medieval Baltic cuisine at Olde Hansa and Kolmas Draakon, which both cook all their dishes according to historical recipes. Meat is a big part of Estonian cuisine but fortunately for vegetarians and vegans, the excellent Vegan Restoran V offers vegan contemporary Baltic cuisine.

Address: Golden Piglet Inn, Dunkri 8, Tallinn, Estonia, +372 628 6567; Olde Hansa, Vana Turg 1, Tallinn, Estonia, +372 627 9020; Kolmas Draakon, Raekoja Plats 1, Tallinn, Estonia, +372 627 9020; Vegan Restoran V, Rataskaevu 10, Tallinn, Estonia, +372 626 9087