Tourism in Tallinn

There is a wide range of tourist attractions and sights to appreciate in Tallinn. If you want to see what life was like in the past, you will have to tour the Old Town protected by fortified walls. There are many great places to explore while you learn about the rich history in Tallinn. Outside the walls you will find modern attractions that are perfect for visitors of all ages. The mixture of preserving yesterday’s heritage while progressing into tomorrow’s ideas make Tallinn a wonderful place to experience.

Old Town

Pass through the two towers of the 14th century Viru Gates to enter the famous Old Town. You will want to pick up a free map to help navigate around the winding cobblestone streets for directions to the best attractions. The most important part of the Old Town Tallinn is the Town Hall Square. You will find the stunning Town Hall Building, one of the longest running pharmacies in the world as well as the best places to eat. Monumental religious sites scattered in Old Town include St. Olav’s Church, Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Nicholas’ Church. Their spires poke high into the sky and are visible from many places throughout the city. Walk to the top of upper Old Town to see the Toompea Castle. It is now the home of Estonia’s Parliament and features the 50 meter high Hermann’s Tower. From the top of the hill, you can get an unbeatable view of the lower Old Town and the modern business district of Tallinn. There are countless other ways to enjoy the interior of the city walls including climbing the iconic lookout towers, watching historical reenactments, purchasing unique souvenirs or just strolling the quaint medieval streets.

New Town

As impressive as the Old Town is, modern Tallinn is on the brink of being a major player in the world economy. There are skyscraping buildings and high tech shopping centers all over. Tallinn is known throughout the world as being a huge contributor in telecommunications with the invention of Skype Internet Phone and a society that is almost totally integrated by cellular communications. Their advancement in mobile phone and internet technology has earned the country the nickname of E-stonia.

Head for the center of the business district and enjoy a meal at a new age restaurant before or after you go shopping in the multi-functional retail centers. Gaze at the impressive high-rise buildings and ponder the difference between the new and the old parts of Tallinn.

The Tallinn Zoo is located on the outskirts of the city occupying a huge area and housing tons of animals. The price of admission is very reasonable, especially considering the immense population and diversity of animals. If you want to be better informed about the Estonian culture, you should stop into the Kumu Art Museum. It has recently moved into a new building and boasts a large collection of historical and contemporary artwork. In 2008, the Kumu Art Museum was selected as the European Museum of the Year.