3 Days in Tallinn: The Walking Route I'd Do Again
Updated: 2 days ago
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I took the ferry over from Helsinki and arrived in Tallinn on a Thursday afternoon. I had the rest of that day, one full day, and a slow last morning before I left around noon. Honestly, 3 days in Tallinn, with a half day on each end, turned out to be the perfect amount. The Old Town is small enough to walk end to end, and I still had time for the creative side of the city outside the walls.
Everything on this route is walkable. The only ride I took was a Bolt from the ferry terminal to my hotel. This is the exact order I'd do it again.
My 3 Days in Tallinn at a Glance
Day 1: Old Town afternoon
16:00 Viru Gate
Optional Museum of Medieval Torture Instruments
16:20 St Catherine's Passage
16:40 St Peter and St Paul's Cathedral
17:00 Banned Books Museum
17:35 Town Hall Square
18:00 Olde Hansa (optional dinner)
18:50 St Nicholas' Church (Niguliste)
19:15 Danish King's Garden
Day 2: Upper Town, viewpoints, Telliskivi and Kalamaja
10:00 Toompea Castle
10:20 Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
10:40 Kohtuotsa viewing platform
11:00 Patkuli viewing platform
11:25 Nunne Park
11:40 Pikk Street
12:00 Three Sisters
12:10 Fat Margaret and the Great Coastal Gate
12:20 St Olaf's Church
12:50 Lunch at Balti Jaama Turg
13:45 Telliskivi Creative City
14:35 Coffee at Fotografiska
15:30 Kalamaja
16:10 Lennusadam Seaplane Harbour and Suur Tõll
Day 3: slow last morning
10:00 Pierre Chocolaterie
10:35 Raeapteek
11:00 Oma Asi
11:30 Rotermann Quarter
Want this as a PDF with every stop, address and opening hours? Download my free Tallinn itinerary PDF, or comment TALLINN on my Tallinn post on Instagram @tarrylaurensia and I'll send it to you.
Getting From Helsinki to Tallinn by Ferry
I came in on the Tallink ferry from Helsinki (here's my full ferry guide), which took about 2 hours. It's the easiest way into Tallinn if you're already in Finland. I compared ferry times and prices on Omio, where you can see the different ferry companies side by side and book in a few taps.
My ferry arrived at Terminal D. From there I took a Bolt to my hotel in the Old Town, since I had my luggage with me. If you're flying in instead, you can check flights to Tallinn on Booking.com.
Day 1 in Tallinn: An Afternoon in the Old Town
Viru Gate
Start at Viru Gate, the two stone towers that mark the entrance to the Old Town. It's one of the most photographed spots in Tallinn and a nice way to say "okay, I'm here". Give it 15 minutes for photos.
Optional: Museum of Medieval Torture Instruments
Right next to the gate at Viru 4 is a small museum about medieval punishment. It's open daily from 11:00 to 19:00 and has an entry fee. If you like the darker side of history, add about 30 minutes here. If not, skip it and keep walking.
St Catherine's Passage
A few minutes away is St Catherine's Passage, a narrow lane with old stone walls, tombstones on the wall and small artisan workshops. It's one of the prettiest corners of the Old Town, so walk it slowly.
St Peter and St Paul's Cathedral
On Vene Street you'll find Tallinn's Catholic cathedral. It looks completely different from the Gothic churches around it, with a clean neoclassical front. Opening hours inside change with services, so I'd treat it as a quick photo stop.
Banned Books Museum
This one is small but really interesting. It's an independent museum about books that were banned, censored or burned around the world. Entry is free, with donations welcome. It's only open Wednesday to Friday 14:00 to 18:00 and Saturday 11:00 to 18:00, so plan your day around it.
Town Hall Square
Five minutes away is the heart of the Old Town. The Gothic Town Hall sits in the middle, surrounded by colourful merchant houses and café terraces. Grab a spot, look around, and give it 20 minutes.
Olde Hansa (Optional Dinner)
If you want a full medieval moment, Olde Hansa is right by the square. Think candlelight, staff in costume and Hanseatic-style food. It's a fun dinner if you're into it, but totally optional. I skipped it myself.
St Nicholas' Church (Niguliste)
Niguliste is a medieval church that's now a museum of religious art, famous for the Danse Macabre painting by Bernt Notke. The museum is open daily 10:00 to 18:00 in summer, so on this route you'll be seeing it from the outside. If you want to go in, swap it to the start of Day 2.
Danish King's Garden
End your first day in this small garden on the slope of Toompea. Legend says the Danish flag fell from the sky near here in 1219. Look out for the three hooded monk statues, then walk along the old town walls.
If you'd feel more comfortable seeing the Old Town with a guide on your first day, you can join a walking tour and book it online through GetYourGuide.
Day 2 in Tallinn: Viewpoints, Telliskivi and Kalamaja
Toompea Castle
Start your full day up on Toompea hill, the Upper Town. The pink building is Toompea Castle, which is home to the Estonian Parliament today. A photo from outside is enough.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Right across the square is the Orthodox cathedral with the onion domes, finished in 1900. It's free to enter and open daily from 8:00 to 18:00. Go inside, it's beautiful.
Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform
This is the postcard view of Tallinn: red rooftops, church spires and the modern skyline behind them. Come in the morning before the tour groups arrive and you'll have more space for photos.
Patkuli Viewing Platform
A short walk away, Patkuli gives you a different angle over the towers and city walls, with the harbour in the distance. This was my favourite view of the whole trip.
Nunne Park
From Patkuli it's about a 10-minute walk to Nunne Park, a green stretch along the old walls and towers. It's a quiet little break before you head back into the Old Town streets.
Pikk Street
Pikk is the long merchant street that runs from the Upper Town down to the sea gate. It's lined with old guild houses. Look out for the little corner houses along the way, they make great photos.
Three Sisters
At the end of Pikk Street are the Three Sisters, three matching medieval merchant houses standing side by side. It's a quick stop, about 10 minutes.
Fat Margaret and the Great Coastal Gate
One minute further down Pikk Street you'll reach Fat Margaret, a chunky 16th-century cannon tower right next to the Great Coastal Gate, the old sea entrance to the city. It's free to see from outside, and the Estonian Maritime Museum is inside if you want to go in. Give it about 10 minutes.
St Olaf's Church
Three minutes from Fat Margaret is St Olaf's Church. Its spire once made it one of the tallest buildings in the world. The church is free, the tower climb is paid, and it's open daily 10:00 to 18:00 from April to October.
Lunch at Balti Jaama Turg
Walk about 12 to 15 minutes out of the Old Town to Balti Jaama Turg, the market next to the main train station. Downstairs and upstairs you'll find food stalls, local produce and vintage shops. I was craving something warm, so I had a bowl of ramen, and it hit the spot. It's open Monday to Saturday 9:00 to 19:00 and Sunday 9:00 to 17:00.
Telliskivi Creative City
Just behind the station is Telliskivi, a set of old factory and railway buildings turned into a creative district. Murals, design shops, galleries and cafés. It's free to walk around, so give it 30 to 45 minutes.
Coffee at Fotografiska
Fotografiska is a photography museum inside Telliskivi, and its café makes a great coffee break. You don't need an exhibition ticket for the café. I had an iced americano and a pastry that tasted like okonomiyaki. Weird combo, really good.
Kalamaja
From Fotografiska, it's about a 16-minute walk into Kalamaja, the neighbourhood famous for its colourful wooden houses. Wander the side streets like Vana-Kalamaja, Kalju and Kungla. People live here, so keep it calm and quiet.
Lennusadam Seaplane Harbour and Suur Tõll
Finish the day at Lennusadam, a 10-minute walk from Kalamaja. It's the maritime museum inside historic seaplane hangars by the water. Inside you'll find ships, a submarine and seaplanes, and the ticket also covers Suur Tõll, the 1914 steam icebreaker moored right outside. It's open daily 10:00 to 19:00 from May to September, and ticket sales stop 30 minutes before closing. Give yourself at least an hour. You can get your tickets ahead on Klook so you can walk straight in.
Day 3: A Slow Last Morning in Tallinn
Pierre Chocolaterie
Start your last morning at Pierre, a cosy chocolate café hidden in the Masters' Courtyard on Vene Street. It opens at 10:00. I had a hot chocolate and a Cointreau cake. Perfect way to say goodbye to Tallinn.
Raeapteek, the Town Hall Pharmacy
Back on Town Hall Square is Raeapteek, one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe, here since at least 1422 and still working today. There's a small free exhibition inside. It's open Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 18:00 and closed on Sunday.
Oma Asi
For souvenirs that aren't a fridge magnet, Oma Asi on Viru Street sells Estonian and international design: jewellery, ceramics and clothes. It opens at 11:00 on weekends.
Rotermann Quarter
End just outside the Old Town in the Rotermann Quarter, an old industrial area turned modern, with restored factories, new architecture, shops and cafés. It's a nice contrast after two days of medieval streets. From here it's easy to head to the port.
Where to Stay in Tallinn
I stayed inside the Old Town, and I'd recommend it if it's your first time. You can walk to almost every stop on this route, and the Old Town looks so pretty in the evening. You can compare hotels in Tallinn Old Town on Agoda and pick one close to Viru Gate or Town Hall Square.
Staying Connected: eSIM for Estonia
Set up your data before you get on the ferry so you can book a Bolt and open your maps the moment you arrive. I'd get an eSIM through Saily, which works across Estonia and the rest of Europe, so it covers you if you're doing a Baltic trip like me.
Tallinn Tips Before You Go
Wear comfy shoes. The Old Town is all cobblestones and the Upper Town is uphill.
Check opening days. The Banned Books Museum is closed Sunday to Tuesday, and Raeapteek is closed on Sunday.
Do the viewpoints in the morning, before the tour groups fill them up.
Lennusadam stops selling tickets 30 minutes before closing, so don't arrive last minute.
Estonia uses the euro, and cards are accepted almost everywhere.
Most of the Old Town stops are free. You'll mostly pay for food, coffee and the museums you choose.
Is 3 Days in Tallinn Enough?
For a first visit, yes. 3 days in Tallinn gave me the whole Old Town, the best viewpoints, Telliskivi, Kalamaja and Seaplane Harbour without rushing. If you want more museums or a day trip outside the city, add one more full day. But if Tallinn is one stop on a longer Baltic or Nordic trip, this route covers the best of it.
Tallinn Travel FAQ
How many days do you need in Tallinn?
Three days, with a half day on each end, is enough to see the Old Town, the Upper Town viewpoints and the creative areas like Telliskivi and Kalamaja. One day works if you only stay in the Old Town.
How do you get from Helsinki to Tallinn?
The ferry is the easiest way. Several companies sail between Helsinki and Tallinn every day, and you can compare them on Omio.
Is Tallinn walkable?
Very. Everything on this route is on foot. The longest walks are from the Old Town to Balti Jaama Turg (12 to 15 minutes) and from Fotografiska into Kalamaja (about 16 minutes).
Is Tallinn Old Town free to visit?
Yes. Walking the Old Town, the viewpoints and most churches from the outside is free. Museums like Lennusadam and Niguliste, and the St Olaf's tower climb, are paid.
Want the whole route in your pocket? Grab the free Tallinn 3-day PDF. Coming from Finland? Read my Helsinki in one day route and how I took the Helsinki to Tallinn ferry. Next stop on my trip is Riga. Questions? Message me on Instagram @tarrylaurensia.
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