Tallinn’s old town (or lower town) remains as active as it has always been, ever since the 13C when it teemed with merchants and artisans. Town Hall Square, the hub of Vanalinn, the fine medieval buildings, Hanseatic houses bearing witness to a rich ..

As the name suggests, this huge square is dominated by the imposing town hall, its bell tower (64m high) overlooking fine stone merchants’ houses built in the Middle Ages. Café terraces have today replaced the market stalls of bygone days, although a..

The Kohtu viewpoint offers one of the best views imaginable over the red roofs of the old town dotted by bell towers; beyond, the glass skyscrapers of new Tallinn act as a contrasting backdrop. In the distance, the view takes in the bay of Tallinn (a..

From the Patkula belvedere (n°5 on the street of the same name), visitors can enjoy a spectacular view over the ramparts surrounding the lower town.

Topped by triangular pediments, the houses of rich merchants during the Hanseatic period usually had façades that were narrow in relation to their height. The ground floor was given over to commercial business, while the living quarters were upstairs..

Behind the door of a fine old merchant’s residence is this museum full of treasures casting light on the lively history of Tallinn. Reconstructions of interiors and scenes from bygone everyday life, domestic objects, portraits of famous figures, post..

This long street runs through the old town from the north, where it begins with Fat Margaret’s tower (housing the Estonian Maritime Museum), through to the south where its main attractions lie in the form of buildings of great architectural interest ..

Surmounted by an elegant bell tower added in 1639, this church is recorded as early as 1319, making it the city’s oldest religious building. The twin nave interior is striking for its ancient ambience. It has a remarkable carved wood polychrome paint..

Built thanks to German merchants in the 13C and remodelled in the 15C, the church of St Nicholas is one of the great buildings in Tallinn’s old town. Despite extensive damage during the Red Army bombardment in 1944, it has preserved treasures of reli..

The nucleus of Tallinn and seat of Estonian government, the upper town of Toompea dominates from its hilltop location. Aristocratic residences line its little medieval streets, giving it a genteel calm which contrasts with the bustle of the lower tow..

The earliest church in Estonia (1240), the cathedral was destroyed by the fire which ravaged the district in 1684. It was rebuilt in the Baroque style and further enhanced by the addition of a bell tower in 1779. The interior has a fine array of Baro..

The elegant rooms of Kadriorg palace house a remarkable collection of foreign art. On the first floor is Flemish art (portrait by Franz Pourbus the Younger and two works by Peter Breughel the Younger, plus Delft ceramics), Dutch art (portraits by J..

For art lovers, a visit to KUMU is a must, presenting as it does the leading names in Estonian art (both artists and sculptors) from the 18C to the present day. Comprising some remarkable works, the collections are displayed in a building opened in 2..

The Estonian countryside in miniature… It features traditional houses rescued from around the country to be reconstructed on this site, and costumed actors recreating daily life from bygone days. There is something here to delight children and adults..

While Riga is undoubtedly the great Art Nouveau city of the Baltic, Tallinn is justly proud of two remarkable buildings typifying this early 20C architectural movement. The creators responsible for them were Riga-born architect Jacques Rosenbaum and ..

This museum is a must for those wishing to understand Estonian history from the prehistoric period to the late 18C… models, artefacts from archaeological excavations and other informative exhibits are on show in the prestigious setting of the Great G..

This museum covers this expansive subject of decorative arts and design in Estonia since the early 20C. It houses over 13 000 objects including works in leather, textiles, porcelain, ceramics, glassware… With objects by designers completing the pictu..

Running along the left of Gümnaasiumi (and the two successive streets Kooli and Laboratooriumi) is a long section of the medieval ramparts which once encircled the lower town. In total 1.8km of walls survive, together with around 20 of the 46 towers ..

This defensive tower was built in the late 15C to withstand the fiercest attacks. At a thickness of 4m and a height of 38m, its walls constitute a bastion of unparalleled strength. It owes its name, literally “look in the kitchen”, to the fact that t..

The Orthodox cathedral of Alexander Nevski dates from the end of the 19C, and dominates the city from the summit of Toompea hill. Very much Russian in inspiration, its imposing dimensions are in stark contrast to the medieval surroundings of the old ..