Things to experience

Tallinn is known to have the best preserved medieval city in Northern Europe boasting Gothic spires, winding cobblestone streets and enchanting architecture. I particularly love the view from the castle of Toompea, near the town wall, and the tower of Paks Margareta. Old Town is very easy to navigate, so if you start at Viru Gate and keep going up, you will eventually reach the Kohtuotsa viewing platform. You can totally do a solo tour but if you are looking for something a little more educational and adventurous, (though I have not done it; some friends of ours who had reserved a spot highly recommended it), in that case we suggest booking a day tour by 360 ee. It’s a great way to explore Old Town if you are on a budget, and you are interested in meeting new people :) If you are visiting Tallinn in the Fall or Winter, checking out the Ice Rink on Harju Street is a worthy visit and of course around Christmas time, Vabaduse Väljak. Additionally, in the summer season the Noblessner area has many cafes with outdoor dining and magnificent views. One of the more hip and up and coming areas in Tallinn. And lastly, it’s a bit of a hike [but worth it], you should visit the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Tallinn Town Hall and St Olaf's Church [they are all located nearby]. If you wanted to visit Tallinn in a day, I’d recommend this guided tour which will take you to all of the main hotspots.

Visiting Kadriorg is probably the second most memorable place in Tallinn. Kadriorg palace and art museum are surrounded by Kadriorg Park, which was established by Tsar Peter the Great as a manifestation of love. The 18th-century park features fountains and streams, has a Japanese Botanical Garden right next-door, and is surrounded by equally historical wooden houses, and amazing flora & fauna. Here’s a link to the brief history of Kadriorg Park. What I find most amazing about Kadriorg is that this is essentially Estonia’s “White House” - presidential yet cozy. So, it is cool to visit because it is fuss-free zone.

Pirita & Viimsi are excellent ares near Tallinn where you can get some much needed sea-side vibes. Pirita has a very nice beach with lots of activities [across the road from the beach to the mouth of Pirita river], you can rent row boats, canoes and paddle boats.

And last but not least, you should check out Telliskivi. This is basically the the commercial and cultural hub of Kalamaja. It has some of the coolest restaurants with live performances, there’s an indoor shopping center that sells lots of custom design clothing and art. In this part of the town, pretty much all of the buildings are repurposed industrial buildings - the most famous one is Telliskivi Creative City and the Fotografiska area. Need more ides? Check out this story.

Locations to stay

Just like most of Europe, some of the best decisions is to explore listings on Airbnb - nothing against hotels but Europe is one of those destinations where the most scenic places to stay are usually privately owned. So, our recommendations is to explore Old Town in Tallinn and the Rotermann Quater. It is the best place to stay because of the proximity to pretty much anything and everything you may need. If you are leaning more towards a hotel, we recommend the Park Inn by Radisson or the Hilton Tallinn Park, which are located in the Tallinn City Center [not as scenic as Old Town but still, an excellent/safe choice, in terms of the expectations]. Now, we have not stayed in these locations but we certainly would recommend them based on family and friends input: Swissotel Tallinn [City Center], Hestia Hotel Kentmanni [City Center], or Kalev Spa Hotel & Waterpark [Old Town].

Food to try

Tallinn has amazing food - let me begin with that. Most of you will likely decide to stay in the City Center or in the Old Town area. One of our favorite places to visit for breakfast is Rost Bakery, which is located in the Rotermanni area and Rukis Cafe. All of the pastries are fantastic but the bread is on a next level. If you are feeling up for some fine dining, R14 [also in Roterrmanni] has superb wine selection - check them out! Also, the atmosphere is just elevating. Tallinn has had several restaurants with Michelin mentions and of course some that hold the Michelin star. A close experience might be Päris Pagar - pretty much whatever you order from the menu will be amazing and worth a try. If you are visiting with kids and just need a break, and a cup of coffee, I could not recommend Lastekohvik Domino more - it’s essentially a coffee shop for kids. Give it a try (ages 0 - 6). In the summer time, our go-to in Old Town is usually Lee Restoran, but the tricky part here is that their menu changes all the time. Cannot really pin-point the food, but each time we have gone there, we have left satisfied. Restaurant-brasserie Riviera Palais has an amazing view and we absolutely loved their food; almost as much as we enjoyed the dessert at Restaurant NOA. Noa is probably my favorite place in Tallinn and I cannot decide if it’s the scenic views or the ridiculously beautiful desserts that keeps drawing me every time we visit Tallinn - but needless to say, it is an excellent restaurant! We also love going to Telliskivi and Noblessner to try up-and-coming restaurants and cafes. These areas always seems too have new places to visit and foods to try, so if you are up for a surprise meal, head in these areas and try something new. We love Restaurant Fotografiska, the dishes on the menu are mainly vegetarian. And lastly, we have not tried these two places but we will in about two weeks [they have come highly recommended by family and friends]: Kolm Sibulat and Rataskaevu 16.