Tallinn

Tallinn is Estonia's capital, a compact city where a medieval Old Town, wooden Kalamaja streets and the Baroque Kadriorg park sit within a short tram ride of each other. Ferries from Helsinki make a day trip possible.

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Tallinn is the capital of Estonia, on the Gulf of Finland. Its Old Town is a medieval center inside city walls and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Just outside it, Kalamaja has wooden houses on narrow streets, and Kadriorg has a Baroque park around a palace built for Peter the Great. Go for the contrast between the medieval core and the modern city around it.

Tallinn suits a short city trip for travelers who want history, a compact center and easy day trips. A two-day stay covers the Old Town, Kalamaja and Kadriorg at an easy pace, and a third day leaves room for Helsinki, around two hours away by fast ferry. Late spring to early autumn is the easiest season for outdoor sights. The main choice is whether to stay inside the Old Town walls or in a district linked by tram, such as Kalamaja or Kadriorg.

Tallinn in five

Take tram T2 or T4 from the airportThe airport is about 4 km from the center. Trams T2 and T4 leave from the public transport center at the city end of the terminal, and a one-hour ticket is paid with a contactless card on board.Visit Tallinn: arrival
Ferry from Helsinki: day trip or one nightFerries cross several times a day in roughly two to three hours, and the terminals are a 15 to 20 minute walk from the Old Town. One night adds a district and a quieter Old Town evening.Day trip or overnight
Tap a contactless card instead of buying a passEach tap buys a one-hour ticket and caps at the day price. The Tallinn Card (adult 43, 63 or 76 euros for 24, 48 or 72 hours) pays off only on a route with several paid museums.Are city passes worth it?
Check Monday and winter closing daysMany museums close early in the week, and Town Hall visits need a reservation from autumn to spring. Confirm each venue's page before you fix the order of your days.Tallinn in 2 days
Carry a passport, and stay off the Russian borderThe Helsinki ferry crosses an open Schengen border, yet identity documents must be carried. Estonia's frontier with Russia is external, crossed only at official points with limited hours.Border notes

Things to do in Tallinn

See all attractions in Tallinn

Museum · TallinnArt Museum of Estonia (KUMU)Allow at least half a day if you want to see the exhibitions without rushing.

Museum · TallinnHotel Viru & KGB MuseumBook a guided tour in advance, as access to the museum is by tour.

Museum · TallinnChildren's Museum MiiamillaConsider going on a weekday around opening time for a quieter visit.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to TallinnPut the places you like in Tallinn on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Lennart Meri Tallinn (TLL), about 4 km; trams T2 and T4
Getting there: Ferry from Helsinki, roughly 2 to 3 hours; buses from Riga
Getting around: Walk the Old Town; trams, buses, trolleybuses, 5:00 to midnight
Best base: Old Town for a first visit; Rotermann or Kalamaja for trams
Time needed: 2 to 3 days

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuarySnow14 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh-1°Low-5°Dark, snow
FebruaryCloudy11 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh0°Low-4°Cold, snow
MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh3°Low-2°Cold, thaw
AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low1°Cool, spring
MayPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh14°Low6°Mild, long days
JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°White nights
JulyRain16 rainy daysHigh21°Low14°Warm, festivals
AugustRain17 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Warm, cruise crowds
SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Mild, quieter
OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Autumn, wet
NovemberRain14 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low1°Dark, gray
DecemberSnow14 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh1°Low-2°Christmas market

Average daily high and low in Tallinn, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Jun Tallinn Old Town Days · Jul Õllesummer · Aug Õllesummer

Right now in Tallinn

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 6°
Humidity: 97%
Wind: 7 km/h
Chance of rain: 100%

Tallinn

11:58 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+2

Today8°6°100%Monday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 100%.
Tue8°5°48%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 48%.
Wed9°3°16%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 16%.
Thu9°5°0%Thursday: Clear. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri8°3°4%Friday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 4%.
Sat8°5°6%Saturday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 6%.
Sun7°4°8%Sunday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 8%.

Updated 10:09 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Tallinn

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Unibet Arena · concertSabaton The Legendary Tour Part 2May 7, 2027 · Rooms near the venue

Every year

JunTallinn Old Town DaysTallinn
Jul–AugÕllesummerTallinn

Day trips by train

Helsinkiabout 2 to 3 hours by ferrySeveral sailings a day from Terminal A and Terminal D.Read the guide
Lahemaa National Parkguided or cycling day toursVisit Tallinn lists guided, cycling and bog-walk tours from the city.
Tarturegular and express busesUniversity town with buses from Tallinn's Central Bus Station and airport stop.

Before you go to Tallinn

Tallinn museum ticketsTimed entry for towers and museumsBook timed entry

Stays in TallinnOld Town, Rotermann, Kalamaja, KadriorgCheck availability

eSIM for TallinnData for tram tickets and ferry codesRead the guide

Travel insurance for TallinnCover for ferry delays and lost bagsRead the guide

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Rules for Tallinn, checked

Tallinn Card online: adult 43, 63 and 76 euros for 24, 48 and 72 hours; child 25, 32 and 39. Activates on first use; two children under 7 free with an adult.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
No temporary internal border controls are notified for Estonia, Finland or Latvia; Sweden's, to 11 November 2026, include sea borders. Carry a passport.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
There is no border control at Estonia's internal Schengen borders, but you must carry a passport or ID card.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
Russia's border is external: cross only at official points. Koidula, Luhamaa and Narva 1 road crossings are listed open 07:00 to 19:00.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source

All Tallinn guides

An aerial view of a city with a church tower

ItineraryTallinn in 2 days: Old Town, Kalamaja and KadriorgChecked Oct 4, 2026

Where to stayWhere to stay in Tallinn: Old Town, Rotermann, Kalamaja or KadriorgChecked Oct 4, 2026

Head to headHelsinki to Tallinn: day trip or overnight stay?Checked Oct 4, 2026

Plan around Tallinn

All of Estonia

Tallinn, Lahemaa, the islands and entry rules

Read the guide Helsinki

The other end of the two-hour ferry

Read the guide EES at the border

Fingerprints and a photo on first Schengen entry

Read the guide Europe eSIM roundup

Data plans for tram tickets and maps

Read the guide

Tallinn FAQ

Is Tallinn worth visiting?

Yes, for two or three days. The UNESCO-listed Old Town keeps 1.9 km of its wall and 20 towers, and Kalamaja, Kadriorg and the Seaplane Harbour add a modern and a maritime layer. It also pairs easily with Helsinki by ferry.

How do you get from Tallinn airport to the city center?

By tram. Lines T2 and T4 leave from the airport's public transport center, and a one-hour ticket costs 2 euros with a contactless card. A taxi from the stand outside arrivals costs around 15 euros, according to Visit Tallinn.

Is Tallinn safe at night?

Generally yes. The UK government notes pickpockets in Old Town bars and nightclubs, rare assaults late at night near nightlife, and advises official TAKSO taxis or apps such as Bolt, Forus and Uber. Keep drinks in sight and save your hotel location.

Do you need a passport for the ferry from Helsinki?

Carry one. There is no border control between Finland and Estonia, yet the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board says everyone must carry an identity document. Non-EU visitors should carry the passport they entered the Schengen area with.

Can you visit Narva from Tallinn?

Tour operators listed by Visit Tallinn run Narva and Ida-Virumaa day trips. Narva sits on the Russian border, which is crossed only at official points, so confirm the itinerary, carry your passport and do not plan a route that enters Russia.