Best Places to Visit in Tallinn Beyond the Old Town

It’s rare to find a city in Europe that’s one-dimensional. Sure, there may be a famous part of aspect to it, but typically there’s a whole lot more to a place if you take the time to look. That’s certainly the case with Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia. The city’s Old Town is adored for its medieval character, but it’s important you understand that the Old Town is only one of the best places to visit in Tallinn. Because boy does Tallinn have some tricks up its sleeve.

Now, I said as much in my initial Tallinn tips with the recommendation that you “escape the Old Town”. That was after my first visit and having returned this year, I’d double down on that advice. With my return trip, not only did I investigate the different options for where to stay in Tallinn, I also ventured far and wide across the city to seek out different things to do in Tallinn.

Popular Tallinn attractions such as Town Hall Square and the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral are great, but they’re just the beginning with this enchanting Baltic city. Here are the other parts of the city to keep in mind on your next trip.

Kalamaja

One of the most common suggestions for places that are a must see in Tallinn is the neighbourhood of Kalamaja. Covering a big chunk of the city to the northwest of the Old Town, Kalamaja reflects a different era of the Estonian capital’s history than the largely medieval centre.

During the 19th century this area was predominantly a working class neighbourhood, known for large panel board tenement houses. Those old houses became the signature look of Kalamaja and you’ll still see loads when walking around the area.

It’s clear that this part of Tallinn has begun gentrifying, but there’s still plenty of character to be found here. Suggesting a residential area like this might seem a strange suggestion of what to see in Tallinn, but I really think it’s worth it.

I should probably clarify that Kalamaja is home to some of the popular things to see in Tallinn. While the new Kalamaja Museum may not quite qualify yet, one attraction that does is the Lennusadam Maritime Museum.

Found up in the Lennusadam seaplane harbour, this museum is one of Tallinn’s most highly acclaimed. Set inside a sizeable hangar, this museum explores Estonia’s maritime history and even features an intact submarine, the Lembit inside the building. Meanwhile, the famous Suur Tõll icebreaker seen above is docked outside.
 

Kadriorg

Between my trips to Tallinn, I was really kicking myself that I’d missed Kadriorg Palace, one of the city’s top attractions. First time around it was almost like I left before I really knew what to do in Tallinn and as such missed a pretty major attraction. This meant that the grand Baroque sight of Kadriorg Palace and its gardens was high on my itinerary.

But what I didn’t realise is that there’s much more to the district of Kadriorg than this one tourist attraction. Yes the palace, its gardens and the art museum are the main thing to see, but they’re by no means the only thing. For starters there’s the enormous Kadriorg Park that surrounds the palace in every direction. It’s a truly peaceful place to stroll around a great choice for a picnic.

Also within the park’s confines is Tallinn’s unofficial Museum Quarter. There are five or so museums in the core of the park, including the Kadriorg Art Museum in the palace, but also the Kumu Art Museum and the Peter the Great House Museum. Beyond the park, the neighbourhood is home to tree-lined boulevards with stately homes and even a city beach. Russalka Beach lies at the near end of great long seaside promenade that is another great place for a scenic walk.

Rotermann Quarter

Next, we have one part of Tallinn that leaves me endlessly fascinated, the Rotermann Quarter. Just to the east of the Old Town, you have this former industrial area that’s been creatively repurposed in recent years. What were once old warehouses and factories are now clothing stores, hotels, restaurants and bars. It’s not exactly a conventional place to go sightseeing in Tallinn, but it’s photogenic.

The Rotermann Quarter has basically been transformed into a lifestyle precinct and I think it’s undeniably cool. While you can still see the odd chimney stack or large stone warehouse, most of the area has an eclectic modern skew to it. Much like in Lodz and Poznan in Poland, I really like this stylised take on former industrial spaces. You can also find some of the best cafes in the city here which is a bonus.

Telliskivi

In strong contrast to the Rotermann Quarter is the Telliskivi Creative City, another former industrial complex wedged between the Kalamaja district and the train station. Whereas the Rottermann Quarter completely refurbished its industrial space, Telliskivi has taken a different approach with the local bohemian crowd adopting the old warehouses and industrial buildings for their own needs as is.

The beating heart of Tallinn’s alternative, hipster scene, Telliskivi Creative City is another part of the city that has a feeling that’s all its own. Throughout its appropriated buildings you’ll find art studios, cafes and even NGOs, while the outdoor spaces are home to food trucks and eye-catching street art. Here, the buildings serve more as a blank canvas for street art and a space for businesses.

One major “Tallinn must see” here is the Balti Jaama market directly opposite the train station. The core of Balti Jaama is its farmers market that’s always busy with a throng of locals. But move past it and you’ll find little kiosks in the back that sell coffee and crafts, as well as places to get food. There’s a little food court of street food that I kept going back to here, with the bao bun at Baojaam a highlight.

Port of Tallinn

At first glance, the Port of Tallinn may just seem to be little more than an entry point into the city. But aside from being where ferries to Helsinki, Stockholm and St. Petersburg come and go from, it does have one or two things to see. And I’m not just talking about the shopping malls that crowd the Old City Harbor.

The most iconic Tallinn sightseeing spot here is the dilapidated Linnahall concert hall. A relic of the Soviet era, this immense concrete Brutalist structure was made for the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics. At the time is was so Tallinn could host the sailing events and later turned into a concert venue.

However, it has spent the last ten to twenty years falling into disrepair. Parts of the Linnahall are now fenced off, but you can still explore parts of it and try to picture the venue in its prime.

Pirita

As a city on the chilly Baltic Sea, going to the beach in Tallinn isn’t an obvious thing you’d think of. And yet, head to the seaside suburb of Pirita in summer and that’s exactly what you’ll see. Pirita is home to Tallinn’s most popular beach and the city’s yacht club, making it a prime summer attraction. A visit here is like a mini day trip, as you definitely won’t feel like you’re still in Tallinn.

Pirita Beach is certainly the most popular attraction up here, but it’s not alone. The Pirita River that flows into the yacht club is a favourite spot for stand-up paddleboarding if you’d like to give that a go. As for sightseeing, I recommend taking a moment to see the Pirita Convent Ruins. The stone ruins here are almost a shell of the old convent from the 15th century and are quite photogenic. Those wanting something more active or outdoorsy to do should definitely consider coming up here.

Glehn’s Castle

Finally, we have one of the lesser-known half day trips from Tallinn, Glehn’s Castle. Located out in the leafy suburb of Hiiu, this is more a summer estate than a true castle. The founder of the neighbouring suburb Nomme built it in 1886, taking inspiration from Swiss medieval castles. Today the Tallinn University of Technology own it and often rent it out as a wedding and event venue.

I had hoped to see more of Glehn’s Castle when I visited but that sadly wasn’t on the cards. Instead, I made do by taking a wander out into nearby Glehn Park. There, among its peaceful forest trails and fields, are a few interesting landmarks worth seeking out.

One is clearly this awesome stone statue of a giant above, while there’s also a solitary stone tower as well. The tower is actually the Tallinn Observatory and has a real Rapunzel’s tower in the woods feeling to it. So, it may not be overflowing with things to do, but I still feel like this is one of the best places to visit in Tallinn.

Which of these parts of Tallinn have you had the chance to experience? Which of the best places to visit in Tallinn would you start with after the Old Town? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.