Dan Renwick reveals his favourite things about Estonia’s charming capital.
My favourite place in Tallinn…
Is the leafy residential area of Kalamaja with lots of restaurants, cafes, bars, nightlife and a vibrant community spirit. It’s sandwiched between the picturesque Old Town and sea front which makes it super convenient and close to everything you need. It’s known for its old wooden houses that were built as quick, affordable housing for workers on the shipyards, but have now been renovated.
A great tour to do…
Is the free Old Town Walking tour. It gives you an overview of Tallinn and Estonia’s history and a great orientation of where everything is. They start from outside the visitor centre next to the Town Hall square and it’s right in the middle of the city.
The best place to eat… is Flower Garden Cafe
It’s a small place with personal service from the owner and chef Slava who makes sure you have a top quality experience in a relaxed atmosphere. They have an awesome breakfast menu as well as a simple yet delicious lunch and dinner setup with reasonable prices to boot. If I’m passing by I’ll always drop in, even if it’s just for a quick coffee and cake.
If you like cocktails…
The place to be is Heldeke! in Kalamaja. It’s a red curtain, vaudeville-style venue which hosts 400-plus events a year featuring stand-up, burlesque and cabaret shows. It also runs sauna nights two nights a week to help the local community through the wintery months. They have an eclectic mix of alcohol from all over the world and more than 100 whiskies, and their nonalco drink and mocktail list makes sure every taste is catered for. When you’re in the Old Town, Gambetta is a new hot spot.
For a sauna in Tallinn…
Go to Logisaun. It’s a community, volunteer-run sauna that is right next to the sea and the best way to tick “a dip in the Baltic” off the bucket list. I also really like Klooga Kosk which was built on a lake a bit further out of town by interior architecture students from the Estonian Art Academy. It’s perfect for the necessary hot and cold mix and you also get a good bit of Estonian nature too. Sauna culture is really ingrained in Estonian society so I’d recommend testing it out even if you think it’s not your thing.
When friends come to town…
I tell them to check out Unique hotels as they have multiple locations around the city at different price points, so it’s easy to choose the one that fits them best. The city is very walkable, public transport runs frequently and on time and there’s always a taxi five minutes away, so getting around town is really quick and easy regardless of where you decide to stay.
My favourite time of year in Tallinn is…
Summer because of the long nights, warm mild temperatures and fantastic nature that means you can be outdoors as much you like. There’s also a ton of events going on around the city which means there’s always something to do. I really do like winter too as the crisp, freshness of consistent below-freezing temperatures is really invigorating. Add snow and it’s a brilliant winter wonderland.
Make sure you pack…
That jacket that you don’t think you’ll need. We can get cool, fresh breezes off the Baltic all year round as we’re on the seafront. If you do forget then it’s easy to pick one up at one of the many second-hand stores dotted around town. They’re all really well priced and you can find some quality clothes at surprisingly good prices.
If you’re coming for the Tallinn Fringe Festival…
Make sure you stay for four to five nights as there’s plenty to see and do, the culinary scene is delightful and there’s plenty of daytrips that can be done before diving back into the Fringe bubble (Aug 18-Sep 18, 2026). There are plenty of shows in English and ones that don’t require any language at all, and there are quite a few peeps that finish Edinburgh Fringe and then come straight to Tallinn Fringe. It’s the possibly the fringiest of the Fringes in the world.
Amanda WoodsTravel writer