Exploring Tallinn: A Journey Through Estonia’s Medieval Marvel
Discover the rich history of Tallinn's UNESCO-Listed Old Town (visited 03/2024)
I originally published this text as A Medieval Marvel: Tallinn’s Historic Centre on the Medium platform.
Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is a city where medieval charm meets modern vitality.
Its Historic Centre, or Old Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage site well-known for its wonderfully preserved medieval architecture and rich history dating back to the 13th century, to the knights of the Teutonic Order. This historical city also served as a key trading hub of the Hanseatic League, resulting in the magnificence of the public buildings and merchants’ houses.
I visited Tallinn in March 2024, and will share my experience, impressions and practical information.
About the site
Tallinn is located on the Baltic Sea's Gulf of Finland and has a population of about 461,000 (2024).
The settlement dates back to prehistoric times, but I will focus on the Middle Ages when the city was known as Reval, a name the city held after the Danish conquest of 1219. Tallinn received city rights in 1248, became a key Hanseatic League port in the Middle Ages, and was the northernmost member city.
The city's Old Town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. It is recognized for its well-preserved medieval architecture, consisting of Viru Gate, city wall, Town Hall, St Nicholas’ Church, and many more. Today, Tallinn is also a modern tech hub, home to companies like Skype, Bolt and Wise, and hosts the EU's IT agency and NATO's Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence.
Upper Town (Toompea): A Historical Stronghold
The Upper Town is located on Toompea hill, and over the centuries, this was the administrative centre of Tallinn. And it is to this day - Toompea is the centre of the Government of Estonia, and the Riigikogu (parliament), which is located in the Toompea Castle. In the above photo, you can see the Estonian flag on the Pikk Hermann tower, one of the best-known symbols of the Estonian government.
Lower Town: The Heart of Medieval Commerce
The Lower Town preserves the medieval urban feel with its narrow streets and important public buildings. Many streets here still bear medieval names, offering a glimpse into the past, and the most picturesque could be Katariina käik, Lühike Jalg, Meistrite Hoov, Müürivahe, Pikk, and Saiakäik. I say “could” because I believe any other visitor would find different charming streets -- there are so many!
The Lower Town also houses important public buildings, town walls, the Town Hall, churches, monasteries, and guilds of merchants and craftsmen. Walking along these streets and squares, you can easily picture what life was like here in the times of the busiest medieval trading routes, with merchants trading furs, honey, flax, fish, resin, cloth, and various manufactured goods.
One of the gems of the Lower Town is the old town pharmacy, one of the oldest continually working pharmacies in the world — it was first mentioned in the town records in 1422. Inside this window into the past, there is a little, but valuable, exhibition of old remedies, along with the original architecture, of which my favourite part was the painted wooden ceiling beams you can see in the photo above (check out a FlashFact about the pharmacy).
Practical information for travelers
I arrived in Tallinn by ferry from Helsinki, Finland. There are also regular ferry lines to/from Stockholm (Sweden), and Mariehamn and Turku (Finland).
Of course, there is an international airport in Tallinn, and I believe it can be more practical depending on your travel plans; however, the ferry allows you to cross the Baltic Sea, and the ferry port is easily accessible from the city center. Various ferry companies run these lines, and I found online ticket purchase instructions to be simple and clear.
Weather-wise, as I mentioned, I visited Tallinn in March, and it was windy and rather cold. Moreover, the surface of the Baltic Sea in Helsinki port was frozen. So if you’re not a fan of winter conditions, travel to Tallinn in spring or summer, when the temperatures should be around 20°C.
My accommodation was on Mere Puiestee Street, with a view of the Old Town, so I recommend that street if you want to be close to the Old Town and the port.
As for restaurants, there are many to choose from, both in terms of traditional food and international variations.
If you’re looking for Estonian cuisine, I think you need to try their rye bread, potato salads, blood sausages, herring, stews, dairy products, soups (leivasupp), locally brewed beer, kvass, etc. Head isu!
Thank you for reading!
And one last thing - this publication will stay free forever, but if you feel I deserve a cup of matcha 🍵 here and there, then please buy me some - the next drink’s on me! ☕
MORE ON UNESCO SITES:
The Elegance of the Trianon Estate: Versailles Beyond the Palace
Hallstatt in Austria: A real-life fairy tale village on the edge of a lake
Inside Istanbul’s Topkapı Palace: A Journey Through Ottoman History
A Journey Through Time in the Historic City of Bath, the United Kingdom
Old City of Dubrovnik: More Than Just King’s Landing, Croatia
Belgium’s Industrial Masterpieces: The Canal du Centre Boat Lifts
Discover the Ancient Mysteries of Newgrange and Knowth, Ireland
Plus, my “2025 Calendar: 12 Countries in 12 Months” is a gift for my free subscribers, so go and get your inspiration:
If you’re interested to find out more about Estonia, check out these FlashFacts:
…and the Recap post published in Gabi’s Gab.
As a Tallinn resident, I can totally back up what you wrote—it's spot on! It’s a bummer we didn’t get to know each other back in March; it would have been a blast to meet up here!
For anyone planning to visit this beautiful city, here’s a food tip: steer clear of Olde Hansa in Town Hall Square. While the food is decent, it’s way too touristy for my liking. Instead, head straight to Rataskaevu 16 in the Old Town. Trust me, you won’t regret it!