World Guide

Tallinn

Capital of Estonia

Tallinn
Photo: Hiiumaamudeliklubi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tallinn is the capital of Estonia and home to about 458,000 people. Visitors travel here to see the UNESCO-listed Old Town and a variety of historic sites, including medieval churches and government buildings.

What to see

The core of the city is the Tallinn Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Within this area, you will find religious and civic landmarks such as the Tallinn Town Hall, St. Olaf's Church, St. Nicholas Church, and St. Mary's Cathedral. The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is also located here. Toompea Castle and the Stenbock House represent the city's administrative history, while Kiek in de Kök offers a look at historic fortifications. For those interested in other sites, the Linnahall and the Estonian Open Air Museum are also available.

When to go

Temperatures in Tallinn are coldest from December through March, with daily highs ranging from -3 °C to 1 °C and lows often dropping below freezing. Precipitation occurs frequently during these months, with about 12 to 15 rainy days per month. The warmer season runs from June to August, with daily highs between 18 °C and 21 °C. July and August are the warmest months, though they also see higher rainfall, with about 74 mm and 82 mm of rain respectively.

Getting there

Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport serves the city and is located 6 km from the center.

Top sights in Tallinn

  1. LinnahallLinnahall
  2. Tallinn Old TownUNESCOTallinn Old Town
  3. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, TallinnAlexander Nevsky Cathedral, Tallinn
  4. St. Olaf's Church, TallinnSt. Olaf's Church, Tallinn
  5. Toompea CastleToompea Castle
  6. St. Nicholas Church, TallinnSt. Nicholas Church, Tallinn
  7. Tallinn Town HallTallinn Town Hall
  8. St. Mary's Cathedral, TallinnSt. Mary's Cathedral, Tallinn
  9. Stenbock HouseStenbock House
  10. Kiek in de Kök, TallinnKiek in de Kök, Tallinn

Weather by month

The warmest month is July, with an average high of 21 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high, °C-2-3181418212015930
Average low, °C-6-7-4161114141050-4
Rainfall, mm513536313561748266806856
Rainy days151210989131311131515

Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Tallinn (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.

Also worth a look

  • Estonian Open Air Museum