Contents
- 1 Visit The Master Courtyard In Tallinn Old Town
- 2 St. Catherine’s Passage in Tallinn Old Town
- 3 Borsi Passage Tallinn Old Town
- 4 Ukrainian Church Tallinn Old Town
- 5 Did You Know ?
- 6 Perched on a limestone cliff and towering over the rest of the city, Toompea Castle has always been the seat of power in Estonia.
- 7 St Nicolas Church Niguliste Museum
- 8 Swedish St. Michael’s Church Tallinn Old Town
- 9 St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- 10 The Bastion Tunnels
- 11 Did You Know ?
- 12 Tallinn Airport has one of the quirkiest facilities – a genuine library stocked with books in Estonian, English, and Russian.
- 13 Visit The Tallinn Legends Interactive Museum
- 14 Visit The Viru Gate Tallinn
- 15 Remaining Towers of the Viru Gate
- 16 Estonian Food Museum
- 17 Visit The Estonian Maritime Museum
- 18 Visit The Energy Discovery Center
- 19 Getting Around In Tallinn
- 20 Where To Stay In Tallinn Old Town Estonia
- 21 How To Get To Tallinn Estonia
- 22 Tallinn Old Town Map
Visit The Master Courtyard In Tallinn Old Town
Meistrite Hoov

This quiet courtyard in Tallinn Old Town is a little piece of the city as it was centuries ago, when people appreciated the work of craftsmen, who put their heart and soul into everything they made.
You can still see the medieval architecture and enjoy the cozy atmosphere. There are different arts and crafts workshops and guest rooms for accommodation, In the yard is the famous café “Chocolaterie de Pierre”.
Address | Vene 6, Tallinn Old Town |
St. Catherine’s Passage in Tallinn Old Town

Locals use this small alleyway when tourists pack Viru Street. It brings some extra magic to this lovely city. Take a peek at various works of art and witness their birth in open studios.
The most picturesque of Tallinn Old Town’s lanes, this half-hidden walkway runs behind what was St. Catherine’s Church.
St. Catherine’s Guild – Art Workshops
It connects Vene Street with the Müürivahe street where the town’s famous knit market operates. What makes the passage particularly interesting is that it’s home to the St. Catherine’s Guild.
These are craft workshops where artists use traditional methods to create and sell glassware, hats, quilts, ceramics, jewelry, hand-painted silk, and other wares.
The workshops are in the small, 15th to 17th-century rooms on the south side of the lane. They have an open-studio set-up. Visitors can watch the artists at work, be it glass-blowing, weaving, or pottery-making. As absorbing as these displays are, St. Catherine’s passage is more about ambiance than anything else. No other place in Tallinn combines creativity with a medieval atmosphere quite like it.
Address | Vene 12, Tallinn Old Town |
Borsi Passage Tallinn Old Town
Börsi Passage

The history of Estonia is in writing on its street. Head to Borsi Passage to read key dates and an overview of the city’s story right off the pavement.
Börsi Passage belonged to the Great Guild of Merchants in Tallinn from 1406. In 1551, an arched gate building appeared at the Pikk Street end of Börsi Passage, which included the tax chamber of the Great Guild. A small house was at the other end of the passage for newlyweds to spend their wedding night.
The Börsi Passage opened for pedestrians in the 19th century. The street thanks its name after the Stock Exchange Committee that operated in the Great Guild Hall.
Börsi Passage was tidied up in 2011 and an outdoor exhibition “The Passage of History” appeared. Important dates and events have marks on the sidewalk. It gives visitors a quick overview of Estonia’s history.
Address | Börsi käik, Tallinn |
Ukrainian Church Tallinn Old Town

This medieval building next to the walls of Tallinn’s Old Town has only ever served a secular purpose during its history. The Ukrainian congregation turned it into a sanctuary both historical and modern.
The church has a small monastery which is the center of the Ukrainian religious and cultural life. If you pass it on the Laboratooriumi Street, you can take your troubles to God, by slipping a piece of paper with your prayer request through the small letter slot.
Take A Tour in the Ukrainian Church Tallinn
By ordering a tour, you’ll see the church, the Ukrainian Cultural Center school, Labora workshops, handmade paper and postcards, Tallinn toys, ornamented eggs, etc. It’s also possible to take part in a variety of master classes.
The big wooden door on one of Tallinn’s most remarkable streets is usually open to anyone who dares to knock. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a free church tour and an opportunity to make silk paper with your own hands.
Address | Laboratooriumi 22, Tallinn |
Did You Know ?
Perched on a limestone cliff and towering over the rest of the city, Toompea Castle has always been the seat of power in Estonia.
St Nicolas Church Niguliste Museum

Lovely altarpieces, medieval burial slabs, and other works of religious art are on sight in this 1230-era church-turned-museum. Saints, dancing skeletons, and silver – not to mention the occasional organ concert – are the main attractions here.
Founded by German merchants from the island of Gotland, the church’s design doubled as a fortress in the days before there was a town wall.
The building survived the Reformation looting of 1523 but wasn’t so lucky in the 20th century when World War II bombs destroyed it.
From Church To Museum
Since its restoration in the 1980s, St. Nicholas’ has functioned as a museum specializing in works of religious art, including Bernt Notke’s beautiful but spooky painting Danse Macabre (Dance with Death).
Intricate altarpieces, Baroque chandeliers, and centuries-old burial slabs are also on display. The Silver Chamber is home to stunning works by members of the town’s craft guilds. The building’s acoustics make it a prime concert venue, with organ or choir performances held here most weekends.
Address | Niguliste tn 3, Tallinn |
Swedish St. Michael’s Church Tallinn Old Town

The centuries-old Swedish St. Michael’s church in Tallinn Old Town has been a spiritual home for generations of Estonian Swedes. As an ethnic group, Swedes have been a part of Tallinn’s cultural mosaic since the Middle Ages. St. Michael’s was an almshouse for the city’s poor.
In 1733 the tsarist government gave it to the Swedish congregation, left without its church since the Great Northern War.
During Soviet times authorities converted the building into a sports hall and fell into disrepair, but re-consecrated after renovations in 2002.
The congregation now has around 200 members and continues to hold services in Swedish. Besides its Baroque altar and a Baroque pulpit, the church has a unique baptistery.
Services in Swedish on Sundays at noon.
Address | Rüütli 9, Tallinn Old Town |
St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

This spectacular, onion-domed structure perched atop Toompea Hill is Estonia’s main Russian Orthodox cathedral. It’s also by far the grandest, most opulent Orthodox church in Tallinn.
Built in 1900, when Estonia was part of the tsarist Russian empire, the cathedral was a symbol of the empire’s dominance, both religious and political, over this Baltic territory.
The cathedral’s name refers to the Prince of Novgorod, Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky, who led the famous Battle of the Ice at Lake Peipsi in 1242. This halted the German crusaders’ eastward advance.
Location of the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
It was deliberately placed in this prominent place right in front of Toompea Castle, on the same spot where a statue of Martin Luther stood, to show the Lutheran locals who were in charge. Now with the controversy long since faded, what’s left is an architectural masterpiece.
Designed by St. Petersburg architect Mikhail Preobrazhenski, the church is richly decorated in a mixed Historicist style. The interior, filled with mosaics and icons, is well worth a visit. The church’s towers’ hold Tallinn’s most powerful church bell ensemble. It consists of 11 bells, including the largest in Tallinn, weighing 15 tonnes. You can hear the entire ensemble playing before each service.
Address | Lossi plats 10, Tallinn |
The Bastion Tunnels

Located beneath the historic streets of Tallinn’s Old Town, the Bastion Tunnels offer a fascinating glimpse into the city’s past. These tunnels, part of the Kiek in de Kök Fortifications Museum, were constructed in the 17th and 18th centuries to protect the city from invaders.
A Journey Through History
Originally built to conceal the movement of soldiers and ammunition, the Bastion Tunnels have served various purposes over the centuries. They monitored enemy activities and even provided shelter during World War II. Today, visitors can explore these atmospheric passageways and learn about their rich history through guided tours and audio guides.
The Carved Stone Museum
One of the highlights of the Bastion Tunnels is the Carved Stone Museum. This museum is located within the tunnels and showcases an impressive collection of decorative stone fragments from Tallinn’s past. Visitors can marvel at portals, pillars, coats of arms, and tombstones dating from the 16th to 19th centuries.
Practical Information
The Bastion Tunnels maintain a cool temperature of 7-10°C year-round, so visitors are advised to dress warmly. Guided tours are available in multiple languages, including Estonian, English, Russian, and Finnish. It’s recommended to book tours in advance to ensure availability.
Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply looking for a unique experience in Tallinn, the Bastion Tunnels are a must-visit. Dive into the depths of Tallinn’s past and uncover the secrets hidden beneath its streets.
Did You Know ?
Tallinn Airport has one of the quirkiest facilities – a genuine library stocked with books in Estonian, English, and Russian.
Visit The Tallinn Legends Interactive Museum

Journey through Estonia’s Middle Ages with admission to Tallinn Legends in Tallinn. Head straight inside this interactive and theatrical museum with your pre-booked ticket, and explore nine underground chambers, where actors, models, and special effects recreate the events and legends of the medieval city.
Visit a street devastated by the Black Death plague, see a bloody execution, meet a mermaid, and experience other dark chapters and tales. Suitable for children aged 10 and over.
Opening hours Tallinn Legends
Address: Kullassepa 7, Tallinn
Telephone: +372 510 7453
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 11:00 – 19:00
Saturday – Sunday and Holidays: 10:00 – 20:00
Visit The Viru Gate Tallinn

Tallinn’s Old Town is a must-visit area, and the pair of picturesque towers at the entrance of Viru Street, the busiest pedestrian street in town, is often the first glimpse that visitors catch of the oldest part of the city.
The Viru Gate built between 1345 and 1355, served as part of the defense system of Tallinn’s city walls. A couple of centuries later, the city already had eight entry gates.
Later, the entrances to the Old Town were widened and many gates disappeared. Most of the Viru Gate was also pulled down in the 1880s to make room for a horse-drawn tram route that connected the Old Market with Kadriorg Palace.
Remaining Towers of the Viru Gate
But these two beautiful towers remained and you can still see a part of the bastion called Musumägi. The Viru Gate is one of 26 towers that still stand (out of the original 45) and is one of Europe’s best-surviving examples of medieval city fortifications.
The gate has become a symbol of the Estonian capital, and once you walk through it you’ll find yourself in Tallinn’s fairy-tale Old Town – an intriguing mixture of the old and the new.
The Old Town’s network of cobbled streets, alleyways, and courtyards hosts a treasure of medieval architecture. New shops, hotels, and restaurants stand along important state and church buildings from the Middle Ages that have been restored to their former splendor.
Address: Viru tänav, Müürivahe 31
Estonian Food Museum

The Estonian Food Museum opened in 2016 and is the place for gourmet and other food lovers, where your family and guests can partake in Estonia’s food and everything related to it.
Here you can taste a variety of dishes typical to Estonia, take part in exciting cooking workshops and taste testings.
The museum is in a unique building at Masina Street 20, built as a fire station in 1911 for a cellulose and paper factory. It’s outside Old Town, but worth a visit anyway.
Visit The Estonian Maritime Museum

After a serious renovation, the Estonian Maritime Museum’s exhibition at the Fat Margaret Artillery Tower is open once again. This interactive way of getting to know Estonia as a maritime country makes it an ideal pick for families with children. The rich collection of ship models also boasts one of the oldest shipwrecks – a wooden cog preserved from the beginning of the 14th century.
Address | Pikk 70, Tallinn Old Town |
Visit The Energy Discovery Center

Located in a power plant that is more than 100 years old, the Energy Discovery Centre is a wonderful destination for a family excursion. It promotes popular science through interactive exhibits covering such fields as energy, classical physics, sound, and optics.
One exhibit permits visitors to see and feel the making of electricity. Another, the “bridge of lightning”, makes one’s hair stand on end through static electricity. A separate exhibition is about oil shale energy, a national source of pride.
Address: Põhja pst 29, Tallinn
Telephone: +372 620 9020
Getting Around In Tallinn
Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tallinn

City Sightseeing offers sightseeing tours of Tallinn on a double-decker bus or a single-decker bus across our two routes. During your tour, you can listen to our complimentary, pre-recorded commentary available in 24 languages to learn fascinating facts and stories about Tallinn.
You can hop on and hop off the bus at any stop to visit attractions and places of interest, or you’re welcome to sit back and relax for the entire tour!