Tallinn has more charm than any other European city because it has surprises around every corner. There's no doubt that Tallinn's top attractions bring in a lot of tourists from all over the world. The city is peacefully located on the Gulf of Finland and by the Baltic Sea.

During your stay, it can be fun to see and learn about Estonian life in the 18th century, as well as the handmade crafts and activities going on at the same time in this city. You'll never wonder what things to do in Tallinn because the city's attractions are the best in almost every way.

It seems impossible to choose the best of Tallinn's many attractions because everything is awesome, but we've tried! On our list, you'll find museums, neighborhoods, and heritage sites that are unique worldwide.

1. Estonian Maritime Museum

Estonia has a strong maritime culture because it is made up of more than 2,300 islands. The best place to see this culture is at the Lennusadam Seaplane Harbour exhibit at the Estonian Maritime Museum. Visitors to this interesting museum show can go inside the Submarine EML Lembit, a boat from the 1930s that is one of the few still around today.

You can also board the Suur Tõll icebreaker and look around the captain's cabin, crew rooms, and officers' mess hall of this powerful steamer. Hundreds of other objects in the museum continue to tell the story of Estonia's maritime history. This is probably the best thing to do in Estonia while you are starting your exploration of this beautiful place.

The building itself is just as interesting as what's inside it. The hangar was originally built to house seaplanes in Peter the Great's Naval Fortress. A newspaper article says that it has "the world's first columnless thin-shell concrete domes of such a large size." It was used until the start of World War II. It's amazing that the huge room doesn't need any vertical supports to stay up.

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2. Aleksander Nevski Katedraali

The 120-year-old cathedral is right across the street from the Toompea Castle. It has five onion-shaped domes topped by gilded iron crosses and an ornate brown and white exterior. It also has 11 bells, one of which is the biggest in Tallinn and weighs a whopping 15 tons. Throughout the day, their sounds can be heard all over the city. The cathedral is beautiful and well-kept. When in Tallinn, you will be happy to see it. In the early and middle 20th centuries, many Estonians saw it as a sign of Russian oppression and asked for it to be torn down. But that plan never went anywhere, and the cathedral is still there today.

3. Kadriorg Park

Tallinn has more than just the Aleksander Nevski Katedraali as a reminder of Russia. You can also see it in Kadriorg Park and the palace in the park, which were both built in 1718 by Czar Peter the Great for his wife Catherine. The lush 70-hectare area is the best place in the city to get a lot of nature therapy.

It is about four kilometers east of Tallinn's Old Town. Tourists can see flower beds with geometric patterns of blooming flowers, a beautiful swan pond, a peaceful Japanese garden, and an English landscape park with an oak grove. The park is home to more than just nature. The Kadriorg Palace is one of the most impressive buildings in the park. The elegant three-story building was built as an imperial summer palace at the beginning of the 18th century.

It was modeled after Italian palaces of the time and now holds the Estonian Art Museum's collection of foreign works from the 16th to the 20th centuries. The Estonian president works in the salmon-colored Neo-Baroque Office of the President of the Republic, which is north of the palace.

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4. Kumu Art Museum

After you've had your fill of Kadriorg Park, walk over to the Kumu Art Museum, which is the home of the Estonian Art Museum and has won many awards. It has a large collection of modern art and can be used for a variety of things like educational programs and events.

Tourists can see Estonian art classics from the 18th century up until the end of World War II in the main permanent exhibition on the third floor. Featured artists include Johann Koler, Kristjan Raud, and Konrad Magi. The works are set up so that visitors can see how local art styles changed along with how Estonians thought and felt.

On the fourth floor, a newer part of the permanent exhibition is all about Estonian art from the Soviet period. The collection shows how hard it was to make art under the strict rules of the Communist Party and how things changed as restrictions on art were lifted in the 1980s.

5. Toompea Castle

Estonia's power has always been centered on Toompea Hill. Over the last 800 years, different rulers of Estonia have changed Toompea Castle to their liking. The German Knights of the Sword built the first stone structure in the 13th century, and Catherine the Great turned it into a tickle-me-pink Baroque palace. It is now the home of the Riigikogu, which is the Estonian parliament.

Every morning, the national flag is raised on the 14th-century Tall Hermann tower to celebrate the country's independence. Tourists can take free English, Russian, or Estonian tours of Toompea Castle on weekdays if they book in advance. You'll get to look around the inside of the pink building, learn about its interesting history, and find out how the Riigikolu is put together.

After your tour, walk 500 meters northeast to the Patkuli viewing platform for an amazing view of Tallinn. From here, you can see the port right below you.

6. Estonian Open Air Museum

At the Estonian Open Air Museum, you can see how people lived in Estonia hundreds of years ago. This outdoor educational attraction is in the seaside area of Rocca al Mare, which is a 20-minute drive from the center of Tallinn. It is made up of 14 farms that show how rural Estonian villagers and fishing communities lived from the 18th century to the 20th century.

Many of the 74 buildings on the 72-hectare property are open to tourists who want to look around. You can see a traditional schoolhouse, fishing sheds by the sea, historic homes, a fire station, and windmills, many of which were moved to Tallinn from their original villages.

When you get hungry, go to the real inn to eat traditional dishes like wild mushroom soup, rye bread with salted herring and cottage cheese, and mashed potatoes with pan-fried meat and groat. Tourists can also do fun things from the past, like folk dances, midsummer bonfires, and horse-drawn cart rides.

7. St. Olaf's Church

The steeple of St. Olaf's Church is 124 meters high, making it the tallest medieval building in Tallinn. But the attraction is more than just a pretty place. It also has a very interesting past. Before Denmark took over Tallinn in 1219, it is thought to have been built in the 1100s as the center of the city's Scandinavian community.

During the Cold War, which happened a few hundred years after the church was built, it was used by the Soviet KGB as a radio and spy center. History books also say that the church has been hit by lightning ten times, and three of those times set the building on fire. The church is now used regularly by a group of Baptists.

Tourists are welcome to look around the modest Gothic rooms and see great views of the city from the top of the tower. If you want to climb the 232 steps to the top of the steeple, make sure you wear shoes that are comfortable.

8. Old Town

The old town of Tallinn is a fascinating place to visit because it has many beautiful medieval buildings that were built between the 15th and 17th centuries. All around the city walls are cobblestone streets, charming churches, and historical landmarks. There are also a lot of great bars, restaurants, and cafes to choose from.

Its buildings are hundreds of years old and have many different architectural styles. Its museums are great places to learn about the city's and country's rich history and heritage. Even though there are a lot of tourists there now, the Old Town is still a great place to visit because it has so many great things to see.

When you walk around its beautiful old streets, you'll feel like you've stepped into a fairy tale. There are a lot of great places to eat in the Old Town of Tallinn. There are a lot of ways to eat real Estonian food, which is a mix of many different kinds of food.

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9. Toompea Hill

The last place on our list is Toompea Hill. Even though it is only 20 or 30 meters higher than the rest of the Old Town, its important and strategic location has long given it power and prestige. Toompea Castle, St. Olaf's Church, and Aleksander Nevsky Cathedral are just some of the important and impressive historical sites on top of the small limestone hill.

The mound is a great place to walk around. It is thought to be the grave of Kalev, a figure from Estonian mythology. It has a lot of beautiful old buildings, and it also has great views of the city. Toompea is now part of the Old Town of Tallinn, which is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Toompea is the center of the Estonian government and where the Riigikogu is located.

Both of these places are often just called "Toompea." The Riigikogu meets at Toompea Castle, which is in the southwest corner of the hill and has the Tall Hermann tower on top. Around Toompea, there are a number of places where you can get a great view of the city.

Final words

Tallinn is one of Europe's best-kept secrets, so make sure to catch everything mentioned above. The Estonian capital has a lot of history, but it also has everything a tourist in the 21st century would want in a place to visit. There are a lot of great things to do in the Estonian capital, so everyone from history buffs to sports fans to artists can find something to love.

Pick any place mentioned above and start your quest to the rich culture and history of this place. Don’t wait! Pack your bags now and start exploring.