Why did I travel to Estonia?
I’d been wanting to visit Estonia for a while, mostly because of all the hype around its startup and tech scene. This country has less than 1.5 million people, is right on the water, is famous for producing numerous tech unicorns (like Skype, Wise, Bolt, Pipedrive) and “producing 10 times more startups per capita than the European average.”
And honestly, there’s this whole cluster of countries in Europe that end with -ia— (Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia, Romania, etc etc) and I want to see every single one. This part of the world feels overlooked by my peers, barely talked about, which only makes me more curious to explore it myself.
Tallinn on the Ground: Stone Streets and Soft Silence
Tallinn’s Old Town is postcard-beautiful. Cobblestones, medieval walls, muted colors.
It’s easy to move through Tallin – it’s tap-to-pay everywhere, reliable transport, clear signage and extremely walkable.
Eating in Tallinn: Blackboard Menus and Gentle Flexes
My best meal in Tallinn was at Rado Restoran, where the menu is written on a blackboard daily. I ordered the venison soup and duck confit, and when I mentioned I was curious about the elk liver but didn’t want a full portion, the chef kindly let me try some anyway 😍 This one small act of generosity has turned me into a liver person. If liver is on the menu, I’m ordering it.
Olde Hansa brings you back to medieval Tallinn, with candlelit wooden interiors and a menu that offers historic Estonian dishes, I love these types of restaurants.
- Pub Kompressor is famous for its sweet and savory pancakes — a total must-try if you like food with some comforting charm.
- Just nearby, Kohvik Must Puudel has a stylish café vibe that’s perfect for people-watching and slow, lazy mornings.
- For something a bit more upscale, Osteria Il Cru offers Michelin-level dining and is definitely worth the splurge.
- If you want sleek Mediterranean flavors, R14 is a swanky spot right around the corner.
- Next door, Restoran Pull is known for its grilled meats — ideal for a hearty meal after wandering the city.
- And for those late-night cravings after a night out, Tallinn Pizza & Kebab is the go-to afterparty spot.
Like other Nordic cuisines, Estonian food is about what survives and what’s available: foraged mushrooms and berries, game meats like elk and venison, rye bread, potatoes, dairy, and fish. I like it —it feels sustainable and cool.
Learning Tallinn’s History on Foot
I joined a free walking tour, which I often do as a first introduction to a city. Estonia’s history has a lot to do with Russia…Estonia was under Russian rule twice , first from the early 1700s – 1918, and then again during the Soviet era from 1944 – 1991. It’s very prevalent in the city and was the main topic of the tour.
We visited St. Mary’s Cathedral, the oldest church in Tallinn, dating back to the 13th century. We climbed to the top of St. Olaf’s Church offered views over the city and the Baltic Sea. Crazy, this was once the tallest building in the world during the Middle Ages, the church has long stood as a symbol of Tallinn’s importance and resilience. I loved the energy in there.
We passed Tallitorni (Fat Margaret’s Tower), once part of the city’s defensive system, and visited Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, a Russian Orthodox church built during the Russian Empire. It’s beautiful but also kind of politically loaded, for me it just symbolize’s Russia’s presence and occupation…
Where I Stayed: Monks Bunk Hostel
I stayed at Monks Bunk Hostel in Old Town for $15 USD, a popular choice for travellers. The rooms were spacious, the beds had proper curtains (a small luxury in hostels), and it’s easy to make friends.
The Ferry That Stayed an Idea: Tallinn to Helsinki
One of my small regrets is not taking the ferry to Finland. Helsinki is right there. Ferries run daily, taking a little over two hours, with prices that fluctuate depending on timing and season.
The Tallinn to Helsinki ferry route is provided by 3 ferry companies. The ferry crossing from Tallinn to Helsinki is approximately 2 hours 15 minutes on most ferries servicing this route. Ferries between Tallinn to Helsinki cost around $41 and $277, depending on ticket details. Prices exclude any service fees. Ferry timetables change seasonally, use our Deal Finder to get live pricing and availability for ferries from Tallinn to Helsinki.
Final Thoughts and Next Visit
Tallinn isn’t a party city. Tallinn was once a strategic port city, and I could feel it once I got to the top and saw it overhead. Over the centuries, Estonian culture and language have lived side-by-side with Russian rule. You can still feel that layered history in the city’s mix of old and new, especially in its fast-growing tech scene
And beneath all that history, the people themselves are very kind to foreigners, as evident by the Chef gifting me some elk liver to try. Moments like that, really make me want to return.
For my next trip, I think I’ll make Helsinki my main destination, hopefully timed right to catch the Northern Lights — then take the ferry back to Tallinn before hopping on a bus to Lithuania.