3 days in Tallinn: itinerary

Three days works when each day has one anchor and the rest is walking. Day 1 is the Old Town on foot: Town Hall Square, the city walls and towers, then up Toompea for the viewpoints and the cathedral. Day 2 crosses to Kalamaja for the wooden houses, the seaplane harbour museum and the market, then back through Telliskivi. Day 3 is the flexible one — either a half-day trip or Kadriorg and the art museum, depending on what you want from the trip.

If you only have three days and want the short version: Old Town early, Kalamaja in the afternoon, one trip out of the city, and leave the last evening free for the Christmas market if you are here in late November or December.

Tallinn is a walking city, so the biggest saving is not buying transport you will not use. Museums cluster in the Old Town, Kalamaja and Kadriorg, and most open around 10:00 and close between 17:00 and 19:00; many close on Mondays. Check each museum's own page before you go, because winter hours are shorter than summer ones.

A city card can pay off if you plan three or more paid museums in a day, but not if you are mostly walking and eating. Compare the card price against the two or three entries you would actually buy.

Tallinn is reached by ferry from Helsinki and Stockholm, by bus from Riga and Tartu, and by air into Tallinn Airport, which is about 4 km from the centre. The airport is close enough that a taxi or tram into the Old Town takes around 15–20 minutes. Ferries dock at the passenger terminal on the north edge of the centre, a short walk or tram ride from the Old Town.

If you are arriving from another country, the flight time depends on where you start; check schedules and fares for your dates rather than assuming a fixed duration. Within Estonia, buses and trains connect Tallinn with Tartu and other towns, and buses are usually the simplest option for a day trip.