Tallinn

Tallinn

EE
Population462,120
Tallinn is the capital and most populous city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, it has a population of c. 461,000 (as of 2025) and administratively lies in the Harju maakond (county). Tallinn is the main governmental, financial, industrial, and cultural centre of Estonia. It is located 187 km (116 mi) northwest of the country's second largest city, Tartu, however, only 80 km (50 mi) south of Helsinki, Finland; it is also 320 km (200 mi) west of Saint Petersburg, Russia, 300 km (190 mi) north of Riga, Latvia, and 380 km (240 mi) east of Stockholm, Sweden. From the 13th century until the first half of the 20th century, Tallinn was known in most of the world by variants of its other historical name Reval. Tallinn received Lübeck city rights in 1248; however, the earliest evidence of human settlement in the area dates back nearly 5,000 years. The medieval indigenous population of what is now Tallinn and north Estonia was one of the last "pagan" civilisations in Europe to adopt Christianity following the Papal-sanctioned Northern Crusades in the 13th century. The first recorded claim over the place was laid by Denmark after a successful raid in 1219 led by King Valdemar II, followed by a period of alternating Scandinavian and Teutonic rulers. Due to the strategic location by the sea, its port became a significant trade hub, especially in the 14–16th centuries, when Tallinn grew in importance as the northernmost member city of the Hanseatic League. Tallinn Old Town is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2012, Tallinn had the highest number of startup companies (per capita) among all capitals and larger cities in Europe. Tallinn is the birthplace of many international high-technology companies, including Skype and Wise. The city is home to the headquarters of the European Union's IT agency, and to the NATO Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. In 2007, Tallinn was listed among the top-10 digital cities in the world, and in 2022, Tallinn was listed among the top-10 "medium-sized European cities of the future".

Places to Explore

Curated experiences in Tallinn

Raeapteek

Raeapteek

The Raeapteek (English: Town Hall Pharmacy; German: Ratsapotheke) is a pharmacy in the center of Tallinn, Estonia. Opposite the Town …

Lastepargi kivi

Lastepargi kivi

Tallinn Legends

Tallinn Legends

Tallinn Legends (Estonian: Tallinna Legendid) was a tourist attraction in a form of theatrical and interactive museum in Tallinn, Estonia. …

Toomkirik

Toomkirik

St. Mary's Cathedral (Estonian: Toomkirik, German: Ritter- und Domkirche, full name: The Episcopal Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Mary, Tallinn, …

Eesti Meremuuseum

Eesti Meremuuseum

The Estonian Maritime Museum (Estonian: Eesti Meremuuseum) is located in the Fat Margaret tower in the old town of Tallinn. …

Linnahall

Linnahall

Linnahall (Estonian: Tallinna Linnahall, 'Tallinn City Hall') (originally the V. I. Lenin Palace of Culture and Sports) is a multi-purpose …

Okupatsioonide muuseum

Okupatsioonide muuseum

The Vabamu or Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom (Estonian: Okupatsioonide ja vabaduse muuseum Vabamu) in Tallinn, Estonia, is located …

Tallinna Linnamuuseum

Tallinna Linnamuuseum

Tallinn City Museum (Estonian: Tallinna Linnamuuseum) is a city museum in Tallinn, Estonia. The museum was founded in 1937 as …

Taani kuninga aed

Taani kuninga aed

Danish King's Garden (Estonian: Taani kuninga aed) is a park in Tallinn Old Town, Estonia. The park is the place …

Kiek in de Kök

Kiek in de Kök

Kiek in de Kök (Low German: Kiek in de Kök, lit. 'Peek into the Kitchen') is an artillery tower in …

Vabaduse väljak

Vabaduse väljak

Freedom Square (Estonian: Vabaduse väljak) is a plaza on the southern end of the Old Town in Tallinn, Estonia, where …

Rotermanni kvartal

Rotermanni kvartal

Rotermanni Quarter is an area in the downtown of Tallinn, Estonia. It is located between Tallinn Old Town, the Port …

Tallinna loomaaed

Tallinna loomaaed

Tallinn Zoo is a zoo in Tallinn, Estonia, that was founded in 1939. It is the only zoo in Estonia, …

Niguliste kirik

Niguliste kirik

St. Nicholas Church (Estonian: Niguliste kirik, German: Nikolaikirche) is a medieval church building in Tallinn (Reval), Estonia. It was dedicated …

Patarei merekindlus

Patarei merekindlus

Tallinna Botaanikaaed

Tallinna Botaanikaaed

Tallinn Botanic Garden (Estonian: Tallinna Botaanikaaed), is a botanical garden in Tallinn, Estonia. It is located on the right bank …

Viru värav

Viru värav

Katariina käik

Katariina käik

Kadrioru park

Kadrioru park

Kadriorg Park (Estonian: Kadrioru park) is a park in Kadriorg, Tallinn, Estonia. Its area is about 70 ha. The park …

Tallinna teletorn

Tallinna teletorn

Tallinn TV Tower (Estonian: Tallinna teletorn) is a free-standing structure with an observation deck, built to provide better telecommunication services …

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