In Tallinn With Kids
The following is one of many possibilities of a day that is fun, active and supports learning new things. You will spend it in Tallinn Old Town. For attractions and activities to do in other neighborhoods of the city, I invite you to use our Personal Trip Planner service.
A Day in Tallinn with Kids – a sample itinerary
The Old Town of Tallinn is like a medieval playground. Get the day going by visiting one of the biggest city wall towers, Kiek in de Kök. Walk on the wall, feel the centuries-old steps of the artillery tower under your feet and peek into the city through the tower’s spyglass…Today the tower houses the KIEK IN DE KÖK FORTIFICATIONS MUSEUM with some hands-on exhibits:
Where: Komandandi tee 2
Have your kids ever seen a 700–800-year-old castle? TOOMPEA CASTLE is mighty and magnificent, just like something out of a fairy tale. The castle is right here, a 3-minute walk from Kiek in de Kök. Standing next to the castle, put yourself in the shoes of a medieval knight and let your imagination run wild (or stay where you are, in the 21st century and imagine yourself as one of the MPs, because… Toompea Castle today is used by Riigikogu, the parliament of Estonia).
Where: Though the address of Toompea Castle is Lossi plats 1a, for the best view go to Falgi Street.
How to get there: Once outside the museum walk up Komandandi Street for a minute and you´ll reach an intersection. Cross it and go straight ahead for 1-2 minutes, now the street leads down the hill, and it is called Falgi tee. The fortress with Tall Hermann Tower is on your right.
Before heading to the Lower Old Town, go to one of the viewing points. There are three of them. The most breathtaking views are guaranteed at KOHTUOTSA VIEWPOINT.
Count the number of church spires and city wall towers. Ask your kids (and yourself) why the roofs are shaped like they are. How many ships are currently in port? You will find out later why cogs and other types of medieval vessels from faraway lands have been visiting Tallinn for hundreds of years.
Where: at Toompea Hill, Kohtu Street 12
It´s lunch time. The number of eateries at Toompea Hill is very limited, so I recommend descending to the Lower Old Town. To continue with the topic of the day- life in the Middle Ages- you might want to treat yourself to lunch at OLDE HANSA. The interior, the costumes of the staff, the menu, the tableware- everything here takes you back to medieval times.
It´s an experience, travelling in time, without modern technologies.
Where: in Lower Old Town, Vana turg Street
How to get there: Descend to Lower Old Town along Lühike Jalg street (in English: The Short Leg Street). Then continue straight ahead Niguliste and Kuninga street. A bigger white house is on your left. You have reached your destination. 😊
Starting from Kohtuotsa Viewpoint, it is a 12- minute stroll.
Next, it’s a good idea to visit the central Town Hall Square, located a few steps from Olde Hansa restaurant. Today, there is much more space here than in the Middle Ages, when it was a busy marketplace.
Tallinn Town Hall, the most striking building in the square, has pretty much the same appearance since 1404. Standing in front of the Town Hall, look up to see two mythical creatures with bared teeth. Try to guess their purpose.
Directly across the square is another fascinating establishment, the TOWN HALL PHARMACY. It is in a pale-yellow building, with snake decoration on the wall. Step inside and take a closer look at medieval medicines like dried toads, earthworm oil, stallion hoofs and similar. It will be an exciting experience.
It is worthwhile thinking about the age of the pharmacy while you are here. By the time Christopher Columbus set sail from Port of Palos in 1492 and eventually reached the Americas, the apothecary you´re visiting was frequented by locals. The first mention in town council book in 1422 makes it the oldest pharmacy in Europe that has continually operated on the same premises.
Where: Raekoja plats 11
Following this, I suggest peeking inside the MARZIPAN ROOM, located in the same building with Maiasmokk Café.
Marzipan has been made in Tallinn for centuries. See dozens of cute marzipan figurines, all handcrafted right here, in the historic café. You might want to buy a giftbox and let your kids paint their own figurines. Or just observe the local artist as she turns the white statuettes into a colorful piece of art. Learn about the history of marzipan here.
Where: Pikk Street 16
How to get there: The Marzipan Room is a one-minute walk from the Town Hall Pharmacy.
After leaving the pharmacy turn right, take a few steps and you´ll see a charming little alley on your right. It’s Saiakang street. It will take you to a very small square. The yellow building housing the Marzipan Room & Maiasmokk Café is on your right.
You have seen Toompea Hill and the central part of Lower Old Town by now. My next recommendation is heading north along Pikk street. The northern side of Lower Old Town is calm and peaceful even during the peak tourist season.
Depending on your kids’ interests, choose one of the two museums, located 6–7-minute walk from each other:
FAT MARGARET MUSEUM AND VISITOR CENTER is a great choice if you want to continue exploring history. Here the focus is on maritime. The museum provides an overview of maritime trade, professions, and navigation from the Middle Ages to the era of motor ships. The star exhibit is the 700-year-old wreck of a cog – a medieval cargo vessel. It was found underground in Tallinn in 2015, rare in the entire Europe.
There’s another reason for checking out Fat Margaret – just like Kiek in de Kök you visited in the morning, it’s a well-preserved city wall tower. To understand the size of it, walk through the big gate (known as the Great Coastal Gate) and stand next to Fat Margaret.
Where: Pikk Street 70
Or change the subject completely and go the ESTONIAN HEALTH MUSEUM.
This museum has done a lot to make itself appealing to all ages. There are numerous hands-on exhibits and touch screen activities that teach about the human body. A lot of effort has been put into creating the displays with clear information on each item. Each room has a theme of its own: a section dedicated to vision, to the senses, cell & DNA etc. An excellent place for (older) children to learn about health in a fun and interactive way.
Where: Lai Street 30
The above is just one of many options of how to spend an exciting day in Tallinn Old Town. But there´s so much to see and do outside the Old Town too, and that’s why you need a minimum of two full days for the best kid-friendly attractions Tallinn has to offer.
I´d be happy to share my ideas, based on your kids’ age and interests. Contact me for a PERSONAL TRIP-PLANNER SERVICE. Let’s meet for a coffee and tailor your (second) day in Tallinn.
Enjoy your time in Tallinn!
Maarja
This post was last updated in March 2026.