We arrived in Tallinn Tallinn, Tallinn on June 23rd, just in time for the start of the midsummer celebrations. The city felt quiet and manageable compared to other European capitals, with the cobblestone streets of the Old Town being surprisingly easy to navigate with the kids. We checked into our hotel near the Town Hall Square Town Hall Square, Tallinn, which served as a convenient home base for the next three days.
Our first afternoon was spent walking through the upper town, Toompea Toompea, Tallinn. The climb up the hill is a bit steep, but the view of the terracotta rooftops and the Baltic Sea from the Kohtuotsa viewing platform Kohtuotsa viewing platform, Tallinn was worth the effort. It was breezy at the top, so having extra layers for the children was a practical necessity even in late June.
“The medieval layout of the city makes it feel more like a small village than a major capital.”
We had dinner at a traditional tavern near the city wall. The menu focused heavily on pork, sauerkraut, and dark rye bread, which kept the kids happy and full. Expect to pay around €30 to €40 per person for a solid sit-down meal in this area, though prices drop quickly once you move a few blocks outside the main tourist zones.
On June 24th, we explored Kadriorg Park Kadriorg Park, Tallinn. It is a short tram ride from the center and offers a lot of green space for the family to run around. The palace grounds are well-maintained, and the nearby Kumu Art Museum Kumu Art Museum, Tallinn provided a good indoor break when the afternoon sun got a bit too intense.
Our final day was spent wandering the rotermann quarter Rotermann Quarter, Tallinn, where the old industrial buildings have been converted into shops and cafes. It was a sharp contrast to the medieval architecture we saw earlier. We caught our flight home on the 25th, having covered most of the city center on foot without much trouble.