Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

This spectacular, onion-domed structure perched atop Toompea Hill is Estonia's main Russian Orthodox cathedral. Built in 1900, when Estonia was part of the tsarist Russian empire, the cathedral was originally intended as a symbol of the empire's dominance. The church towers hold Tallinn's most powerful bell ensemble, consisting of 11 bells, including the largest in Tallinn.

• Web:

  nevskysobor.ee

• Address:

  Aleksander Nevski katedraal, Lossi plats 10, Tallinn

• Phone:

  +372 644 3484

Bank of Estonia Museum

It's all about the money — and the finance — at the Estonian central bank museum. Here, games, interactive machines and video exhibitions tell the complex story of money, aiming to pique the interest of all visitors, even those who don't know much about finance. Guests will learn the role of money in society, have the arcane mysteries of central bank policy explained and get an overview of how the financial system operates. You will leave with a better grasp of how the euro works as well as how the central bank manages its external assets, payment methods and payment environment. The museum has a shop and a currency exchange point — the only place where Estonian kroon can still be converted into euros.

• Web:

  www.eestipank.ee/en/museum

• E-mail:

  muuseum@eestipank.ee

• Address:

  Eesti Panga muuseum, Estonia pst 11, Tallinn

• Phone:

  +372 668 0760

• Opening hours:

  Tue–Fri noon–5pm, Sat 11am–4pm, Mon closed

Danish King's Garden

This open, garden-like area on the slopes of Toompea Hill happens to be the legendary birthplace of the Danish flag, according to a well-known legend. According to the story, Valdemar's forces were losing their battle with the Estonians when suddenly the skies opened and a red flag with a white cross floated down from the heavens. Taking this as a holy sign, the Danes were spurred on to victory. Today the garden remains a place where locals honor the role Denmark played in Estonia's history. Halfway down the steps towards Rüütli street you can see an iron sword and shield with a Danish cross, and each summer, Dannebrog Day is celebrated here.

• Web:

  www.visitestonia.com/en/danish-kings-garden

• Address:

  Lühike jalg 9, Tallinn

Energy Discovery Centre

With over 130 interactive, hands-on exhibits, this museum is a mad scientist's dream come true. The family-oriented centre, housed in a unique industrial heritage site, focuses mainly on natural, technical and physical sciences. The main hall with its "island of lightning" is devoted to everything related to electricity, while the planetarium with its 10-metre dome introduces astronomy and space projects created by Estonia's own scientists. Another exhibition allows visitors to see and feel the sounds. With over 3,000 square metres of space, the centre has seven permanent exhibitions in fields such as energy, classical physics, sound and optics, as well as temporary exhibitions. It also has a birthday room, a teachers’ room, a physics classroom and a seminar area.

• Web:

  www.energiakeskus.ee/en

• E-mail:

  info@energiakeskus.ee

• Address:

  Energia avastuskeskus, Põhja pst 29, Tallinn

• Phone:

  +372 620 9020

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Thu 10am–4pm, Fri & Sat 10am–6pm, Sun closed

Estonian Maritime Museum — Fat Margaret's Tower

This museum dedicated to all sea-faring aspects of Estonia’s history is housed in one of Tallinn's fattest cannon towers. Fat Margaret Tower (Paks Margareeta) and the attached Great Coastal Gate (Suur Rannavärav), two of Tallinn's most impressive defensive structures, stand guard at the north end of Pikk street. They were built not only to defend the city from the seaward side of town, but also to impress any visitors arriving via the harbour. These days Fat Margaret’s cannon tower is home to the Estonian Maritime Museum, which provides a detailed look at the nation's seafaring past by displaying such things as Neolithic fishing gear, antique diving equipment, and even the entire wheelhouse from a 1950s-era trawler. The extensive museum covers four floors of the historic tower.

• Web:

  meremuuseum.ee/en

• E-mail:

  info@meremuuseum.ee

• Address:

  Pikk 70, Tallinn

• Phone:

  +372 641 1408

• Opening hours:

  Museum: daily 10am–7pm. Fat Margaret is open May to September: daily 10am–7pm; October to April: Tue–Sun 10am–6pm.

Estonian Museum of Natural History

The Estonian Museum of Natural History tells stories about the nature of Estonia and helps you to make sense of its secrets. The museum offers a fascinating look at the creatures and habitats of Estonia, as well as wildlife from around the world. There are several seasonal, temporary themed exhibitions every year from alive spiders, edible and poisonous mushrooms to minerals.

• Web:

  www.loodusmuuseum.ee

• E-mail:

  muuseum@loodusmuuseum.ee

• Address:

  Lai 29a, Tallinn

• Phone:

  +372 641 1739

• Opening hours:

  Tue, Wed & Fri–Sun 10am–5pm, Thu 10am–7pm, Mon closed

Cathedral of Saint Mary the Virgin & its Tower

The Medieval church that stands at the centre of Toompea hill is one of the county’s most fascinating historical attractions. Traditionally catering to the nobility, it is filled with spectacular, wood-carved artwork and elaborate coats of arms. Visitors can climb the 69-metre baroque bell-tower, added in 1779, for amazing views of the city.

• Address:

  Tallinna toomkirik, Toom-Kooli 6, Tallinn

• Phone:

  +372 644 4140

Estonian History Museum — Great Guild Hall

This extensive museum presents Estonia's history from prehistoric times right up to the end of the 20th century. Films and interactive displays show how people here lived, fought and survived over the last 11,000 years. Children can look for the museum’s very own dragon, displayed for centuries on the building’s pillar.

• Web:

  www.ajaloomuuseum.ee/en

• E-mail:

  post@ajaloomuuseum.ee

• Address:

  Pikk 17, Tallinn

• Phone:

  +372 696 8690

• Opening hours:

  Tue–Sun 10am–6pm, Mon closed

Estonian Open Air Museum

This museum lets you travel back in time to the rural Estonia of old. The vast, forested park is filled with thatched, 18-20th-century farm buildings, windmills, a wooden chapel and a village school, with staff demonstrating how people lived and worked in times past. An ideal place for families to take a picnic and escape from city life.

• Web:

  evm.ee/en

• E-mail:

  info@evm.ee

• Address:

  Eesti Vabaõhumuuseum, Vabaõhumuuseumi tee 12, Tallinn

• Phone:

  +372 654 9100

• Opening hours:

  Museum park: daily 10am–8pm. The building are open until 6pm. Everything closes an hour earlier in the winter

Kadriorg Art Museum

A trip to Tallinn isn’t complete without a visit to this magnificent northern Baroque palace, built by Peter the Great for his wife, Catherine I, in the early 18th century. Designed by Italian architect Niccolo Michetti, the grandiose palace and surrounding manicured gardens are a humbling example of Tsarist extravagance, but just as important a reason to visit is that this is also home to the foreign art collection of the Art Museum of Estonia.

• Web:

  kadriorumuuseum.ekm.ee/en

• E-mail:

  kadriorg@ekm.ee

• Address:

  August Weizenbergi 37, Tallinn

• Phone:

  +372 606 6400

• Opening hours:

  Tue 10am–6pm, Wed 10am–8pm, Thu–Sun 10am–6pm, Mon closed

Kiek in de Kök

The name of this massive, 38-metre-high cannon tower and museum of the town’s defences literally means “peek into the Kitchen". It was so high that Medieval guards joked they could see right down the chimneys and into the kitchens of the houses below. Make sure to pay a visit to the top floor cafe for beautiful Old Town views.

• Web:

  linnamuuseum.ee/en/kiek-in-de-kok

• Address:

  Komandandi tee 2, Tallinn

• Phone:

  +372 644 6686

• Opening hours:

  Daily 11am–8pm

Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform

On the east corner of Toompea hill sits quite a spacious viewing platform with unforgettable views to the medieval neighbourhood against the backdrop of its more modern district. From here you can see most of the Tallinn's spires, even the highest of them, the Tallinn TV Tower in the distance. During the summer season outdoor cafe and dance evenings take over the space.

• Address:

  Kohtu 12, Tallinn

• Opening hours:

  Open 24/7