Overview
Most first trips start with two or three days in Tallinn, whose medieval Old Town sits on the UNESCO list, with Kadriorg's palace and park to the east and the sea districts of Kalamaja and Noblessner to the west. Lahemaa National Park is about an hour by car from Tallinn and makes a full day trip of bogs, manors and fishing villages. Buses and trains reach Tartu, the university city, in about 2 to 2.5 hours.
Summer, from June to August, is mild with long evenings and averages 18 to 20 degrees C. Spring weather can change quickly, and winter runs from late November to early March with temperatures that fall well below freezing. Many museums close on Mondays, and some shorten their hours from October to April.
When to go
Tallinn's Christmas market fills Town Hall Square from late November to early January, and Medieval Days take over the Old Town in July.
Every month in detail: weather and recent faresItineraries
Where to stay
Show a map of hotels in Tallinn with live prices
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Show a map of hotels in Tartu with live prices
Map and live prices from Stay22 and its booking partners. TravPa earns a commission if you book; your price stays the same.
Getting around
- Tallinn Airport: The airport is 4 km from the center, and trams T2 and T4 run from it into town.
- Tallinn to Tartu: Intercity buses and trains from Tallinn reach Tartu in about 2 to 2.5 hours, and Tallinn Bus Station is about 2 km from the Old Town.
- In Tallinn: The Old Town is walkable; for Kadriorg, Telliskivi and the sea, tap a contactless bank card on the orange validators on trams and buses.
- In Tartu: The center is compact, the bus station is a five-minute walk from the Old Town, and a city bus or taxi reaches the Estonian National Museum.
- To Lahemaa: Viru Bog is about an hour by car from Tallinn, and most distances between major towns are under three hours by road.