Church of the Holy Ghost

This pretty whitewashed church was constructed in 1360 and retained its original appearance apart from the addition of a copper spire following a fire in 2002. The church was the first place where sermons in Estonian were delivered. On the façade is the city’s oldest public clock, carved in the 17th century. Inside, the altar, commissioned in 1483, is one of the four most precious Medieval works of art in Estonia.

Dome Church (Toomkirik)

Estonia’s oldest church, founded in 1219 by the Danes. The church looks much as it did originally although the interior was rebuilt after a fire in 1684.

Dominican Monastery

Tallinn’s oldest existing building, founded in 1246, is now a museum displaying stone carvings from the 15th and 16th century.

Convent of St Bridget (Pirita Klooster)

Founded in 1407, the convent uniquely housed both nuns and monks. Destroyed in a siege by Ivan the Terrible in 1577, the stones were then carried off to be used in other buildings throughout Tallinn, leaving just the Gothic gable, the foundations and the cemetery. The Brigittine nuns now live alongside the ruins in modern building.

The Song Grounds

One of Estonia's most important cultural sites; in 1988, 300,000 Estonians gathered here to sing the banned national anthem, an event that was subsequently dubbed the Singing Revolution, voicing their discontent at the Soviet occupation. Nowadays the Song Grounds are used for large concerts by such famous performers as the Rolling Stones and Michael Jackson, the Beer Festival and the National Song and Dance Festival, which is held every four years.

Danish King's Garden

Situated adjacent to Toompea Hill, Danneborg Day is celebrated in these pretty gardens each summer. According to legend, the Danes received their national flag in Tallinn; about to lose the battle on 15th July, 1219, the flag was handed down to them from the skies, and the battle tide turned. Denmark’s victory resulted in over a hundred years of Danish rule in Tallinn and northern Estonia.

Further Afield

Pirita Beach

5km north of the city centre is Pirita Beach, where Tallinn locals come to enjoy the fine white sandy beach and the various activities that take place in and out of the water.

Convent of St Bridget (Pirita Klooster)
Founded in 1407, the convent uniquely housed both nuns and monks. Destroyed in a siege by Ivan the Terrible in 1577, the stones were then carried off to be used in other buildings throughout Tallinn, leaving just the Gothic gable, the foundations and the cemetery. The Brigittine nuns now live alongside the ruins in modern building.

Kadriorg Palace & Park

Designed in 1718 for Peter the Great, the palace was named in honour of his wife Catherine I (Catherine is Kadri in Estonian). The palace is a fine example of Baroque architecture and is also home to the Foreign Art Museum of Estonia which houses important collections of Flemish works from the 17th century and Russian portraits from the 18th century. The surrounding gardens are beautifully kept, and the impressive President's Palace is only a short distance away.