Tallinn Town Hall – the oldest city hall in northern Europe

While visiting Estonia’s capital Tallinn, you will most definitely visit Tallinn Town Hall square in the middle of the Old Town. You can visit the Christmas market during the winter or just sit down in one of the restaurants and enjoy the vibrant town during the warmer months. But the main building to see when visiting the square is, of course, the Tallinn Town Hall. Standing proudly in the square, it is the oldest city hall in northern Europe.

The Tallinn Town Hall was built in the 13th century when Tallinn was an important Hanseatic city. This large building with high walls was used to rule the city of Tallinn for almost 700 years. Walking through the rooms, you can almost feel all of the history these walls have seen. The building is decorated in the most orgulous and wealthy way and is preserved as much as possible. It includes some items dating back to the 14th or 15th centuries.

Tallinn Town Hall

Raekoja plats 1, 10114 Tallinn, Estonia

Take a look over the Old Town

Tallinn Town Hall is magnificent from the outside, but if possible, take a look inside. The ticket is not that expensive – only 10 euros for a family ticket or 5 euros for an adult. If you visit the Town Hall during the summer, you can also climb the high stairs to the attic to see the view over the whole Tallinn’s Old Town.

An authentic medieval restaurant

Visiting the Town Hall might make you feel as if you have stepped in the medieval ages. To dine as a medieval noble, you might want to step in the medieval restaurant, just in the Tallinn Town Hall building, Olde Hansa. This unique restaurant will make you feel as if you have stepped into a time machine - the modern life troubles are far away, and you can enjoy your night full of troubadours, ancient songs about magic and dragons and, of course, fine meals.

Olde Hansa Restaurant, Tallinn

Vana turg 1, 10146 Tallinn, Estonia

Have a pint just around the corner

The Town Hall building also has a small pub around the corner from Olde Hansa, for everyone who wants to have a light meal, like an elk soup, or a pint of homemade beer. This pub, III Draakon, is surprisingly cheap, with the meals costing around 1-3 euros.

Tallinn Town Hall, built in the 13th century, is the oldest and most well-preserved city hall in northern Europe. During the winter you can visit only the halls with the large ceilings, but during the summer you can also climb the stairs to see all of the Old Town from the attic of the Town Hall. You can see the building from the outside, visit the square, or have a meal or drink in many restaurants there: but you should definitely step in and have a closer look.