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Places (POIs) visited during this tour

Place #1
Distance: 0.13mi , Attraction : Historical Landmark
Map Pin
Viru 64, 10148 Tallinn, Estonia
POI 1 Tour Image
Viru Gate
We begin on Viru Street, at the corner of Aia street.
This is a good place to start as we are at the entry gates to the old city, near public transportation, including the Viru rail stop. We will walk towards the gate and pass both American and Estonian restaurants. See the Burger King and Mcdonald's? I wonder what those menus look like here.

The Viru Gate is one of the most iconic and photographed entrances to Tallinn’s Old Town, serving as a symbolic threshold between the modern city and the medieval heart of Estonia’s capital.

Originally part of a much larger defensive wall system constructed in the 14th century, the Viru Gate once formed the eastern entrance into the fortified city. The gate was part of a larger structure that included walls, a moat, and several outbuildings—all designed to control access and protect Tallinn from invaders. In its prime, the gate complex would have been heavily fortified and bustling with merchants, guards, and townspeople entering or leaving the city.

What remains today are the two cylindrical towers flanking what was once a much larger gate complex. These towers—capped with distinctive conical red roofs—are remnants of the original outer gate system. The main gate buildings and much of the surrounding wall were unfortunately demolished in the late 19th century to accommodate growing traffic and urban expansion.

The towers are constructed from limestone, the dominant building material in Tallinn's medieval structures. They exemplify Gothic military architecture, with their thick walls and narrow slit windows once used for archers. Today, their fairytale-like appearance contrasts sharply with the busy shopping street that lies just beyond them.

Today, the Viru Gate is more of a symbolic entrance than a functional one. Just outside the towers, you’ll find a lively flower market, which adds a burst of color and fragrance to the scene. It’s a popular photo spot and a favorite starting point for tourists beginning their exploration of Old Town.

As you pass through the gate and enter Viru Street (Viru tänav), you’re immediately immersed in the charm of Tallinn’s medieval center—lined with shops, cafes, and centuries-old buildings that have seen everything from Hanseatic trade to Soviet occupation.

Break on through, to the other side. Actually, just walk. I'm a fan of the music of The Doors.

Read More

  https://medium.com/teatime-history/the-last-vestiges-of-vanalinn-bf934ebc8b56
Place #2
Distance: 0.03mi , Attraction : Atmosphere
Map Pin
Viru tänav, 10140 Tallinn, Estonia
POI 4 Tour Image
Muurivahe Street
Let's turn right on Muurivahe Street, a narrow, atmospheric lane that runs parallel to Tallinn’s medieval city wall, just inside the Old Town’s eastern perimeter, between Viru Street and Vene Street. Its name literally means “Between the Walls,” referencing its historical location adjacent to the fortifications. Muurivahe is one of the best places to experience the close relationship between Tallinn’s architecture and its layered history, especially the preserved city wall and towers that once defended this Hanseatic trading hub.

Walking along Muurivahe, you’ll be right next to a long stretch of Tallinn’s original 13th- to 16th-century city wall, remarkably well-preserved. You can see stone ramparts, arrow slits, and watchtowers, including Hellemann Tower, which is open to visitors. From the tower, you can access the wall walk, offering elevated views of the street, rooftops, and the Old Town beyond.

We will be making our way to Hellemann Tower and Wall Walk. This tower dates from the 14th century and lets visitors climb wooden staircases to walk along a section of the wall, just as guards once did.

Along the street’s edge, you’ll find craft and antique stalls—especially in warmer months—selling wool goods, linen, wooden toys, and handmade souvenirs. This market evokes Tallinn’s Hanseatic trading past, where merchants once sold goods in similar stalls within the protective reach of the walls.

Compared to nearby Viru Street, Muurivahe is quieter and less commercialized, making it a peaceful contrast and a perfect place to absorb the historical ambiance. It's especially atmospheric in the early morning or at dusk, with the shadows of the towers cast long on the stone.

Several charming courtyards and alleyways branch off Muurivahe, offering peaceful pockets of Old Town charm. Many of these lead to local cafés, workshops, and galleries. Keep an eye out for iron signs and stone plaques that often reveal the building's former use or guild affiliation.

Read More

  https://visitharju.ee/en/muurivahe-street-in-the-old-town-tallinn/
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour

Map Pin Place 1 Viru Gate
Map Pin Place 2 Muurivahe Street
Map Pin Place 3 Hellemann Tower
Map Pin Place 4 St. Catherine's Passage
Map Pin Place 5 St. Catherine’s Church Ruins
Map Pin Place 6 Vene Street (Vene tänav)
Map Pin Place 7 Raeapteek Pharmacy
Map Pin Place 8 Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats)
Map Pin Place 9 Puha Vaimu Kogudus (Church of the Holy Spirit)
Map Pin Place 10 Tallinn Town Hall
Map Pin Place 11 Cuisine
Map Pin Place 12 Language
Map Pin Place 13 Tallinn Museum of Orders Knighthood
Map Pin Place 14 The Eduard Vilde Monument
Map Pin Place 15 Eduard Vilde Monument
Map Pin Place 16 St. Nicholas' Church and Museum
Map Pin Place 17 Short Leg Gate Tower
Map Pin Place 18 Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Map Pin Place 19 Toompea Castle & Riigikogu (Parliament)
Map Pin Place 20 Landskrone Torn (Landskrone Tower)
Map Pin Place 21 St. Mary’s Cathedral (Dome Church)
Map Pin Place 22 Piiskopiaia Vaateplats (Bishop’s Garden Viewing Platform)
Map Pin Place 23 Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform
Map Pin Place 24 Patkuli Viewing Platform
Map Pin Place 25 Patkuli Staircase
Map Pin Place 26 Nunna, Sauna, and Kuldjala Towers
Map Pin Place 27 Pikk Street (Pikk tänav)
Map Pin Place 28 House of the Brotherhood of the Blackheads
Map Pin Place 29 Roheline Turg
Map Pin Place 30 Church of St. Olaf (Oleviste kirik)
Map Pin Place 31 Great Coastal Gate and Fat Margaret Tower



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