Tour of Tallinn Old Town and Bastion Tunnels
Description
We welcome you on a private tour of our beautiful and unique Old Town. Tallinn is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe and therefore listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking on cobblestone streets you will find yourself in outdoor museum with extraordinary exhibitions such as historical and architectural rarities. Through exciting stories we bring you back to the Middle Ages with crusades and monks, nobles and kings, salt traders and guildsmen, headsmen and prisoners, master-craftsmen and apprentices. Back then attack was a constant worry, so like any respectable medieval town, Tallinn has it`s bastion walls and underground passageways. After a walking tour a guide will arrange entrance and lead you to explore the old Bastion Tunnels. During the Soviet period the tunnels were further modernized. You will see some of the old equipment leftover from that era, as well as parts of facility that still retain medieval look. At the end, please admire the Carved Stone Art.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Tallinn’s Old Town is divided into two areas – the lower town and the upper town (also called Toompea). Those two towns were once separated by gates, almost like two different cities. Nowadays, the combination of the upper town on the high limestone hill and the lower town at its foot form an expressive skyline that is visible from a great distance both from land and sea. The lower town (all-linn) is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe, also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.
The mysterious Bastion passages, dating back to the 17th to 18th centuries, run beneath Toompea and are an integral part of the city’s defence system together with the town wall and its towers. Enter the tunnels through the Kiek in de Kök Fortifications Museum to learn about their fascinating history and to view Tallinn from below.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchairs, because of the long stair-ways
- Please note that temperature in the passages is 10-12°C throughout the year and you will navigate some rather steep stairs, so please dress appropriately
- We do not recommend taking children under the age of 7 to the Bastion passages
Reviews(69)
Heivi was wonderful! We really covered all of Old Town and it was a great walk! She's so knowledgeable and friendly and answered all my questions, I highly recommend it!
Hello! Thank you so much for your feedback. Have a nice and safe trip!
We had a wonderful tour with Heivi Pruuli and she was extremely knowledgeable and shared many areas of Tallin which would probably be missed on a large group tour. The pace was brisk and she included a short playground stop for our 9 year old. If joining from a cruise- the tour start location is about 28 min walk or Euro25 taxi ride from the port.
Hello, Heide! Thank you for your feedback. I wish you a wonderful journey in Europe. Best regards to your family.
Met with Heivi outside the Town Hall and she held a clear sign with my name. We were a group of four and had travelled together. Heivi was extremely knowledgeable and also had a lovely sense of humour. The tour was full of very interesting facts with some fun facts thrown in. She made sure we had plenty of opportunities for comfort breaks etc. The tour itself is a lot of walking which is great but be aware it is important to wear comfortable shoes. Some wonderful views. Heivi also pointed out a lot of interesting places to visit another time. Highly recommend this tour.
Hello! Thank you very much for the positive feedback. I wish you a pleasant trip. Best regards from Tallinn.
Heivi, my tour guide was great. On time, engaging, very informative and knowledgeable and asked me what I would like to do and if I was all right. You will see a lot of the old town. Wear comfortable shoes. Great way to see the town. I definitely recommend her as a guide.🤗
Hello, John! Thank you for your feedback. I wish you a wonderful trip and discoveries.
Excellent tour of Tallinn, great photo opportunities, very knowledgeable guide, I felt it was well worth the money and would recommend to any traveler to the area.
Hi, Brian! Thank you very much for your feedback. I wish you an impressive trip in Europe.
The guide was so informative, and shared lots of history, stories and folklore. For us it was a private tour and she was happy to tailor our tour just for our interests giving us tips on other things also. We highly recommend this tour
Hello! Thank you very much for your feedback. I wish you a wonderful New Year's Eve and a happy New Year 2026.
What a cool experience the tunnels are! Highly recommend! The stories that are told along your walk are so impactful and educational. My 12 year old boys and I learned so much!
Hi, Lauren! Thank you so much for your feedback.
Heivi is an amazing guide! We learned so much from her. She is so knowledgeable and so much fun to talk to. Through her, the history of Old Town came alive! I love how she took us to tiny hidden places and explained how special they were. We also loved how she talked of the history of Tallinn, from the ancient to the modern. She is a wonderful teacher!
Hello! It was a pleasure to introduce you the Tallinn Old Town. Thank you for the great feedback.
Our guide Heivi was wonderful! She was very knowledgeable so we learned a ton about old town. This would be a good tour for early in your trip to get the lay of the land and understand the local history.
Hi! Thank you very much for your feedback and I wish you a pleasant journey.
Tour of Old Town and Bastions is a wonderful way to explore the layers of history and hidden gems beneath the surface of the city. It’s more than just a casual walk through picturesque streets—it brings the Old Town’s medieval walls, towers, and underground passageways vividly to life with stories and context you wouldn’t uncover on your own. Our guide, Heivi, was engaging and knowledgeable. She added a personal touch weaving together history, legends, and modern connections that made the past feel alive.
Hi, Joanne! Thank you for your beautifully worded feedback. Best regards. Guide: Heivi Pruuli
