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What to do in Tallinn with kids?
By visittallinn.ee • 19.09.2019
Are you planning to visit Tallinn with children? The city offers plenty of opportunities for a fun and active family holiday – from adventure, water and snow parks to play centres and fascinating museums. Below you will find our suggestions for different activities for children of all ages.
A top tip: if you plan to visit museums, use public transport, or the hop-on-hop-off tour bus, consider purchasing a Tallinn Card, a sightseeing pass that includes free entry to Tallinn’s top museums, free use of public transport, and a 50% discount on the hop-on-hop-off tour bus (free with Tallinn Card PLUS). With one adult card you can bring along for free two kids under the age of seven.
Discover museums!
The maritime centre Seaplane Harbour offers activities for those seeking action – try firing a torpedo or hitting flying targets! Tour the original Lembit submarine and see many other life-size exhibits. There is also an exciting outdoor playground for younger children. The Energy Discovery Centre is a real hands-on museum where children can generate electricity, create different sounds, and take part in a space adventure.
Maarjamäe Palace's exhibition "My Free Country [Minu Vaba Riik]" lets children build their own country in the educative and fun playroom "Children’s Republic" . Located in the same complex are exciting outdoor exhibitions, a fun playground, and the Estonian Film Museum.
Kids who like Medieval forts, climbing up towers or descending into underground tunnels will enjoy the Kiek in de Kök Fortifications Museum. Exhibits in the medieval Kiek in de Kök show how Tallinn was defended over the centuries. The towers and the passages are recommended for ages 7 and up (the museum's stairs are steep).
In addition to exploring Tallinn’s medieval towers, adventure-loving kids will enjoy going up the TV Tower – the highest building in Estonia.
NUKU, the Museum and Centre for Puppet Arts, and the Children's Museum Miiamilla are sure to appeal to younger children. At the NUKU museum, children can play with different puppets, try on costumes, and make the steam-powered theatre displays move on the museum windows. Miiamilla Children's Museum in Kadriorg offers creative pursuits and games for children aged 3-11.
The Estonian Museum of Natural History tells visitors all about Estonia's nature. Meet the rare flying squirrel; see the biggest mammal found in forests, the moose, and measure up to the biggest fish caught in Estonia. You can experience touching, hearing, seeing and smelling the world the way animals do. For real, live, animals, head to Tallinn Zoo. A children’s petting zoo allows smaller domesticated animals to be touched. The Zoo also has a large children’s play area and picnic spots.
The newest family-friendly attraction in the city, the PROTO Invention Factory opens its doors in October 2019 offering a one-of-a-kind mix of virtual reality, science, and fantasy.
In the T1 Mall of Tallinn shopping centre in Ülemiste the hands-on science centre SkyLab and the country's biggest Ferris wheel, the Skywheel, offer both excitement and unique city views. If your kids are into gaming, check out LVLup!, the first interactive video game museum in the Baltics in the ARS Art Factory.
A top transport tip: The Hop-On Hop-Off double-decker bus is convenient for travelling between points of interest. The upper deck is convertible, as long as the weather is fine. The ride is free for children under 7. Those who prefer a somewhat shorter ride in the Old Town should look for City Train stop near the Viru Gate. The close to 20-minute train ride is a fun adventure tour through the Old Town and is especially popular among younger visitors.
Have fun on snow and ice!
Tallinn's snow parks are open as long as there’s snow on the ground. In a 20-minute drive from the city centre, you will find Viimsi Mäepark Vimka – where the slopes are open to skiers, snowboarders and tubers. Nõmme Snow Park also caters to snow tubers and snowboarders. Skiing and skating are available at nearby Nõmme Sports Centre, which changes with the seasons. During the summer, it features an outdoor pool and ball parks.
One of the most popular outdoor skating rinks (open from December to March) is in Harju Street in the heart of the Old Town. Skating on this rink is one of the best ways to experience the romantic wintry ambience and spend fun quality time with your family. The Jeti and Škoda ice arenas are open year-round.
One of the most popular outdoor skating rinks (open from December to March) is in Harju Street in the heart of the Old Town. Skating on this rink is one of the best ways to experience the romantic wintry ambience and spend fun quality time with your family. The Jeti and Škoda ice arenas are open year-round.
Play outside!
Tallinn’s public playgrounds and beaches offer great free entertainment and are definitely worth visiting. One of the largest children’s area is in the picturesque Kadriorg Park, complete with its own children's museum, Miiamilla, and a year-round kids' amusement park. Other large playgrounds for all ages are in the centrally-located Police Park, on the Square of Towers at the edge of the Old Town, in Kalamaja Park in Põhja-Tallinn and at Stroomi Beach.
During summertime, toes can be dipped in the water at the beaches of Pirita, Kakumäe and Harku Lake. Those up for a trip a short distance out of the city will find ideal beach holiday destinations like Viimsi (Haabneeme beach), Laulasmaa, and the islands in Tallinn’s vicinity.
During summertime, toes can be dipped in the water at the beaches of Pirita, Kakumäe and Harku Lake. Those up for a trip a short distance out of the city will find ideal beach holiday destinations like Viimsi (Haabneeme beach), Laulasmaa, and the islands in Tallinn’s vicinity.
Jump and splash!
If it's raining or cold outside, you can always opt for indoor entertainment. Megazone indoor adventure park welcomes children from a height of 120 cm; shorter guests must be accompanied. The centre also has a Segway obstacle course (ages 10 and up), laser playground (ages 6 and up) and a rally simulator. Children six and up can also battle in rounds of laser tag at LaserGame recreation centre.
Young motorists are welcome to the Laste Liikluspark and Laste Liiklusmängukeskus indoor traffic parks. As the parks are popular for private parties, it is recommended to call in advance to check availability. Those with independent transport can head out of the city to LaitseRallyPark, which has challenging indoor and outdoor courses for racing fans young and old. Racing can also be enjoyed on Tallinn’s karting tracks.
Super Skypark and Zelluloos trampoline centres offer plenty of jumping and climbing fun. Several other play centres are located at malls, including Tallinn's biggest play area - Lennumaa at Ülemiste Centre.
Super Skypark and Zelluloos trampoline centres offer plenty of jumping and climbing fun. Several other play centres are located at malls, including Tallinn's biggest play area - Lennumaa at Ülemiste Centre.
In the waterparks of Tallinn, it is always summer. Kalev Spa Water Park is conveniently situated right at the edge of the Old Town. With its water slides, full length pool, bubble-baths, and saunas it is sure to keep the whole family entertained. One of the biggest venues, Atlantis H2O Aquapark, is located 10 km from the centre in Viimsi. It is a combination of a water park and discovery centre. Here kids can be scientists in swimsuits! They can study the laws of physics, water tornadoes and geysers, the development of life in water and water creatures. The park has six water slides, of which two can be ridden in tubes. There’s also a wave pool and circular pool. A spa and sauna centre is located in the same complex.
Be adventurous!
In the summer season, many exciting open-air adventure parks are available for the young and not-so-young climbers. Nõmme Adventure Park offers six elevated adventure trails, all ending with a fast descent on “monkey cables”. Each trail takes about 2.5-3 hours to complete. A separate adventure park is available for kids shorter than 115 cm, with suspended bridges, monkey cables, swings and witch-houses. The attractions here are lower so that parents on the ground can assist if needed.
Pirita Adventure Park also has six elevated trails ending with fast descent, with the added bonus of a panoramic Tallinn view from the seaside Beach Trail. It also has the biggest children’s park in Tallinn, complete with exciting suspended bridges, long chutes, swings and obstacle courses. The children’s area is suitable for children aged 2-6.