Why go
The surviving wall turns Old Town’s fortifications from a map feature into something you can follow on foot. Towers punctuate the line, and the Nun’s Tower section can add a raised view toward Toompea when that part is open to visitors.
What to look for
- Surviving wall sections and defensive towers mark the Old Town boundary.
- Nun’s Tower offers an elevated look toward the Old Town and Toompea Castle.
The full story
Tallinn’s wall developed as the medieval town grew and its defences became more elaborate. A first circuit was ordered in the thirteenth century, and later generations raised and strengthened the fortifications. The surviving stretches and towers still make the edge of the Old Town easy to read, especially where a walk moves between street level and the former defensive line. The wall was part of a system of gates, towers and guard duties, not merely a boundary. Its continued presence helps explain why the historic centre retains such a distinct shape. Some tower sections now allow visitors onto elevated walkways, while others are best seen from outside. That distinction matters in planning: a continuous exterior walk shows the scale of the fortifications, whereas an entered section such as Nun’s Tower gives a more direct sense of what defenders could see.
Useful to know
- Treat the wall as a series of sections rather than one attraction with one entrance.
- Check the specific tower or wall walkway you intend to enter; access differs from the open exterior walk.