Tallinna Raekoja Plats

Raekoja plats, Tallinn's Town Hall Square, is the magnificent medieval heart of the Old Town, a wide cobbled plaza ringed by pastel merchant houses and dominated by the Gothic Town Hall, the only surviving Gothic town hall in northern Europe, topped by 'Old Thomas,' the city's weathervane guardian since 1530. For centuries this was the centre of trade, markets, and public life, and it still is: café terraces spill across the cobbles in summer, and in December it hosts one of Europe's most enchanting Christmas markets around a towering tree.

You can climb the Town Hall tower for a view over the red rooftops, and the square is the natural hub from which to explore the Old Town's lanes. It's at its most magical lit up on a winter evening, or alive with terraces under the long summer light.

Don't miss

• The Gothic Town Hall and 'Old Thomas' weathervane
• Climbing the Town Hall tower for rooftop views
• Pastel medieval merchant houses ringing the square
• Summer café terraces across the cobbles
• The celebrated December Christmas market

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Tallinna Raekoja Plats

Cheapest way inSoviet Walking Tour of Tallinn: Explore the City's Hidden History5★ · 82 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$35 per personSee dates →Most bookedGuided Old Town Tallinn Historical Walking Tour4.8★ · 471 travelers2–3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$41 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleTallinn Private Walking Tour with a Local4.9★ · 48 travelers2–6 hoursFree cancellationFrom$56 per personSee dates →

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Know before you go

• Climb the Town Hall tower (seasonal) for the classic rooftop view.
• Cruise crowds peak midday, come early or evening for the square at its calmest.
• December's Christmas market here is among Europe's most beautiful.
• It's the hub of the Old Town, use it as your base for wandering the lanes.

A bit of history

The square has been Tallinn's marketplace and civic centre since at least the medieval Hanseatic era. The Gothic Town Hall was completed in 1404, and the square has hosted markets, celebrations, and (historically) public punishments for over six centuries.