One of the reasons I almost instantly fell in love with Tallinn was its abundance of nature so close to the city. My Airbnb is situated perfectly. I can walk 30 minutes in one direction and be in a magical medieval town, and in the other, the warm sandy coastline. And not only beaches but parks and forests too. Here are three of the beautiful beaches in Tallinn Estonia that you won’t want to miss.
Stroomi
This has become my escape and I visit it almost every other day. It’s the perfect place to get in a long walk being fully immersed in nature. Sometimes referred to as ‘City Beach’, it is located in the opposite direction to the other two. There are three parts to Stroomi Rand, the beach itself, the large manicured park and the forest.
Stroomi Rand (Beach)
This 1.5km stretch of coastline is a perfect place to relax, sunbathe and bring the family for water fun. The sand is incredibly fine, almost silt like and when close to the water, is compacted so densely it is hard like concrete. The entry is zero depth, meaning it’s a gradual entry and when the tide is out the sandy area is ultra wide. The water itself is fairly clear with a greenish hue and cold even in summer.
All along the beach are yellow benches, changing cubicles, garbage cans and a large central building that houses the toilets and a bar/restaurant. In the evenings this is such a dreamy spot to come and enjoy a beverage while watching the sunset.
On either end of the beach and in one portion near the middle, is marshy area with lots of wildlife. I have a hunch that if this beach weren’t frequented by humans and left to its own devices, the entire area would return to marshland. Because of this natural environment, there are areas of the sand that are heavy with rotten vegetation that comes to the surface and forms an unpleasant smell and look. If you dig in the sand here, just under the surface it is completely black.
I will go barefoot on this beach but only if the tide is out and I am able to walk away from the shoreline. There is just way too much freshly broken glass all along the beach itself for me to feel safe with bare tootsies.
Stroomi Park
Just up from the sandy beach, is the extensive park that spans the entire 1.5km. The space is largely lush green lawn with narrow paths throughout. Lined with trees and benches, these paths are a beautiful place to wander at any time of day. There are several playgrounds, a small kiddie carnival like area, a basketball court, lawn bowling and multiple ice cream trucks. It really is a lovely area to spend time in the summer months.
Stroomi Forest
And just beyond the park is a large area of forest. On a sunny day this is an amazing place to walk, run or bike ride. The sunlight filtering down through the leaves and branches and the fresh crisp air feel heavenly. There are multiple paths through the trees, some wider and more manicured than others.
Also find outdoor gyms nestled into the trees as well as places to BBQ and picnic. Watch for large signs and these will let you know which trails/routes to take and how many kilometers that will be. The perfect place for a brisk walk or any type of exercise really.
Russalka Rand
This is the closest beach to Old Town Tallinn and is easily walkable, perhaps a half hour. The route takes visitors past the old port area that is currently being reimagined into a livable and lovable space. The beach is a light sandy one with grasses growing in the dune like area closer to the esplanade. The views of Old Tallinn from Russalka Rand are amazing. The water can be quite choppy as it is more exposed that Stroomi on this other side. Up on the esplanade there are multiple wooden benches and platforms that locals are using to sunbathe and relax.
Kadrioru Park
Just beside the esplanade and Russalka Beach is a beautiful but small park. Filled with grassy spaces, paths and a massive statue called Russalka Memorial at the centre. It honors the victims that perished in the shipwreck just off this coastline. Speaking of shipwrecks, there are actually many in this part of the Gulf of Finland and information signs are posted throughout the park showcasing some of these. Inside the park are toilets, playgrounds an ice cream stand and even a food truck.
Pirita Promenade
Now walking from Russalka Beach to the third beach, we are going to take the promenade. It traverses the entire stretch of coastline and is well used by locals getting out to exercise. Along the way there are several things to see. The first is the massive concrete Maarjamae Memorial built during the Soviet era to honor Soviet soldiers who perished during WWII. Currently it is run down and kind of an eye sore and the powers that be are deciding what to do with it. On the promenade at this place is a huge concrete structure, an expansion of the memorial that you walk under and through.
The next major thing visitors will pass is the Charles Leroaux Memorial. An American aeronaut who in 1889 drowned just off this coast, after his balloon was blown off course. He was on a world tour, showing his skills at piloting balloons and parachute jumps. Tallinn was his last scheduled stop of that tour.
Pirita Rand
And now after walking an hour from Russalka Beach we reach Pirita. One day I took the bus from town and for €2 it was a much quicker option that walking. Pirita is 2.5km long, light sandy beach lined with blue benches, trash cans and changing cubicles. Right in the centre is residential complex that really is unattractive and detracts from the natural beauty of this beach. I arrived at high tide and there is not a lot of sandy beach beyond that concrete building. When the tide is out, it looks much better.
The beach itself is probably the most popular nearest the city. There are several food trucks at one end and a windsurfing school. Not nearly as clean or picturesque as I had imagined, this beach is my least favourite. I did lay in the sunshine and spend a glorious few hours basking in the precious Estonian summer though.
Tallinn is one of those destinations that just feels perfect. For me the biggest reason for this is the proximity of both natural surrounds and incredible history. I can spend every other day deeply immersed in barefoot walking or surrounded by trees and pretty environments. And conversely the other days, roaming through perfectly preserved narrow medieval alleys. The best of both worlds is exactly what Tallinn is.
