Timeline
05:07
Grab a coffee and a sweet pastry at Maiasmokk. This is the oldest still operating café in Tallinn, dating back to 1864. It is spacious with stylish decor and offers cheap prices for coffee, tea, chocolate and various sweet and savoury pastries. Arrive early to secure a seat before the tour groups arrive.
05:47
Walk to Danish King's garden. This park in Tallinn Old Town is the place where the flag of Denmark, Dannebrog, according to tradition, is said to have been born. Find a quiet spot in the grass or on a bench facing west to watch the sky lighten.
06:07
Watch the sunrise. On this date, the sun rises at 06:07 and golden light starts about 19:40, setting toward the WNW. The early morning light will cast a warm glow over the historic park and the surrounding old town walls.
06:37
Return to Maiasmokk for a longer sit-down breakfast or more coffee. The café is open from 09:00, so by this time it is fully operating. Use the extra time to people-watch and enjoy the stylish interior.
Local tip
The walk from Maiasmokk to Danish King's garden is short (about 16 minutes). The park is small, so you can easily find a good vantage point. If you prefer a later start, you can skip the early coffee and just go to the garden for the sunrise, then head to Maiasmokk for a proper breakfast after 09:00.
Check before you go
- Maiasmokk is open Mostly 09:00–21:00. If you plan to go for the early coffee step before sunrise (06:07), check if they are open at that specific time, as 'Mostly' implies potential variations. If not, skip the first step and just go to the garden, then go to Maiasmokk after 09:00.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Tallinn (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).