Delight your inner adventurer – discover the colourful past and bright future of Kopli
Set your own pace on the wild paths through the once-forgotten Kopli peninsula in Tallinn.
Kopli is a hidden treasure worth visiting all year round, with a fascinating industrial legacy that’s visible in its unique housing and city planning dating back to the early 20th century. Today, Kopli is a developing cultural hub with concerts and events, restaurants, cafes and bakeries, and shops.
This short, but packed route offers an experience not found in many cities – taking you quite literally off the beaten track, through ruins and rebuilt areas, through greenery and into industry.
What to expect on the route:
- Main attractions: Kopli liinid restored residential district and seaside promenade, Kase park, Põhjala tehas and its shops and restaurants.
- Distance: around 2.5 kilometres (1.5 miles)
- Duration: between 1 to 1.5 hours
- Season: Year-round
- How to get here: trams no. 1, 2, 5.
- Suggested starting points: Vanasadama (tram line 2) or Balti Jaam tram stops (tram lines 1, 2 or 5)
- Green travel tips: use public transport to get to Kopli, have some water at the drinking water tap at Kopli liinid promenade.
- More info: use this map.
Historical Kopli liinid neighbourhood and seaside promenade
Kopli liinid (Kopli Lines) is a charming neighbourhood of wooden houses, originally built at the beginning of the 20th century. This area was initially home to families who worked at the nearby shipyards on Kopli peninsula.
During the Soviet era, the area fell into disrepair, and the original shipyard workers were replaced by a more colourful mix of residents. Probably the most famous person who grew up in Kopli is Tommy Cash, the internationally popular musician and visual artist who represented Estonia in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest with his catchy hit song "Espresso Macchiato".
The restoration of the neighbourhood began in the 2010s and is still ongoing. Houses with a sleek, modern appearance are completely new constructions, built on the sites of those that had burned down and could not be salvaged. Their black façades symbolise ash and the loss of the original structures. The white houses have been reconstructed around the original surviving stone staircases, preserving a fragment of their history. Meanwhile, several houses were still in a condition suitable for renovation; these have been carefully restored and painted in vivid shades of red, yellow, or green.
Kopli liinid now stands as a compelling blend of old and new, where historical roots meet modern expression, offering visitors a glimpse into Tallinn’s layered past and creative future.
The renewed neighbourhood is bordered by a lovely seaside promenade with playgrounds for children, fresh drinking water for both humans and their four-legged companions, and benches that offer a tranquil spot to enjoy the serene view of Tallinn Bay.
Photo author: Rea Kõiv
Kase park – once untamed, now a bright spot for the community
Kase park is a fascinating piece of urban nature. Named after the old birch trees that give the park an air of magic, you’ll also notice large stones on the ground. These are naturally occurring boulders – a remnant of the last Ice Age. When the ice retreated, it shifted the terrain under it, moving huge stones from the current lands of Finland into Estonia. This means that these stones have stood here in Kopli for over 10,000 years!
Kase park therefore has a rich prehistory, but its recent past is just as colourful.
Kopli is a fast-changing area with a lot of urban development and new housing. However, even around 10 years ago, the district of Kopli could be quite dodgy, with criminal activity being common. Kase park was no exception and was at one point known by locals as the “run or die” park, where the safest way to traverse it was to run through as fast as you could. Nowadays it is a clean, quiet park loved by local families. The park has coffee machines, ample seating areas and a skatepark and playground for kids.
Photo author: Rea Kõiv
Põhjala tehas – from rubber boot factory to a bustling hub for culture and local enterprise
Põhjala tehas (Põhjala factory) is a large former industrial building complex that has housed many factories throughout its existence, most famously the Põhjala rubber factory that mostly made rain boots. Other industries also had their production buildings in the same area, such as Lorup (later Tarbeklaas) glass manufacture and the Bekker shipyard.
Today, Põhjala is a popular cultural hub housing many local designers and artisans. Take a look inside the numerous design and art studios, shop for clothes, freshly roasted coffee or even designer baby accessories.
The area is home to one of the most popular bakeries in Tallinn – Karjase sai. Don’t be put off by the queue that has usually formed by the door. The wait is usually quick, and the pastries are definitely worth it. For a more substantial meal, head to Kopli Köök, a popular lunch spot in the main building of Põhjala. The interior alone makes this place worth a visit – the eclectic retro style perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Kopli’s industrial past. Restaurant Barbarea, listed in the Michelin Guide for Estonia, is a great spot for dinner. The restaurant works with local farms and uses as much organic ingredients as possible.
One of the most instagrammable places in Põhjala is the ReaD bookshop which sells new and old books, both in Estonian, English and other languages. It is also a popular place for events such as book readings and lectures and café Kiosk no. 3 adds an extra level of cosiness to this already quaint space.
Photo author: Rea Kõiv
Let Kopli surprise you – with its peaceful seaside paths, colourful history and buzzing creativity. Step off the grid and into a neighbourhood where every corner tells a story. Read more about the self-guided journey through Kopli.
Last updated
18.06.2025