Hotel Viru & KGB Museum

Tallinn

Copyright: Paul Kuimet/Visit Tallinn

DESTINATIONS estonia tallinn Do & See Hotel Viru & KGB Museum

Hotel Viru & KGB Museum

Those intrigued by the city's secret history can take the guided tour of the KGB Museum on the 23rd floor of Sokos Hotel Viru. In Soviet times it was rumoured that the KGB had files on everyone and that they operated in the Viru Hotel. The latter rumour turned out to be true, as you will see on this fascinating tour. Not only will you get an inkling of what the operatives were up to, you'll also get some great insights into the history of the hotel, which was designated exclusively for foreign guests visiting the USSR. To continue the 1980s throwback theme, you can pay a visit to the hotel's second floor Currency Bar.

Do & See

Tallinn is a highly compact city, most of which can easily be explored on foot without the need for taxis or buses. Most of the best opportunities for sightseeing, cultural events, dining, shopping, and nightlife are conveniently massed in the city centre. Whatever your agenda, whichever of the Tallinn's you need — the romantic, Medieval Tallinn or the trendy, high-tech one — the doors are open. Just take your pick and head on in! The Tallinn Card gives you free entry to 40 museums and other interesting attractions, one free sightseeing tour of your choice, free use of public transport and a variety of entertainment options.

St Catherine's Passage

St Catherine's Passage

What makes this easily the most picturesque of Old Town's lanes particularly interesting is that it's home to the St Catherine's Guild. This narrow alleyway features a collection of craft workshops where artists use traditional methods to create and sell glassware, hats, quilts, ceramics, jewellery, hand-painted silk and other wares. Stop at one of …

St Nicholas Church & Museum

St Nicholas Church & Museum

This impressive 13th-century church houses a museum dedicated to church art, displaying medieval burial stones, exquisite altarpieces and Tallinn’s most famous painting, 15th-century artist Bernt Notke’s eerie composition, Dance with Death. The building's acoustics also make it a prime concert venue, with organ or choir performances held here most …

Patkuli Viewing Platform

Patkuli Viewing Platform

The viewing platform on the north side of Toompea hill sits visibly on the limestone cliff. On the right you'll see the Town Wall with its defensive towers. On the left lies Kalamaja and Pelgulinn areas with Railway Station as landmark. Winding series of steps, built in 1903, lead down the cliff face to …

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

This spectacular, onion-domed structure perched atop Toompea Hill is Estonia's main Russian Orthodox cathedral. Built in 1900, when Estonia was part of the tsarist Russian empire, the cathedral was originally intended as a symbol of the empire's dominance. The church towers hold Tallinn's most powerful bell ensemble, consisting of 11 bells, including the largest …

St Olav’s Church & Tower

St Olav’s Church & Tower

Once upon a time, from 1549 to 1625 to be precise, this 14th century Gothic church was considered to be the tallest building in the World. But it’s gigantic, 159-metre spire, meant as a signpost for approaching ships, also turned out to be a very effective lightning rod. Throughout the church's history lightning hit …

Tallinn Town Wall

Tallinn Town Wall

With 1.9km of its original city wall still standing, Tallinn boasts one of Europe’s best preserved medieval fortifications together with 20 defensive towers. In fact, a large part of what gives Old Town its fairy tale charm is the system of walls and towers that surrounds …

Town Hall Pharmacy

Town Hall Pharmacy

Open since as far back as 1422, this curious little shop on the corner of Town Hall Square is in fact the oldest continuously running pharmacy in Europe. Marzipan was one of the pharmacy's best sellers, one that local legend insists was actually invented as a curative here in the 15th …

Danish King's Garden

Danish King's Garden

This open, garden-like area on the slopes of Toompea Hill happens to be the legendary birthplace of the Danish flag, according to a well-known legend. According to the story, Valdemar's forces were losing their battle with the Estonians when suddenly the skies opened and a red flag with a white cross floated down from …

Estonian Maritime Museum — Fat Margaret's Tower

Estonian Maritime Museum — Fat Margaret's Tower

This museum dedicated to all sea-faring aspects of Estonia’s history is housed in one of Tallinn's fattest cannon towers. Fat Margaret Tower (Paks Margareeta) and the attached Great Coastal Gate (Suur Rannavärav), two of Tallinn's most impressive defensive structures, stand guard at the north end of Pikk street. They were built not only to …

Estonian Museum of Natural History

Estonian Museum of Natural History

The Estonian Museum of Natural History tells stories about the nature of Estonia and helps you to make sense of its secrets. The museum offers a fascinating look at the creatures and habitats of Estonia, as well as wildlife from around the world. There are several seasonal, temporary themed exhibitions every year from alive …

House of the Blackheads

House of the Blackheads

This beautiful, Renaissance-style guild hall is truly a star among the Old Town's architectural treasures. This was the historic home of the Brotherhood of Black Heads, a medieval guild made up of young, single merchants and …

Kalev Marzipan Museum Room

Kalev Marzipan Museum Room

See nearly 200 intricate, marzipan figurines and watch Tallinn's favourite sweet being made in this historic shop-museum-café. In the Kalev Marzipan Museum Room, you'll learn all about Tallinn’s love affair with marzipan. Here you'll find dozens of amazing marzipan creations as well as a marzipan forms belonging to Georg Stude, who founded the shop over …

Maiden's Tower

Explore this sturdy, 14th-century tower, sip coffee in its swank café or walk along the Town Wall for some amazing views. Maiden's Tower, one of the most famous of Tallinn's medieval defence towers, was recently renovated and reopened a museum, complete with an exhibition hall in its vaulted cellar. Its famous café, a big …

Museum for Puppet Arts NUKU

Museum for Puppet Arts NUKU

Visitors get a behind-the-scenes look at the city's famous puppet theater, operating since 1952, at this fun, high-tech museum. The museum outlines the theater's history and displays dozens of the puppets that have starred in its popular plays. Exhibits include puppets from around the world and a 'Chamber of Horrors' where the 'scarier' puppets …

Tallinn City Museum

Tallinn City Museum

Housed in a 14th century merchant house, this comprehensive museum provides an excellent introduction to Tallinn’s history. It covers all the vital aspects of the city’s past and its development. Various sectors of medieval society are explained using a combination of texts, artifacts, life-sized models and sound effects. High-quality displays on the upper floors are …

Tallinn Town Hall

Tallinn Town Hall

Nothing says power like the impressive Gothic Town Hall that dominates medieval Tallinn's main square. It was built in 1402–04 as a meeting place for the ruling burgomeisters and has been a showpiece of the city ever since. Nowadays the Town Hall — the only intact Gothic town hall in Northern Europe — is …

Toompea Castle

Perched on a limestone cliff and towering over the rest of the city, Toompea Castle has always been the seat of power in Estonia. Ever since the German Knights of the Sword first built a stone fortress here in 1227-29, every foreign empire that ruled Estonia used the castle as its base. Today, appropriately, …

Towers' Square

In 1931–33, the square was turned into a communal park. Now the square boasts playgrounds for children and fitness areas, and has become known for the Tallinn International Flower Festival, which takes place here every summer. With nearly 2 km of its original city wall still standing, Tallinn boasts one of Europe’s best preserved …

Viru Gate

This pair of picturesque, ivy-covered towers at the entrance to Viru Street is often the first glimpse visitors get of Old Town. Anyone passing between them couldn't be blamed for thinking they've left the 21st century behind and landed smack in the middle of the 18th. The towers are actually only the foregates of …

Freedom Square

From the last days of the Tsars and through Estonia's first period of independence, this open area at the edge of Old Town had been a place of national symbolism and civic pride, as well as a favourite public gathering spot. The Monument to the War of Independence is commemorating Estonia's hard-fought struggle in …

Hotel Viru & KGB Museum

Hotel Viru & KGB Museum

Those intrigued by the city's secret history can take the guided tour of the KGB Museum on the 23rd floor of Sokos Hotel Viru. In Soviet times it was rumoured that the KGB had files on everyone and that they operated in the Viru Hotel. The latter rumour turned out to be true, as you …

Bank of Estonia Museum

Bank of Estonia Museum

It's all about the money — and the finance — at the Estonian central bank museum. Here, games, interactive machines and video exhibitions tell the complex story of money, aiming to pique the interest of all visitors, even those who don't know much about finance. Guests will learn the role of money in society, have …

St Charles's Church

St Charles's Church

Tallinn's grandest 19th-century church sets itself apart with its twin steeples, immense size and neo-Roman style. It was built from 1862 to 1882 as a long overdue replacement for the original Kaarli Church, itself founded in 1670 on the order of Sweden's King Charles XI. Like many wooden structures located outside the city wall, the …

Museum of Estonian Architecture

Museum of Estonian Architecture

Estonian architecture through the ages is fittingly presented in a grand, limestone structure in the Rotermann district. The Rotermann Salt Storage building, itself a potent example of local design, is the ideal place for the museum. Its permanent exhibition presents an overview of the nation's architectural history as well as a scale model of central …

Vabamu Museum of Occupations & Freedom

Vabamu Museum of Occupations & Freedom

This modern museum is dedicated to the period when Estonia was occupied briefly by the Germans, then for decades by the USSR. Audio-visual displays, photos and sound recordings highlight the events of the 1940–91 era, repression and popular resistance, as well as showing how ordinary people coped with the day-to-day realities of this difficult …

St John's Church

St John's Church

The bright yellow, neo-Gothic Lutheran church that dominates the Freedom Square is a true survivor among the city's churches. Despite two attempts to tear it down in the last century, it has persevered and is likely to be around for a long time to come. The idea for St John's church first came about in the …

Energy Discovery Centre

Energy Discovery Centre

With over 130 interactive, hands-on exhibits, this museum is a mad scientist's dream come true. The family-oriented centre, housed in a unique industrial heritage site, focuses mainly on natural, technical and physical sciences. The main hall with its "island of lightning" is devoted to everything related to electricity, while the planetarium with its 10-metre dome …

Kalma Sauna

The architect of this 1928 grand Neoclassical sauna complex with Art Deco elements is Aleksander Vladovski. The wood heated city sauna offers men's, women's and hourly charged saunas for …

Telliskivi Creative City

Telliskivi Creative City

Telliskivi Creative City is a new, artist-friendly complex that has become a popular hangout for shoppers and restaurant-goers. Located in a reclaimed factory area not far from the Old Town, it is Estonia's biggest creative economic enterprise centre, bringing together a diverse range of activities and businesses. For example, there is a 160-seat eatery, …

Kultuurikatel — Tallinn Creative Hub

Kultuurikatel — Tallinn Creative Hub

The "Cauldron of Culture" Is a creative hub and an art space in the very centre of Tallinn. Here, life is in full swing, with a variety of creative workshops, seminars, conferences, festivals, concerts, exhibitions and much more. From 1913 to 1979, the thoroughly restored building housed the Tallinn Central City Power Plant. It was …

Pirita Convent Ruins

Pirita Convent Ruins

For a unique, historic experience, explore the eerily beautiful ruins of St Bridget's, a medieval convent destroyed in 1577. Founded in 1407 as part of a Swedish religious order, St Bridget's was the largest convent in the Livonian territories and operated until the Livonian War, when it was decimated by the forces of Ivan the …

Tallinn Botanic Garden

Tallinn Botanic Garden

The Tallinn Botanic Garden's extensive, lush greenhouses — where you can find everything from banana plants to decorative house plants — are open to visitors all year round. The garden frequently hosts special exhibits of beautiful, sensual, flagrant and exotic flowers. There are also displays following a different theme each month such as medicinal …

Pirita Beach

Pirita beach is by far the largest and most popular in Tallinn. In the summer it can attract up to 30,000 visitors a day. The 2-km-long beach has a magnificent view of the Old Town and the busy sea traffic on the Gulf of Finland. Here you'll find ball courts, playgrounds for children, lockers, …