28 Quirky Museums in Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn has been on my bucket list for so long, and I was fortunate enough to spend an entire month there! That means I planned to see and do everything, or at least try, and I have to say Tallinn has an overwhelming amount of museums, but I was determined to visit as many as I could.

They had a good mix of medieval history museums, maritime museums, art museums and some random museums that I wouldn’t have expected to find.

I ended up visiting 28 museums during my stay. I originally was taken aback at how expensive admission was, but once I started going through them, I realized how well done they all were. The time and commitment that went into creating each exhibit was mind-blowing, and worth every penny.

I would even go as far to say that Tallinn has some of the best museums I have ever visited in any city, so if you are visiting Tallinn and love museums, you are in for a treat!

Museums in Tallin

Banned Book Museum

Banned Book Museum | Address: Munga tn 2, 10123 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Wed-Fri 14-18, Sat-Sun 11-18 | Price: free

This small, independent museum opened in December 2020. It was founded by Joseph Maximillian Dunnigan, who’s originally from Scotland but has been living in Estonia for several years. His interest in censorship actually developed when he was living in China, and during his master’s studies in social entrepreneurship, he decided to create this museum.

The museum collects and preserves banned, burned, and censored books from around the world. They have over 100 books organized by different categories and countries, including sections for Estonia, the UK, USA, Russia, China, and many others. There’s even a special section dedicated to books that have been burned throughout history.

They don’t shy away from controversial material, either. Some of the more controversial books, like “The Anarchist Cookbook,” are kept under the counter and shown on request. They’re very upfront about the fact that visitors might encounter material they disagree with or find offensive, but that’s kind of the point, it’s about understanding the history of censorship and the importance of free speech.

I thought there were some pretty interesting books on display, like a book about two gay penguins who raise a chick at the Central Park zoo. It’s called “And Tango Makes Three” if you are interested.

The museum is completely free to visit. Dunnigan chose Estonia specifically because, as he puts it, “here we can present books that are still banned in so many big countries.”

Besides just displaying the books, each exhibit comes with an explanation of why that particular book was banned or censored. They also have a small shop where you can purchase some of these banned books, plus books about free speech and censorship. All profits go back into the museum’s mission of preserving these books. It’s a quick visit, probably 30-45 minutes.

KGB Prison Cells

KGB Prison Cells | Address: Pagari 1, Pikk tn 59, 10133 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Mon– Sun 10 – 18 | Price: €10, but there are combination tickets you can get with other museums that will make it cheaper.

The KGB Prison Cells is one of the most fascinating and historically important museums in Tallinn. It shows you the reality of what life was like during Soviet occupation in Estonia.

The building was originally built in 1912 as a residential building, then briefly housed the Estonian Provisional Government in 1918, and served as the Estonian Ministry of War from 1920 to 1940. But then, for almost fifty years, it became the headquarters of the NKVD (later KGB).

The basement was turned into a prison where Estonian politicians, intellectuals, writers, ordinary citizens, and anyone deemed a threat to Soviet power were held, interrogated, and often tortured. Thousands of people passed through these cells over the decades.

The museum has preserved the basement pretty much as it was. You descend some stairs to see two narrow corridors with six cells and one solitary confinement cell. The original cell doors and barred windows are still there, many bricked up. It’s a small space, but you can feel the heaviness of the atmosphere as you walk through.

You will find testimonies from survivors, replicas of documents like guidelines for dissidents on “how to behave during interrogation,” and much more. The whole visit takes maybe 30-45 minutes. This is an important museum to visit to understand Estonia’s path to independence and why freedom is so deeply valued here.

Warning: it’s not an easy museum to visit, and may leave you very emotional, but it is a place everyone should visit. It will give you a deeper understanding of the history and the human cost of authoritarian rule.

Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design

Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design | Address: Lai 17, 10133 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Tue–Wed 11–18, Thu 11–20, Fri–Sun 11–18, Closed Mon | Price: 9 €

This museum is housed in a beautiful medieval granary building from the late 1600s. They have around 15,000 to 18,000 pieces covering Estonian applied arts from the early 20th century right up to today. They have everything from textiles and ceramics to jewelry, glasswork, metalwork, and furniture design. There are even prototypes, so you see the process of how the designs come together.

Fotografiska (photography museum)

Fotografiska | Address: Telliskivi tn 60a-8, 10412 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Mon – Thurs 09–20, Fri 09–midnight, Sat 10–20, Sun 10–18 | Price: 17 €

The Fotografisk museum is part of an international museum brand that started in Stockholm.

This photography museum is really cool! They host rotating exhibitions that showcase everything from street photography to fine art, documentary work to experimental visual art. The exhibitions change regularly, so there’s always something new to see. The building is also an art installation in itself with street art and a giant Rubik’s Cube on the roof.

There is a fantastic restaurant with panoramic views of Tallinn’s Old Town, which has actually earned a Michelin Green Star for three consecutive years. Their photo exhibitions even inspire the cocktail menu. I ate here one day, and it was one of the best meals I had in Tallinn. The exhibit was called “In Bloom” so the menu had a lot of floral components. They are also zero waste.

Fotografiska also has an amazing educational program. Kids under 15 get free admission, and they even offer disposable cameras to young visitors so they can try their hand at photography while exploring the museum.

Museum of Puppetry Arts

Museum of Puppetry Arts | Address: Lai 1, Nunne tn 4, 10133 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Tues – Sun 10–18 (Mon closed) | Price: €10

The Museum of Puppetry Arts is located right next to the Estonian Theatre for Young Audiences (known as NUKU, which means “puppet” in Estonian). The museum opened in March 2010 and was born out of a practical need to display all the beautiful puppets that had reached the end of their stage life at the theater.

The museum is very interactive. You can try your hand at being an actor, director, artist, or stage master. They have different types of puppets you can play with such as table puppets, rod puppets, hand puppets, and marionettes.

The permanent exhibition has two main parts. First, it tells the story of Estonian puppet theater over the past 70 years, starting from when the theater was founded in 1952. For kids, they’ve made this history come alive through thematic games for each decade. The second part focuses on the technical side, showing visitors different types of puppets and how they work.

One of the coolest exhibits is called “The Anatomy of Theatre Puppets” in the basement, I found this exhibit fascinating and slightly creepy. It shows the inner workings of puppets, all the materials and mechanisms that bring them to life during performances.

The museum has this constantly growing collection. They’ve got some really special pieces, including vintage puppets like a Stepmother from “Cinderella” (1956) and characters from other classic productions.

They use lots of technology, touchscreen information boards, and video clips of performances as well. Plus, since it’s right next to the theater, you can sometimes catch a puppet performance if you time it right!

Pharmacy Museum (oldest pharmacy in Europe)

Pharmacy Museum | Address: Raekoja plats 11, 10146 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Mon through Sat from 10 to 18 | Price: Free

This is one of the oldest continuously operating pharmacies in Europe, and it’s been operating in the same building since at least 1422 , making it over 600 years old!

Some historians even think it might have opened as early as 1415. The history of the pharmacy is quite interesting. A Hungarian immigrant named Johann Burchart came to Tallinn in 1580 and his family ran the pharmacy for an incredible ten generations until the 1890s!

The Burcharts became so famous that even Russian Tsar Peter the Great supposedly called for Johann Burchart V to attend to him on his deathbed in 1725, though Peter died before Burchart could reach St. Petersburg.

Back in the day, customers could buy some pretty unconventional remedies such as, mummy juice (powder made from overseas mummies mixed with liquid), burnt hedgehog powder, bat powder, snakeskin potion, and even unicorn horn powder for male potency. They also sold earthworms, swallow’s nests, and various herbs and spirits that were distilled on-site.

The pharmacy was also a meeting room where important political and trade decisions were made over glasses of Klaret, a locally produced sugared and spiced Rhine wine.

They sold everyday items too: candies, cookies, preserves, marzipan, paper, ink, gunpowder, spices, and candles. When tobacco first arrived in Europe, this pharmacy was among the first to sell it!

There’s a local legend that marzipan was actually invented here in the 15th century as a medicine to cure broken hearts, and it was one of their best-selling items.

The museum part is on the first floor, and you can see old medical instruments, historical chemist tools, apothecary jars, and much more! There’s also a large stone coat of arms of the Burchart family from 1635 set into the wall, showing a griffin with a crown.

It’s still a functioning pharmacy today! You can buy modern medicines like aspirin, but they also still sell that famous Klaret wine (which I bought!) and marzipan. The museum is free, and very small, so won’t take more than 15 or 20 minutes to wander through.

Architecture Museum

Architecture Museum | Address: Ahtri tn 2, 10151 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Tue–Sun 11–18 (Mon closed) Thu 11–20 (May–Sept) | Price: 12 € or a family ticket for 24 €

The Estonian Museum of Architecture is housed in a gorgeous old salt storage building from 1908. It’s a relatively young museum, only founded in 1991. The founders wanted to preserve and celebrate Estonian architectural heritage that had been somewhat overlooked during the Soviet period.

The museum focuses mainly on 20th-century architecture. They have a fantastic collection of architectural models. You can see how Estonian cities evolved through different political periods and architectural movements.

There are also tons of original drawings, photographs, and project plans from the 1920s-30s and the Soviet era. They have two main permanent exhibitions. The main one, “Space in Motion,” walks you through a century of Estonian architecture using their model collection.

Then there’s this really cool interactive exhibit called “Explore Space!” down in the basement that’s designed for kids, but honestly I had a good time. It’s all about experiencing architecture with your senses.

I would only recommend this museum if you have a big interest in architecture. I really like architecture, but there was a lot of technical information that went over my head. The models were really cool to look at, and I enjoyed the interactive exhibit in the basement.

Europa Experience

Europa Experience | Address: Rävala pst 4, 10143 Tallinn, Estonia| Hours: Mon to Fri 10– 18, Sat 10 – 15 | Price: Free

The Europa Experience is a free exhibition that offers visitors a chance to learn about how the European Union works and how it affects daily life through various interactive stations and multimedia experiences.

The center features several parts, including a 360° cinema where you can watch a film about the formation of the European Union and how European parliamentary democracy functions.

You can explore multimedia stations that cover topics like how European countries cooperate on security matters, what issues Members of the European Parliament from Estonia work on, or how EU initiatives like the Galileo satellite navigation system help save lives and how the European Green Deal will impact our daily lives.

If you come with a lot of people, you can take part in the role-playing simulation game, where groups can step into the shoes of Members of the European Parliament and learn how EU laws are made. Groups must register in advance to participate in this simulation. Unfortunately, since I came alone, I was not able to do this, but it sounded very cool!

I did stay for a couple of hours watching all the multimedia videos though, It was fascinating to learn how the EU is working together to combat issues such as climate change, sustainability, innovation, and security. I learned so much!

Lennusadam

Lennusadam | Address: Vesilennuki tn 6, 10145 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Mon–Sun 10–19 | Price: €20

Lennusadam (which means “Seaplane Harbour” in Estonian) is quite honestly one of the coolest maritime museums I have been to. It’s housed in these incredible concrete seaplane hangars that were built in 1916-1917 and are actually considered the world’s first large-scale reinforced concrete shell structures.

The museum opened in 2012 after a massive renovation project that saved these hangars from collapse. The three concrete shells span an enormous 8,000 square meters, creating this cathedral-like space that is really beautiful.

They’ve organized everything on three levels representing “in the air, on the sea, and below the sea, My favorite part was the submarine Lembit, built in 1936 in Britain for the Estonian navy. You can actually go inside. There’s also the century-old icebreaker, which you can board.

Plus a replica of a World War I Short Type 184 seaplane hanging from the ceiling. They even have the wreck of the Maasilinn, which is the oldest shipwreck found in Estonian waters, dating back to the 16th century.

They also have a ton of interactive exhibits like a submarine simulator, throw paper airplanes, you can dress up in naval uniforms for photos, and there’s even an aquarium.

They also have an exhibit about boat safety. You will be walked through what to do if a boat you are on is sinking.

PoCo Pop And Contemporary Art Museum

PoCo Pop And Contemporary Art Museum | Address:  Rotermanni tn 2, 10111 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Daily 10 – 20 | Price: 18€

This is a relatively new museum that opened in 2023. The museum was founded by Linnar Viik, who’s an IT visionary and one of the ideologists behind Estonia’s famous e-governance system. But he’s also been collecting pop art since the 1980s, and his personal collection became the foundation for this museum.

Inside, you will see some of the biggest names in global pop art: Warhol, Banksy, Koons, Lichtenstein, Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, David Hockney, Basquiat, Yayoi Kusama, Helmut Newton, and the list goes on.

They have around 340+ works spanning from the 1950s to the present day. There are about 40 Warhol pieces alone in the collection, including a water-damaged Warhol that was one of the first internationally renowned works Viik acquired.

The museum spans 2,000 square meters across three floors. There are also some cool exhibits that focus on technology and art. They’re actively collecting and displaying art created with AI and other tech tools. They’re constantly showcasing how technology is changing creativity.

Kadriog Palace

Kadriog Palace | Address: A. Weizenbergi tn 37, 10127 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Daily 10 – 18 | Price: 15€

Kadriorg Palace was built between 1718-1725 by Russian Tsar Peter the Great as a summer residence for his wife Catherine I, the palace was named “Kadriorg” (meaning “Catherine’s Valley” in Estonian) in her honor.

Designed by Italian architect Nicola Michetti and constructed with the help of craftsmen from across Europe including other Italian, German, Swedish and Russian architects. This salmon-pink baroque beauty was Peter’s way of demonstrating that Russia belonged to the European cultural sphere and could compete with the grandest palaces of Western Europe.

The most gorgeous part of the palace is the main hall, which has been preserved exactly as it was in Peter’s day. The painted ceiling is framed by intricate stucco work embossed with Catherine’s initials.

The building is surrounded by beautiful gardens modeled after Versailles, with fountains, hedges, and flowerbeds.  After the Russian Empire fell, it served as Estonia’s first professional art museum from 1921-1928. Then it became the official residence of Estonia’s head of state in the 1930s, and during the Soviet period it housed the Art Museum of Estonia again until it fell into complete disrepair by 1991.

Today, after a thorough nine-year restoration, the palace houses the Kadriorg Art Museum, which is the only museum in Estonia dedicated to early European and Russian art.

The collection focuses on Western European and Russian paintings, sculptures, and applied arts from the 16th-20th centuries, featuring works by Dutch, German, and Italian artists, Russian paintings, Meissen porcelain, and silver objects from Tallinn’s guilds.

The palace also serves as a concert venue, so check the schedule and see if you can attend a concert here. The acoustics I am sure are amazing.

Estonian Open Air Museum

Estonian Open Air Museum | Address: Vabaõhumuuseumi tee 12, 13521 Tallinn, Estonia| Hours: Daily 10 – 19 | Price: 18€

I absolutely love open air museums because it allows me to step back in time and experience first hand what life was like in 18th-20th century. I also happened to be at the open air museum the same weekend as the bread festival!

Located just 15 minutes from downtown Tallinn, this sprawling 72-hectare site is essentially a life-sized reconstruction of a traditional Estonian village.

The museum was founded in 1957, and today it features over 80 historic buildings arranged across 14 different farmsteads that represent various social classes and regions of Estonia, from wealthy manor houses to humble peasant cottages.

You’ll find a beautiful wooden church; the cozy Kolu Inn where you can sample traditional Estonian dishes like hearty pea soup; a one-room schoolhouse; several windmills and watermills; a volunteer fire station; a village shop selling 1930s-themed sweets & handicrafts, and fishing sheds right by the sea.

There are costumed interpreters in period dress that occupy many of the buildings, demonstrating traditional crafts and explaining how families of different social standings lived and worked.

The newest addition is a fascinating Soviet-era kolkhoz apartment building from 1964 that won the Best Estonian Museum Exhibit Award in 2021, showing how rural life changed during the communist period.

There are also a ton of activities, including horse-drawn wagon rides (or sleigh rides in winter), the “Herd Boy’s Adventure Trail” where you can meet a character named Ants and his dog Muri, and a family-friendly permanent exhibition called “Every Little Step Counts” that teaches children about farm life through games and activities.

You can easily spend all day exploring (I definitely did!).

Proto Invention Factory

Proto Invention Factory | Address: Peetri tn 10, 10415 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Tues-Sun 11 – 18, Mon closed | Price: 14€

This is a museum where fantasy meets science, and you can discover the wonders of invention through virtual reality. The concept focuses on the period from the mid-19th to early 20th century when science developed at breakneck speed, featuring inventions like submarines, aviation engines, automobiles, and scientific experiments ranging from electricity to photography.

The facility is housed in a beautifully refurbished factory and spans two floors with over 20 different attractions. With your VR glasses on, you can fly in a hot air balloon, get behind the wheel of the world’s first car, tour the ocean bottom in a submarine, ride a flying bike, explore a time machine, and conduct unique science experiments.

I came here with a couple of friends, and we had a blast! My favorite attraction was the flying bike.

Kalamaja Museum

Kalamaja Museum | Address: Kotzebue tn 16, 10411 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Wed-Thurs 13–20, Fri-Sun 11-18, Mon-Tues closed | Price: 7€

This is the first museum in Estonia to be developed entirely with community participation from the very beginning. Locals were integral partners in creating the concept, permanent exhibition, and ongoing programming.

The museum began with a 2018 survey of Kalamaja residents that revealed people wanted a place to share stories about yesterday, today, and tomorrow, and to have a cozy community meeting space. This led to extensive brainstorming sessions and meetings with former and current residents. Tons of locals donated items and shared memories of life in Kalamaja.

The permanent exhibition is called “A Village in the Middle of the City: Stories from Kalamaja” and tells the story of this historic area through six characteristic personas, a Kalamaja man, woman, child, ancestor, life artist, and even a Kalamaja animal. These archetypes represent different times and eras, weaving together stories from the Middle Ages to today.

As you walk through the museum, you’ll explore spaces that feel like a real home, including a cellar, corridor, garage, and living room. Children can play in a dollhouse that depicts a typical Tallinn-style wooden house.

The museum focuses on Kalamaja as Tallinn’s oldest suburb, showcasing its transformation from a fishing village to the hip, artistic neighborhood it is today, famous for its colorful wooden architecture and maritime heritage. But the museum philosophy is that you can only get a taste of Kalamaja’s story within the museum. The real experience comes from walking the streets, sitting on benches, and discovering the neighborhood yourself.

The museum also serves as a community center, hosting workshops, concerts, poetry nights, shows, and local art exhibitions in their gallery space.

I really enjoyed this museum and found it so cool that it’s community run. The area of Kalamaja is really beautiful and was one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city.

Film Museum

Film Museum | Address: Pirita tee 56, 12011 Tallinn, Estonia| Hours: Tues 9–18, Wed-Sun 10-18, Mon closed | Price: 11€

The Estonian Film Museum is a really cool and, to be honest, an unexpected museum to find in Tallinn. I grew up in the film industry, so I was especially interested in visiting.

The entire museum is interactive where you can actually try your hand at different aspects of filmmaking. The main permanent exhibition is called “Take ONE” and it’s all about demystifying the filmmaking process. You get to go behind the scenes and learn about everything from scriptwriting and set design to editing, lighting, and sound design.

There is an exhibit called “magical illusion room” where you can explore early film equipment and see how people made movies in the pioneering days of cinema. Plus, they have a proper 210-seat cinema where they regularly screen films and host events. The focus is primarily on Estonian cinema history, so you’ll learn about the country’s film heritage, but they also cover broader filmmaking techniques and international cinema.

Estonian History Museum

Estonian History Museum | Address: Pikk tn 17, 10123 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Tues-Sun 10-18, Mon closed | Price: 13€

The Estonian History Museum is located in The Great Guild Hall and is absolutely stunning. This medieval building dates back to 1410 and is actually the only surviving Gothic guild hall in Northern Europe!

The Great Guild was essentially the merchants’ guild. The most powerful and wealthy of all the guilds in medieval Tallinn. These were the guys who controlled the Hanseatic League trade, and their wealth and influence was enormous. The hall served as their meeting place, where major commercial and political decisions affecting the city were made.

Over the years, it’s housed everything from a cinema to a wine cellar, and has always been one of the city’s best-known places for organizing cultural events and parties.

Today, as part of the Estonian History Museum, it focuses heavily on medieval and Hanseatic period history. The current major exhibition is “The Splendour of the Hanseatic League.  You can see archaeological finds that have never been displayed before, and rare artifacts from other Hanseatic cities like Hamburg and Riga.

Kiek in De Kök and Bastion Tunnels

Kiek in De Kök and Bastion Tunnels | Address: Komandandi tee 2, 10130 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Oct – Apr: Tue–Sun 11–18, May–Sept: Mon – Sun 11–18 | Price: 16€ for full ticket, or you can visit the towers (12€) and bastion tunnels (10€) separately.

The name – “Kiek in de Kök” translates to “Peek into the Kitchen” in Low German because medieval soldiers stationed in this massive 38-meter artillery tower could look right down into people’s kitchens below.

Built between 1475-1481 with incredibly thick 4-meter walls, this was Tallinn’s first major artillery tower, and you can still see cannonballs from the 1577 siege embedded in the exterior walls.

This is a huge museum complex stretching over 500 meters, encompassing not just the main Kiek in de Kök tower but also the Maiden Tower, Marstal Tower, Short Leg Gate Tower, and, the underground bastion passages.

These mysterious tunnels were built by the Swedes in the 17th and 18th centuries as part of the city’s defense system. They were used to secretly move soldiers and ammunition, monitor enemy mining activities, and later served as bunkers and shelters.

The tunnels also house the Carved Stone Museum, displaying beautiful architectural fragments, portals, and family crests salvaged from demolished buildings around Tallinn.

Meanwhile, the towers above tell the story of Tallinn’s fortifications, medieval warfare, daily life in the fortified city, and offer spectacular views from the top.

This museum isn’t suitable for everyone. The stairs are steep, uneven, and potentially slippery, so you need to be careful and there are some tight corridors, so if you have claustrophobia, there are certain parts you may not be able to do. There is also no wheelchair access, unfortunately.

Occupation Museum

Occupation Museum | Address: Toompea tn 8b, 10130 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: daily 10-18 | Price: 15€

The museum is dedicated to the devastating period from 1940-1991 when Estonia endured successive occupations. First by the Soviet Union, then Nazi Germany, then the Soviet Union again until independence was restored in 1991.

The museum’s story is told through personal memories and moving accounts from Estonians who lived through these times. The permanent exhibition “Freedom Without Borders” is organized around five main themes: crimes against humanity, Estonians in the free world, life in Estonia, the restoration of independence, and freedom.

The museum has assembled nearly 40,000 objects donated by thousands of people. You’ll see letters, diaries, and documents from Estonians imprisoned in Siberian gulags, photographs, and artifacts used to suppress the population.

There are long video presentations that take you decade by decade, featuring personal narratives from victims, perpetrators, freedom fighters, and collaborators.

There is also an exhibit that includes a recreation of a typical home during the Soviet occupation, complete with TVs displaying commercials that aired during that era. You can also sample carbonated water from an authentic Soviet-style dispenser.

Adamson Eric

Adamson Eric | Address: Lühike jalg 3, 10130 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Tues-Sun 10-18, Mon closed | Price: 10€

Adamson-Eric, was an Estonian artist during the 20th century. He dabbled in everything from ceramics and jewelry to textiles and metalwork, and was incredibly talented at all of it.

Adamson-Eric got international recognition, including some prestigious awards at a major Paris exhibition back in 1937. The permanent collection shows off the incredible range of his talents, so you’ll see everything from oil paintings to beautifully crafted porcelain pieces and even some funky decorated teapots.

It’s not a huge museum, so you won’t need to dedicate your entire day to it, but it’s definitely worth spending 30 minutes walking around.

Tallinn City Museum

Tallinn City Museum | Address: Vene tn 17, 10123 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Sun-Fri 10-18, Sat 10:30-18 | Price: 12€

This museum covers Tallinn’s story from way back in prehistoric times all the way up to when Estonia regained independence. They’ve got a massive collection of around 150,000 objects, so you may be spending 5 hours exploring it all like I did.

The layout is spread across several floors. Down in the cellars, you’ll find artifacts they’ve dug up around Tallinn, including ceramics, porcelain, and metalwork. You can see everything from Stone Age tools to 20th-century household items.

There’s also this detailed model of what Tallinn looked like in 1825. The middle floors have general city history exhibits, and there’s a rococo-style room that shows off how the wealthy lived back in the day.

They have this wonderful annual exhibition called “One Hundred Years of Daily Life” that tracks how everything from fashion to technology to work habits evolved over the years.

Then there’s the top floor with an 18+ prostitution exhibit called “Obscene Tallinn”. That was honestly my favorite part. It explores the history of prostitution and sexuality in the city from medieval times up to World War II.

You’ll learn about how the sex trade was regulated throughout different periods, what kinds of diseases were concerns, and even weird details like how often sex workers had to visit public baths.

The exhibit covers everything from medieval brothels to early 20th century attitudes about sexuality. It’s very educational and well-researched. I was pleasantly surprised.

The museum is closed for renovations until the end of 2025

Nigluiste Museum

Nigluiste Museum | Address: Niguliste tn 3, 10146 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: daily 10-18 | Price: 8€

The Niguliste Museum is is housed inside the historic St. Nicholas’ Church that dates back to the 13th century. The church was severely damaged during Soviet bombing in World War II and then hit by another fire in the 1980s, but it’s been beautifully restored and transformed into this amazing museum space.

My favorite portrait was Bernt Notke’s famous “Dance of Death” painting from the 15th century, which is this haunting medieval masterpiece showing skeletons dancing with people from all walks of life, reminding everyone that death comes for kings and commoners alike.

The museum also houses an incredible collection of medieval altarpieces, including a stunning piece from 1481 that originally belonged to the church itself. There is also a Silver Chamber, where they display all this gorgeous silverware that belonged to Tallinn’s old guilds and religious brotherhoods.

You can get a stunning view from the church tower by taking an elevator to the top! If you are in town during the weekend, they also host organ concerts.

Estonian Museum of Natural History

Estonian Museum of Natural History | Address: Lai 29a, 10133 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: daily 10-17 | Price: 12€

Here you will learn all about Estonian nature, and the country’s ecosystems. You’ll find everything from forest exhibits featuring Estonia’s wildlife, including their flying squirrels and elk, to displays about the Baltic Sea.

There’s a cool exhibition called “Maria the Sturgeon’s Dream” that takes you on an audiovisual journey through the Baltic Sea’s past, present, and future. I missed this when I visited and was pretty bummed!

When I was there, they had an exhibit up about mushrooms. They had 170 real mushrooms growing, and even some pretty rare ones. They showed which ones were poisonous and which ones you can eat. This is the 61st mushroom exhibition, so check out the website and see when they will be hosting it again.

Maarjamäe Castle Museum

Maarjamäe Castle Museum | Address: Pirita tee 56, 12011 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Tues 9-18, Wed-Sun 10-18, Mon closed | Price: 11€

This museum is housed in a  beautiful neo-Gothic limestone building from 1874, originally built as a summer residence for Count Anatoli Orlov-Davydov, a wealthy Russian aristocrat.

The main exhibition, called “My Free Country,” was opened in 2018 to mark Estonia’s 100th anniversary of independence. As you go through, you will learn all about the last century of Estonian history, from the birth of the republic right up to modern times.

The exhibit covers all the major events: the independence periods, the Soviet occupation, the singing revolution, and Estonia’s path back to freedom. They have interactive displays, historical artifacts, and reconstructed interiors.

Behind the palace, there’s an outdoor exhibition of Soviet monuments and statues that were removed from public spaces after Estonia regained independence.

Maritime Museum in Old Town

Maritime Museum in Old Town | Address: Pikk tn 70, 10133 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: daily 10-19 | Price: 15€

The Estonian Maritime Museum is housed in the iconic Fat Margaret tower, which is a massive medieval defensive tower. The tower was built between 1511 and 1530 and was originally designed to protect the harbor entrance.

The museum covers Estonia’s maritime heritage across multiple floors of the tower. You will hear stories about Estonian seafaring, learn about fishing traditions, and explore naval history. The displays trace everything from the earliest coastal settlements right up to today’s maritime operations.

You can even climb all the way to the top of the tower, where there’s both a café and an observation deck with great views over Tallinn’s harbor and the Old Town.

Peter the Great House

Peter the Great House | Address: Mäekalda tn 2, 10127 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Wed-Sun 11-18, Mon-Tues closed | Price: 5€

The Peter the Great House Museum holds the distinction of being Tallinn’s oldest museum, operating since 1806. When Peter the Great conquered Tallinn during the Great Northern War. In 1710, he needed a place to stay during his frequent visits to oversee his new Baltic territory, but there were no suitable royal accommodations available while his palace was being constructed.

The house originally belonged to Hermann von Drenteln, a local town manager, and Peter purchased it from the widow in 1713, having it slightly expanded to accommodate himself and his entourage. Peter and his wife Catherine I stayed here multiple times starting from 1714, using it as their primary residence during visits to Tallinn.

It sits on a hill with excellent views of the sea and the city, allowing Peter to monitor Swedish ship movements as the Great Northern War was still ongoing. The house also provided much-needed privacy for Catherine, who continued traveling with Peter despite being pregnant in 1714.

After Peter’s death in 1725, the house was abandoned. However, during a visit to Tallinn in 1804, Tsar Alexander I ordered its restoration. In 1806, it was officially opened as a museum.

Today, if you explore the museum, you will see a living room, dining room, bedroom, converted attic, and cellar, all furnished with items that belonged to Peter the Great and other period objects from the early 18th century.

Kumu Museum

Kumu | Address: Valge tn 1, 10127 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Tues-Sun 10-18, Mon closed | Price: 16€

This stunning building was designed by a Finnish architect, and it actually won the European Museum of the Year Award in 2008.
Inside, you will see Estonian art, covering everything from the 18th century right up to contemporary works. The third floor covers pre-World War II art, the fourth floor focuses on the Soviet occupation period, and the fifth floor is all contemporary art.

The Soviet-era collection is particularly interesting because for decades, people couldn’t see these works displayed together, and it really shows how artists navigated censorship and political pressure.

Museum of Order and Knighthood

Museum of Order and Knighthood | Address: Kuninga 3, 10146 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Mon-Sat 10-17, Sun closed| Price: 16€

This museum houses one of Europe’s largest collections of knighthood insignia. They have close to 1,000 items: badges, stars, chains, collars, and other decorations from orders of knighthood around the world.

Many of these decorations are true masterpieces of art, often lavishly decorated with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. Some belonged to emperors, princes, famous military commanders, and politicians throughout history.

The collection includes some absolutely stunning pieces. They have decorations from legendary orders like the Order of the Garter, the Golden Fleece, the Order of Malta, and the Legion of Honor.

One of their prized possessions is the Order of the White Eagle that belonged to Russian Emperor Peter the Great! They also have insignia that belonged to Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia and Britain’s Princess Mary.

The permanent exhibition is laid out in three halls and covers the history of orders and the awarding system across Europe, the Americas, Africa, and the Far East.

The museum also tells some wonderful stories behind the orders. For instance, there’s the Danish Order of the Dannebrog, which has ties to Tallinn through the Battle of Lyndanisse, and the Order of the Garter, which was allegedly named after a lady’s garter that fell during a ball!

Estonian Health Museum

Estonian Health Museum | Address: Lai 30, 10133 Tallinn, Estonia | Hours: Fri-Wed 10-18, Thurs 11-19 | Price: 12€

The museum was originally founded in 1921 in Tartu, but during the Soviet occupation it was closed and many items were destroyed. It was re-established in Tallinn in 1980, and recently in 2020 they changed the name from “Estonian Health Care Museum” to simply “Estonian Health Museum” to better reflect their broader focus on overall health and wellness rather than just medical care.

The museum’s main permanent exhibition is called “A Heart to Heart About Your Body,” and is spread across more than 15 themed rooms that cover human anatomy, physiology, health, and wellness. You’ll find various models, computer programs, interactive displays, and games that demonstrate how the human body functions. They even have real preserved human organs and body parts on display.

The museum covers everything from birth to death, including topics like nutrition, sexuality, addictions, aging, and mental health. They also have temporary exhibitions, recent ones have included “Dream Stories” about the mystical side of sleep and dreams, and “Heaps of Happiness” focusing on mental health and well-being.

I spent a good chunk of my day here. There was so much to see and it was fascinating.

Where to Stay in Tallinn

Book accommodation in Tallinn by searching for hotels below!

Museums in Tallinn: FAQS

Is there a pass I can use to have access to the museums?

Yes! The Tallinn Card if the best investment if you are spending 1-3 days in the city. It gives you free entry to more than 40 museums and attractions throughout the city. It also includes unlimited public transportation on buses, trams, and trolleys, plus discounts at restaurants, shops, and tour operators. You can buy it for different durations:

• 24-hour pass
• 48-hour pass
• 72-hour pass

You can purchase it here.

If you’re planning a longer stay or want to explore museums beyond just Tallinn, the Estonian Museum Card costs around €60 and gives you unlimited access to over 120 museums across the entire country for a full year.

Another option is Free Museum Sundays! Tallinn offers free admission to city-owned museums on the first Sunday of each month. However, you need to register in advance for a free pass due to high demand.

How much do museums generally cost in Tallinn?

Museums in Tallinn are pretty pricey, but that is because all the museums are so well done that the price is worth it, but here is a breakdown of what you may spend.

Small to Medium Museums:

Most smaller museums: €3-8 for adults
Concession rates (students/seniors): €2-6
Family tickets: €5-16

Major Museums:

Art Museum of Estonia branches (Kumu, Kadriorg, etc.): €12-18 per museum
Tallinn City Museum: €8 adults / €6 concessions / €16 family
Maritime museums and larger attractions: €12-20

Special Deals:

Many art museums have “€3 Wednesdays”on the last Wednesday of every month.

Combined Tickets:

Combined tickets are also a great way to save money.

2 art museums: €12-20
3 art museums: €18-28
5 art museums: €26-80
City museum combination passes: €25-50

Best Value

Again, The Tallinn Card is the best option if you are looking to save money. Individual museum visits would add up quickly. For example, visiting just 3-4 museums would cost €36-64, while a 24-hour Tallinn Card includes 40+ attractions plus transportation.

Do I need to book museum tickets online?

No, you generally don’t need to book museum tickets online. I always just walked in to buy my tickets, but there are definitely benefits to buying tickets online and that is always an option.

What are typical opening hours?

Of course, it varies per museum, but here is a general breakdown of when the museums are open, but always check before visiting.

Standard Hours
Most museums: Tuesday-Sunday, 11am-6pm
Closed: Mondays (and sometimes Tuesdays)

Extended Hours:

Thursdays: Many museums stay open until 7pm or 8pm
Weekends: Usually 11am-6pm, sometimes shorter (11am-4pm on Sundays)

Seasonal Differences:

Summer (May-September): Longer hours, often daily including Mondays
Winter (October-April): Shorter hours, more closed days

Common Closures:

Mondays and Tuesdays (most museums)
Major holidays (New Year’s, Christmas, etc.)
Last entry is typically 30-60 minutes before closing.

How much time is needed to explore the museums?

It really depends on you. I personally could spend hours or even an entire day going through a museum and reading everything, especially if it’s a topic I am very interested in, like History.

I would say plan to spend a half day at the major museums like Kumu, Seaplane Harbour, Estonian Health Museum, Kiek in de Kök, and Estonian Open Air Museum. Plan to spend 2-3 hours at the medium-sized museums, like, Kadriorg Palace, and Occupations Museum. For the smaller museums like KGB, Peter the Great House, you may only need 1-2 hours.

This is only a rough estimate. You might linger much longer at museums you love, or move quickly through ones that don’t you don’t.

Are the museums accessible?

Museum accessibility varies per museum. There are museums that are located in very old homes that maynot be as accessible as soem fo thebigger museums located in newer buildings.

The newer museums like Kumu have ramps and elevators, and Seaplane Harbour was built with accessibility in mind with smooth floors, elevators to all exhibition levels, and wide corridors.

In the museums housed in more historic buildings are a bit more challenging, but staff work to accommodate visitors. If there is a museum you want to visit, I recommend contacting them ahead of time and letting them know your needs. The staff may be able to arrange alternative access solutions.

Many religious sites have made efforts to improve access. Some churches provide portable ramps at entrances, though this requires staff assistance. There are certain museums like Kiek In De Kök that unfortunately are not accessible.

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Travel Resources

First off, if you want to browse all my favorite travel resources, check out my Travel Resources page.

Trip Planning: I have put together the ultimate trip planning guide that will walk you through everything you need to know to plan your perfect trip.

Book your Flight: Check out Momondo! They are my go to for booking flights. Airfarewatchdog is also a favorite of mine. I get notified by email every time there is a good deal from my local airport. WayAway is also a good option. They list mistake fares so many times, you can get an international ticket for as little as $300!

Book your Transportation: Busbud is usually where I check first. They check hundreds of different transportation companies all over the world and find you the best bus deal. Flixbus is one of my favorite cheap options for Europe. The buses generally aren’t too bad, and they go to most countries around Europe. It’s the perfect option for short distances. Train travel is my favorite mode of transportation, and I always use Rail Europe to book my tickets. If you need a transfer from the airport or if you are going somewhere where transport is limited (like a festival in the middle of nowhere or even a day trip) Welcome Pickups is a great option. I have used them on multiple occasions, and you can book a ride 5 hours in advance!

Book your Accommodation: My number one is Booking. If you book enough hotels from them, you can get huge discounts and perks like free breakfast and room upgrade. On a budget and looking for cheap accommodation? Hostelworld is my preferred site to book cheap and reliable hostels. Hotwire has a fun mystery to it. It’s a great site to use for last-minute bookings. They don’t actually tell you the name of the hotel when you are browsing. You will just get the area of the city it’s in, the price, and how many stars it has. I love the surprise aspect of it! Traveling to Asia? Agoda is the best accommodation booking site! If you are traveling with a big group, Vrbo is a good option. They have a huge selection of vacation rentals. Hotellook allows you to compare hotel prices around the world, so you can find the best deal!

Book your Travel Insurance: Getting travel insurance is such a crucial part of preparing for a trip. You never know what could happen, and why take the risk? Before I travel anywhere, I always book my insurance through Visitors Coverage.

Book your Activities: Now, you have planned all the logistics, time to think about what you will do once you get to your destination! These are a few of my favorite trip planning sites. I always use Get Your Guide and Viator when I am looking for tours. If you are traveling to Asia, Klook is widely used to book activities. Go City sells tickets to top attractions for up to 65% off. Eat With allows you to book dinners or cooking classes with local families. If you enjoy self-guided walking tours, We Go Trip has audio guides you can download. Big Bus Tours offers open-top sightseeing tours.

Store Your Luggage: Do you have a long layover or a late flight and need to store your luggage? Radical Storage has got you covered.

Get an eSim: Airlalo has been an amazing way for me to stay connected on the road. They have eSims in 200 countries and set up is super easy.