Museums
Last year, there were more museum visits than Estonian residents! Have you been to a museum in Estonia? If not, it's about time you did!
Estonia has 170 museums, which connect the past with the future and educate visitors about Estonia's place in the world.
The modern museum appeals to and offers activities for visitors of all ages. Museums in Estonia provide many ways to get involved in their mission: educational programs, classes, virtual tours, film screenings, summer camps, and more.
Cities big and small have museums showcasing local heritage or collections, and many offer interactive exhibitions to keep children engaged and entertained. You can even bring your four-legged friend along, as there are many museums in Estonia where well-behaved dogs are also welcome!
The most budget-friendly way to visit Estonia's museums is to purchase a Museum Card. This pass allows you free unlimited visits to over 100 museums and 500 exhibitions in Estonia for a full year! Some of the most popular museums in the country participate in the Museum Card program, including Kumu Art Museum, the Seaplane Harbour Museum, Tallinn TV Tower, and the Estonian National Museum.
Tallinn's Open Air Museum was founded in 1957.
Visit these popular museums with the Estonian Museum Card
Fascinating facts about museums in Estonia
Source: Statistics Estonia
Total museums in Estonia
170
Museums per 100,000 inhabitants
Among European countries, Estonia has the most.
Art museums in Estonia
19
Number of visits
2.5 million in 2023
Number of objects in museums
7 million
Number of visits by children under 9
146,000 in 2023
Tallinn and North Estonia
Tallinn's Old Town is like one giant museum, but dozens of actual museums in and around the city are worth a visit. There are too many to list here, so we'll draw out the highlights. If you are currently in Old Town, visit the Kiek in de Kök Fortification Museum and its mysterious underground passages. Even if you're not in Estonia yet, you can check out the Tallinn City Life Museum, which opened the first virtual exhibition in Estonia on the Google Arts & Culture platform.
Did you know Tallinn is a popular location for filmmakers? The Estonian Film Museum showcases Estonia's cinematographic history. Nature lovers will enjoy discovering the treasures at the Estonian Museum of Natural History, where you can learn about the inhabitants of Estonia's forests and mysterious bogs. Soon, this museum will move into new, expanded premises in Noblessner.
You can even delve into the arts beyond Tallinn. Classical music lovers will want to make the pilgrimage to the Arvo Pärt Centre in Laulasmaa. Visual artists will appreciate the Amandus Adamson Studio Museum in Paldiski and the Viinistu Art Museum near Lahemaa National Park.
Source: Priidu Saart
In and around Tartu
The Estonian National Museum, the Ice Age Centre, and the Tartu Observatory are absolute must-sees in the Tartu area.
However, the Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum is the largest sports experience center in the Nordics. It offers activities for sports lovers of all ages and several hands-on exhibits, such as virtual reality in legendary arenas with sports stars, an interactive basketball corner, and a rally simulator.
Along the Onion Road on the shores of Lake Peipsi, you'll also find several unique museums dedicated to the history and culture of the region's Old Believers. At the Kolkja Museum of Old Believers, you can learn about their arrival in Estonia and unique religious traditions, and at the Samovar House, you can try their famous onion pie and tea.
Source: Virgo Haan
South Estonia
While in Võru County, stop by Dr. Fr. R. Kreutzwald Memorial Museum. It is one of the most important houses in Estonian cultural history because it was there that our national epic, "Kalevipoeg", was born. You can dive deeper into the story of Kalevipoeg at the museum dedicated to the epic's hero.
The Estonian Road Museum is located in Põlva County. Spread over almost ten hectares, the museum's collection includes more than 43,000 exhibits, including Eastern Europe's largest collection of graders. If you're already in the area, visit the Karilatsi Open Air Museum.
Setomaa's museums might seem remote, but they are worth the trip. You can learn more about the Seto culture (and even try dressing up in traditional clothes!) and visit the otherworldly landscapes of the Piusa Caves.
Source: Anna Svetlichnaia
Northeast Estonia
Ida- and Lääne-Viru Counties have several surprising museums. For example, at the Estonian Police Museum in Rakvere, you can put on police equipment, take fingerprints, and pretend to be a special agent or a specialist at the pre-trial investigation lab. The Porkuni Limestone Museum is housed in a tower dating back to the 15th century. Budding geologists can learn more about Estonia's national stone and how it was formed millions of years ago.
In Ida-Viru County, it is worth visiting the Kohtla-Järve Oil Shale Museum, the only museum in the world dedicated to the oil shale industry still operating today.
Source: Aron Urb
West Estonia
Need a rainy day activity in Pärnu? Spas aren't the only option; you can also visit the city's excellent museums. The Lydia Koidula Memorial Museum tells the tale of two great minds of Estonia's national awakening — Johann Voldemar Jannsen and his daughter Lydia Koidula. The Museum of New Art is a little more quirky. Its annual exhibition of nude art titled "Man and Woman" draws visitors from far and wide. Pernova Nature House has a winter garden, a pet room, a film room, a cave of sounds, and exhibits about Pärnu County's nature.
In Haapsalu, the platform outside the Railway and Communication Museum is one of the most photographed spots in the city. Ilon's Wonderland is dedicated to Ilon Wikland, the illustrator of many of Astrid Lindgren's books. Both young and old visitors can participate in handicraft workshops, and children will especially love the playroom or playing games in the courtyard during summer. Of course, the Haapsalu Castle Museum remains the top attraction in Haapsalu; the museum was recently renovated, and the view from atop the walls remains impressive.
Source: Caroly Rohela, Estonian Museum Railway, Visit Pärnu
The islands
With the diverse selection of museums on the mainland, it's unsurprising that Estonians' love of museums extends to the islands. Estonian islands have had a turbulent history, even though visitors today are attracted to their peace and quiet. Several museums are dedicated to the area's military history, including the Hiiumaa Military Museum and the Military Equipment Museum of Saaremaa.
You can travel even further back in time at the Saaremaa Museum housed in the 14th-century Kuressaare Castle. The permanent exhibition tells the story of Saaremaa's past, and fascinating temporary exhibitions rotate throughout the year.
Estonia's island history is predominantly rural, as inhabitants tried to make their living from the land and sea. The Mihkli Farm Museums on Hiiumaa and Saaremaa offer a close-up look at farm buildings and agricultural tools used by farmers in the past. The Vormsi Farm Museum focuses on the life of the island's Coastal Swedish population.
Source: Priidu Saart
Top museum shops for cool souvenirs
Many museums have shops where you can purchase unique souvenirs and local handicrafts, like at the Coastal Swedes Museum and the Pärnu Museum. Art fans will love browsing the shops at the Kumu Art Museum, Fotografiska, or Niguliste Museum.
However, Mõniste Museum offers a particularly exciting experience: a restored 1930s rural store sells a small selection of items whose shape and purpose have remained unchanged for 100 years.
Discover more exciting museums and exhibitions in Estonia
Last updated
21.10.2024