Estonian History and Culture

Begin your day with the highly popular Tallinn Official Sightseeing Tour. Not only is it the best way to get acquainted with the town’s layout, the historical background provided on the tour also makes it an excellent introduction to Estonia’s past and its cultural development.

It leaves you in Old Town, where you’ll find the Estonian Maritime Museum, located in the historic Fat Margaret’s Cannon Tower, as well as the newly-revamped Estonian History Museum, which provides an extensive overview of the nation's history from prehistoric times right up to the end of the 20th century.

If you’re interested in specific aspects of Estonian history, you can stop at the Natural History Museum or Epping Tower in Old Town. You can also take a short trip out to the Maritime Museum's Seaplane Harbour.

Next visit the sombre Museum of Occupations for an exploration of Estonia’s Soviet period, and the seaside Maarjamäe Palace, where a branch of the Estonian History Museum presents the nation's struggles for independence in the 20th century.

You can get to the palace by taking the Tallinn City Tour or CitySightseeing Tallinn Green Line, which runs from the town centre to the Pirita district and back.

Finally, head out to the vast, forested Estonian Open Air Museum for a taste of old-fashioned, Estonian village life. The Tallinn City Tour and CitySightseeing Tallinn Blue Line takes you from the town centre to the Rocca al Mare suburb where the museum is located.