For more information and to book a tour, please email us at or call +372 615 5184.

Museum tours

NEW! Guided tour of the Exhibition “Lyndanise. Reval. Tallinn. City Life Through the Centuries”

How has the everyday life of Tallinn’s people changed from century to century? And what dreams have the townspeople held for the city?

Join us for a guided tour through the exhibition “Lyndanise. Reval. Tallinn. City Life Through the Centuries”. We’ll explore what lies beneath the streets of Tallinn, uncover the city’s most important legends, and get a close look at rare treasures from the City Museum’s collections. See the legendary Old Thomas weather vane, forged in 1530, and the golden key to the city, crafted as a gift for King Charles XII. Discover the chest of privileges from 17th-century Tallinn and the wooden sculpted head by master Elert Thiele, which once crowned the pillory in the Town Hall Square. We’ll also delve into how the city was governed, what education was like, explore the major monasteries and churches, and learn which goods brought wealth to medieval Tallinn.

Together, we’ll uncover what makes Tallinn so unique and captivating – and how that charm is rooted in its past.

Group size is limited to 15 people.
Language: Estonian, English, Russian.
Guide fee: 40€.
Foreign language tour fee: 55€.
Museum admission fee is charged in addition to the tour price.

NEW! Guided tour of the Exhibition “The Wealthy and Handsome. The Brotherhood of the Black Heads in Tallinn”

Who were the rich and beautiful in medieval Tallinn? The dashing Black Heads!

The Brotherhood of Black Heads – young, unmarried merchant apprentices from abroad – were a hidden force in Tallinn’s city life. Though not yet citizens of Tallinn, they were ones leading the city’s social scene. They were the masters of ceremony, and their legendary parties and feasts – especially during Christmas and Shrovetide – made the whole city buzz with excitement.

On this guided tour, you’ll hear why even the mystery of the world’s first Christmas tree has been linked to the Black Heads’ celebrations. You’ll also discover what made their patron saint, Saint Maurice, so special and what role the church played in their everyday lives. We’ll take a look behind the scenes of powerful Hanseatic trade, and even help a merchant apprentice choose a bride!

By the end of the tour, you’ll find out how the brotherhood evolved into a club – and what became of the Black Heads in the modern day.

Group size is limited to 15 people.
Language: Estonian, English, Russian.
Guide fee: 40€.
Foreign language tour fee: 55€.
Museum admission fee is charged in addition to the tour price.

Merchant’s House Historical Tour

Join us in a journey through the history of the building located at Vene 17 and learn about one of its former owners – Hanseatic merchant Hans Viant, who lived in this building with his family centuries ago. During the tour, we also showcase some unique exhibits from our museum’s collection.

Language: Estonian, English, Russian, Italian.
Guide fee: 40€.
Foreign language tour fee: 55€.
Museum admission fee is charged in addition to the tour price.

“Treasures of the Open Storage”

An introduction to the open storage located in the cellar of the medieval Merchant’s house

The Tallinn City Life Museum’s open storage at Vene 17 showcases the museum’s collections and medieval cellar rooms. In the cellar of the medieval museum, collections of copper, brass, and bronze are exhibited, along with significant architectural elements of the building itself. The open storage of ceramics features both tableware used by the people of Tallinn and dishes produced on-site. The museum’s tin collection is the most representative in Estonia.

Group size is limited to 15 people.
Language: Estonian, English, Russian.
Guide fee: 40€.
Foreign language tour fee: 55€.
Museum admission fee is charged in addition to the tour price.

City tours

Old Town tour: “Between Hills and the Sea – Stories of the Latin Quarter”

Tallinn City Life Museum offers a guided walking tour introducing the Latin Quarter in the Old TOwn. The area between Vene and Müürivahe streets, along with its surroundings, is one of the most historically and culturally significant parts of the Old Town.

The Latin Quarter gets its name from the times when the Catholic Church led the religious life of Tallinn. Back then, this area was sacred and vital to the townspeople, housing Tallinn’s largest Christian sanctuary – St. Catherine’s Church and Monastery – a center of spirituality, culture, education, and pastoral care. The black-robed monks, the Dominicans, as well as the Cistercians, known as the White Brothers, moved here. Latin was the language of writing, speech, and schooling, alongside local languages such as Low German and Estonian. Nearby were also the Russian Orthodox church and merchant’s courtyard.

Where are the hills and the sea today, and how has the quarter changed over the centuries? This walking tour explores the history of the area from past centuries to the present day.

The tour lasts for 90 mins.
The group size is between 10 and 25 people.
Language: Estonian, English, Russian.
Price: 10€ per participant + guide fee for 40€ for Estonian language tours or 55€ for foreign language tour.

Guided tour + workshop

“Naughty Tallinn”: A ‘sexcursion’ to the Old Town

The sexual behaviour of Tallinn residents and prostitution in the city is examined from the 15th century through to the Second World War. We look at the intimate lives of the people of Tallinn through the centuries, their desires and the taboos that accompanied them. We learn about the spices that went into love potions and some other naughty things.
The excursion includes a workshop with hands-on activities.

The tour lasts for 90 mins.
The group size is between 10 and 30 people.
Language: Estonian, English, Russian.
The price is 15€ per participant, with no guide fee.

Guided tour in the Old Town: “On the trail of Viant the merchant”

What do we know about the people who lived in and ruled Tallinn in the Middle Ages?
500 years ago, the great merchant and burgomaster Hans Viant lived in the merchant’s house that now bears the address Vene 17. Tallinn City Life Museum offers an excursion that focuses on the former owner of the building, as well as exciting facts about day-to-day life in the Middle Ages.
The tour starts in front of Viant’s house, then continues through the Old Town, where we stroll along historic streets and visit the most important buildings in Viant’s life. We end with a workshop in which everyone can design their own secret wealth talisman like Viant’s own!

The tour lasts for 90 mins.
Group size is 10 to 25 people.
Language: Estonian, English, Russian.
The price is 12€ per participant, with no guide fee.