An excursion to Kadriorg Palace in Tallinn, Estonia

It's all over the place here! A few days ago we were in Malta and now we are in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Peter has never been here and I (Helena) have not been here since I was in my 20s. So we have a lot to discover! We arrived by ferry on Maundy Thursday morning and, after checking in at the hotel, started with an excursion to the Kadriorg Palace.

Table of contents

Walk to the Kadriorg Palace

Kadriorg Palace is located in the Kadriorg district, just outside the most central parts of Tallinn. We are currently staying at the Hilton Tallinn Park hotel, and from here it takes about 20 minutes to walk to the palace.

Now the weather was as bad as it could be (wet snow all over!), but we still decided that walking is healthy. If the weather had been a bit better, it would have been a very nice walk among all the beautiful old wooden houses.

Tallinn hus — The neighbourhood of Kadriorg seems to be full of charming wooden houses.

Summer residence for Russian tsars

Kadriorg Palace was built during the reign of Peter the Great as Russian Tsar, and is a baroque-style palace. The palace was built in 1718-1725, and was intended to be used as the summer residence of the Empress Catherine I. The palace was then used as an art museum. After World War I and Estonia's independence, the palace became an art museum, then a presidential palace, then an art museum again...

Kadriorg park — The park around the palace is large - and probably even more beautiful at another time of year.

Kadriorg Tallinn — Peter fights with ... Poseidon?

READ MORE: Guided tour in Tallinn, Estonia
READ MORE: What to do in Tallinn - 30 sights and experiences

Castle room and art exhibition

You can also visit the interior of the palace. There are some beautiful castle rooms with amazing stuccoes, and a number of rooms used for art exhibitions. Be sure to check out the 360 photo (second photo below), which we took with Nikon Key Mission 360.

You can look around the whole amazing room just by turning your phone or by dragging the mouse pointer around in all directions. It's worth mentioning that there are also several other museums nearby, including the Art Museum Kumu.

Tallin Kadriorg — Perhaps the Russian tsars spent their summers here.

Really cosy café in Kadriorg

When we finished our visit, we were hungry, so we found a cosy café that we are happy to recommend: Nop. The letters in the name stand for "Neighbourhood Organic Place", and that's exactly what it is.

In a charming little wooden house, this is both a shop and a café/restaurant, with locally produced and organic products. You can buy everything from fresh eggs from a nearby farmer to locally produced wine. Or do as we do and try something good from the menu!

Do you have any tips on what we shouldn't miss when we're here in Tallinn?

Nop Tallinn — Rye bread with avocado mousse, cold smoked salmon, poached egg and salad. And a really good local beer!

14 April 2017 6:00

Estonia

history, attraction, metropolis

Helena

Administrator

42 Comments

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Lennart says:

Tallinn is a cosy city!

14 April 2017 - 7:18

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Agree!!! Although the weather was not so cosy yesterday 😉 Looks more promising today!
  
  14 April 2017 - 8:40
  
  Reply
Lena - good for the soul says:

Oh, those palaces! What riches!

I have been on a cruise to Tallinn with the usual few hours on site. So I would like to return to see more. The city managed to appeal to me.

Happy Easter to you!

Hug Lena

14 April 2017 - 7:59

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes Tallinn is a nice city! Of course, you can't do much in a few hours, although you might be able to get a feeling anyway 🙂 Happy Easter!
  
  14 April 2017 - 8:42
  
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Christian says:

Tallinn is really nice! Don't miss the cool bars there! http://www.matochresebloggen.se/resor/europa/estland

14 April 2017 - 9:02

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Thanks for the link! I used Peter's "Travelling the world" and found a lot of tips from you, Lena, Lina and others 🙂.
  
  14 April 2017 - 9:18
  
  Reply
Diana's dreams says:

Cosy 🙂 really sharp turns what you have time for hugs and happy Easter.

14 April 2017 - 9:09

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, now it is full roll 🙂 We simply wanted to take the opportunity to travel when we had Easter holidays. But we have not finished writing about everything that happened in Malta yet... 😉 Wishing you a nice Easter!
  
  14 April 2017 - 9:19
  
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Mr Frank Olsen says:

It looked a bit colder there than in Malta yes ðŸ™'
We were in Tallinn on our long motorbike trip and we thought the old town was really nice. There was also some "resilient" architecture in the old industrial area by the old town, where they have kept some of the old industrial buildings and built new ones in steel and glass partly together and on top of the old ones. Cool! Also interesting was the City Hall Arena built by the Russians for the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
Moscow has no water to organise the sailing and rowing events, so these events were held in Tallinn in this facility:
http://janneogfrank.blogspot.no/2016/08/estland.html
We wish you nice days in Tallinn and Happy Easter!

14 April 2017 - 9:15

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Great to see your photos! Really mixed architecture! We'll probably get the chance to see some more today. Also, the weather is nicer today, although of course it's colder than in Malta 😉.
  
  14 April 2017 - 9:22
  
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Thomas says:

The Lennusadam museum is well worth a visit, even if you're not particularly interested in maritime history, the building itself is quite odd and impressive, and there's a nice café too. Located by the sea, quite close to the passenger harbours and the old town.
http://meremuuseum.ee/lennusadam/en/

14 April 2017 - 9:26

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Many thanks for the tips! 🙂
  
  14 April 2017 - 13:54
  
  Reply
Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

Tallinn a cosy city want to go there again

14 April 2017 - 9:31

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Agreed. And today we also have sun 🙂
  
  14 April 2017 - 13:55
  
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Thomas says:

There are so many high-class restaurants these days, but the medieval restaurant Olde Hansa is a classic, with a really nice atmosphere. Located in the centre of the old town, right next to the town hall square.

14 April 2017 - 9:42

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Thanks for the tips! We saw Olde Hansa today. It did not fit to eat right then, but nice house to take pictures 🙂
  
  14 April 2017 - 13:56
  
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Ama de casa says:

It is so nice in Tallinn! 🙂

A tip could be to stop fighting with the god of the sea and instead pray to the weather gods for better weather 😉.

But I really love the picture with the "fight" 😀.

14 April 2017 - 10:12

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  But it still seems to have had an effect...! Significantly better weather today 🙂
  
  14 April 2017 - 13:56
  
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Johnny Friskilä says:

After maybe 10-15 times in Tallinn, it was only now in January that I walked to Kadriorg. The weather was not much better then. Then to Keskturg after that, which is my favourite. 🙂

14 April 2017 - 10:13

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Googled keskturg and it seems to be a market? We like markets too 🙂
  
  14 April 2017 - 13:57
  
  Reply
Snows says:

Tallinn is on my list! Seems like an interesting and worthwhile city.

Happy Good Friday!

14 April 2017 - 10:37

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  The old town is extremely charming too! Happy Easter!
  
  14 April 2017 - 13:58
  
  Reply
Comsi Comsa says:

Happy Easter to you!

Hugs ♥

14 April 2017 - 11:17

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Likewise! Wishing you a very nice Easter!
  
  14 April 2017 - 13:58
  
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Alexandra says:

I like Tallinn and have probably been there 6-7 times! Take a walk to Linnahall if you are fascinated by abandoned places. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linnahall ?

14 April 2017 - 12:27

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  I understand that you like Tallinn! Thanks for the tips! 🙂
  
  14 April 2017 - 18:49
  
  Reply
Goatfish says:

The longest I have been to Tallinn is the film "Cod on Tallinn" 😀.
Wow, my list is long of what I want to see before I fall off the stick. Bucket list, it's called.

Happy Easter ?

14 April 2017 - 12:44

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, we also have a long list like that, haha. But it is probably good to have things to dream about, I think. Some will become reality and some will not. Happy Easter!
  
  14 April 2017 - 18:50
  
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BP says:

Former Russian palaces are so incredibly beautiful and at the same time so opulent. Given the lousy weather (not much better here, but at least no snow) I can recommend Tallinn's largest indoor shopping mall Tallinna Kaubamaja. Strolling around the Old Town with lots of pit stops to warm up is not bad either.
We were not as keen on Tallinn as we were on Riga.

14 April 2017 - 13:56

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  We have looked in Kaubamaja today and also the Old Town. We also like Riga! Don't really know how to compare really. But Riga is a little bigger?
  
  14 April 2017 - 18:51
  
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Ditte says:

Tallinn is probably best in beautiful weather - but to try the spa for a few hours is relaxing. I have been a lot in Tallinn over the years and have relatives both there and in other cities - I see that you have received good tips on things to do and the whole old town in Tallinn is a piece of history. The old town hall, Town Hall Square, the old pharmacy, St Nicholas Church, Town Hall Tower and go up there. Also the historical museum yuckte I was worth a visit. An old café, Maismokk is nice If I had a day left, I would probably try to get outside Tallinn towards Pernau or Narva. But of course you want sun.
In terms of restaurants, I don't know if these are still there but Troika, a Russian restaurant, mix with its medieval vaults. In the past the Tchaikovsky restaurant was considered good, but today I don't know, they had tasting menus.
The bar at the Savoy Hotel was also nice.
Good luck!

14 April 2017 - 16:22

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Thanks for the tips! Yes, we have received many good tips! Will probably not be able to graze half of them ... 😉 But still great! Today we have had much nicer weather. Cold, but sunny!
  
  14 April 2017 - 19:55
  
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Biggeros says:

Have unfortunately not been to Tallinn. Liked the fine wooden palace and the magnificent interior. Too bad the weather was not the best. Especially having just come from the heat in Malta. Luckily there are cosy spots to enjoy good food and local beer// Happy Easter!

14 April 2017 - 16:23

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  The weather is better today! Still cold, but sunny and no snow 🙂 Wishing you a nice Easter!
  
  14 April 2017 - 21:28
  
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Petra says:

I tried that beer at a fair in Stockholm not too long ago. Really good:-) You must have a great trip in Tallinn, will go there in the autumn with work so I am happy to receive tips:-)

Happy Easter!
/Petra

14 April 2017 - 16:31

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you found this beer in Sweden! We thought it was really good! Thank you, and hopefully we can deliver some tips in the next few days 😉.
  
  14 April 2017 - 21:29
  
  Reply
Johanna in Skåne says:

A walk in the winding streets of the old town 🙂 Didn't we have Saku and a long drink in one of the squares? With some guys from the Swedish Navy?

14 April 2017 - 16:57

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- Johanna in Skåne says:
  
  Skip Hostel Akmis!!! Just remembered that we laughed a lot there (after buying buns (which turned out to contain prince sausages) but that the standard was hm... different.
  
  14 April 2017 - 17:01
  
  Reply
  - Comment by post author
    
    Helena says:
    
    Wow, impressed that you remember the name of the hostel! I did not, but I remember very well the disgusting mattresses, and that we got an extra roommate all of a sudden 😉 Also remember very well those buns with sausages in them. Haha, then we had a lot of fun actually! That whole trip was fun! 🙂 The city is basically the same now, but the exotic is almost gone. The world is becoming more and more similar everywhere ... for better or worse.
    
    14 April 2017 - 21:31
    
    Reply
Ann-Louise says:

Seems like you have about the same weather as we have here in Stockholm today. I've never been to Tallinn but I'm a little eager to go there sometime in the future, especially since we discovered that my partner has ancestors from Estonia, which makes it a little extra interesting to go there. I will try to remember the tip about the restaurant until then because I like to eat organic 🙂.

14 April 2017 - 23:42

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Matts Torebring says:

We have only been to Tallinn once. We remember the magnificent interior of the houses. Have a good time!

16 April 2017 - 8:16

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Håkan Björfelt says:

Very nice travel description of Tallinn.I have been there a few times before and just like you I think it's great.I bought crystal glasses there for hyfsa-this was a long time ago when the price was very good.Thanks again for the description.MVH Håkan Björfelt

03 April 2022 - 14:57

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An excursion to Kadriorg Palace in Tallinn, Estonia

Walk to the Kadriorg Palace

Summer residence for Russian tsars

Castle room and art exhibition

Really cosy café in Kadriorg

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42 Comments

Lennart says:

Helena says:

Lena - good for the soul says:

Helena says:

Christian says:

Helena says:

Diana's dreams says:

Helena says:

Mr Frank Olsen says:

Helena says:

Thomas says:

Helena says:

Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

Helena says:

Thomas says:

Helena says:

Ama de casa says:

Helena says:

Johnny Friskilä says:

Helena says:

Snows says:

Helena says:

Comsi Comsa says:

Helena says:

Alexandra says:

Helena says:

Goatfish says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Ditte says:

Helena says:

Biggeros says:

Helena says:

Petra says:

Helena says:

Johanna in Skåne says:

Johanna in Skåne says:

Helena says:

Ann-Louise says:

Matts Torebring says:

Håkan Björfelt says:

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