News

What are Victory Day and Midsummer’s Day?

Even though the two important national holidays happen consecutively, they are not related to each other.
On Victory Day, we celebrate a pivotal battle victory in the Estonian War of Independence, but also, more broadly, Estonia's will to defend itself and the bravery of its troops.

Midsummer is a Nordic summer holiday with a centuries-long tradition that celebrates the summer solstice. In Estonia, during Midsummer’s Day, it is customary to light a bonfire, barbecue meat and stay awake for a long time on the whitest night of the year. Many Estonians celebrate Midsummer in their summer houses in the company of friends and family, which is why Tallinn can feel emptier than usual around Midsummer’s Day.

Unlike in Finland and other Nordic countries, Midsummer’s Day is always celebrated on a specific date in Estonia, 24 June, regardless of the day of the week.

What happens in Tallinn on Victory Day and Midsummer?

On Victory Day, 23 June, a traditional flag-raising ceremony will take place in Tallinn on the Tall Hermann tower of the Riigikogu building. In addition, wreaths will be placed on the War of Independence Victory Column on Freedom Square. Traditionally, a Victory Day parade is also held in Estonia, which takes place in a different city every year. This year, the Victory Day parade will take place in Pärnu.

Anyone who wants to experience an authentic celebration of Estonian Midsummer is invited to the Estonian Open Air Museum on 23 June, where a traditional celebration of Midsummer's Eve will take place. There will be a real Estonian village party in the museum area, where there will be no shortage of music, dancing and rich traditional food.

It is also customary for Midsummer celebration events to take place in most of the Tallinn’s districts.
Keep an eye on our event calendar.

Are the shops open?

During the holidays, clothing stores and souvenir shops may be closed or have limited opening hours. If there’s a shop you definitely want to visit, check their website for information on their holiday opening hours.

Opening hours of larger shopping centres:

Viru Centre: On 23 June, the centre will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on 24 June, the centre will be open from 12 a.m. to 9 p.m. PLEASE NOTE! The shops on Laikmaa Street will be closed on both 23 and 24 June.

Solaris Centre: On 23 June, the centre's grocery store will be open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the centre's shops will be closed. On 24 June, the centre's grocery store will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the centre's shops will be closed.

Nautica Centre: On 23 June, the centre will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the grocery store Rimi will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. On 24 June, the centre's shops will be closed, but the grocery store Rimi will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Kristiine Centre: On 23 June, the centre will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on 24 June it will be closed. The Prisma grocery store will also be open on 24 June.

Rocca Al Mare: On 23 June, the centre will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on 24 June it will be closed. The Prisma grocery store will also be open on 23 June from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on  24 June from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Ülemiste Centre: On 23 June, the centre will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on 24 June it will be closed. The Rimi grocery store will be open on 23 June from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on 24 June from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Are the restaurants open?

Many restaurants in the centre of Tallinn will be open on Victory Day and Midsummer’s Day, but it is definitely worth checking the opening hours before visiting.
Read more about Tallinn's best restaurants or check out our list of places to eat.

Opening hours of museums on Victory Day and Midsummer’s Day

The opening hours of museums and attractions may change. Tallinn Card has gathered information about the opening hours of the museums, places of entertainment, excursions and restaurants included in the package. See more: Victory Day and Midsummer Day with the Tallinn Card.

Tallinn Tourist Information Centre (Niguliste Street 2) is open during regular hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Estonian Open Air Museum invites everyone to celebrate St. John’s Day (June 23) in a traditional Estonian way — with flaming bonfires, live music by top folk musicians, dancing, swinging on large village swings, and children playing old-time folk games. Admission is free with the Tallinn Card!

From this list you are sure to find something exciting to do on these memorable days.

The following Tallinn Card partners await visitors

Museums and attractions:

• Estonian Open Air Museum (23.06 Midsummer party 19–00, the museum is open at 10–00; 24.06 ticket office 12–19, park 12–20)
• Tallinn Zoo (23.06 and 24.06 ticket office open 9–18, zoo’s territory open until 20)
• Tallinn's city wall (23.06 and 24.06 open 11–15)
• St. Mary's Cathedral (Dome Church) (23.06 and 24.06 open 10–17)
• Church of the Holy Spirit in Tallinn (23.06 and 24.06 open 10–18)
• Dominican convent 1246 (23.06 and 24.06 open 10–16)
• Marzipan room of Café Maiasmokk (23.06 open 10–16; 24.06 open 10–20)
• Museum and Visitor Centre of Fat Margaret, Estonian Maritime Museum (22.06, 23.06 and 24.06 open 10–17)
• Seaplane Harbour, Estonian Maritime Museum (22.06, 23.06 and 24.06 open 10–17)
• PROTO Invention Factory (23.06 closed, 24.06 open 12–18)
• Fine-art photography centre Fotografiska Tallinn (23.06 open 10–18; 24.06 closed)
• Tallinn TV Tower (23.06 open 10–16, the ticket office closes at 15:00; 24.06 closed)
• Tallinn Botanic Garden (23.06 and 24.06 visitor center + ticket office open 10–19, outdoors and and self-service payment open 9–20)
• The Estonian War Museum - General Laidoner Museum (23.06 open 11–16; 24.06 closed)

Entertainment:

• Super Skypark trampoline and playground centre (23.06 open 10–20; 24.06 open 12–22)
• Hands-On Science Centre SkyLab at Super Skypark (23.06 open 10–20; 24.06 open 12–22)
• Ferris wheel SkyWheel of Tallinn (23.06 open 10–20; 24.06 open 12–22)
• Kalev Spa Water Park (23.06 and 24.06 open 10–19, ticket office open until 17.30)

Sightseeing tours:

• Welcome to Tallinn bicycle tour (book in advance)
• Food and Bike Tour (book in advance)
• Day trip to the coastal areas of Northern Estonia and Rummu quarry (book in advance)
• Day trip to Lahemaa National Park (book in advance)
• Audioguide Tallinn Old Town Walking Tour (rental from the Tourist Information Centre at 9-18)
• Audioguide and E-Book for Download

Restaurants & Cafés & Shops:

• Café Pierre Chocolaterie (23.06 open 10–20; 24.06 open 12–22)
• Restaurant Olde Hansa (23.06 and 24.06 open 11–00)
• Restaurant Spot (23.06 and 24.06 open 12–23)
• Café Maru (23.06 and 24.06 open 10–17)
• Restaurant Allee (23.06 and 24.06 open 12–19)
• Handicraft centre “Kaarmanni Käsitöö” (23.06 and 24.06 open 11–19)
• Estonian Handicraft House (23.06 and 24.06 open 10–18)

More changes:

• Some businesses may also close their doors 3 hours earlier than usual the day before the holidays, June 22nd (e.g Estonian Museum of Architecture, Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design, Estonian Museum of Natural History, Museum of Puppetry Arts, Great Guild Hall, Estonian Theatre and Music Museum, Estonian Film Museum, Maarjamäe Palace, Kumu Art Museum, Kadriorg Art Museum, Mikkel Museum, Niguliste Museum, Adamson-Eric Museum). Therefore, we recommend checking the opening hours of museums and attractions on their websites for all three days (22nd to 24th June).
• On 22.06, all branches of the Tallinn City Museum will close 3 hours earlier than usual (Kiek in de Kök Fortifications Museum, Museum of Photography, the People’s Museum of Tallinn, Peter I House, Kalamaja Museum, Children´s Museum Miiamilla, Gallery Seek).
• On 22.06, the Seaplane Harbour and Museum and Visitor Centre of Fat Margaret will close at 17.

Public transport in Tallinn and bicycle rent from City Bike is free with the Tallinn Card. 

In addition to everything listed here, Tallinn has lots more for you to discover. Find out more on the Tallinn tourism website visittallinn.ee. You can also ask any questions you may have at the Tallinn Tourism Information Centre (Niguliste 2) – on June 23rd and June 24th you are welcome there from 9 to 18.

Happy Holidays!
Tallinn Card

• Seaplane Harbour – open from 10:00 to 17:00 on June 8
• Museum and Visitor Centre of Fat Margaret – open from 10:00 to 17:00 on June 8
• Museum of Puppetry Arts - closed on June 8
• Kiek in de Kök Fortifications Museum – closed on June 8
• Museum of Photography – closed on June 8
• The People’s Museum of Tallinn – closed on June 8
• House of Peter the Great – closed on June 8
• Kalamaja Museum – closed on June 8
• Children´s Museum Miiamilla - closed on June 8

Please note! On June 7, the Kiek in de Kök Fortifications Museum, the Museum of Photography, the People’s Museum of Tallinn, the House of Peter the Great, the Kalamaja Museum, and the Children's Museum Miiamilla will close one hour earlier!

You can find more information on events in the capital in our events calendar. Get your questions answered at the Tallinn Tourist Information Centre – you are welcome every day from 9 am to 6 pm.

Enjoy discovering Tallinn!
Tallinn Card

The following Tallinn Card partners await visitors

Museums and attractions:

• Adamson-Eric Museum (open 10-18)
• Cathedral of St. Mary and the Church Tower (open 10-17)
• Energy Discovery Centre (open 11-18)
• Estonian Health Museum (open 10-18)
• Estonian Museum of Architecture (open 11-20)
• Estonian Museum of Natural History (open 10-17)
• Estonian Open Air Museum (ticket office open 10-19, park 10-20, Spring Fair 11-16)
• Estonian War Museum - General Laidoner Museum (open 11-18)
• Fat Margaret Museum and Visitor Centre (open 10-17)
• Fotografiska Tallinn (open 10-18)
• Holy Spirit Church (open 10-18)
• Kadriorg Art Museum (open 10-18)
• Kumu Art Museum (open 10-20)
• Marzipan room of Café Maiasmokk (open 9-20)
• Mikkel Museum (open 10-18)
• Niguliste Museum and viewing platform (open 10-18)
• Nun's Tower and City Wall Platform (open 11-15)
• PROTO Invention Factory (open 11-18)
• Seaplane Harbour, Estonian Maritime Museum (open 10-17)
• Tallinn Botanic Garden (visitor center and ticket office open 10-19, outdoors and and self-service payment open 9-20)
• Tallinn Museum of Orders of Knighthood (open 10-17)
• Tallinn TV Tower (open 10-19)
• Tallinn Zoo (ticket office open 9–18, the zoo is open 9–20)
• Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom (open 10-18)

Entertainment:

• Super Skypark trampoline and playground centre (open 10-22)
• Hands-On Science Centre SkyLab at Super Skypark (open 10-22)
• Ferris wheel SkyWheel of Tallinn (open 12-22)
• Kalev Spa Water Park (open 6.30-21, ticket office open until 19.30)

Sightseeing tours:

• Day trip to Lahemaa National Park (9:30)
• Day trip to the coastal areas of Northern Estonia and Rummu quarry
• Welcome to Tallinn bicycle tour (11:00)
• Food and Bike Tour (12:00)
• Audioguide Tallinn Old Town Walking Tour (rental from the Tourist Information Centre at 9-18)
• Audioguide and E-Book for Download

Restaurants & Cafés & Shops:

• Café Pierre Chocolaterie (open 10-21)
• Restaurant Olde Hansa (11-00)
• PROTO café (open 11.30-17)
• Restaurant Allee (open 12-21)
• Restaurant Spot (open 12-23)
• Kadriorg Castle Café (open 10-18) 
• Tallinn Botanic Garden café Herba (open 10-19)
• Estonian Handicraft House (open 10-18)
• Handicraft centre “Kaarmanni Käsitöö” (open 11-19)
• Olde Hansa Shoppe

With the Tallinn Card, you can use Tallinn public transport for free and rent bicycles from City Bike (City Bike is open from 10-19).

In addition to the above, there is much more to discover in Tallinn. Find out more on the Tallinn tourism webpage visittallinn.ee. You can also get answers to your questions at the Tallinn Tourist Information Centre.

Happy holidays!
Tallinn Card

Estonian Open Air Museum celebrates Easter on Sunday, April 20th. Visitors can paint eggs, go on an egg hunt and much more. There is plenty to do for everyone! You can find a more detailed programme on the Estonian Open Air Museum webpage.

The following Tallinn Card partners are waiting for visitors during Easter holidays

Museums and attractions:

• Estonian Open Air Museum (ticket office open 10–17, park open 10–19, read more about the museum's Easter event)
• Tallinn Zoo (ticket office open 9–17, the zoo is open 9–19)
• Adamson-Eric Museum (18.04 closed, 20.04 open 10-18)
• Cathedral of St. Mary and the Church Tower (open 10–16)
• Dominican convent 1246 (open 10–16)
• Energy Discovery Centre (18.04 closed, 20.04 open 10–18)
• Estonian Health Museum (open 10-18)
• Estonian Museum of Natural History (open 10–17)
• Fat Margaret Museum and Visitor Centre (open 10–17)
• Fine-art photography centre Fotografiska Tallinn (open 10–18)
• Holy Spirit Church (18.04 open 10–18, 20.04 open 10–16)
• Kadriorg Art Museum (18.04 closed, 20.04 open 10–18)
• Kai Art Center (18.04 closed, 20.04 open 12–18)
• Kumu Art Museum (18.04 closed, 20.04 open 10–18)
• Marzipan room of Café Maiasmokk (open 9–20)
• Mikkel Museum (18.04 closed, 20.04 open 10–18)
• Niguliste Museum and viewing platform (18.04 closed, 20.04 open 10-18)
• PROTO Invention Factory (open 11–18)
• Seaplane Harbour, Estonian Maritime Museum (open 10–17)
• Tallinn Botanic Garden (open 11–16)
• Tallinn TV Tower (open 10–18)
• Town Wall: Nunna, Sauna and Kuldjala Tower (open 11–17)
• Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom (open 11–18)

Entertainment:

• Super Skypark trampoline and playground centre (open 10–22)
• Hands-On Science Centre SkyLab at Super Skypark (open 10–22)
• Ferris wheel SkyWheel of Tallinn (open 10–22)
• Kalev Spa veekeskus (18.04 open 06.30–22.30, ticket office open until 21; 20.04 open 8–22:30, ticket office open until 21)
• Shooting Range Gun Garage (18.04 open 11–20, 20.04 open 11–18)

Cafés, restaurants, shops:

• Chocolaterie Pierre (18.04 open 10–22, 20.04 open 10–21)
• Restaurant Olde Hansa (open 11–00)
• Olde Hansa Shoppe
• PROTO café (18.04 open 11.30–17.00, 20.04 open 11.30–18.00)
• Kadriorg Castle Café (18.04 closed, 20.04 open 10-18)
• Maarjamäe Castle Café (open 10-21)
• Tallinn Botanic Garden cafés – Kirribilli and Herba (open 11-16)
• Handicraft centre “Kaarmanni Käsitöö” (18.04 open 11–19, 20.04 open 11–18)
• Estonian Handicraft House (18.04 open 10–18, 20.04 open 10–17)

Sightseeing tours:

• Day trip to Lahemaa National Park (at 9.30)
• Day trip to the coastal areas of Northern Estonia and Rummu quarry
• Hidden Gems of Northern Estonia: Ruins and Castles day trip Carmen reisid 4Travel (18.04 open, 20.04 closed)
• Food and Bike Tour
• Welcome to Tallinn bicycle tour
• Audioguide Tallinn Old Town Walking Tour (rental from the Tourist Information Centre, Mon-Sat 10–17; Sun 10–15)
• Audioguide and E-Book for Download

With the Tallinn Card, you can use Tallinn public transport for free and rent bicycles from City Bike (City Bike is open from 10-19).

In addition to the above, there is much more to discover in Tallinn. Find out more on the Tallinn tourism webpage visittallinn.ee. You can get answers to your questions at the Tallinn Tourist Information Centre. You are welcome Mon-Sat 10–17 and Sun 10–15.

Happy holidays!
Tallinn Card