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Places to visit in Kuressaare

Explore the city’s places of interest, with photos, descriptions and addresses.

Thule Koda

Museums & science

Thule Koda

Thule Koda is a modern centre of alternative history in the heart of Kuressaare, where Saaremaa's legends, mythology and real island characteristics are presented through interactive installations and games. The exhibition deliberately balances between facts, fantasy and island humour, inviting visitors to decide for themselves what to believe. It features unusual thematic spaces and a 360-degree cinema hall, and the same complex houses Thule Kino. Thanks to its playful format, the centre is particularly suitable for families and for visiting in rainy weather when you want to continue discovering Saaremaa indoors.

Indicative price: Adult €8; concession €6; family €24; group of 10+ €6/person; children under 5 free.

Uus 20, 93814 Kuressaare

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Saare KEK Museum

Museums & science

Saare KEK Museum

Saare KEK is an unusual museum in Kuressaare, located in an expressive building of a former Soviet-era construction organization. The exhibition "Time Travel into Soviet Everyday Life" focuses primarily on the 1970s–1980s and showcases household items, shortages, interior design, architecture, and everyday habits of the era with a notable dose of humor. Some of the exhibits are directly related to the history of the building itself, constructed in 1982. The museum stands out from the city's classic historical collections: the emphasis here is on recognizable objects, the atmosphere of the time, and the personal memories of visitors from various generations.

Indicative price: Adult €7.50; family €20 (2 adults + 2 children). Guided tour by prior arrangement.

Ringtee 15, 93815 Kuressaare

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Kuressaare Castle

Museums & science

Kuressaare Castle

Kuressaare Episcopal Castle is the main historical symbol of Saaremaa and one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in the Baltic region. The monumental stone building is surrounded by bastions and a moat, and inside operates the Saaremaa Museum, which tells the history of the island from the distant past to modern times. Visiting is interesting not only for the exhibitions: the route passes through halls, stairs, corridors, and other spaces of a real fortress. In 2024, part of the first-floor exhibition was updated to feature a more interactive presentation. The outer fortifications and the surrounding park form a separate walking route, so you should allow time for both the museum and exploring the fortress from the outside.

Indicative price: Adult €13; concession €10; family €29. Combined ticket Castle + Mihkli Farm + Aavik’s House Museum €18.

Lossihoov 1/1, 93810 Kuressaare

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Kuressaare Great Bridge

City walks

Kuressaare Great Bridge

Kuressaare Large Bridge is a historic stone bridge over the Põduste River and one of the town's prominent architectural features. The current dolomite bridge was built around 1820 on the site of an earlier wooden crossing. It is approximately 105 meters long and features twelve arches, making it clearly visible from both the riverbanks and the water. Today it is reserved for pedestrians and looks particularly striking in the evening thanks to modern lighting. It is a quiet walking attraction away from the main tourist spots in Kuressaare and a good landmark for a route between the historic center and coastal areas.

Indicative price: Walking across the bridge is free.

Põduste jõgi, Kuressaare

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Aavik’s House Museum

Museums & science

Aavik’s House Museum

The Aavik Family House Museum introduces two prominent figures in the cultural history of Saaremaa — linguist and Estonian language reformer Johannes Aavik and organist and music pedagogue Joosep Aavik. The small museum is located in a historic house in Kuressaare and retains the intimate atmosphere of a family space, featuring personal items, documents, and materials related to the island's language, music, and intellectual life. This place complements the city's larger attractions well, allowing visitors to see Saaremaa's history through the lives of specific individuals. Outside of regular Sunday hours, visits are possible by prior arrangement.

Indicative price: Adult €6; concession €4; group from 10 people €5/€3; guided tour 1 hour €60; combined ticket with Castle and Mihkli Farm €18.

Vallimaa 7, 93812 Kuressaare

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Kuressaare Town Hall

History & architecture

Kuressaare Town Hall

The town hall on Tallinna Street in the centre of Kuressaare is a 17th-century Northern Baroque monument. The building was constructed between 1654 and 1670 on the initiative of Count Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie. Its austere facade features a carved stone portal with the completion date, and two lion sculptures stand at the entrance. Inside, the historical administrative function coexists with cultural uses: it houses the city exhibition hall, the tourist information centre and the rooms of the rural municipality assembly. You can start your visit with the exterior, and check with the tourist info centre about viewing the upper hall and its ceiling paintings; its opening hours do not imply access to all rooms.

Tallinna tn 2, Kuressaare linn, Saaremaa vald, Saare maakond

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Kuressaare St. Lawrence Church

History & architecture

Kuressaare St. Lawrence Church

The Lutheran St. Lawrence Church on Tallinna Street in Kuressaare is an architectural monument of church architecture. The church has stood here since the 17th century and received its current appearance after restoration completed in 1836. Inside, you can see an old chandelier, a medieval baptismal font from Anseküla Church, and altar painting by Karl Sigismund Walther. The restrained interior space is complemented by modern stained glass windows by Urmo Raus and historic tombstones set in the floor. This is an active parish: services begin on Sundays at 11:00. To view the interior outside the published summer season, visit times must be coordinated with the parish.

Tallinna tn 13, Kuressaare linn, Saaremaa vald, Saare maakond

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Suur Tõll and Piret sculpture in Kuressaare

History & architecture

Suur Tõll and Piret sculpture in Kuressaare

The sculpture of Suur Tõll and Piret on Pargi Street in Kuressaare is a monument to the heroes of Saaremaa legends, located in front of the Meri Hotel. Created by Tauno Kangro in 2002, the composition depicts the giant and his wife carrying a boat with a rich catch. The theme connects island folklore with the sea and local fishing traditions. In the legends, Tõll is so huge that he can walk across the sea; tales about him offer a fresh perspective on familiar island landscapes. The sculpture is installed outdoors and is accessible year-round, 24 hours a day. It can be viewed from all sides while strolling through the coastal part of the city.

Pargi tn 15, Kuressaare linn, Saaremaa vald, Saare maakond

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Kuressaare Püha Nikolai kirik

History & architecture

Kuressaare Püha Nikolai kirik

The Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas on Lossi Street in Kuressaare is an architectural monument of the late 18th century. The stone church was built in 1786–1789 by order of Catherine the Second and consecrated in 1790. The three-nave building offers a glimpse into another side of the city's religious history, where an Orthodox community formed after the Great Northern War. When viewing from the street, pay attention to the fence and the tripartite gate with Doric semicolumns: they are part of the protected architectural ensemble. The church remains active. The published visiting hours apply to the summer; the possibility of going inside in autumn and winter should be checked with the parish.

Lossi tn 8, Kuressaare linn, Saaremaa vald, Saare maakond

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