Places to visit in Kuressaare

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

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

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

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

Museums & science

Mihkli Farm Museum

Mihkli Farm Museum is a historic farm complex in Viki village, Saaremaa Parish, Saare County. The yard and buildings, shaped over generations of the same family, introduce Saaremaa farm life more directly than a single exhibition hall could. Visitors see traditional farm buildings, household objects and how work and living were connected in one place. In the summer season the museum can be visited during regular opening hours; from October to April a visit must be arranged in advance. If you want to understand Saaremaa's heritage, allow time for the whole farmyard, not just the main house.

Indicative price: Adult €8; reduced €6; family ticket €17

Mihkli talumuuseum, Viki küla, Saaremaa vald, Saare maakond

Museums & science

Vilsandi National Park Visitor Centre

The Vilsandi National Park Visitor Centre is located in Saaremaa, in the Loona manor complex, making it an ideal place to start exploring Estonia's most maritime national park. The visitor centre features a permanent exhibition that introduces the nature, history, and cultural heritage of the national park. In the stone house, you can learn about fossils. The centre also provides information about hiking trails, campfire sites, and Vilsandi National Park, as well as other protected and recreational areas in Estonia. Additionally, it is possible to watch nature documentaries that provide an in-depth overview of the park's biota and ecosystems. Welcome to explore Vilsandi National Park!

Loona mõis, Loona küla, Saaremaa vald, Saare maakond

Museums & science

Saaremaa Military Equipment Museum

Saaremaa Military Equipment Museum in Põripõllu village is a military history museum whose exhibition focuses on the wars of the 20th century and Estonia’s military history. Its extensive collection includes thousands of items: weapons, uniforms, soldiers’ personal belongings and heavy equipment; in 2026 a new exhibition hall, “Sea and Engines”, was added. The museum also has an exhibition on the War of Independence and a display of weapons from different eras. The regular season runs from spring to autumn, and larger groups can arrange visits at other times as well.

Indicative price: Adult 15 €; pupil up to 15 years 12 €; pensioner 12 €; family ticket 25 €; guide on request 25 €/hour

Muuseumi, Põripõllu küla, Saaremaa vald, Saare maakond

Museums & science

Muhu Museum

Muhu Museum is located in Koguva village and introduces the history of Muhu island, its farm architecture and local cultural heritage. The heart of the museum is Tooma farm, the birthplace of writer Juhan Smuul, where farm buildings and historical belongings have been preserved. A visit also includes the former village schoolhouse and the exhibitions at Välja farm, where you can see Muhu’s national textiles and handicrafts. Koguva is a living village, not an open-air museum, so signposts guide visitors to the museum sites and the yards of private farms remain for residents’ use.

Indicative price: Full ticket 7 €; reduced 5 €; family ticket 15 €

Muhu muuseum, Koguva küla, Muhu vald, Saare maakond