Places to visit in Viljandi

Arts & culture

Viljandi Song Festival Grounds

Viljandi Song Festival Grounds on Talli Street are an important venue in the town for outdoor events and song festivals. Concerts, song and dance festivals and other community events take place here. The grounds are also linked to the history of Estonia's restoration of independence: next to them stands a memorial stone dedicated to a Popular Front demonstration. Viljandi has a special bond with the song festival tradition, as the song “Koit”, written for the local Koit society, has become part of Estonia's nationwide song festival culture. The grounds can be visited outside events as well, but separate entry and ticket rules may apply during events.

Talli tn 2, Viljandi

Arts & culture

Rüki Gallery

Rüki Gallery is a contemporary art exhibition and sales gallery on Tartu Street in Viljandi's Old Town. In a historic granary building visitors can see paintings, photographs, prints, sculptures and installations by Estonian artists. The gallery's name comes from an old inscription, “Rüki jahu” (rye flour), discovered during renovation, which referred to a former flour store. Exhibitions change, so every visit may offer a different art experience. The gallery is also a meeting place for art lovers and creators. Check that an exhibition is on before you come, as the rooms are closed between exhibitions and on public holidays.

Indicative price: Free admission

Tartu tn 7c, Viljandi

Arts & culture

Viljandi Traditional Music Barn

The Viljandi Traditional Music Barn is a concert house and cultural centre on Tasuja Boulevard at the edge of the Castle Hills. The Barn has a large and a small concert hall, a shop with folk instruments, records and books, and a traditional music information collection. Rehearsals and workshops take place in the cellar with its brick vaults. The house is a permanent home for Viljandi's traditional music scene, where alongside concerts you can learn about what is happening in the field. Tickets and times for individual events depend on the programme; if you plan to drop in without a concert, check the building's general opening hours separately.

Tasuja pst 6, Viljandi linn, Viljandi maakond