Places to visit in Viljandi

Museums & science

Kondas Centre

Kondas Centre is an art centre in Viljandi named after the Estonian naive artist Paul Kondas. The permanent collection is based on his works, while temporary exhibitions introduce naive and outsider art, contemporary art, and artists from Estonia and other countries. Located in the historical part of the city near the Castle Hills, the centre is a great addition to a route between architectural and historical sights. One of Viljandi's most recognizable visual symbols is also connected to Kondas — decorative strawberries that appeared in the urban space inspired by his painting 'The Strawberry Eaters'. It is a small-scale museum, yet characteristic of Viljandi's cultural identity.

Indicative price: Adult €7; concession €5; family €14.

Pikk 8, 71003 Viljandi

Museums & science

Viljandi Museum

Viljandi Museum introduces the history of the town and the whole of Viljandimaa from ancient times to the 20th century. The museum is located in the historic old pharmacy building near the Castle Hills, making it convenient to visit before a walk to the fortress ruins. The permanent exhibition spans two floors and brings together archaeological finds, historical objects, and materials on the traditional lifestyle of the region. A special place is held by a detailed model of the medieval order castle: it helps visualize the scale of the fortress before its destruction and better understand the ruins preserved today. In addition to the permanent exhibition, the museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions dedicated to local history, art, and cultural heritage.

Indicative price: Adult €9; pupil/student/senior €5; family €20. Guided tour up to 45 min: €35 in Estonian / €45 in a foreign language + tickets.

Johan Laidoneri plats 10, 71020 Viljandi

Museums & science

ERM Heimtali Museum

The Heimtali Museum of the Estonian National Museum (ERM) is in Heimtali village, Viljandi County, in a 19th-century village schoolhouse built of fieldstone. The permanent exhibition presents school life of the past, tools collected from the surrounding area and local craft traditions. A special part is the national textile collection; changing exhibitions focus on handicrafts, history and art. The children's playroom has animals inspired by mitten patterns. The museum also offers workshops and guided visits by advance booking, with conditions that differ from the standard exhibition ticket.

Indicative price: Adult ticket €7; reduced €5; family ticket €10

Kääriku/1, Heimtali küla, Viljandi vald, Viljandi maakond

Museums & science

Soomaa National Park Visitor Centre

Soomaa National Park Visitor Centre is in Tipu village, Viljandi County, in the Kõrtsi-Tõramaa area, and introduces the national park's landscapes. The permanent exhibition “Through Soomaa by Dugout Canoe” takes visitors on an imaginary journey along rivers, floodplain meadows, flood areas and forests. Before heading into nature, you can get information at the centre about hiking trails and campfire sites. The exhibition helps explain why the traditional dugout canoe (haabjas) is an important way of getting around in Soomaa and how the spring floods change the look of the area. The visitor centre has a seasonal schedule; before a longer drive from Viljandi, check holidays and opening hours.

Kõrtsi-Tõramaa, Tipu küla, Põhja-Sakala vald, Viljandi maakond

Museums & science

Helilooja Mart Saare majamuuseum

Composer Mart Saar's House Museum is located in Viljandi County, in Karjasoo village at Hüpassaare farm, near the forests and bogs of Soomaa. The museum introduces the composer's life, his work, and his connection to the surrounding nature. In the Saar family home, visitors can see historical living quarters and objects that help understand his working and everyday life. The years spent here were important in the composer's work, and the natural environment provided him with inspiration. The house museum is a cultural-historical site in its own right, distinct from the nearby bog hiking trail. When planning a visit, the museum's seasonal working arrangements must be taken into account.

Indicative price: Full ticket 5 €; student 3 €; family ticket 10 €; group ticket up to 20 people 50 €. Cash only on site.

Mart Saare majamuuseum, Karjasoo küla, Põhja-Sakala vald, Viljandimaa

Museums & science

Kapp Composers Museum House

The Kapp Composers Museum House is located in Suure-Jaani, Viljandi County, on Tallinna Street in a historic wooden house. It was built by Hans Kapp and bequeathed to his son Villem, who created a large part of his music here. The exhibition introduces the life and work of composers Joosep, Hans, Artur, Eugen, and Villem Kapp. In the historic rooms, you can see family items, photographs, and music-related displays. The museum offers an opportunity to discover the rich musical heritage of a small town. Visiting hours may vary by month, so it is advisable to check the latest schedule of Põhja-Sakala Parish before visiting.

Tallinna tn 30, Suure-Jaani linn, Põhja-Sakala vald, Viljandimaa

Museums & science

Tarvastu Museum

Tarvastu Museum is located in the village of Mustla, in the Viljandi municipality, and it preserves, studies, and exhibits items of culture and history from the Tarvastu parish and the former Tarvastu congregation. The museum's exhibition focuses on aspects of local peasant life, including farm work, tools, folk costumes, and local language and cultural traditions. Visitors can learn about the development of Mustla, the history of Tarvastu Castle, the local nobility (the Mensenkampff family), and the development of education in the region. The museum also provides an overview of the lives and activities of cultural figures from the Tarvastu area.

Posti 52b, Mustla alevik, Viljandi vald, Viljandi maakond

Museums & science

Mõisaküla Museum

Mõisaküla Museum is located in Viljandi County, Mulgi Parish, and showcases the history of the village since its inception. The museum features several railway-themed exhibits, including bronze railway vehicle and factory signs, as well as models of a steam locomotive, passenger cars, and a traction engine. Also remarkable is the display of Olympic weightlifter Arnold Luhaääre's medals. Museum visitors can also enjoy a draisine ride, which is available for an additional fee, but payment is only accepted in cash. The museum is open from Tuesday to Thursday, and on Fridays and Saturdays, offering visitors the opportunity to explore the cultural heritage of Mõisaküla.

Kesk 4, Mõisaküla linn, Mulgi vald, Viljandi maakond

Museums & science

Abja Museum

Abja Museum is a local museum in Abja-Paluoja presenting the history of the Abja area and Mulgimaa. Its exhibitions cover the development of local life, the history of education and culture, old work and household objects, and heritage connected with the people of the area. Through a small town, the museum offers a glimpse into the wider Mulgi cultural space and complements visits to the area’s manors and natural sites with a local history perspective. It is above all a community history museum, where objects and photographs help trace how the Abja area changed over different eras.

Posti tn 3, Abja-Paluoja linn, Mulgi vald, Viljandi maakond

Museums & science

Writer August Kitzberg Room Museum

The Writer August Kitzberg Room Museum is in Leeli village, Mulgi parish, in the former Pöögle parish house where August Kitzberg and his brother Jaan once worked and lived. The private museum presents the life of one of the most important literary classics associated with Mulgimaa, the Kitzberg family, the writer’s work and the world of a parish clerk. The Karksi area provided Kitzberg with material for several works, and the museum links literary history directly with this local setting. Visits are by prior arrangement; if you wish, you can continue along trails connected with Kitzberg’s work in the area.

Leeli, Leeli küla, Mulgi vald, Viljandi maakond