The Estonian Open Air Museum, known locally as Eesti Vabaõhumuuseum, is a living history museum on the edge of Tallinn, in Harju County. Its grounds show traditional Estonian rural life from the 18th to the 20th centuries, and the setting makes it a good choice for a visitor who wants to see how people in the countryside once lived, worked and built.
What you will see
The museum's collection is made up of historic buildings that were moved to the site from across Estonia. Rather than a single village, the visitor walks through a set of farmsteads and homes gathered together, each one showing a different part of the country's rural architecture. The emphasis is on the houses themselves and on the everyday lifestyle they sheltered.
- Historic rural buildings from the 18th to the 20th centuries, relocated from different parts of Estonia
- Traditional farm and household architecture shown in its original form
- A living history approach that presents rural lifestyle across these centuries
Planning your visit
The museum sits outdoors, so it suits a relaxed day with time to walk between the buildings. Its address is Vabaõhumuuseumi tee 12, 13521 Tallinn, and the contact number is +372 654 9100. Check with the museum directly for current opening times, admission and any seasonal arrangements, as these are not set out here.
Because the museum shows the countryside rather than the city, it works well alongside a visit to Tallinn's old town, giving a contrast between urban and rural Estonian history in the same trip.
