Great Guild Hall
Great Guild Hall
4
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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4.0
373 reviews
Excellent
152
Very good
152
Average
61
Poor
8
Terrible
0
Richard M
Hampstead Norreys, UK949 contributions
Jun 2022
We absolutely loved this place for both the building and the history inside. There is a great collection of money from ancient times right up to the modern day. interesting stories of one of Estonias favourite music group and an incredible collection in the basement. There are objects like a piece of musical script from Mozart and real egyptian artefacts. Just amazing.
Written 25 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sonja M
Hove, UK726 contributions
Jul 2023
This museum is right in the centre of Tallinn and must to understand the history of the city and the Guild culture. Spread across several floors it has something for you and old . Take time to explore the side exhibitions . Have fun and take a photo in regal robes.
Written 9 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wingate
London, UK2,729 contributions
Jun 2011
This is the Estonian History Museum which has just reopened after a refurbishment.It is an entertaining and informative museum.It combines the display of exhibits with modern technology.There are many screens where you have to touch to have 5 questions displayed for you to answer.In the basement there is a section on the origins of cinema where you can watch ,to your own choice ,up to 9 Lumiere films.It is one of the best museums in Estonia and i was there for around 2 hours.I would mention that the first floor you go into got extremely war4m,probably due to all the lighting.In the main hall on the ground floor the exhibitions are on a raised platform so dont go to near thedge otherwise you will take a shot drop of about 6 inches.Well worth the effort to visit.
Written 16 June 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reslysten54
Vienna, VA2,699 contributions
Jul 2022
There is no common theme here, but you can also look at it generously as a smorgasbord where most people can at least find something engaging.
There is a sweeping, historical video near the entrance that I found informative. That was the highlight for me.
There is an exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of a musical society in Estonia. Probably interesting if you know Estonian music well.
There is also an armory so if you are fascinated by how people have perfected the art of killing each other through the centuries,--this is your place!
Much space is devoted to the history of the building itself and the Great Guild that occupied it for a long time. It was long a symbol of a merchant class that aspired to influence commercial and political life in the city.
Another section contains a numismatic display.
Interactive displays can be great--if they are working--but several were not during my visit. There were also exhibits with texts placed so low that it required you to take a knee. Even then, the fonts were almost unreadable because of small size and reflections in the glass. What were they thinking?
There is a sweeping, historical video near the entrance that I found informative. That was the highlight for me.
There is an exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of a musical society in Estonia. Probably interesting if you know Estonian music well.
There is also an armory so if you are fascinated by how people have perfected the art of killing each other through the centuries,--this is your place!
Much space is devoted to the history of the building itself and the Great Guild that occupied it for a long time. It was long a symbol of a merchant class that aspired to influence commercial and political life in the city.
Another section contains a numismatic display.
Interactive displays can be great--if they are working--but several were not during my visit. There were also exhibits with texts placed so low that it required you to take a knee. Even then, the fonts were almost unreadable because of small size and reflections in the glass. What were they thinking?
Written 17 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
97vaclavm
Amman, Jordan15 contributions
Nov 2019
This is a nice museum, covering history of Estonia. You will find out some interesting facts about Estonia during your visit. However, for the price of the ticket, I would expect something more interesting, more interactive, more fun as well. Mostly, there is just a lot of reading.
Written 29 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex W
Singapore, Singapore1,426 contributions
Nov 2019
I came to this museum (Estonian History Museum) about one hour before closing time thinking it couldn't be large since it was located in just a single building (The Great Guild Hall). It was a bad mistake. The museum was definitely worth more than one hour. As a result I only viewed the exhibits on the ground floor and only managed to do a very quick walk-around of the other floors.
So, this review is only of the main floor.
Not many material exhibits, so it relies a great deal on videos, but in the process, does a good job of telling a story. Since recorded history did not extend further back than 1200s, except for some exhibits re prehistoric archaeological finds, all the curation is about the different periods of Danish, German barons, Swedish and Russian rule. You will learn a lot about Estonian history here.
Housed in an old building (very interesting in itself) in the lower old town a short distance from the town hall, a great vaulted room. Not a lot of space, but well utilized.
Entry 8 euros. Free with Tallinn card. Needs 2 hours.
So, this review is only of the main floor.
Not many material exhibits, so it relies a great deal on videos, but in the process, does a good job of telling a story. Since recorded history did not extend further back than 1200s, except for some exhibits re prehistoric archaeological finds, all the curation is about the different periods of Danish, German barons, Swedish and Russian rule. You will learn a lot about Estonian history here.
Housed in an old building (very interesting in itself) in the lower old town a short distance from the town hall, a great vaulted room. Not a lot of space, but well utilized.
Entry 8 euros. Free with Tallinn card. Needs 2 hours.
Written 23 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for your kind words! We are sorry that you didnt have much time for the basement of the medieval building. Hopefully next time!
Have a nice time in Tallinn!
Written 25 November 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Keith M
Glasgow, UK53 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
A thoroughly interesting museum that tells the story of Tallinn and Estonia really well. A good mix of modern and more traditional exhibits that held my attention for a couple of hours. Well worth making this part of your visit to this beautiful city.
Written 9 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
geographyguy_11
Brisbane, Queensland517 contributions
Jun 2016 • Solo
This branch of the Estonian National Museum was very disappointing. Instead of using this historic building to give visitors an overview of Estonia's fascinating but eventful history, they have decided to fill a few display cabinets with random objects of no interest at all and put them alongside written answers to questions like "Who are the Estonians?" and "Is Estonia well-known?". I expected to come away with some idea of the big picture of Estonian history but left very disappointed instead.
Written 23 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ch-Henry
Gdansk, Poland124 contributions
Aug 2015 • Solo
Located in the Great Guild Hall, the Estonian History Museum is worth visiting if you want to discover the history of Estonia.
Whereas the building is really nice (you can have a very nice view of the cellar with displays of how the building was used throughout the centuries), the museum is too small (only on the ground floor). Two very instructive films on Estonian history can be seen and are definitely worth looking at. But the number of artefacts and pieces on display in the other room is very small (although very well structured with one part dealing with the origin of Estonian language, one part dealing with religious traditions etc.).
Visiting time: 1h
Whereas the building is really nice (you can have a very nice view of the cellar with displays of how the building was used throughout the centuries), the museum is too small (only on the ground floor). Two very instructive films on Estonian history can be seen and are definitely worth looking at. But the number of artefacts and pieces on display in the other room is very small (although very well structured with one part dealing with the origin of Estonian language, one part dealing with religious traditions etc.).
Visiting time: 1h
Written 26 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Schadla-Hall T
London, UK166 contributions
Apr 2015 • Business
The Great Guildhall is part of the Estonian History Museum - and as well as being a wonderful medieval building is its own right - is crammed full of really engaging displays. The introductory didsplays- about Estonian history and identity are interactive but still with plenty of objects-and delivered with a wry and open sense of humour-if only more museums could do this! The main 15th century Hall follows- this is a stunning piece of architecture- and the displays within do not detract from seeing it in all its glory; a clever bit of design. The displays themselves are informative and take time to see but are well worth looking at slowly and carefully- and explain about both the history and identity of the country. In the cellars are the remains of the hypocaust and yet more informative displays- the armoury has the best interactive on firearms I have ever seen- even if you do not like firearms!There is also adipaly of early collections- which justifies why museums collect! and there is Lenins spoon!! look for it! AND dont miss the numismatics gallery on the right as you go in- all numismatic displays could learn from this one!!
Written 26 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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