Year-round
Dates
4h
Duration
2+
Min group size
Tour in Tallinn and its surroundings: the Soviet Estonia
- Discover the Soviet secrets from behind the former Iron Curtain in Tallinn and its surroundings
- Visit the Olympic Center built in Tallinn for the Moscow Olympics
- Visit the abandoned Soviet air-defense base and Exhibition of Soviet Monuments in Maarjamäe Palace or the Estonian Coastal Folk museum (depends on the opening times and season).
- Drive along Tallinn’s coast and admire the postcard views from Tallinn TV tower
On the Soviet Estonia tour we see the legacy of Soviet occupation in Tallinn and its surroundings. The tour reveals all the Soviet secrets there were behind the former Iron Curtain.
On the tour we take a spectacular drive along Tallinn’s coast to get a feel for the area’s natural beauty and fascinating maritime and soviet history! You’ll visit the Olympic Center built in Tallinn for the Moscow Olympics. You’ll hear how the yachting competitions were organised during soviet times.
Read more about 9 Soviet sights to visit in Tallinn.
PRICE INCLUDES: personal pick up and return at your hotel, guide service, transport and entrance fees to museums.
FOR EXTRA CHARGE: Lunch or coffee break is available on request in restaurants of Viimsi or in TV tower.
PICK UP PLACE AND TIME: hotel or Tallinn Tourist Information Centre
LANGUAGES: English, Spanish
1
Learn about the historical background of soviet times at Freedom Square
Starting from the end of the story, we provide an introduction to the historical background of the soviet occupation of Estonia at the symbol of Estonian independence, the “Statue of Liberty,” centrally located in Freedom Square. On the Soviet tour, we will tell you about dramatic and humorous issues and memories (including pictures from the time), which will stay with us for the whole tour.
2
See soviet architecture in Tallinn city center and visit the place where the Estonian people sang themselves to freedom
Heading towards the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds, we pass the former Headquarters of the KGB at the legendary Hotel Viru and buildings that represent Stalinist architecture in Tallinn. Stopping at the Song Festival Grounds, we will try to give you a feeling of the emotions that filled the stage in the late 1980s when the Singing Revolution took place here and the Estonian people sang themselves to freedom.
3
Visit the former Olympic Centre, home to the yachting events for the Moscow Olympics in 1980
Continuing the Soviet tour along the Eastern coast from Tallinn, we will tell you the controversial stories about the Memorial of Maarjamäe and the former Olympic Centre where the yachting for the Moscow Olympics took place in 1980. Soviet monuments are now exhibited in the History Museum’s Maarjamäe Palace. We will go and have a look there. Or depending on the season we might vivit the Estonian Coastal Folk museum instead.
4
Following the coastline, which was partially closed as part of the border zone established during soviet times, we go and explore an abandoned air force base and get the best view over Tallinn from the TV tower
Ending up at the peninsula of Viimsi, we take a walk to an abandoned air force base in the forest where strategic rockets were installed until the restoration of independence in Estonia in the early 1990s. On our way back to Tallinn city center, we will visit the Tallinn TV tower (also built in 1980 for the Moscow Olympics) to get to know more about the unbelievable building strategies employed by the Soviets, their censorship of the media, and the dangerous events when Estonia declared its independence in 1991. Our drive back to the city center also takes us through the biggest city district built in soviet times, a high-rise area of apartment blocks named Lasnamäe.
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Optional tips to enhance your experience:
- order a yacht for 1 -2 hours to take a sailing cruise on Olympic yachting trails in Pirita;
- order a Soviet-style-food outdoor picnic;
- visit the KGB prison cells for an extra 5 euros per person;
- add a guided Virtual Reality tour on Harju Street from the years 1939 and 1944.
Prices for Behind The Iron Curtain – Secrets Of The Soviets
For families with children we usually offer discounted price. Please ask more information.
| Number of participants: | Price per person: |
| 1 | 270 euros |
| 2-3 | 135 euros |
| 4 | 115 euros |
| 5-7 | 105 euros |
| 8 and more | on request |
©J. Leppmets. Maria's Hill Memorial. Tallinn Old Town in the background
©J. Leppmets. Maria's Hill Memorial in Tallinn
The memorial opened in 2018 in memory of Estonia’s victims of communism.
©J. Leppmets. We visit Tallinn TV Tower
Tallinn TV Tower
©J. Leppmets. We get to admire the beautiful view from Tallinn TV Tower
©J. Leppmets. View from 170 meters above the ground. Tallinn TV Tower
©J. Leppmets. The Olympic Center in Tallinn built for Moscow Olympics in 1980
©J. Leppmets. Abandoned Soviet air-defence base in Rohuneeme
Abandoned Soviet air-defence base in Rohuneeme
©T. Grepp. We hear stories about the Song Festival Grounds
©Ajapaik. Tallinn Old Town during the Soviet time
Enjoy the coastal area of Pirita with the views of Tallinn panorama.
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Tour Reviews
This tour was fantastic! Our guide was so knowledgeable and offered so many personalized stories to really add to our experience. We chose an English language tour and our guide spoke flawless English!
A nice way to see some of Tallinn outside of the medieval centre. The television tower is definitely worth visiting (so long as there is good visibility). The monument to victims of communism is also interesting. There is very little to see at the Soviet air defence base. It has nearly been reclaimed by nature so if you like discovering abandoned sites amongst the trees then you will enjoy it.
Guide’s experience and knowledge were exceptional. Well worth the time and money.
Thank you to Denis for a great tour!
Very enjoyable and well run tour.
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