The Estonian National Opera, Saarinen House and Sokos Hotel Viru stand like pillars close to one another in the city centre, symbolising the shared history of the Estonians and the Finns. These buildings are well known, but at the same time are only three reminders of Finnish activity in Tallinn. The reality, of course, is much richer.

Finnish people have lived in Tallinn since as early as the Middle Ages, but they were especially numerous during the era of Swedish rule in the 16th and 17th centuries. Thousands of Finns also came here during the War of Independence, but our northern neighbours were especially eager to visit the capital of the newly independent Estonia in the 1920s. Finns were also the main group of foreigners who visited Tallinn as Western tourists during the Soviet occupation. What has brought Finnish people to Tallinn? What have they seen as the upsides and downsides of our city?

Tours will explore the traces – both physical landmarks and intellectual influences – our tribal relatives have left on Tallinn’s urban space and the lives of its inhabitants over the centuries. Who were these architects, builders, soldiers, clergymen, athletes, musicians, artists, writers and ordinary tourists?

Bearing in mind the fact that our northern neighbours are coffee lovers, the tour will end at a coffee table in the People’s Museum of Tallinn, where we will reminisce and discuss everything we didn’t have time to cover on the tour.

The tour will be led by historian and musician Tõnu Pedaru.

Starting point: Tammsaare Park, near the statue of Tammsaare

Ending point: People’s Museum of Tallinn (Pikk 29a)

You can also book a private tour for your group in Estonian, Finnish, English or Russian by e-mailing

Photo: Sokos Hotel Viru, 1978, Estonian History Museum