We know Estonia
6.12.2021 | Estonia

Kadriorg Park – Tallinn’s oldest and grandest park

Text Mark Taylor
Photos Andrei Chertkov

Kadriorg Park – Tallinn’s oldest and grandest parkView through an old gate to Kadriorg Palace.

 

Kadriorg Park is by far the most famous and oldest park in Tallinn. The origins of the park date back to 1714 when Peter the Great (the Tsar and Emperor of Russia) purchased 5 summer residences at the base of Lasnamae hill following his victories in the Great Northern War.

With the land both close to the old town and the sea, the Tsar saw the area as the perfect location for a summer palace. Within just 7 years, the most luxurious palace and park grounds in Estonia were completed. 

Today, the palace of Peter the Great (known as Kadriorg Palace) is open to the public and also contains both static and temporary art exhibitions. Later additions such as the Peoples Park, Alpine Park and bandstand in the 1930s, along with the more recent addition of the Japanese garden transformed the park into what we see today. 

The park is also home to the residence of the President of Estonia and Kumu Art Museum, that as well as featuring in the recent blockbuster movie Tenet, received the European Museum of the Year Award in 2008. With a number of other smaller museums, it is very easy to spend a whole day in Kadriorg Park. 

It is possible to get to Kadriorg Park by both tram and bus from the city centre in less than 10 minutes. Walking will take around 30 minutes, and a taxi will cost 5 euros or less. Entrance to the park is free of charge, but the palace and various musuems have entrance fees.

 

Gardens to the rear of Kadriorg Palace.
Residence of the President of Estonia.
Kumu Art Museum
Covered walkway in the park.
Peoples Park and Swan Pond.
Squirrels are common in the park.

To learn more about this and similar topics
Kadriorg Kadriorg Palace Kadriorg Park Kumu Kumu Art Museum Parks in Tallinn Peter the Great Tallinn

11.6.2025 | Estonia

Fly from Tallinn to Madeira 

Fly from Tallinn to Madeira 

airBaltic will launch direct flights between Tallinn and Madeira in October. The new route will operate every Sunday from … Read more

31.5.2025 | Estonia

Life in Estonia: A Complete Guide

Life in Estonia: A Complete Guide

What’s the average shelf-life for an Estonian? How happy are they? How much do they drink, and how safe … Read more

24.5.2025 | Estonia

Easter Affected Spring Tourism Numbers

Easter Affected Spring Tourism Numbers

The statistics published by Statistics Estonia on the number of tourists in March were commented on in several newspapers. … Read more

22.5.2025 | Estonia

This Is What’s up in Estonia

This Is What’s up in Estonia

Estonian population decreased According to Statistics Estonia, on 1 January this year, 1,369,995 people lived in Estonia, which means … Read more

14.5.2025 | Restaurants

New Car-Free Pedestrian Zone in Kalamaja

New Car-Free Pedestrian Zone in Kalamaja

The Krulli Quarter (Krulli kvartal) is located in the Kalamaja district of Northern Tallinn. In 1899, the German industrialist … Read more

13.5.2025 | Estonia

Defense tax to be abolished in Estonia, replaced by other tax increases

Defense tax to be abolished in Estonia, replaced by other tax increases

The Estonian government is canceling the 2% defence tax, which was scheduled to come into effect temporarily from the … Read more

10.5.2025 | Estonia

Simulation Involving Sirens and Emergency Alerts on Wednesday

Simulation Involving Sirens and Emergency Alerts on Wednesday

Sirens will howl and emergency text messages will be distributed throughout Estonia on Wednesday, 14 May in conjunction with … Read more

27.4.2025 | Culture

What Estonians Say Can Sometimes Mean the Opposite

What Estonians Say Can Sometimes Mean the Opposite

Every language evolves over time, and Estonian is no different in this sense. What does make Estonian different, however, … Read more