Watch your kids paint in the workshop and tour the gallery on foreign art in one of Estonia’s finest architectural gems.
Kadriorg Palace is a majestic mansion of Petrine Baroque design in the midst of gardens and park grounds. Having been constructed for Catherine I of Russia, it has a rich history and today hosts part of the Art Museum of Estonia. Admire the elegant white balconies, cream flanks and light red façade of this colorful palace.
Snap photos of the mansion, with its fountains and landscape gardens making up a scenic foreground. Capture the tall trees hovering over the back of the palace, which is built in harmony with the park’s vegetation. The building appears to have three levels from the front and two levels on the garden side. See the site in winter, when the grounds are covered in a thick blanket of snow.
Take a guided tour of the palace to learn about its rich history. Note that the house initially served as a summer residence for royalty in the 1700s. It remains in excellent condition today. Enroll your kids in the Palace School for a fun trip through the building packed with intriguing tales.
Continue with docents into the Kadriorg Art Museum, which specializes in foreign pieces from the 16th to 20th centuries. Browse the impressive works that cover 19th-century Russian realism, Dutch paintings from the 1500s and many other themes.
Attend a Sounds of Masterpieces presentation on a particular work, making use of expert explanations and period music.
The museum opens Tuesday through Sunday from morning until early evening, with later closing times on Wednesdays. It is closed on Mondays year-round and on Tuesdays in winter. Pay a fee to enter the gallery, with discounts for kids and families. Consider a combo ticket that includes the Mikkel Museum and other art galleries.
The Kadriorg Palace is in its namesake park in the eastern part of Tallinn. Ride the tram to the Kadriorg stop or take a bus to one of the many stations surrounding the park. Nearby attractions include the Miia Milla Manda Museum (Children's Museum Miiamilla), the Kumu Art Museum and the Kadriorg Stadium.
