KGB Museum
Viru Valjak 4, Tallinn, Estonia, 10111
In 1972 the Hotel Viru opened its doors welcoming guests into the modern high-rise, but concealed within the new hotel’s walls was a secret communist radio center used to spy on guests. While the Communist party may have fled the country once Estonia claimed its independence in 1991, the radio center, now known as the KGB Museum, remained on the top floor of the hotel.
The Basics
The secret room wasn’t discovered until 1994, but, luckily it is perfectly preserved since the Communist members fled the country. On this guided tour, you’ll discover how hotel guests were unknowingly spied on (some 60 hotel rooms, as well as restaurant tables, had concealed espionage devices hidden in them), and the complicated history of the Cold War in Estonia.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Admittance to the KGB Museum is by guided tour only. Guests are required to make online reservations.
- Guests of the hotel can receive a discounted ticket price to the KGB Museum.
- Tours are an hour long and are offered in English and Finnish.
- The museum can accommodate larger groups if given enough notice ahead of time.
How to Get There
Hotel Viru and the KGB Museum are located a short distance from Old Town Square (roughly an 8-minute walk). You will walk past Musumägi and through Tammsaare Parks to get there.
When to Get There
The museum is open daily for tours from 10am to 5:30pm. Again, you must make a reservation online or by emailing the hotel. The museum is closed on Monday from November to April.
Tallinn Old Town
Tallinn Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the jewel of the city, housing art, culture, food, and history amongst its 13th-century cobblestone streets and Gothic buildings.
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