Great Guild in Tallinn, Estonia

In the very center of the Old Town you will find a majestic Gothic building — the Great Guild Hall. Built in 1410, it served for centuries as a venue for lavish celebrations, important negotiations, and gatherings of wealthy merchants. Today, it’s not just an architectural landmark, but also home to the Estonian History Museum, where medieval walls meet contemporary exhibitions.

Built in 1410, the guild was used for various purposes: negotiations, celebrations and holidays, as well as meetings of the guild members. Over time, the functions of the building changed until the Estonian History Museum settled here in 1952. In 2011, a major renovation of the building was carried out, and in 2014, the Great Guild building was the first in Estonia to receive the European Cultural Heritage label.

Nowadays, the Great Guild houses several exhibitions. The permanent exhibition, “Chamber of Legends”, is dedicated to various historical objects associated with Estonian legends. In total, you can get acquainted with 88 exhibits here, whose range is regularly replenished and updated.

In 2025, a new exhibition opened: “The Splendour of the Hanseatic League: How Wealth Was Made in the Middle Ages”. The exhibition tells about the life of merchants of the Middle Ages, through whose history one can learn about the Hanseatic system, and how wealth and the culture characteristic of the Middle Ages came to the local lands.

In addition to exhibitions, various cultural and educational events and concerts are held in the Great Guild. One may also book a one-hour guided tour for a group of up to 25 people.

Museum opening hours in 2026:
April 2–September 30: Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
October 1–March 31: Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM.

Never miss a thing by following social media:
www.facebook.com/ajaloomuuseum
www.instagram.com/ajaloomuuseum

Tallinn, Estonia