Kadriorg Palace
Building Baroque palace in Tallinn housing an art museum
Built for Peter the Great, Kadriorg Palace in Tallinn sits in formal parkland and houses part of the Art Museum of Estonia. Visitors tour the baroque palace, museum collections and the surrounding Kadriorg Park.
Kadriorg Palace is a Baroque palace complex in Tallinn, Estonia, built in the early 18th century as a residence for the Russian imperial family. The palace now houses a major art museum and sits within the larger Kadriorg Park ensemble.
Visitors come for the palace architecture, the art collection displayed inside, and the extensive landscaped park that surrounds the site, which contains paths, ponds and several smaller historic pavilions. The palace façade and formal garden layouts are characteristic features of the site.
The palace was commissioned during the period of Russian imperial presence in Estonia and constructed in the early 1700s as an imperial residence. Over the centuries the palace and park have been adapted for public use and museum displays while retaining their Baroque layout and garden structure.
Kadriorg Palace sits about 2 kilometers east of Tallinn’s medieval Old Town on the shores of Tallinn Bay, within a large municipal park that links the palace to coastal promenades and residential districts.
- Baroque palace and park: Built in Baroque style in the early 18th century as an imperial residence, the palace is set within an extensive public park close to Tallinn's city center.
- Presidential residence nearby: The park contains the official presidential residence of Estonia, which is located within the Kadriorg parkland to the east of the palace itself.
What to See #
- Kadriorg Art Museum: The Kadriorg Art Museum occupies the palace building and holds the foreign art collection of the Art Museum of Estonia, with a collection focused on Western European and Russian art.
- Kadriorg Park and grounds: Kadriorg Park is the surrounding landscaped parkland that contains formal gardens, paths, and several smaller historic buildings, including the nearby presidential residence within the park grounds.
How to Get to Kadriorg Palace #
Kadriorg Palace lies in Kadriorg Park, just east of Tallinn’s Old Town. Take Tallinn tram lines 1 or 3 to the Kadriorg stop and walk 5-10 minutes through the park to the palace. By car it’s about 2-3 km from the Old Town along Narva maantee/Kadriorg roads; parking is available near the park entrances.
Tips for Visiting Kadriorg Palace #
- Take Tallinn tram number 1 to the Kadriorg stop for direct access to the palace and park rather than trying to drive into the park's limited parking areas.
- Visit early on a weekday to avoid the surge of cruise-ship and day-trip visitors that arrive mid-morning; the palace grounds and surrounding gardens are noticeably quieter then.
- Combine your visit with the nearby Kumu Art Museum and the Kadriorg Park's Japanese Garden to make the most of the area's museums and green spaces in a single trip.
Best Time to Visit Kadriorg Palace #
Best in late spring through early autumn when the gardens are at their best and the palace is busiest; visit shoulder seasons for fewer crowds.
Weather & Climate near Kadriorg Palace #
Kadriorg Palace's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from -7°C to 22°C. Moderate rainfall (669 mm/year).
January
January is freezing with highs of -1°C and lows of -6°C. Moderate rainfall (49 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is the coldest month with highs of -2°C and lows of -7°C. Moderate rainfall (34 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (36 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 0°C. Moderate rainfall (38 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (34 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (52 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (74 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 12°C. The wettest month with 78 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (72 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (74 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of -1°C. Moderate rainfall (69 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is freezing with highs of 1°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (59 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
