The open air museum does not sleep during the winter season. It acts in a slightly calmer rhythm, but it does not get boring. It is a place to enjoy fresh air and time with your family in the middle of a historic village. You can also use an opportunity to take a seat on one of the farms and talk with the mistress of the house.

During the winter season, the Estonian Open Air Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday (on Mondays only for booked events and educational programmes).

• Härjapea Farm, Kuie School, Setu Farm, Russian house from Peipus, Sassi-Jaani barn-dwelling, Kolkhoz apartment, Lau village shop, Kolu Inn building are open from 10 am to 5 pm.
• The ticket office and the museum shop are open from 10 am to 5 pm.  
• The museum park is open from 10 am to 7 pm.  

After Michaelmas Day, the peasants started to work more comfortably. During the dark and cold winter, the mistress had to do handicrafts, cook for the family and look after the children. The men were involved in carpentry, arranging agricultural tools, transporting timber and cutting and sawing firewood. The children pursued wisdom under the strict hand of the schoolmaster.

Visit the museum's farms, schoolhouse and village shop, step into Kolkhoz apartment building and Kolu inn. There is a lot to see and many ways to take part in our winter activities.

The mistress of the Härjapea farm will teach you how to create toys made of natural materials, Christmas ornaments and other exciting handicrafts.

The barn-shed building on Kolga farm, which is a part of the museum section displaying the exhibits from Estonian islands. This long outbuilding typical of Hiiumaa rural architecture used to combine storehouses and cattle sheds joined at an angle.

Within the building, former cattle sheds will be housing the museum’s poultry and farm animals while the barn section will become the exhibition and activity space ‘Every little step counts’ meant for children and families.

The former cattle sheds in the barn-shed will be housing the museum’s poultry and farm animals. Guided visits begin at 11.00, 13.00 and 15.00.  In the winter season (2024), the barn-shed is open at weekends and during school holidays: from 21 December to 7 January, from 19 February to 3 March, and from 22 to 28 April.

The mistress of the Kuie school introduces the school life of a child in the 19th century. If there are no classes in the classroom at the moment, you can try writing with a stylus.

At Seto Farm you will learn and see the traditional clothes for women and girls.

In the Russian house from Peipus take a peek into the covered yard, where you can find two lovely goats bleating, rabbits snacking on some hay and solve an animal-themed crossword puzzle!

At the Kolkhoz apartment building, you can play children's board games from 1970 to 1980 and make an origami frog. Ask the mistress for the Kolkhoz house’s family quiz to make getting to know the house even more exciting!

In the Lau shop you can buy something sweet to taste and you can enjoy hearty Estonian dishes at Kolu inn.

GETTING HERE

• By car: free parking at the main gate of the museum.
• Public transport: buses No. 21 and 21b stop at the main gate of the museum (stop Rocca al Mare). Buses No. 22, 42 and 43: get off at the Zoo stop and take a 15-minute walk along the seaside road. Buses No. 41 and 41b take you back to the city centre. See timetables: soiduplaan.tallinn.ee.

When coming to the museum, dress according to the weather. Put on rain and windproof clothing and shoes that can be used to walk along the village roads.