Pirita-Kose

This Tallinn hiking tour offers a rare opportunity to weave together the enjoyment of pristine nature and Tallinn’s most gripping historical events. The journey begins near the Pirita Health Centre, from where we first head past the mysterious chapel of the Kochi family and walk between two historic cemeteries straight into the ancient primaeval valley of the Pirita River. Protected as a nature reserve since 1957, this area is a true ecological gem of Tallinn, providing a habitat for rare and protected plants like the pasqueflower and the Baltic orchid.

As the Tallinn hiking tour continues, the tranquillity of nature gives way to fascinating and at times dark history as we reach an abandoned summer manor in Kose. The past of this estate hides memories of dramatic Soviet-era events and mass executions, while offering a thrill for those who wish to track down the well-hidden entrance to a former underground military command centre. Further along, the path leads past massive fortifications belonging to Peter the Great’s Naval Fortress, bringing us close to the historic Konstantin Päts Open-Air School.

Hanging bridges aren’t typically something people associate with Tallinn, but on this Tallinn hiking tour you’ll have the unique opportunity to cross the Pirita River via an authentic, swaying suspension bridge. Depending on your thirst for adventure and the weather conditions, we can choose between an exciting “kamikaze-trek” along the wild edge of the Tallinn Botanic Garden or walk along the paved path between the botanical garden and the Tallinn TV Tower. Upon request, we can also visit the TV Tower itself.

In the latter part of the journey, we will make a detour into the Forest Cemetery — the final resting place of many prominent figures who shaped Estonia’s statehood and culture — and pass through the German Military Cemetery. We conclude this Tallinn hiking tour at Chapel Hill at the Pirita Monastery, and if you wish, the iconic ruins of the Pirita Monastery, famed across Estonia as the filming location for the legendary Soviet-era cult movie “The Last Relic”.

Book your Tallinn hiking tour today and experience a side of the city that most visitors never discover.

• Distance: approx. 10 km

• Duration: 3–5 hours

• Admission to the Pirita Monastery ruins: €3 (tickets can be purchased on-site from the ticket machine).