Hotell Viru & KGB muuseum
The Hotell Viru museum takes visitors with a guide into the world of Soviet-era hotels and the traces of KGB activity; the visit lasts about an hour and tickets must be bought in advance.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Hotell Viru was built as a hotel for foreign visitors and opened in 1972; less than 20 years remained until the end of the Soviet era. The hotel was also meant to suit the KGB, the state security organisation.
The museum tells how two parallel worlds existed side by side in the Soviet era: one that existed mainly on paper, where happy people lived in abundance, and the other, real world, which was far more varied and complicated. The museum can be entered only with a guide.
Highlights
- Guided tour of a hotel that operated under the watchful eye of the KGB
- Two Soviet-era parallel worlds: the official picture and reality
- Tour lasts about an hour
- Separate private tour option
Permanent exhibition
- Hotell Viru ja KGB muuseumi ekskursioon – The guided tour shows two parallel worlds of the Soviet era: the official picture of happy people living in abundance, and the real world, which was far more varied and complicated. Hotell Viru was also meant to suit the KGB.
- Operated by
- Sokotel AS
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €20 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €10free up to age 4 · Children up to 4 years of age enter free; a 50% discount applies to children aged 5–11. |
| Groups | –Group bookings are possible also outside the usual times. |
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Wheelchair access to the museum is made difficult by the stairs, and moving around requires assistance from a companion.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
|---|
Children up to 4 years of age enter free; a 50% discount applies to children aged 5–11.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The museum can be entered only accompanied by a guide. Tickets for a tour in the desired language must always be bought in advance from the website viru.ee. |
