Paldiski

Paldiski is a small port town on the shore of Baltic Sea, in Harjumaa county in northwestern Estonia. Here the drab Soviet past meets the sea and the cliffs with wind power plants. The natural surroundings are interesting: the cliffs to the sea, the lighthouses outside town, and the wind farms, of which there are probably more than anywhere else in the country.

See: 12
Do: 1
Eat: 6
Drink: 2
Buy: 3

24 places

See

Amandus Adamson Studio Museum

Amandus Adamsoni Ateljeemuuseum

Old summer studio of Amandus Adamson (1855–1929), one of the most famous sculptors in Estonian history. Built according to his own design, the quirky wooden building is an attraction in itself. Today works of Estonian artists are exhibited here, and it's also an event venue.

May-Sep: Tue-Sun 11:00-18:00; Oct-Apr: Thu-Sun 11:00-16:00€4

Buy

Kaubamaja

The first floor is a supermarket, on the second household goods. A good place to find Slavic products, Russian beers, confectionary.

Closed · opens 9 am tomorrow

See

Klooga

is a village along the railway, 10 km east of Paldiski. After World War II, when the peninsula with surroundings was militarized, the civilian population was evicted. Nowadays it's a normal village, but there are still some abandoned buildings built by the Soviets.

See

Leetse manor

Leetse mõis

The remains of a grand manor, just the walls remain of the main building, in addition to stairs down to the sea, the decorated gate, and the manager's house. On the way here, you will pass the "sarcophagi" with the deactivated nuclear reactors from the former submarine training facility.

Eat

Lõunasadama kohvik

Eatery in the port administration building; basic Estonian food with a short menu changing every day.

open for lunch Mon-Fri 9:30-16:00

Buy

Maxima

Another supermarket, with modern products and Russian-style borscht.

08:00–22:00

See

Monument to Salavat Yulaev

Salavat Yulaev was one of the leaders of the 1773–1775 Bashkir uprising (also known as Pugachev's Rebellion) against the Russian Empire. He was caught, tortured, and sent to a penal colony the opposite end of the empire like the common practice was back then, which meant Rogervik (Paldiski retained its Swedish name) where he reportedly died in 1800. In 1989 Soviet authorities erected a monument to him, which still stands.

See

Pakri lighthouse

From Estonia's highest lighthouse (52 m) you can enjoy views of the Baltic Sea, but it's rather expensive compared to the lighthouses on Hiiumaa island.

May-Sep: daily 10:00-20:00; Oct-Apr: Sat Sun 12:00-18:00€5/3 adult/student

Drink

Paldiski 30-ka pub'i

Cocktail bar and event venue, apparently the closest thing to a nightclub in town.

Drink

Paldiski õllebaar

The "Paldiski beer bar" is a local bar, also serving bar snacks.

Eat

Peetri Pizza

Pizzeria with very good ratings online, part of a national franchising chain. Has moved to the Coop supermarket building.

Daily 11:00–21:00€5-7.50

Eat

Peetri Toll

Tavern in an old customs house (from the Imperial time) just outside the port. Slavic and international cuisine; not everything on the menu is always available, just the dishes written on the blackboard. On the second floor there's a photo exhibition of Paldiski in the bygone times.

11:00–24:00€7–12

See

Petrovskaya fortress

Peetri kindluse bastionid / Muula mäed

The remains of a fortress on a hill, with low overgrown ramparts. There are great views to the sea and the port functions.

See

St. George church

Püha Georgi kirik

Here the first Orthodox church in Paldiski was built in 1721, and in the late 18th century it was rebuilt in its current grey stone form. It looks pretty modest as it lacks a tower and is almost hidden by trees.

See

St. Nicholas church

Nikolai kirik

Built in 1842, though its "cubist" form may make you think it's newer. The church fell into serious decay during Soviet times, and was restored into its current shape.

Eat

Vaga Mama

An Estonian chain restaurant with a large menu of Chinese, Thai and Indian dishes.

Mon-Thu 11:00-22:00, Fri Sat 11:00-23:00, Sun 12:00-22:00€10-16

See

memorial

remains. During the same time, Ingrian Finns escaping the Soviet Union were placed in a camp in the nearby village of Põllküla, and many died due to the poor conditions there; of this camp too a remains.

See

Ämari Pilots’ Cemetery

Ämari lennuväe kalmistu

This cemetery is the last resting place of a number of Estonia's fighter pilots who served in the air force under Soviet rule before 1991. Pilots of which the aircraft were downed and recovered have their graves decorated with the tail fin of their aircraft instead of a generic tomb stone, making the cemetery look like a squadron of jet fighters buried in the forest.

Eat