Best things to do in Kuressaare

Kuressaare Essentials

Kuressaare, the capital of Saaremaa, is centered around its remarkably preserved 14th-century episcopal castle. The town’s layout showcases Northern Baroque and neoclassical architecture, featuring a 17th-century town hall and historic stone churches. This selection highlights the city's core landmarks, including a traditional Dutch-style windmill, the central market for regional goods, and monuments detailing the island's role in the Estonian War of Independence.

WikedKentaur / CC BY-SA 3.0

Kuressaare Castle

Kuressaare Castle, also Kuressaare Episcopal Castle, is a castle in Kuressaare on Saaremaa island, in western Estonia.

Vonsoeckchen / CC-BY-SA-3.0

Saaremaa Museum

Housed within the medieval castle, this museum documents the history, culture, and nature of Saaremaa through permanent exhibitions and archaeological artifacts.

KalervoK / CC BY-SA 4.0

Saaremaa Windmill

Built in 1899, this historic Dutch-style windmill now operates as a restaurant and pub specializing in local Estonian cuisine and house-made berry wines.

Metsavend / CC BY 2.5

Kuressaare Laurentiuse kirik

A neoclassical Lutheran church rebuilt in the 1830s. It houses a rare 14th-century stone baptismal font and an altarpiece by local artist Carl Siegismund Walther.

Ivo Kruusamägi / CC BY-SA 3.0

Vabadussõjas langenute mälestusmärk

A bronze monument dedicated to those fallen in the Estonian War of Independence, originally designed by Amandus Adamson and restored in 1990.

Kuressaare Püha Nikolai kirik

An Orthodox church completed in 1790 in late Baroque and early Classicist styles, commissioned during the reign of Empress Catherine II.

Kuressaare turg

A central marketplace featuring seasonal produce, traditional Estonian handicrafts, and regional specialties like Saaremaa honey and smoked fish.

Kuressaare raekoda

Constructed in 1670, this Northern Baroque town hall features Estonia's largest ceiling painting and serves as the local tourist information center.

Kuressaare sadama sihi ülemine tulepaak

A white concrete lighthouse serving as the upper leading light to guide vessels into the Kuressaare marina and harbor.