Viljandi (Estonia) en
12.10.14 - Guillaume - 716lavie
– Tourism office
Vabaduse plats 6
Viljandi
Tel : (+372) 433 0442
E-mail: viljandi@visitestonia.com
the website
I met some really friendly people that helped me out a lot during my stay in Viljandi, they knew I was a blogger, but still.
Viljandi is known for its teachings in music and traditional cultures.
It’s a beautiful old city with Germanic influences, but small, with a beautiful lake at the foot of it.
– Just Rest
Ranna puiestee 6
Viljandi
Tel : +372 520 6772
the website
I was staying at someone’s house, so I didn’t try any hotels, however the tourism office put me up in the first automatic hostel in Viljandi, which had recently opened up during my stay in September 2014. The hostel is by the lake, which could definitely be worse!
A room with double bed, breakfast included, for 1 person goes for 33.90 euros, and for 2 people 44.80 euros: the place could use some more charm, but it is quite modern and right by the beautiful lake, so the price is totally worth it.
I wish to point out that they also have rooms for disabled persons, including those with reduced mobility.
– Guided tours
There are daily guided tours during the summer done by students in Estonian, English and German; they start from the tourism office at 1 pm.
Adult : 1€, student : 0,5€, family : 2€
– Viljandi Folk Music Festival
the website
Viljandi is renowned for its education in traditional cultures, so the Folk Music Festival in July is not to be missed.
– The Kondas Center of Naive Art (Kondase Keskus)
Pikk tänav 8
Viljandi
Tel : 4333 968
the website
Read the entire 716 review on the Center of Naive Art
– The water tower
Johan Laidoneri plats
Viljandi
Tel : (+372) 433 0442
Entrance 1 euro
– The castle
Tasuja puiestee
Viljandi
Free entrance
The construction of the castle was started by German knights in 1224, shortly after Viljandi was occupied by the Germans. It’s a sumptuous site, overlooking the Viljandi lake.
– The lake
The lake is simply beautiful, 12 kilometers in length, and it’s popular to walk around it in its entirety.
At certain points alongside it there are areas dedicated to sports: volleyball, basketball, badminton, there are also kid parks, it’s very user-friendly. There’s even the automatic Just Rest Hostel alongside it ( see the Hotel part of this review).
Check out all the Viljandi lake pictures
– The Murese Farm
69722 Raassilla
Tel : +372 509 1779
From Viljandi take the bus 44 or 25, stop at Raasilla
the website
Located half an hour bus ride from Viljandi.
It’s a farm like no other.
They raise sheep (800 in the summer, 350 the rest of the year) but they also do much more. Among other things, they sell gloves, toques, scarves knit with the sheep’s wool which can be found at the tourism office store.
Each year they welcome numerous volunteers from around the world, you can therefore also come for a few days in exchange for helping with daily tasks.
Read the entire 716 Review on Murese
Kohvik Fellin
Kauba 11
71011 Viljandi
Tel : +372 435 9795
the website
It’s the most popular coffee shop ( restaurant really if you check the menu) in Viljandi.
Read the full 716 review on Fellin
Aïda
Tasuja puiestee 6
Viljandi
Tel : +372 434 2066
the website
It’s the coffee shop in the Center of Traditional Music in Viljandi. I can’t say I fell head over heels for it, but it was very useful to start the day since I was living beside it. The positives are that it’s right by the castle ruins, it’s in the Center of Music ( if you want to go check it out), that it has a patio with an amazing view and a cool decor. Otherwise, it’s not cheap, and not unforgettable. So there you go, now you know it all:)
Amrita
Tallinna tn 29A
Viljandi
Tel : +37243 58 388, +372 51992991
The coffee shop had only been open for two months when I went. I want to mention that I was invited for a lunch by the owner after I had a meeting with the city’s tourism office. I found that the prices were very honest, the ingredients were local, all this two steps away from the train station, very useful when travelling. Some locals thought that the overall quality had gone down from when it opened and saw it more as an average lunch spot rather than a place to go for dinner.
Rohelise maja pood ja kohvik
Koidu 2
71004 Viljandi
Tel :+372 55 687 474
the website
The best “organic” coffee shop in Viljandi. It’s an incredible success, and well deserved: people come here both to eat and to buy a variety of products.
Read the entire 716 review on Rohelise maja pood ja
Romaan
Jakobsoni 18
71005 Viljandi
Tel : 5624 8141
the website
The bar is open Tuesday-Saturday, the name “Romaan” comes from the fact that the owner studied literature and also writes. That’s why there are books a bit everywhere. Since the place is for…they open at night and close when they go to bed.
There weren’t any cool bars in Viljandi before this one, so the locals like this place a lot. It just happened that I knew the staff, and that’s how I found out about it; it’s hard to just come across it because it’s not in the center-center of Viljandi ( the city isn’t huge though).
There’s a great vibe here, the prices are reasonable, friendly atmosphere. Since Estonia doesn’t have many bars, it’s pretty easy to open one, because the state has the tendency to help open up places like these.
The night I went there was a artisan beer tasting, the following night was a rock night. I recommend that you try the artisan schnapps.
– Sobralt Sobrale
Kauba 4
Viljandi
Avatud E-R 10 – 18 L 9 – 14
Tel : 6843966
the website
A second hand store, which can be useful when something goes wrong during your trip. It’s a chain store.
– The Center of Traditional Music in Viljandi(Eesti Pärimusmuusika Keskus)
Tasuja pst 6
71011 Viljandi
Tel: + 372 434 2050, +372 434 2070
the website
This place hold many activities, but overall it runs the education and event organization linked to traditional Estonian music.
There’s a shop in the entrance or you can go downstairs to listen to music or read a book. You can also rent out instruments monthly for a minimal fee.
On the top floor you can find Aïda, the coffee shop I talked about in the Cafés section.
