If you want to attend Holy Mass or listen to organ music, come to the cathedral on Saturday at 11:00 AM or noon, respectively. If you are interested in climbing the cathedral's bell tower, plan your visit for any other day when the weather is fine and no concerts or religious services are taking place.
The Cathedral of Saint Mary the Virgin in Tallinn, also known as Dome Church, is open for visitors six or seven days a week, depending on the season.
In summer (June–August), you can visit the cathedral daily from 09:00 AM to 06:00 PM. In May and September, it is also open daily but closes one hour earlier, at 05:00 PM.
In other months, the cathedral is closed on Mondays. In October, it welcomes visitors Tuesday through Sunday from 09:00 AM to 04:00 PM. In April, it is open from 10:00 AM to 05:00 PM. For the rest of the year (November–March), opening hours are 10:00 AM – 04:00 PM.
St. Mary's Cathedral, established by Danes in the 13th century, is the oldest church in mainland Estonia and one of Tallinn's most impressive Christian sites. It was constantly rebuilt and now displays a mix of architectural styles. The main exterior parts date back to the 15th century, and most of the church's furnishing goes back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The Baroque bell tower was built in 1778–1779 to replace the destroyed Gothic one.
The interiors of the church echo its past and contain many meaningful details. You can find more than 100 intricately designed coats of arms hanging on the walls. These artifacts from the 17–20th centuries tell the story of Estonian nobility. You can also see medieval tombstones and later stone-carved sarcophagi and admire the impressive organ made in 1914.
The 69-meter Baroque bell tower, open for visitors in good weather, offers impressive unobstructed views of the neighborhood. It is a great opportunity to observe the Old Town, especially when the sky is clear.
St Mary's Cathedral is located on Toompea (Cathedral) hill in the historic center of Tallinn, at Toom-Kooli 6. This part of town is primarily pedestrian, so be ready to walk to the church on foot. The nearest bus and light rail stop is Vabaduse valjak, a 10-minute walk from the cathedral.
You will be asked to donate a couple of euros to visit the church. To climb the bell tower, you should purchase a ticket that costs €5 for adults and €3 for school students. The entrance is free for Tallinn Card holders.