Free with Tallinn Card!
KGB prison cells
One of the most notorious and feared pre-trial prisons operated in the basement of the building at 1 Pagari Street during the Soviet occupation. The former KGB prison cells are now open to the public.
Built in 1912, the building has had a remarkable role in the recent history of Estonia. Arrested Estonian politicians, civil servants, intellectuals, veterans of the War of Independence, as well as ordinary people were beaten and tortured there. Many were then sentenced to death or imprisonment. The prison cells built in the basement have remained a symbol of communist terror to this day. Visitors can explore the basement comprised of two corridors, six prison cells, and a cell for punishment.
TripAdvisor® Traveler Reviews
tripadvisor rating 4.0 of 5
based on 223 reviews
Informative
tripadvisor rating 4 of 5Lots of interesting history of the building, KGB and the use of the cells. Could have had a bit more on the torture methods used and greater explanation of these. Otherwise informative and detailed... Read more comments
Thought Provoking
tripadvisor rating 4 of 5Considering the history behind this venue I was surprised to find it one of the busiest places I visited in Tallinn. Plenty of effort as been put into ensuring the visitor remains in no doubt about... Read more comments
Grim and Thought-Provoking
tripadvisor rating 5 of 5A place that is grim, spooky and thought-provoking. The simple displays had a lot of interesting information, including many typewritten pages that we could look through, instructions for... Read more comments
