Sightseeing in Kuusalu Parish

Sightseeing in Kuusalu parish is a mix of one fine small museum, a few old buildings and a set of ancient stones, scattered along the Harju County coast about 40 to 55 km east of Tallinn. Several of the buildings take visitors only by arrangement, so the useful habit is to message first and drive second.

Viinistu Art Museum

Viinistu Art Museum is Estonia’s only private art museum. It holds the collection of Jaan Manitski, opened in 2002 and renewed its exhibition in 2020. The official page lists Wednesday to Sunday, 11:00 to 18:00, with tickets at EUR 6 for adults and EUR 3 for concessions. Visit Estonia shows different hours in winter and daily opening from June to mid-September, so check viinistu.ee before travelling. The museum closes in January. An art hotel and a restaurant stand on the same harbour.

Kolga manor and museum

Kolga manor is privately owned and partly restored. Its main building opens by appointment, during events and on guided tours. Call +372 501 0966 or write to kolgamanor@gmail.com , and see the Visit Estonia listing . The Stenbock family owned the estate. A Kolga Museum stands beside the manor.

Kiiu tower

The Kiiu tower, also called the Kiiu vassal stronghold, is at Torni tn 1 in Kiiu village. It has four floors and walls 1.8 m thick, and it is the smallest surviving medieval defensive structure in the Baltic countries, probably completed at the start of the 16th century. A cafe operates inside and parking is free. Visits are by advance booking on +372 503 0487 or kiiutower@gmail.com . The Visit Harju page has the details.

Muuksi stone-cist barrows

The Hundikangrud barrows lie on the north shore of Lake Kahala. Visit Harju counts 85 stone-cist graves, and the burials date from roughly 1100 to 200 BCE. A hillfort also stands at Muuksi. The Visit Harju entry has more.

Majakivi boulder

Majakivi is the third-largest erratic boulder in Estonia. It stands about 7 m high and some 32 m around, near Hara village on the Juminda peninsula, and a ladder leads to the top. The RMK Majakivi-Pikanõmme trail passes it and runs about 7 km all year.

Hara submarine base

Hara is a derelict Soviet-era harbour and submarine base, now a heritage site. Adults pay EUR 10, students and seniors EUR 7 and families EUR 22. It is seasonal, and outside the summer months it opens by reservation. Do not climb the pier rocks or the abandoned buildings, and do not swim or jump from the pier. The official site lists the rules and contact details.

Other stops

Kuusalu village has the medieval St Lawrence church. In Pärispea, the Mähu boulders can be climbed with a rope. The northernmost point of mainland Estonia, Pähknemännik, is about 4 km from Viinistu.

Tips

  • Plan around opening days, particularly off-season.
  • A car is far easier than buses, which stop only at the Loksa tee exit on the E20.
  • Compare guided options on GetYourGuide .

Read more: Walking tours in Kuusalu parish covers the trails around these sights.