Narva

Most of the about 70,000 inhabitants are ethnic Russians. Narva-Jõesuu is a nearby seaside resort at the Gulf of Finland.
The city of Narva was founded by Denmark in the Middle Ages. Narva became part of the Swedish Empire, and during the Great Northern War, Swedish king Charles XII defeated the Russian Army here.
Due to the heavy damage of the Second World War, Narva had to be almost completely rebuilt. This is why the city is dominated by Soviet architecture today. Narva's "modern" Town Hall, for example, is a prime example of typical Soviet architecture.
Over 90% of the current population are Russian-speakers, mostly either Soviet-era immigrants from parts of the former Soviet Union and their descendants.
There’s plenty to do in Narva, concerts, annual festivals and open-air shows that take place both in the inner yard of the Narva Castle and elsewhere in the town, such as in the newly-built ice skating stadium.

• Tourist Information Centre

  phone: +372 3560184
  address: Puškini 13
  The staff at the tourist information office on Pushkin street (next to Alexandr Kohvik) can offer plenty of help in fluent English.

Talk

Russian is spoken and understood by virtually everyone. If you are able to speak the Russian language, you will be fine. Estonian is spoken as the second language mainly by the younger generation (as learning Estonian at schools became compulsory after Estonia declared independence in 1991). Older people are likely to have zero knowledge of Estonian. English is spoken (or at least understood) by younger people, but the degree of proficiency may vary greatly. Street signs are Estonian-only or in Estonian and English.

Bus and train schedules are easily available online – read more under Estonia#Get around.

By train

Edelaraudtee AS runs a daily train from Tallinn, departure time is 16:00 and it arrives at 19:30. Also, the daily over-night train between Moscow and Tallinn train operated by GoRail makes a stop-over here, journey time from Moscow is 11½ hours. Departure time from Moskva Leningradsky station is 18:05, from Tallinn 17:20.
The is on Vaksali 23B, just southeast of the city centre.

By bus

A trip from Tallinn or Tartu to Narva takes three hours and costs around €10. The bus station is just in front of the train station.

Narva can be explored on foot.

• Hermann Castle / Narva Museum

  phone: +372 3599 230
  address: St.-Peterburi mnt. 2.
  Founded at the end of the 13th century by the Danes. In 1347, the Danish king sold Northern Estonia to the Livonian Order. After that the castle was turned into a convent with a massive tower named Hermann. During World War II the castle and the tower were severely damaged. After 30 years of restoration, the castle was reopened in 1986. The Castle tower overlooks the Ivangorod castle on the Russian side of the river and offers an eclectic display of Estonian and Narva history. The park around the Hermann Castle is for free and allows for good pictures.

• Pimeaed (Blind Garden)

  address: Pimeaia tn
  This is Narva’s oldest part, an example of park architecture from the end of the 19th century. Though, you might be surprise what that just means.

• Narva Bastions

  phone: +372 3565002
  address: Raja tn
  Seven bastions were built in the 17th century: Victoria, Honor, Gloria, Fama, Triumph, Fortuna, and Spes. Work has been started to dry and light the bastions. Victoria bastion is the largest and most impressive one of all bastions, with 2-storey casemates, and marked here.

• The Lords Resurrection Cathedral

  phone: +372 3573226
  address: Bastrakovi tn 4
  It was built in 1890-1896 for the Orthodox Christian workers of Kreenholm Manufactory. The architectural style comes from Byzantine tradition. You can see three part iconostasis and 17th century’s crucifix of Christ. The bombing of the city in 1944 during the Second World War left only the church untouched.

• Narva Art Gallery

  phone: +372 3592151
  address: Vestervalli tn 21
  The gallery is the art centre of East-Viry County. It is located in an 18th-century ammunition warehouse. In addition to the permanent collection, exhibitions of modern Estonian and Western European art are organized and a traditional art party takes place on the last Sunday in May.

• Narva Town Hall

  phone: +372 3599230
  address: Raekoja plats 1
  Erected in 1668-1671, German, Swedish and Italian architectural influences are mixed in the building style of the Town Hall. The design stems from Georg Teuffel, a former architect from Lübeck. Approved in Stockholm, the design was amended by Dutch classicism elements. Nikolaes Millich built the Baroque entrance portal. Heavily damaged during World War II, restoration was carried out between 1956-1964.

• Narva Alexander Church

  phone: +372 3561027
  address: Kiriku tn 9
  Built in 1881-84 by Otto Hippius, who also constructed the Sangaste Castle in South Estonia, the building represents historicism with elements of classicism. The building was financed by Ludwig Knopp, owner of the Krenholm Manufacture. In commemoration of the deceased Alexander II, his name was used. The Alexander Church was damaged during both world wars. The bell tower was destroyed in 1944 along with the Walcker organ that was located there. Between 1962 and 1990 the church was not active but used mainly as storehouse. Today the church's bell tower has been restored. You can visit the bell tower and the observation platform installed there, as well as a museum where artworks from the 14th to 21st century are displayed.

• Kreenholm area and Kreenholm Textile Factory

  address: Joala tn 20
  The famous Kreenholm Textile Factory was built on the shore of the waterfall in the 19th century, and was the largest factory in the Russian Empire at that time. In 1913 over ten thousand people worked there! A compact complex of industrial architecture developed around the factory that included the factory, a hospital, workers' barracks, directors' houses, and Kreenholm Park.

• T-34 Tank

  address: Jõesuu tn
  The monument commemorates battles of World War II and indicates breakthrough of Soviet forces. Narva’s tank is the only such memorial being exhibited in Estonia from the war until today.

• Mravinski's International Music Festival

• Narva Town Days

• Narva History Festival

• Second hand shopping

  address: Pushkin 13
  There are many second hand stores in Narva. Most of them sell assorted clothing and shoes from the 1980s and 1990s. The one next door from Alexandr has a selection of Soviet and World War II artifacts, jewelry and memorabilia.

There are a few shopping centres along Tallinn street.

• Narvacentrum

  address: Tallinna mnt. 47

• Fama

  address: Tallinna mnt. 19c

• Astri

  address: Tallinna mnt. 41
  Has also a cinema and a bowling hall.

• Cafe Aleksandr

  address: Pushkini tänav 13
  Relatively low prices, clean and cosy interior. More than 100 dishes of European and Russian cuisine including salads, soups, pelmeni, fish, chicken and meat courses, pancakes and desserts. Nearby the cafe is Narva castle, Narova river and the tourism information office. Tourist groups of up to 40 people are welcome!

• Hesburger

  address: Tallinna mnt 19C
  Finnish fast food chain.

• McDonald's

  phone: +372 55617016
  address: Tallinna mnt 37
  fast food

• Peetri Pizza

  phone: +372 3544001
  address: Tallinna mnt 30B
  pizzeria

• Peetri Pizza

  phone: +372 3564030
  address: Kreenholmi 50
  pizzeria

• Pappa Pizza

  phone: +372 3350665
  address: Kerese 3
  pizzeria

For more expensive dining options, consider the restaurants in the hotels in the sleep section.

You should probably consider a more cosmopolitan city like Tallinn or Tartu for nightlife.

Budget

• Hostel Sparta

  phone: +372 56075231
  address: Hariduse 18b
  The cheapest but still acceptable option. Do not ask where they got the good ratings from. Probably only in summer filled with backpackers. Otherwise mostly Russian-speaking and grim-looking men, but do not worry.

• Best Apartment Narva

  phone: +372 5533777
  address: Tallinna mnt 6-B
  Central.

• Hotel Inger

  address: Pushkin 28

Mid-range

• Hotel King

  phone: +372 3572404
  address: Lavretsovi 9

While Estonia is generally very safe, Narva systematically ranks as the country's most dangerous place. Most murders, aggravated assaults, robberies, and car thefts in Estonia occur here.
As in any other Russian majority town, take extreme care if you're dark-skinned. Avoid non-touristic places and stay clear of bars and pubs at all costs, especially at night as skin-heads are known to be active here.

• Narva-Jõesuu – A small resort town at the mouth of the river Narva, 14 km northwest.
• Sillamäe – A beautiful coastal town in the east and formerly closed city with the best ensemble of Stalinist architecture in the entire Baltics. Built after the war with an uranium processing plant, successfully redesigned after Estonia's independence.
• Rakvere – Estonia's fifth largest city, west-wards, famous for its Punk and Rock festivals and spirit.
• Kuremäe – Contains the famous Pukhitsa convent/nunnery, the only Orthodox monastery in the whole of Estonia.
• Mustvee – More than halfway to Tartu is this small and relaxing fishing village.
• Tartu – Museum-rich and Hanseatic city on the banks of the Emajõgi River. Also, Estonia's second-largest and oldest city, intellectual hub famous for its universities, and a lively student city.
• Lahemaa National Park – On the coast within an hour east (50 km) of Tallinn. Given its size it is the largest park in Estonia and one of Europe's biggest national parks, with 1000 km 2 of bogs, trails, and forests.
• Tallinn – The financial and cosmopolitan centre of Estonia. Beautiful and expensive.
• Ivangorod – On the Russian side of the river, and Saint Petersburg.