When the Russian navy fortified Naissaar it needed to move guns, shells, cement and men across a roadless, sandy island. The answer was a narrow-gauge railway, opened in 1914, which grew to between 37 and 41 kilometres of track linking the harbours with every battery, store and barracks.
The Estonian army kept it running through the 1920s and 1930s, and the Soviet navy used it to carry mines between the depot and the harbour. After the troops left, most of the rails were lifted or lost to the forest. Enthusiasts have since restored about 3.5 km between the harbour and Männiku, and some 15 km of trackbed can still be followed on foot or by bike.
Top things to do: Naissaar Narrow-Gauge Railway
Take the train
In the summer season a small diesel locomotive pulls open wagons along the restored line between the harbour and Männiku. Departures are timed around the boats and depend on the day and the number of passengers, so ask at the harbour; pay in cash to be safe.
Walk the old trackbed
Away from the restored section the line survives as level embankments, cuttings and the occasional length of rail in the moss. The embankments make some of the easiest walking and cycling on the island and lead directly to the batteries.
Look at the rolling stock
Old wagons, trolleys and locomotives stand near the harbour and at Männiku. They are working museum pieces looked after by volunteers — admire them, but do not climb on them.
Join a truck tour instead
If the train is not running, the guided tours in ex-military trucks cover more ground: usually Männiku, the church at Lõunaküla and at least one battery, with a local guide telling the stories.
How to get to Naissaar Narrow-Gauge Railway
- Where it starts: the restored line begins close to the harbour where the boats from Tallinn land, so you cannot miss it.
- When it runs: summer only, on boat days, and not to a fixed public timetable. Treat the ride as a pleasant extra and be ready to walk the 3.5 km instead.
- To the island: see getting to Naissaar.
Insider tips
- Train and truck rides are local, small-scale operations. Carry some cash in euros.
- Sit on the right-hand side heading south for glimpses of mine casings and old sidings in the trees.
- Cyclists should take care at the level crossings and where rails cross the forest road at an angle.
- The wagons are open: bring a layer for the breeze and repellent for the mosquitoes on still evenings.
Best tours & tickets: Naissaar Narrow-Gauge Railway
These experiences are the easiest way to see Naissaar Narrow-Gauge Railway:
Private island trip from €796 per group From Tallinn: Half-Day Guided Tour to Naissaar Island
The only Naissaar trip listed on GetYourGuide: a private half-day outing from Tallinn with the crossing and a guide on the island. It is new and has no reviews yet, and the price is for the whole group — it makes most sense when you can share the cost.
- Boat crossing of Tallinn Bay with your own group
- Guided visit to the island’s nature park and military heritage
- Priced per group, not per person
Island day trip from €157 All-Inclusive Day Trip from Tallinn: Prangli Island
The best-reviewed small-island day trip from Tallinn that you can book per person. Prangli is Naissaar’s inhabited cousin: a fishing community with a wooden church, a shop and a truck tour — an easy alternative when Naissaar boats do not suit your dates.
- Ferry ride to an island that has been lived on for centuries
- Island tour in an open-top truck with a local guide
- Local lunch and free time by the sea
