slothis · English

Raeapteek: Europe's Oldest Pharmacy in Tallinn

2017-01-01 · Updated: 2026-08-11 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Read the original Korean post →

After foolishly dropping my passport and taking a moment to calm my racing heart, I headed to Raeapteek (Town Hall Pharmacy), Europe's oldest pharmacy and pretty much the only remaining attraction left for me to see in this area. Honestly, I could have gone yesterday if I wanted to, but I intentionally saved it because I'd have nothing else to do today. That's how small this town is. One day is enough here. Keep in mind that for people who aggressively hop between tourist spots rather than taking time to gather their thoughts and reflect while looking at fairytale-like buildings, Tallinn isn't even a one-day destination. It's a feminine city that only feels comfortable and looks beautiful when you slow way down and maximize your sensibilities. Because of our ingrained "ppalli-ppalli" (hurry-hurry) culture, 100 out of 100 Koreans would find this town boring.

Several buildings lined up under a blue sky with people gathered in the square
Many people gathered in the square in front of a Gothic stone building with a high tower

Raeapteek is located on one side of the Old Town Hall Square. However, whether it's divided into a first and second branch, or if I just couldn't read properly, several shops had "Raeapteek" written on them. I probably just misread it and went to the wrong place, right?

A building with red walls and a pointed roof standing between narrow alleys
Ornate stone decorations and a Latin phrase attached to a red wall
Building entrance with an open wooden door, the word RaeAntiik written above it, and an information sign on the wall
Information sign explaining the history of the pharmacy in Estonian and English

To me, knowing absolutely no Estonian, the shops above also read as Raeapteek (looking at it now, the endings are slightly different), so I went in, only to find weapons on display. Come to think of it, "Anno" means "Since," and the numbers after it are quite high. Still, these are shops that have basically been doing business here for 400 to 500 years. Korea's "100-year traditional" shops would feel like grand openings if they came here.

Pharmacy entrance with open double doors decorated with unique patterns and the word Raeapteek above them
This is the real Raeapteek.
Inside the pharmacy where various medicine bottles and items are displayed in wooden cabinets and drawers
Old wooden pharmacy counter and various medicine bottles displayed in a glass cabinet.
I went in, but there was no one there. With no people and just medicine on display, it felt like a museum. I definitely read online that it was still operating, so it was strange.
Elaborate family crest sculpture decorating a white wall and a plaque with a year written below it.
Anno 1655. It's so incredibly old that it almost feels alien. Like how Joseon white porcelain feels old, but Goguryeo pottery somehow feels modern?
Old fresco painted on a white wall and a wooden carved double-headed eagle crest.
Old medicine bottles and vintage design medicine boxes placed inside a glass cabinet.
Old medicine bottles with faded labels and ointment containers gathered in a display cabinet.
Medicines used a really long time ago are on display, but their designs don't look much different from what's sold today.
Three transparent glass bottles containing a horseshoe, a piece of a mummy, and a hedgehog respectively.
Why are there so many animal carcasses in a pharmacy?! Yikes!

After getting my fill of looking at old medicines and old animal carcasses, I was about to leave when a lot of people came in. As it got crowded, the pharmacist who wasn't visible earlier also appeared. I thought they had turned it into a museum, but just as I'd looked up, it's still a real "pharmacy" selling actual medicine. I don't know what kind of medicine it is, but seeing people buying things, there must be a must-buy medicine here, much like buying Tiger Balm when you go to China or Thailand. I thought about buying one as a souvenir, but I had no idea what to get, and the pharmacist lady's eyes were radiating a strong "don't bother me" aura across the room, so I gave up completely and turned around. I'm sure she would have cursed at me with her eyes if I asked for medicine.

Panoramic view of the pharmacy interior with tourists looking at the long wooden counter and display cabinets.
Antique wooden cabinets and medicine bottles visible under a wooden ceiling and chandelier, with people looking around the interior.
Wooden display cabinet densely filled with numerous medicines behind the pharmacy counter.

Expenses

Total Expenses €6.49

Total Trip Expenses 525,936 KRW + 47,499 RUB + $312.26 + €92.07


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