Estonia

Travel Guide Estonia

Nowadays, seclusion and tranquility can be found in only a few places. However, a small state in the Baltic States is a wonderful place of retreat, not only for people, but especially for animals and plants in need of protection. With its mighty forests, large lakes and beautiful coastlines, Estonia is an almost untouched natural paradise which has so far been treated as a true insider tip by global tourism. Find out more about the Northern European gem in our Travel Guide Estonia.

Our trips to Estonia:

Volunteering Estonia – Nature Conservation

Highlights in Estonia

Tallinn is the capital of Estonia. Almost a third of the Estonians live in the coastal town on the Baltic Sea. Especially a bicycle tour is a good way to explore the city and admire many sights. The historical origin of the city is the Domberg. St. Mary's Cathedral is a special highlight for architecture lovers due to its different architectural styles from different centuries. And also the orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a worthwhile sight due to its interesting construction. Last but not least, the pretty much completely preserved old town of Tallinn, part of the UNESCO World Heritage, is worth a trip. Especially the medieval flair of the city captivates visitors from all over the world.
Soomaa National Park, founded in 1993, is located in the southwest of the country and is one of the largest national parks in Estonia. The park is especially known for its untouched bogs and species-rich floodplains. Another real highlight is the unique five-season climate. In addition to the mild spring, warm summer, fresh autumn and a snowy winter, the moors and swamps of the region are flooded by meltwater after the snow has melted between winter and spring which results in a fascinating natural spectacle. Those who are visiting the national park at this time can explore the beautiful forests of the park by canoe.
Lahemaa National Park is located on the north coast of the country. Especially the diversity of the landscape is a special feature of this park. In addition to rocky and sandy coasts, pine and cliff forests, rivers digging into the limestone and erratic blocks from the last ice age, there are also numerous animal species such as brown bears, lynxes, moose and foxes. You can get a deeper impression of the national park on guided hikes through the green expanses.
Due to the historical development of the country there are numerous castles and fortresses in Estonia. Some of them are ruins that have been destroyed long ago and exude a particularly mystical charm, while others are still well-preserved buildings from early centuries. Especially the Toompea Castle in the centre of Tallinn is worth a visit. The castle, built by the Danes in the 13th century, plays an important role in the development of Estonia. Haapsalu Castle, built around 1300 AD, is also a highlight on a trip to Estonia.

Geography of Estonia

Estonia is the northernmost of the Baltic countries and is located in the north-eastern part of Europe. With an area of approx. 45,000 km², Estonia is about the same size as the Netherlands. The neighbouring countries Russia and Latvia as well as the Baltic Sea border the state. Since a large part of the country's borders are on the water, the largest cities in the country are mainly located by the sea. The capital of Tallinn is also located on the northern coast of the country. Estonia is mainly characterised by forest and hilly landscapes. In addition, countless moors and swamps are characteristic of the landscape. The most important and water-rich rivers in Estonia are the Pärnu (144 km), Kasari (112 km) and Emajõgi (101 km). Lake Peipus on the eastern border of the country is the fourth largest lake in Europe covering an area of about 35,000 km².
With a population of about 1.3 million people, Estonia is one of the least populated countries in Europe. A large part of the population is Estonian, but immigrant Russians, Ukrainians and Finns also make up part of the population.

Geomorphology
Estonia's landscapes as well as the rock and soil composition are primarily shaped by glacial processes. As the Scandinavian ice sheet advanced far beyond the borders of Estonia, most of the country's landscape levels were eroded. Furthermore, many glacial moraines shape the landscape of Estonia. Lots of bogs and swamps, which have a significant influence on both the flora and fauna of Estonia, are the result of the glacial processes. The highest elevation of the country is Suur Munamägi, 318 m, near the town of Võru. The coastal areas of Estonia are formed by foundations of limestone and sandstone. These are especially eroded by rivers which can form deep valleys.

Hilly meadows and forested areas in Estonia's Karula National Park

Travel Tips and Trivia for Estonia

- 1 January: New Year's Day
- 24 February: Independence Day
- 1 May: Labour Day
- 31 May: Whitsunday
- 23 June: Victory Day
- 24 June: Midsummer Day
- 20 August: Restoration Independence Day
- 24 December: Christmas Eve
- 25 December: Christmas Day
- 26 December: Boxing Day
Moving holidays: Good Friday and Easter Sunday
Dos
- Try the traditional Estonian cuisine! It is usually characterised by rather hearty dishes that are really delicious.
- If you are invited with a local family, don't forget the host gift. A bouquet of flowers or other small presents are quite sufficient.
- Although most Estonians are rather reserved, they are still very warm people and hosts. Try to get into contact with the local population, it is worth it!
Don’ts
- In Estonia, public drinking of alcohol is prohibited. So if you're travelling to one of Estonia's beautiful cities, don't drink a beer on the way but rather sit down in one of the cozy bars which are especially frequent in Tallinn.
- Don't confuse an Estonian with a Latvian or Lithuanian. As the relationship between the different inhabitants of the countries is a bit tense, you should never mix them up. In addition, the relationship between Estonia and Russia is a very sensitive issue. Especially the complex history of the two countries is not a good topic of conversation for outsiders.
- In private households, it is considered extremely rude to refuse food or drinks offered to you. If you are not hungry, be polite and try at least a little before you refuse.

Climate in Estonia

The prevailing climate in Estonia can be described as cool-temperate. With long, cold winters and rather short, moderately warm summers, the Estonian climate can be compared with that of the Scandinavian countries. The eastern part of the country is significantly influenced by the Baltic Sea, resulting in a rather maritime climate. This means that the temperature difference between summer and winter is not as great as in the west of the country.

In cold winters, the coastal regions of the Baltic Sea can freeze over. In this case it is possible to reach the offshore islands of the Baltic Sea coast by car. During the winter months the average temperatures are between 5 °C and -6 °C.
Due to the cold temperatures and the rather high precipitation, the country is mostly under a snow cover that gets higher from northeast to southwest during the winter months. Until the end of April, temperatures can vary between approx. 21 °C and 0 °C. Especially at night, even in spring, there can still be frost and temperatures below 0 °C at night.
During the summer months there are pleasant average temperatures of 16 °C to 17 °C. With 19 hours of sunshine during the summer solstice, summer days are quite long, even if the summer itself is short. Especially in spring and summer strong winds dominate the weather near the Baltic Sea. Even in summer, only unafraid water lovers will swim in the Baltic Sea as the average water temperature is around 16 °C.

The best time to travel to Estonia is definitely in summer. Especially the mild temperatures make it a pleasant destination. From June to August you can expect only little rainfall.

Flora and Fauna of Estonia

Estonia's vast forest areas consist largely of pines, spruces and birches. Coniferous trees form a much higher population density than deciduous trees. Estonia is well-known for its great biodiversity and large stocks of mushroom and berry varieties. Cranberries, blueberries as well as numerous species of mushrooms are the food basis for many animals. The country's large moorlands and swamps also provide an enormous wealth of species. Mosses and grasses grow depending on the season. Annual flooding of these areas is important to manage overpopulation.

Due to its untouched nature and almost natural flora, Estonia is an ideal retreat for a wide variety of animal species. Although Estonia is one of the smaller countries in Europe, the country's predator population in particular is comparatively high. Besides small predators such as foxes, the forests of Estonia are also home to large predators such as wolves and lynxes, but also to brown bears. Also the rare flying squirrels live in the treetops of the country’s large forest areas. The largest animal that roams the forests of Estonia is the moose. With a height at the wither of up to 1,8 m, these gentle herbivores appear quite enormous. Estonia is also a true paradise for ornithologists. At the right time of the year, many migratory birds arrive in Estonia and are on their way south. Storks and especially woodpeckers can be observed quite well. Furthermore, numerous species of owls live in the forests of Estonia. Seals and numerous seabirds can also be found near the coastal regions.

Social Geography of Estonia

The national language of Estonia is Estonian and is actively spoken by about 1 million people. The Estonian language is relatively similar to Finnish and therefore extremely difficult for many other Europeans to understand, as both grammar and word origin have little to do with the English or Germanic languages. In Estonia, Russian and Finnish are also partly spoken.
After regaining independence from the Soviet Union, Estonia has to push ahead with the modernisation of the country, especially in comparison to other states. This also applies to digitisation. The tertiary sector of services is the foundation of the Estonian economy. The manufacturing industry also accounts for about one fifth of the gross domestic product. Estonia ranks 30th in the Human Development Indexes, making it a country of relatively high prosperity.
Estonia has been considered independent for almost 30 years. Before that time, Estonia was part of the Soviet Union. The Estonian society, which was shaped by communism, had little access to religious institutions. As a result, the majority of Estonians are still non-denominational today. However, there are some people who resisted the Soviet domination and still belong to a denomination today or again. About 14% of Estonians profess the Protestant-Lutheran faith; almost 13% belong to the Russian Orthodox faith. The other denominations, such as Catholicism, Judaism and Islam, are represented in Estonia only to a very small extent.
Estonia is politically organised through a parliamentary republic. The head of state is the president, whose function is rather representative. The Prime Minister is the head of government.

Estonia is generally a very safe travel destination. As in other places in the world, however, pickpocketing is on the increase, especially in places frequented by tourists, such as the old town of Tallinn. Car thefts also occur sporadically, so you should park your car in car parks and not in remote places. Further information can be found on the website of your country’s Foreign Office.