Precisely because it is underrated, Estonia becomes even more attractive as a tourist destination. Transoceanic travelers have not yet 'discovered' it, which gives Europeans the opportunity to enjoy its beauty without crowds.
The biggest asset of this Northern European country is perhaps the capital city Tallinn, but that doesn't mean that there aren't beautiful smaller places that deserve the attention of visitors.
Less populated, rural parts of the country are the most attractive to fans untouched nature, but beautiful National parks they attract other tourists throughout Estonia. Wild nature, medieval towns and specific Nordic cuisine will intrigue every traveler.
The territory of Estonia covers 45 thousand square kilometers. It is low country with an average altitude of about 50 meters and a considerable part covered by swamps.
Encompassing more than 1500 islands, the country's varied terrain includes rocky beaches, old-growth forests and many lakes.
Lahemaa National Park
Lahemaa is the oldest and largest national park in the country, and is located only 70 kilometers east of Tallinn. Here you can walk through the dense evergreen forest or enjoy the magical Estonian swamps. Lovers of the sea can choose a walk along Baltic coast.
Lahemaa National Park is home to the largest natural waterfall in Estonia - Jägala Fall. But in addition to natural beauty, there are also architectural landmarks here, such as many old manor houses.
Interesting stories
- More than 50 percent of the territory is covered with forest
- Sauna is a special ritual and way of life of local people, so private houses often have their own sauna
- 99 percent of government services are available online
- Estonia was the first country to adopt an online political voting system
- Estonians founded 10 of unicorn startups – Skype, Playtech, Bolt (formerly Taxify), Wise (formerly TransferWise), Pipedrive, ID.me, Zego, Gelato, Veriff and Glia
- The initiative for World Cleaning Day started in Estonia in 2008
Exploring the island
Wild nature of numerous Estonian islands, it is mostly untouched, but in some places it hides traces of medieval prosperity and ancient battles. Most of the islands are small and uninhabited – perfect for bird watching, canoeing, sailing or fishing.
In western Estonia on the island of Hiiumaa, visitors can climb the legendary Kõpu lighthouse. Almost 500 years in operation, Kõpu is one of the oldest continuously active lighthouses in the world.
Not far from it, on Cape Ristna, surfers they can 'catch' some of the biggest waves of the Baltic Sea before taking the ferry to a bigger one the island of Saaremaa - home of windmills. Here is also crater field formed from the Kaali meteorite, a rare natural wonder older than 7500 years.
The fall of the meteorite caused great damage to the already inhabited island, and its power is compared to the explosion of an atomic bomb. At a height of about 5 to 10 kilometers from the ground, the meteorite disintegrated.
He created the largest piece that fell to Earth crater with a diameter of 110 meters, 22 meters deep and 8 smaller craters. Kaali Crater it is in 8th place among the world's youngest giant craters.
Tallinn
The Estonian capital is known for its preserved old town, museums and a 314-meter-high TV tower with an observation deck. It used to be a part of the Soviet Union and today it is dotted with beautiful things fortresses, castles and churches.
It is not overcrowded like some other European cities, and its well-preserved architecture is definitely worth exploring.
The Old Town in Tallinn is truly one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Europe. His narrow streets they radiate a unique history and culture. It is surrounded by the original medieval walls from the 14th century, which stretch for almost two kilometers.
The Estonian capital is also one of the best-preserved European medieval cities, so its old Town an indispensable point for every visitor.
The old city center is located on UNESCO- on the list of world cultural heritage since 1997. The Toompea castle, the seat of the Estonian parliament Rigiikou, and two churches - Alexander Nevsky and the cathedral of St. Maria.
From 2022, Tallinn also holds the title of UNESCO City of Music. Namely, it is unique among the member cities UNESCO Network of Creative Cities.
Is Estonia expensive?
Estonia is generally not as expensive as the countries of Western Europe, but it is no longer as cheap as it was in the 90s of the last century.
In tourist attractive areas - such as the old town of Tallinn - prices are at Scandinavian levels. Half a liter of domestic beer costs around 1 euro in shops and 2,5 to 4 euros in modest pubs.
A few additional points of interest:
- Tallinn lies on the coast of the Baltic Sea, only about 60 kilometers south of Helsinki, on the other side of the Gulf of Finland.
- The Estonian capital has about 435.000 inhabitants. Other larger cities are Tartu, Narva and Pärnu.
- The Republic of Estonia has approximately 1,3 million inhabitants.
- The official language is Estonian, however most people also speak either Russian or English. Most government services are also available in Russian and English.
- Unlike Lithuania and Latvia - which are Baltic countries - Estonia is Finno-Ugric, although one might think that it belongs to the Slavic peoples.
Estonia is best known for its dense forests, the charming center of Tallinn, and a unique history that stretches back millennia. In recent years she has experienced boom of tourism and even implemented a digital nomadic visa for those planning a long-term stay.
Photo: Unsplash
Cover photo: Transly Translation Agency / Unsplash
