Estonia – Travel Guide
Estonia is a contemporary nation, leading the way in tourism. Its scenic landscapes and vibrant culture are a draw for travelers to explore. Most visitors dive into the refreshing waters of the Baltic sea and explore the majestic forests and stunning natural wonders. Tour the innovative and sustainable cities, featuring modern architecture and eco-friendly initiatives. Dine on delicious locally-sourced cuisine, featuring traditional dishes with contemporary twists. Believe it or not, there’s something exciting to find around every corner. Estonia is a modern destination, filled with potential and innovation. Allow your imagination and curiosity to set sail and discover the wonders of Estonia.
All about Estonia
Estonia FAQ
What is Estonia known for?
Estonia, also known as e-Stonia, is a European country located between the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea. It is one of the least crowded countries in Europe, with beautiful beaches and a lot of lakes. The country gained her Independence on February 25, 1918, and is fast developing to being one of the most wonderful countries to be in Europe. It is a country situated next to a highly privileged region: a region with the highest concentration of `billion dollar companies` outside of Silicon Valley. The country is known for having lots of land, being predominantly female with distinctly more women than men, and it is one of the least crowded countries in Europe brimming with preserved medieval cities, enchanting forests, misty bogs and ancient traditions.
What are the best places to visit in Estonia?
Your adventures will likely start in Estonia’s capital, Tallinn. Here, you`ll explore the old city walls, eat many slices of Estonian black bread, wander around the Russian orthodox cathedral, and get a panoramic view of the entire city from the Tallinn TV Tower.
Aside from the historical wonders of the capital city Tallinn, Estonia is full of hidden attractions that warrant at least a week or two of exploring. Branch out and explore the rest of what Estonia has to offer. The country is perfect for all types of outdoor lovers. Get pampered in the luxurious spas in Estonia`s summer capital, Parnu. Discover the world`s best bird-watching destination in Matsalu National Park. Take a stroll along the beautiful Narva River Promenade. And after you`ve explored the mainland, make your way to one of Estonia`s 2,355 islands.
How many days should I spend in Estonia?
We recommend 7-10 days based on what you want to see and do. We offer flexible vacation packages so you can select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel, and activities. We suggest a minimum of 3 nights in larger cities.
What is the best way to get around Estonia?
By Car: Although traveling through Estonia would be fantastic with any mode of transportation, we highly recommend renting a car, as some of the highlights can be really far off the beaten track. Not only does a car allow you to reach the more rural attractions, but it also gives you the freedom to spontaneously venture off the main road to hidden spots along the way.
The roads in Estonia are generally of good quality and routes are typically adequately signposted.
By Taxi: Private taxis must display the name of the company and their number on the roof. Fares should be agreed upon beforehand and most taxis have prices for various journeys marked. Uber, taxify, Taxigo, Taxofan and Yandes.taxi are popular apps to order a taxi or share a ride.
By Bicylc: Cycling is a great way to see Estonia. The terrain is flat and there`s low volume of traffic to contend with, plus marked cycle paths and trails around the country make touring by bicycle a great way to go.
Urban Travel: Most of the major cities are compact enough to get around on foot, but they also have an established public transport system served by bus, trolleybus and trams. You can pay the driver directly for single journeys but if you plan to do much traveling on public transport it is cheaper to buy a book of tickets in advance from stalls in the main shopping areas. Alternatively, you can book a taxi with a Smartphone app.
By Rail: Domestic trains rund by ELROM (www.elron.ee) link Tallinn with many destinations within Estonia, including Parnu, Viljandi, Valga, Narva, Tapa and Tartu.
By Ferry: Praamid (www.praamid.ee) provides ferry services connecting the mainland with the islands Saaremaa and Muhumaa. Veeteed (www.veeteed.com) funs ferry services to several islands including Hiiumaa, Kihnu, Manilaid, Ruhnu and Vormsi.
What is the currency of Estonia?
The currency of Estonia is the Euro. US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for euros upon arrival.
Do people speak English in Estonia?
Estonia has one of the highest literacy rates in the world at 99.8% and nearly everyone speaks a foreign language, most commonly English and Russian, but also Finnish, German or Swedish. The official language is Estonian. English may be spoken at your hotel and in the tourist areas, but not everywhere. We suggest you get a good English-Estonian guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.
Best time to visit Estonia
May to late August is the best time to visit Estonia for warmth, especially in June and July, with Baltic beaches and inland lakes both popular escapes during the warm weather. Spring is the perfect time for bird watching with Stellar`s eiders, long tailed ducks, and thousands of geese occupying the islands and shallows’ bays from Feb-April.
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Fall is a beautiful time to explore the lush forests and marshlands merging together to make beautiful warm colors, although temperatures do start to drop at this time, which starts to happen in September.
Tipping in Estonia
The questions “when?” and “how much?” can leave some travelers confused, as the practice varies. This guide attempts to cover most situations that you, as a tourist, will encounter. Hopefully using these “tips” will provide a smooth experience when interacting with locals in restaurants, bars, hotels, tour operators, and taxis.
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Tipping in Estonia
What is the currency of Estonia?
The currency of Estonia is the Euro. US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for euros upon arrival.
Top cities in Estonia
What to expect while traveling
