Estonia

Estonia (Estonian phrasebook|Estonian: Eesti) is the northernmost and smallest of the Baltic states. While the nation has charming old towns and legacy back to the Hanseatic League, it is a leader in technology.

Tourism to Estonia has been growing. According to Statistics Estonia, 1.3 million foreigners visited Estonia in 2000, and that number climbed 38 percent to 1.8 million foreigners in 2005 and up to 6 million in 2015.

Regions of Estonia

Estonia is divided into 15 counties (or maakonnad, singular - maakond). To bring out the unique characteristics of Estonia, we use 4 regions in this guide. As the nation is small, most destinations can be visited within a couple of hours from Tallinn.

Regions of Estonia

North Estonia The most industrialized region with over 1/3 of the population. Tallinn, with its nightlife and UNESCO-protected medieval Old Town, is a well-known tourist attraction. There are many beautiful small beach villages, such as Kaberneeme, Laulasmaa, Nõva, Käsmu and Võsu. Lahemaa National Park can be visited within an hour from Tallinn.

East Estonia Ida-Viru county, adjacent to Russia. Narva, with its many monuments, is the easternmost point of the nation. Seaside resorts, such as Toila and Narva-Jõesuu, are among the best in Estonia.

West Estonia and Islands Known for its resorts, Haapsalu and Pärnu (the summer capital of Estonia), and its islands (Saaremaa and Hiiumaa the biggest). The region has historical significance. Noarootsi and the islands of Ruhnu and Vormsi are inhabited by coastal Swedes. Other unique places include the islands Kihnu and Muhu with their rich cultural legacy and the national parks of Vilsandi National Park

South Estonia Centred around the lively university city of Tartu. Further south and south-east are Mulgimaa, Võromaa and Setomaa with a unique cultural legacy that's still visible today. Karula National Park, Soomaa National Park and the ski resorts near Otepää are in the region.

Reference ##78e86 North Estonia.

Reference ##1b37b East Estonia.

Reference ##9999f West Estonia and Islands. }}

Reference ##a84a3 South Estonia

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Cities

Tallinn – The capital, and financial and cosmopolitan centre of Estonia, with a medieval Old Town. Beautiful and expensive (compared to other Estonian towns). Tartu – Museum-rich and hanseatic city on the banks of the Emajõgi River. Also, Estonia's second-largest and oldest city, intellectual hub famous for its universities, and a lively student city. Narva – Estonia's eastern-most and third largest city, on the Narva River, which is the border with Russia. Famous for the Hermann castle, right opposite of the Ivangorod's castle, and the Kreenholm factories. Even though it might seem grey and dull. Pärnu – Estonia's 4th largest city and the summer capital of Estonia, popular for its balneo-therapy complexes and spa centres, surrounded by numerous beaches. Rakvere – Estonia's fifth largest city, east of Tallinn, famous for its Punk and Rock festivals and spirit. Haapsalu – "Venice of the north", and a major seaside resort and medium-sized port city, good for visiting spas, taking mud baths, sailing, swimming, interesting monuments of the middle ages, like the cathedral and the Ruins of Haapsalu Castle, and the picturesque Railway Museum. Viljandi – A beautiful, ancient and hilly city, known for its annual Viljandi Folk Music Festival, beautiful old town and overwhelming and picturesque park around the old castle. Kuressaare – The capital of the island of Saaremaa and the only town on the island, and home of the Kuressaare castle. It also has many spas, water parks and one beach. Valga – A town on the border with Latvia, where it literally grows into the Latvian town of Valka.

More Destinations

Purekkari neemel - Purekari neem, Lahemaa National Park, northernmost point in mainland Estonia

Estonians have a special love for nature, and many will tell you that they would rather sit under a tree in an empty forest or hike in a national park than almost anything else. Estonia's tranquil, laidback and unspoiled Baltic islands provide a splendid getaway to nature.

National Parks

• Lahemaa National Park – On the coast within an hour east (50 km) of Tallinn. Given its size it is the largest park in Estonia and one of Europe's biggest national parks, with 1000 km² of wikipedia.org/wiki/Bog bogs, trails, and forests.
• Soomaa National Park – The second largest national park in Estonia, famous for its "fifth season". A peat bog formed from a glacier melt from around 11,000 years ago.
• Matsalu National Park – One of the largest and most important autumn stopping grounds for migratory birds in Europe. Excellent for birdwatchers, due it is rich ornithological species.
• Vilsandi National Park – Rich in marine fauna, and international bird sanctuary with over 250 recorded bird species, on the west coast of Saaremaa. Covers 238 km², including 163 km² of sea and 75 km² of land, plus 160 islands and islets.
• Karula National Park – The hilly landscapes of Southern Estonia. Estonian’s smallest national park between Valga and Võru.
• South Estonia#Other destinations|Meenikunno Nature Park – A 5 kilometers hike and wooden trail with an observation platform in the middle of the swamps.
• Otepää|Otepää Nature Park and Lake Pühajärve – Part of the Otepää recreational region with an area beyond 3,000 km². Trails along the lake and paths in the hilly forests.

Islands of Estonia

• Saaremaa – The largest Estonian and wild seaside character island with castles and fortresses, one perfectly preserved, a beach, a spa and famous mills. Saaremaa is even sometimes called Sparemaa. Furthermore and the island is surrounded by a myriad of tiny islands including Abruka with its nudist camps.
• Hiiumaa – The second largest Estonian island. Popular for its lighthouses, ancient churches, historical values and the sense of humour of its inhabitants, but scarcely populated. In winter, it can sometimes be reached by vehicle via an ice bridge on the Baltic Sea.
• Kihnu – The southernmost group of islands, Khinu, is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Cosy and warm yet exotic – folk costumes are worn here every day and the handicraft of older generations remains highly valued.
• Muhu – The third largest Estonian island, and a rural municipality connected to the nearby Saaremaa by an artificial embankment, where ferries to the harbour of Virtsu arrive. Has an open air museum, and its local residents are known for still sewing woollen clothes. Sleepy fishing villages, working windmills, thatched cottages, plenty of deer, moose and birds.
• Ruhnu – The communal territory corresponds to that of the homonymous island, formerly known as Runö.
• Vormsi – The fourth largest Estonian island, very close to the mainland. Vormsi is a small island covered with forests and a Swedish community. A unique blend of Soviet and Swedish history mixed with unspoilt nature.
• Osmussaare – A small and mostly inaccessible island in the mouth of the Gulf of Finland, 7.5 kilometers off the mainland, and part of the Noarootsi Parish.
• Pakri – Two islands in the Gulf of Finland: Suur-Pakri and Väike-Pakri (Swedish: Stora Rågö and Lilla Rågö), administratively part of Paldiski.
• Naissaar – An island mostly covered by forest northwest of Tallinn with about 35 residents.
• Prangli – A small island with, harbour (for ferries to Leppneeme on the mainland), mainly fir trees, and a lighthouse from 1923.

Estonia Halal Travel Guide

{{quickbar|LocationEstonia.png|1280px]] OldCity GuardTowerPark - Medieval city wall in Tallinn

Estonia is a Baltic gem offering visitors the chance to see a tiny dynamic land on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Glorious beaches pepper the extensive coastline, although the swimming season is short. After all and the Baltics are not renowned for warm weather – something that any visitor to Estonia must be aware of; the summer is short and the winter is severe.

Tallinn's medieval old town was built by the Germans in Middle Ages and is in magnificent condition, with the medieval city walls and towers almost completely intact, and it rates as one of Europe's best medieval old towns. Visitors can also experience an ex-Soviet republic that is now part of the European Union. Traces of the Soviet perioid are still there to be seen, e.g. Paldiski, a deserted Soviet army base that was once off-limits to Estonians themselves, can easily be visited on a day trip from the capital, Tallinn. Estonia is renowned for its bucolic islands and extensive bogs that are now national parks with easy access for tourists.

History

See also: Soviet Union

After seven centuries of Germany|German, Denmark|Danish, Sweden|Swedish, Poland|Polish and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940, it re-gained independence in 1991 through its "Singing Revolution"], a non-violent movement that overthrew an initially violent occupation. Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia moved to promote economic and political ties with Western Europe. It is now one of the more prosperous former Communist states, enjoying a high-tech environment, an open and liberal economy and a transparent government system. On the other hand, it is faced with a fairly low (but growing) GDP per capita (in a European Union context), as well as a very low birth rate, which is creating a population decline. From 1991 to 2007 the nation saw rapid economic expansion, leading it to be among one of the wealthiest and the most developed of the former Soviet Republics. However, its economy was badly damaged during the global recession that started in 2008, although it recovered by 2013. In 2011 and the euro was adopted as the official currency.

Since accession to the European Union (EU) in 2004, Estonia is becoming one of the most popular destinations in north-eastern Europe with a 30% growth in the number of visitors in 2004, according to Eurostat.

The People of Estonia

Estonia is bigger than the Netherlands or Denmark by area, but is one of the least densely populated countries in the EU, with 1.3 million people. Ethnic Estonians make up 69% of the population, and Russians 26%. The heaviest concentrations of Russians are in the north-east (Ida-Viru County) and Tallinn. Many ethnic Estonians consider themselves Nordic, as they are not Balts, and regard Estonia's classification as a Baltic state as mainly a geographical convenience.

Estonians are the least religious people in the European Union: 14% are Lutherans and 13% are Eastern Orthodox (mostly Russian Orthodox, although there is an Estonian Orthodox church).

What is the Geography of Estonia

Haanja Upland - Haanja Upland as seen from the observation tower at Suur Munamägi

Climate 

Maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers

Terrain 

Marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south

Highest point 

Suur Munamägi (literally Big Egg Mountain) 318 m above sea level, in the south east, 20 km north of the main highway that runs from Riga in Latvia to Russia, close to the borders with both countries. It is the highest point in the Baltic states.

Geography 

The mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; offshore lie more than 1,500 islands and islets.

Nature 

World War II and the subsequent occupation were devastating on humans, but the destruction and the closure of large areas for military use actually increased Estonia's forest coverage from about 25% before the war to more than 50% by 1991. Wolves, bears, lynx, elk and deer as well as some rare bird and plant species are abundant. Wild animals are exported to some EU countries for forest re-population programms. Most animals can be hunted, subject to annual quotas.

Public Holidays in Estonia

• National holiday : Independence Day, 24 February; this day in 1918 was the first date of independence from Soviet Russia (20 August 1991 was the date of re-independence from the Soviet Union). Each 24 February, a grand ball is held by the president for the prominent and important members of society and foreign dignitaries.
• Jaanipäev : Street John's Day or Midsummer Day held on the night of 23–24 June. The evening of the 23rd and well into the morning of the 24th is celebrated with bonfires and a traditional festive menu concentrating on barbeques and drinking.
• Võidupüha (Victory Day) : 23 June is celebrated to commemorate the decisive victory over Baltic-German forces in 1919 during the War of Independence.
• Christmas or Jõulud : Celebrated strictly as a family event.
• New Year's Eve : As a Soviet province and the authorities sought to promote the New Year holiday, as Christmas was all but forbidden for its alleged "religious" and "nationalist" character. After the restoration of independence and the significance of the New Year decreased, but it is still a day off and celebrated. This day is used by the leaders of the nation to address the nation.

How to visit and travel to Estonia

Visa & Passport Requirements to enter Estonia

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Buy a Flight ticket to and from Estonia

Tallinn (IATA Flight Code: TLL) is Estonia's main international gateway. In addition to direct daily Flights to/from all major Scandinavian (Stockholm Arlanda, Copenhagen Airport, and Oslo) and Baltic cities (Riga and Vilnius) and there are direct connecting Flights from all major European hubs like London, Frankfurt Airport, Munich Airport, Brussels and Amsterdam Schiphol and regional hubs like Prague and Warsaw. Eastward connections are from Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Kiev. Estonia's flag carrier Nordica provides half of the services and the rest is provided by Finnair, SAS, Lufthansa, LOT, Aeroflot, Air Baltic, British Airways and others. Easyjet is one of a few low-cost carriers that provide regular services to Tallinn. Ryanair operates several summer flights as well.

Close proximity and excellent ferry services with Helsinki allow for combination of open-jaw air travel. Riga is only 2-3 hours bus ride from southern Estonia and may be another good option.

Other Estonian airports are mostly used for domestic services, although Tartu has a daily connection to Helsinki, whereas Pärnu and Kuressaare may have sporadic Flights to Stockholm.

By car

Narva highway bridge - The Narva-Ivangorod border bridge

Good road connections are to the south (Via Baltica routing Tallinn-Riga -Kaunas -Warsaw) and east (Tallinn-Saint Petersburg, Tallinn-Pskov). Any vehicle travel to Russia involves unpredictable delays at the border crossing. The Narva/Ivangorod border crossing is notorious for its half-day-long queues, so use the southern crossing in Pechory whenever feasible and pay special attention to the ticketing system that books you a place in the queue on the Estonian side. Baltic Sea ferries often also take cars.

Travel on a Bus in Estonia

Lots of good and affordable connections from Riga and Saint Petersburg to Tallinn. Long-distance service from Vilnius, Kaunas, Kaliningrad, and even Warsaw or Kiev is also available. The most popular regular service provider is Luxexpress Group, others include n Ecolines and Hansabuss.

Since and the available bus companies might change over time, use bus comparison sites like this one:

Book a Halal Cruise or Boat Tour in Estonia

Ferry lines connect Tallinn with Sweden (Stockholm) and Finland (Helsinki, Mariehamn). Tallinn-Helsinki is one of the busiest sea routes in Europe and has daily 11 ferry crossings and 6-7 different fast-boat crossings (not during the winter) in each direction. Ferries are operated by ook-a-cruise Tallink, Viking Line and Eckerö Line and the fast boats by Linda Line. Ferry tickets can be as low as €19 for a single or return (usually the return is free if returning the same day; they want day cruisers who supposedly spend more on board).

Minor international ferry connections include Paldiski - Kapellskär (Sweden) and Paldiski - Hanko (Finland). They are operated by ways.ee/suomeksi DFDS Seaways.

There is also a connection between the Latvian port of Ventspils and the island of Saaremaa.

With your own boat or yacht you can visit SadamaRegister/?lang=en State Port Register and the .php?id=2841 Estonian Maritime Administration webpage for Recreational Craft.

Travel by train to Estonia

International train services Tallinn on the one hand and Moscow and Saint Petersburg in Russia on the other have been suspended several times in the past. The Russian Railways (RZD)] runs the connection Moscow-Tallinn (via St. Petersburg) with daily night trains. Trains depart from Moscow at 21:20 and arrive in Tallinn at 13.38. Services from Tallinn depart at 15:20 and arrive in Moscow at 09:32. The widely (and somewhat blatantly) advertised Riga -to-Tallinn train connection is anything but reasonable, because it makes a long detour and takes you nearly a whole day for a simple trip between the neighbouring Baltic capitals. However, local trains from northern Latvia to southern Estonia (connection in Valka/Valga) may be useful.

How to get around in Estonia

In Estonia and the public transport system is well-developed and it is preferable to walk, cycle or use public transport, given that the local Eastern European style driving culture may be dangerous for the uninitiated.

As of July 1, 2023, Estonia will have created the largest 24/7 free public transit zone in the world.

Travel on a Bus in Estonia

Estonia has a comprehensive bus network all over the nation. Nearly every city can be visited by a direct bus from Tallinn or Tartu. Other big cities have their own bus routes, such as Narva–Pärnu. Beside that, most of the towns and villages have regular bus connections to the nearby larger cities and towns. Smaller places are often only served in the morning or noon, and late afternoon (17:00/18:00). City connections generally operate up to 21:00. Make sure not to miss the last bus, or not to get stuck during daytime in a smaller town or village.

All connections are available online through Tpilet.ee (for long distance connections) and Peatus.ee (for short distances and local connections – enter/choose the exact station name to get meaningful results; e.g. "Tallinna bussijaam" and not "Tallinn"). The websites are mostly available in Estonian, English, and Russian. You can always buy tickets from the driver.

You can also buy tickets for many connections online with Tpilet.ee. Sometimes the mobile site does not show the purchase option, and you might want to switch your smartphone web browser to "Desktop mode". It is sometimes more preferable to buy a bus ticket online, especially with Simple Express or Eesti Buss buses. So check ahead, and if there is still time, buy right before the trip, or even in advance if you have a specific plan. This even applies to short distances, where instead of €2.50 the online price is €2.90 (or so) with Simple Express. If the purchase is not displayed with Tpilet.ee, check directly with Simple Express, Eesti Buss or n Lux Express.

Nevertheless, tickets bought online are only cheaper with certain companies, like Simple Express, which also allows e-tickets on your mobile. For other companies, online tickets need to be printed and cannot be used on your mobile (like for Go Bus). But there are self-service terminals in the city bus hub to print out such tickets. Some buses do not have power, in case you want to charge you phone (Simple Express has, Go Bus does not).

Regarding finding the right bus stop, especially for longer distances, buses do not go into each and every town but rather stop at the nearest point along the highway. These stops are denoted with "... tee", like "Loksa tee" instead of Loksa the town. Make sure you know where to enter and where to get off the bus, considering this. Also, an online search for a connection might not come up with any connection because you simple chose the wrong bus stops.

Travel by train to Estonia

Estonia_railways_frequency_commuter_trains_2016.svg|Frequency of commuter trains as of 2022.

Estonia's train network does not cover the whole country. The quality of railway tracks and services is steadily improving, thanks to substantial EU funding. The old Soviet diesel machines have been replaced with newer trains.

Since 2014 all domestic passenger rail operations have been taken over by Elron, whose website does offer timetables, journey planner and prices. Tickets are sold on board. You can also buy them online, at major stations, or in one of the rare ticket machines, but this makes sense mostly for 1st class tickets that are limited in number and may be sold out. All ticket prices are discounted -10% when purchased from the Internet.

Train connection and price information is also available through Peatus.ee.

Ticket prices are fairly low – 1st class travel from Tallinn to Tartu costs €12.60–15.00 one-way.

By car

Road quality varies. Most roads have only two lanes, but Narva–Tallinn road is a good 4-lane highway.

The speed limit is 90 km/h in the nationside and 50 km/h in cities, unless specified otherwise.

EE traffic sign-511 - frameless|58x58px|Motorway sign in Estonia

Only in summer is 110 km/h introduced on selected highways (generally dual carriageways with at least 2 lanes in each direction), and the scope is reconsidered every summer. Motorway signs are not present in winter.

Stationary speed cameras are frequent on major highways. Waze mobile app has a decent coverage of speed limits and stationary cameras, which is most helpful on long drives.

Estonia road sign 571.svg|frameless|89x89pxUnlike Russia and some other countries, urban areas are always marked with an "urban area" sign. Conversely, per se a road sign with a settlement name on it is not necessarily an indicator of urban area.

Fines for exceeding the limit by 20 km/h is up to €120, for +21-40 km/h up to €400 and risk of license withdrawn; up to €1200 for more details. Ignoring red traffic signal is up to €800. Violating the no-overtaking is up to €800.

Driving under the influence of alcohol is fined up to €800 for exceeding 0.20‰. Beware of drunk pedestrians, as they are not uncommon.

Lights must always be switched on. Passengers are expected to wear seat belts.

Parking should be paid for in the central areas of bigger cities. Prepare coins in advance, as credit cards and paper money are only accepted by parking machines in large indoor parkings, while breaking money can be difficult to find nearby. Payment with mobile phone is inpractical for short-time travellers: it requires local number and a hefty balance on it.

Estonia has lots of car rental companies, and the level of English spoken by their representatives is generally very high. Rental is somewhat cheaper than in Western Europe.

Pärnu–Rakvere–Sõmeru maantee Udrikus - Highway 5 in northern Estonia, a typical Estonian highway

Driving in Estonia is fairly easy, although it may be slightly more annoying than in Western Europe and US. Drivers are generally polite, but they may not strictly follow speed limits and other traffic rules, especially when overtaking.

There isn't very much traffic on the Estonian highways compared to Western Europe or for example Poland. Traffic jams may occur in Tallinn, but they are bearable.

By thumb

Hitchhiking in Estonia is generally feasible. Where in the past it was more common, people are quite reserved nowadays, especially when seeing tourists that they expect to only speak English, which many Estonians cannot understand.

Hence, success is very volatile. You might be lucky within 10 min, or you might just wait 1½ hours without anyone stopping, especially in remote areas with less traffic. Do not count on getting picked up eventually, but be sure to know when the last bus departs. {{seealso|Hitchhiking

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Estonia

Estonia has several domestic flights, mainly between the mainland and islands. Transaviabaltica operates regular services between Tallinn and Kuressaare or Kärdla. Luftverkehr Friesland-Harle flies from Pärnu to Ruhnu and further to Kuressaare.

Travel by bicycle in Estonia

The international bicycle project BaltiCCycle may provide you with a lot of information and help.

On foot and navigation

Estonia has many picturesque 1-3 day hiking trails, like in and around the Lahemaa National Park. For reliable and comprehensive (offline) maps of these trails and full map information, consult OpenStreetMap, which is also used by this travel guide, and by many mobile Apps like OsmAnd (complex with many add-ons) and MAPS.ME (easy but limited).

Local Language in Estonia

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See also: Estonian phrasebook

The official language is Estonian phrasebook|Estonian, which is very closely linguistically related to Finnish, and thus unrelated to other regional languages. Many in urban areas (especially younger people) speak English very well. Many Estonians can speak some Russian, although thit is declining and has become increasingly uncommon among the ethnic Estonian youth. Russian is often described as Estonia's unofficial second language and 50% of Tallinn natives have Russian as their native language. Finnish phrasebook|Finnish is also spoken quite well by many people in Tallinn, thanks to heavy tourism and TV broadcasts from the other side of the gulf. German is a popular language to learn at school in Estonia and a large number of people (Estimates vary from 10% to 25% of the population) can speak some. Though still rather uncommon, French and Spanish have become increasingly popular languages with Estonians.

It might be tempting to practise your Russian however, a foreigner starting a conversation in Russian can be seen as rude by native Estonians. Always try to start conversation in any language other than Russian and then you might ask whether the other person speaks Russian. After first greetings, Estonians may be willing to interact in Russian with a tourist, but many are reluctant to converse in Russian with a local Russian. In Tallinn and north-east Estonia there is actually quite a big chance that you will meet a local Russian speaker, for example as a barman or a bank teller.

There is a large Slavic minority, particularly Russians and Ukrainians.

What to see in Estonia

Estonia's top tourist attractions

1. Tallinn's Medieval Old Town, Tallinn, Architecture and History
2. Kadrioru Park, Tallinn, Architecture
3. Lahemaa National Park, North Estonia, Nature
4. Tartu Jaani (St. John's) Church, Tartu, Architecture
5. Pärnu Beach, Pärnu, Recreational
6. Lighthouses, Hiiumaa, Architecture
7. Narva Hermann Castle, Narva, Museum
8. The Kaali meteorite craters, Saaremaa, Nature
9. Setomaa, South Estonia, Culture
10. Otepää Winter Centre, Otepää, Sports

Medieval history and manors

The Old Town of Tallinn is the most intact and best protected medieval city in Europe, and is Estonia's première attraction. Its unique value is its impeccably maintained (intact) medieval milieu and structure, which has been lost in most of the capitals of northern Europe. Since 1997 and the Old Town has been on UNESCO's World Heritage list.

Living under the rule of Scandinavian kings, Russian empire and Teutonic Knights has left Estonia with unique and rich blend of historic monuments. Over one thousand manors were built across Estonia from the 13th century onwards. Some of the manors have perished or fallen into ruins but a lot have been reconstructed and are favorite attractions with tourists. There are about 200 manor houses under state protection as architectural monuments and 100 in active use.

Islands and coastline

Viru bog 0057 - Bogs are clean in Estonia and provide a unique swimming experience

Jagala at minus20C - Jägala falls to -20°C in winter

Estonia has over 1,500 islands. The nature is crucially untouched and offers quite a different beach experience with their remoter rustic feel. Most of the public beaches are sandy and the average water temperature is 18°C in summer. Inland waters and some shallow bays' waters are even warmer.

The largest island is Saaremaa with an intact and well-restored medieval castle in its only city, Kuressaare. Stone fences, thatched roofs, working windmills and home-made organic juice are all distinctive to Saaremaa. Hiiumaa, on the other hand, is well known for its lighthouses, unspoilt nature and the Hill of Crosses and the sense of humour of its inhabitants. Both islands have an airport and so can be quickly reached from Tallinn.

Other important islands include Kihnu, Ruhnu (with its "singing sand" beach), Muhu and Vormsi, each with its own unique characteristics. Most of the other tiny Estonian islands don't carry much cultural significance, but can be appealing for bird watching, canoeing, sailing or fishing etc.

In July and August, Pärnu, Estonia's summer capital, is the main attraction. The coastline itself has loads of untouched beaches and a tour from Narva-Jõesuu (in the east) towards Tallinn is great for adventuring the coastline. Some of the well known places include Toila, Võsu, Käsmu and Kaberneeme.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Estonia

• Frisbee – Frisbee seems to be the secret sport of Estonians. You will find many places, especially in rural areas, where the wikipedia.org/wiki/Disc_golf disc golf baskets can be found. So, bring a Frisbee.
• Hiking – There are at least three national parks in Estonia worth a day or two days hike. #Other destinations|Check them out. Otherwise and there are many areas where hiking and putting up a tent near the sea can be worth it. The where-to-go/hiking-route/ forest administration has marked several hiking trails spanning North to South and East to West.
• Birdwatching – Especially in West Estonia and Islands and there are numerous viewing platform to enjoy bird watching in spring or fall when birds move from one continent to the other.
• Self-guided tours – A good way to discover Estonia by yourself. For more information visit the llmap/view interactive maps sections on the official tourism website.
• Swim in the bogs – Nature parks like the Lahemaa National Park are full of black and beautiful bogs that are also feasible to swim in. Take a dip if you dare and it is warm enough, but always know how to get out again.

Events

Tickets for events can be purchased online via Piletilevi.ee or the lately established Ticketpro.ee .

There's quite a good list of various events in Estonia at hings-to-see-do/events Visitestonia.com.

Film festivals

• Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) Opening Hours: November/December Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival The festival combines a feature film festival with the sub-festivals of animated films, student films and children/youth films.

Music festivals

XXV laulupidu (3) - Estonian Song and Dance Celebration in 2009 Photo: Egon Tintse

• Tallinn Music Week | Tallinn Opening Hours: Spring Showcase festival, aiming to stage the best and most outstanding Estonian talent on two nights in Tallinn's most vibrant live venues, as well as a networking event for the music industry professionals.

• Tallinn International Festival Jazzkaar | Opening Hours: April In addition to Tallinn jazz concerts also take place in Tartu and Pärnu.

• Tallinn Old Town Days Tallinn Opening Hours: May/June free

• The Estonian Song Celebration (In Estonian: Laulupidu) Tallinn - First held in 1869, takes place every five years. In 2009, 35,000 choral singers gathered to perform for an audience of 90,000 people. It is recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

• Õllesummer Festival Tallinn Opening Hours: July Approx 70,000 people attend the festival each year over the course of 4 days.

• Viljandi Folk Music Festival Viljandi Opening Hours: July The festival runs for 4 days on the last weekend in July. More than 100 concerts take place in Viljandi castle's ruins, churches, and other venues throughout Viljandi County. It is the largest annual music festival in Estonia. Each year the festival draws over 20,000 visitors.

• Saaremaa Opera Days | Saaremaa Opening Hours: July
• Leigo Lake Music Festival | near Otepää Opening Hours: August Open-air concerts are held in completely natural venues on the hilly landscapes of the Otepää highland. The musicians' stage is on an island in the lake, surrounded by thousands of listeners on the sloping shore.

• Birgitta Festival Tallinn Opening Hours: August Music and theatre festival, held at the ruins of the historical Pirita (St. Bridget's) convent.

Sport events

• Simpel Session Tallinn Opening Hours: Summer/Winter International skateboarding and BMX event.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Estonia

Money Matters & ATM's in Estonia

Estonia uses the euro, like several other European countries. One euro is divided into 100 cents. The official symbol for the euro is €, and its ISO code is EUR. There is no official symbol for the cent.

All banknotes and coins of this common currency are legal tender within all the countries, except that low-denomination coins (one and two cent) are phased out in some of them. The banknotes look the same across countries, while coins have a standard common design on one side and a national country-specific design on the other. The latter side is also used for different designs of commemorative coins. The design on the national side does not affect the use of the coin.

The Estonian kroon (EEK) ceased to be legal tender on 15 Jan 2011, but any kroons you have left over can be changed into euro at the Bank of Estonia at a fixed rate of 15.6466 kroon to €1.

Banking and cards

ATMs and currency exchange offices (valuutavahetus) are widely available. You will get the best rates by exchanging only after arrival in Estonia. Avoid changing money in the airport or port as the rates are lower.

Credit cards are accepted most of the time, exception are limited with parking machines, countryside farms and the like. Contactless payment with credit cards (Paypass/Paywave and Android/Apple Pay) is supported by roughly half of terminals in use.

Tipping

Tipping has been common in Estonia only after the restoration of independence, and therefore isn't always requested. A 10% tip is usually added to the price in restaurants and taxi drivers often keep the change. Some restaurants and pubs have a jar or box on the counter labelled 'Tip' on it, where clients can put their change.

What is the living cost in Estonia

Estonia is overall much cheaper than Western Europe, but it is no longer the bargain it used to be in 1990s; in tourist areas (like Tallinn's Old Town), prices are comparable to those found in Germany and Scandinavia. It is still feasible to spend less when you go off the beaten track.

Here are some prices of regular goods: 1 kg of apples – €0.80, regional dish in a café – €3-5, 30 kilometers by bus – €2, hostel – €10+, local organic juice at the shop – €1.20. But when it comes to tourist places, suddenly prices sky-rocket: Rakvere Castle – €9, tour to National Park Lahemaa from Tallinn – €55, organic juice at a tourist bar – €3-4.5. Try to avoid this tourist ripoff – there is enough to see and do even without a big budget.

Halal Restaurants

Pilt (57) - Typical Baltic dark bread at a farmer's market

Estonian food draws heavily from German and Nordic cuisine. The closest thing to a national dish is verivorst, black pudding, served with mulgikapsad, which is basically sauerkraut stew.

Many types of food are similar to Russian cuisine|Russian dishes and have their equivalents almost exclusively in the former USSR, such as hapukoor, smetana in Russian, a sour 20%-fat milk dressing for salads, especially "kartulisalat" or "potato salad".

As Estonia used to be a food mass-production powerhouse in the times of the USSR, some of its foods, unknown to Westerners, are still well-recognized in the lands of the CIS. Thit is also true the other way around; in Estonian grocery stores products from countries of the former Soviet Union like Georgian mineral water are widely available.

Among other everyday food, some game products are offered in food stores in Estonia, mostly wild boar, elk Sausages and deer grill. Some restaurants also offer bear Meat.

For those with a sweet tooth and the national Chocolates manufacturer is "Kalev", with many specialist stores around the nation as well as supermarkets retailing the product.

The more adventurous may want to try "kohuke", a flavoured milk-curd sweet covered with Chocolates and available at every supermarket.

Windmills Angla - Windmills on Saaremaa

Like their neighbours the Russians and the Estonians know their alcohol. Favorite tipples include the local organic juice Saku, or A. Le Coq and the local vodka brands Viru Valge (Vironian White) and Saaremaa Vodka and the surprisingly smooth and tasty rum-like herbal drink Vana Tallinn (Old Tallinn), famous in the countries of former USSR.

A local soft drink is "Kali" (the Estonian equivalent of "kvass"), made from fermented brown bread. It can be described as an acquired taste.

Many local residents also swear by "keefir", a fermented milk concoction.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Estonia

Estonia - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Estonia, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Estonia. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Estonia and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Estonia. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Estonia. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations in Estonia: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Estonia.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Estonia: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Estonia, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Estonia.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Estonia, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Estonia, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Estonia and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Estonia, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Estonia, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Estonia without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Estonia is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Estonia.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Estonia is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Estonia, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Estonia Media: info@ehalal.io

Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in Estonia

eHalal Group Estonia is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Estonia. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry in Estonia.

At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in Estonia ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property.

For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within Estonia. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living.

If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods in Estonia, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values.

For those seeking luxury and exclusivity, our luxury villas in Estonia are the epitome of sophistication and elegance. Starting at US$ 1.5 million and these villas offer a lavish lifestyle with private amenities, breathtaking views, and meticulous attention to detail. Each luxury villa is meticulously designed to provide a serene and halal environment, allowing you to enjoy the finest living experience while adhering to your Islamic principles. For further details please email us at info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

The number of hotels has exploded from a few to tens and hundreds after the reestablishment of Estonian independence. In 2004, Tallinn achieved first place among the Baltic Sea cities in the number of overnight stays in hotels, though still behind Stockholm and Helsinki in the number of total overnight stays.

As Soviet collective farms were disbanded, many farmers switched to running "turismitalud," or tourism farms, which are affordable and indispensable places for spending holidays in the nature, usually in a former farm house. A site on Estonian Rural Tourism provides information on the tourism farms in Estonia. Hostels are another popular option for budget-sensitive travellers; see the website of the Estonian Youth Hostel Association.

Often lodgings give a discount if you book with them directly (e.g. phone) instead of using one of the monopolistic online middle men. Thit is due to the reason that most lodgings in Estonia can be booked without credit card anyhow. So and there is no real guarantee that someone does turn up. Just that via phone owners are at least not stuck with an online fee without receiving the room rent.

Camping is allowed virtually anywhere, except for private grounds. Some tourists have even camped in the city parks of Tartu because local residents told them so. Otherwise, if you do not have a tent, some national parks (like Lahemaa National Park|Lahemaa) have observation towers with roof and thus space for up to 10 people at night and protection against the rain.

Study in Estonia

Estonia has a fair amount of foreign students studying in its universities, especially from Nordic countries, as Estonian diplomas are recognized throughout the EU. See the articles for university town Tartu and capital Tallinn for details.

How to work legally in Estonia

No obstacles exist to citizens of EU countries to come to invest and work in Estonia. Muslims visitors of developed non-EU countries are exempt from short-term tourist visas. Swedes and Finns have by far the largest working community of post-Soviet foreigners in Estonia. Estonia may have had rocket-like growth from 2001 to 2008, but it was from a very low base as a former Soviet republic, and according to Statistics Estonia the average local monthly salary was around €1220 in 2017.

Education is highly valued in Estonia because as a small nation with no exceptional natural resources and they believe that the only way to be competitive is to absorb knowledge. There are so many highly educated people in Estonia that it has become a problem for the labour market - there just aren't enough workers for jobs that require minimal education.

Considerable investments and some workers are constantly coming from CIS countries, though significant legal restrictions are imposed.

Police and Border Guard Board is the authority responsible for dealing with the paperwork.

CV Keskus.ee is the most popular job portal in Estonia that holds the biggest number of job ads.

CV Online is one of the oldest Estonian recruitment and HR services operating in 9 countries (as of 2022).

Stay Safe

Estonia has managed to avoid much of the crime and insecurity that has plagued many former Soviet Republics following the collapse of the USSR, and today it is among the safest European countries. Criminal activities are distributed unevenly across the territory with almost no crime in the island areas, modest petty crime in urban areas, and a considerable rate of drug dealing in the predominantly Russian-speaking industrial area of North-East.

In Tallinn, petty crime is a problem and there are some incidents involving tourists, mainly pickpocketing (especially in the markets). However, nowadays Tallinn's Old City and other main tourist attractions are closely watched by local police and private security companies.

Many Estonians drive carelessly. The number of deaths in traffic related accidents per 100,000 people are similar to South-European countries like Portugal or Italy. Estonia has strict drink-driving laws with a policy of zero tolerance, but accidents involving intoxicated drivers are nevertheless a major problem. Estonian traffic laws requires headlight use at all times while driving and use of a seat belts by all passengers is mandatory.

Estonian law requires pedestrians to wear small reflectors, which people generally pin to their coats or handbags. Although this law is commonly enforced in cities, reflectors are very important in rural areas where it may be difficult for motorists to see pedestrians, especially in winter months. Violators of this law may be subject to a fine of around €30-50, or a higher fine up to around €400-500 if the pedestrian is under the influence of drinks. Reflectors are affordable and you should be able to find them at many supermarkets, kiosks, and other shops.

The police are very effective, and they are not corrupt.

The main advice to anyone worried about personal security is to stay reasonably sober despite tempting alcohol prices. When driving, make sure you have had absolutely no alcohol beforehand.

The single emergency number 112 is valid all over Estonia for rescue and ambulance outcalls.

It has been mentioned that ordinary Estonians are unlikely to approach a complete stranger or a tourist on their own. If somebody suddenly turns to you in the street (with questions or matters of small business) keeping a cautious eye on your belongings would be wise.

Public displays of affection between partners of the same gender may be met with stares, although violence is very unlikely.

Medical Issues in Estonia

Heracleum sosnowskyi20090702 099 - Sosnowsky's Hogweed

For an Estonian, it is considered mauvais ton not to criticize the Estonian healthcare system. EU studies have shown, however, that Estonia occupies a healthy 4th place in the block by the basic public health service indicators, on the same level as Sweden. Around 1998-2000 and the Estonian healthcare system was remodelled from the obsolete USSR model, directed to coping with disastrous consequences of large-scale war and made more up-to-date by the experts from Sweden. Estonia has harmonized its rules on travellers' health insurance with EU requirements. Information about health care in Estonia is provided by the government agency Eesti Haigekassa.

For fast aid or rescue, dial 112.

Estonia has Europe's second highest rate of adult HIV/AIDS infections, over 1.3% or 1 in 77 adults (2022). Generally and the rate is much higher in Russian-speaking regions like Narva or Sillamäe. Don't make the situation worse by not protecting yourself and others.

Ticks spread diseases like viral encephalitis and Lyme disease, which can be transmitted to humans and their season usually starts in April and lasts till October.

Beware of poisonous plants like Sosnowsky's Hogweed and Poisonous_plants#Giant_hogweed|Giant Hogweed. Wear protective clothes and goggles. If burned, clean your skin with water and soap and protect it from the sun for at least 48 hours.

Tap water is usually drinkable, though most people prefer bottled water.

Local Customs in Estonia

Estonians in general, when meeting a stranger, are remarkably reserved to start with. Don't expect them to deliver too many social niceties or small talk; they only say what's seasonable. Once you have broken the ice, you will find them open and candid.

Estonians tend to keep their physical distance. If there is a "long time - no see" situation and then a hug may be suitable.

Do not raise your voice in a conversation. A decent, quiet conversation is the Estonian way of doing business and is much appreciated.

Estonians are usually very proud of their nation and their country. As a small nation they have managed to gain independence and survived all the rough times that centuries filled with wars have served up to them. With that said, younger generations of Estonians might be more critical, and it is not uncommon for them to point out flaws quickly.

Contemporary history may be a sensitive subject. Any positive talk about the USSR (or today's Russia) around Estonians will be anything but a good idea although they will tell you all about it if you only ask.

25% of the population of Estonia are ethnic Russians, and even more people understand at least some Russian. Still some people suggest not starting conversations in Russian with strangers, as this may be seen as rude by some Estonians. See the #Talk|Talk section for more info.

Telecommunications in Estonia

Internet Cafe's in Estonia

• Access to wireless, free internet is widespread in Tallinn and Tartu.
• On the open road you will often find petrol stations which offer wireless internet access too
• If you do not have a laptop, public libraries offer free computers
• The number of internet cafes is dropping but you will find several open almost all night in Tallinn and Tartu (expect to pay around €2-3 per hour)
• Most hotels also have a computer with internet access available
• The departure lounge at Tallinn airport has several free internet access points for passengers

Landlines

• For local calls, dial the 7 or 8 digit number given. There is no "0" dialled before local numbers
• For international calls from Estonia, dial "00" then the nation code and number
• For international calls to Estonia, dial "00" from most countries or consult your operator and the nation code "372" and the 7 or 8 digit number
• For emergencies and police dial "112"

Mobile phones

• "Everyone" has a mobile phone in Estonia
• To ring Estonia from abroad, dial +372 before the number
• Mobile access is available everywhere, even on the smaller islands and at sea
• Prepaid (pay-as-you-go) SIM cards and their top up cards can be purchased from R-kiosks (ask for a "kõnekaart" - calling card in English). Popular brands are Smart, Simpel, Diil and Zen. Start-up packages are in a range of €1.55-10. 1GB is typically €1, cheaper in prepaid packages.

Postal service

• Within Estonia and the postage cost for a letter up to 250 grams is €0.65. You can send a letter in a convenient way electronically in the i/business/ee/eng/documents e-service also, in case you have ID-card or Mobile-ID or contract with a Bank (Swedbank, SEB, Danske or Nordea).
• To other EU countries, Norway, Switzerland, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine the cost is €1.40 and to the rest of the world €2.90.
• Be sure to mark all air mail pieces with "Prioritaire/Par Avion" stickers available at the post office, or clearly print it on the mail if needed.
• Stamps are sold at postal offices usually open during normal shopping hours, and also at news stands.
• Post offices open on Saturday but for shorter hours than during the week, and are closed on Sundays; ap locations and opening hours of postal offices and parcel machines.

Travel Next

• one of the less-obvious destinations is having a day cruise to Stockholm or Helsinki, see Cruising the Baltic Sea

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