Top 10 Places to Explore in Estonia

Estonia is a widely underappreciated country nestled peacefully in Northern Europe, a country with a little bit of everything. The nation has stunning coasts, mediaeval towns, and an enormously rich past to keep people interested.

The nation is bordered by Russia, the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Finland, and Latvia, making it accessible from various locations, which is why visitors often have concerns. The most excellent part about visiting Estonia is that it is inexpensive. Here is a list of the top 10 Places to Explore in Estonia.

Tallinn

Tallinn is the most well-known of Estonia’s numerous popular tourist destinations. Toompea, the city’s major attraction or centre, has preserved the city’s historical and mediaeval atmosphere with cobblestone streets and 15th-century enterprises.

For history buffs, the area has been properly conserved and is walkable. The buzzing and bustling Old City may be seen from the uppermost part of Toompea.

Parnu

Parnu has one of the nicest lengths of pearly-white sand in the Baltic, nestled neatly on the edge of its small coastal cove on the Gulf of Riga. It’s flanked by the brand-new Beach Promenade, with babbling fountains beside alfresco eateries and a world-class cycling track.

The relics of a 1920s Art Deco boom provide a true splash of sophistication to the resort, with spas springing up suddenly on street corners, Ruutli Street pulsing to a nighttime pulse, and elegant timber homes dotting the periphery. In a nutshell, this is Estonia’s summertime capital!

Soomaa National Park

Soomaa National Park is a fantastic place to visit. Soomaa National Park, primarily a peat bog produced by glacier melt over 10,000 years ago, is crisscrossed by numerous magnificent rivers.

A canoe is an ideal method to explore Soomaa. While paddling, you may hire canoes or join a self-guided trip and see deer, elk, bears, beavers, golden eagles, and other wildlife. Canoeing is especially popular in the spring, or the “fifth season,” as the locals refer to it. Water levels increase dramatically during this year, and boats are sometimes the only way to move about.

Rakvere Castle

Rakvere, in northern Estonia, is a city where people have lived for about 1,500 years. Rakvere Castle, built in the 16th century, is one of the city’s most popular attractions. The castle has evolved into a mediaeval theme park, complete with costumed guests and employees.

Watch knights polish their armour, visit an alchemist’s workshop, and take a tour of the historic wine cellar. You may also eat typical mediaeval cuisine in the castle’s Shenkenberg Tavern. Visiting the castle is an unforgettable experience to immerse yourself in history.

Otepaa

In the summer, Otepaa attracts a small population of hikers and mountain bikers to Valga County’s twisting routes, where they may wander through thick fir forests and along the shores of Puhajarve Lake. When the snow falls, though, this self-proclaimed winter capital of Estonia comes alive.

The further downhill alpine runs offer a sprinkling of beginner and intermediate pistes. At the same time, the Nordic ski tracks dive deep into the forests, the ski jumps roar with local applause, and the various downhill alpine runs give a smattering of beginner and intermediate pistes. Aside from the outdoor activities, history lovers will enjoy Otepaa’s one beautiful church spire and the decaying remnants of an old castle.

Narva Castle

The city of Narva is the country’s, if not the whole European Union’s, easternmost destination. Even though the city was extensively damaged during WWII, the majestic and ancient Narva Castle still exists.

Built-in the 13th century by the Danes as a palace for the Danish King’s vice-Regent, the castle is also known as Hermann Castle. The Narva Museum and a variety of handcraft studios where you may witness and perhaps learn mediaeval techniques are located inside the castle. On the Russian side of the river, the castle tower overlooks the Ivangorod castle.

Estonian National Museum

The Estonian National Museum is noted for its beautiful architecture and one-of-a-kind permanent exhibits about Estonian history and culture. The edifice, which was inaugurated on a former Soviet military station in 2016 and was meant to resemble an airfield shooting out into space, is a conceptual art piece.

Allow at least a half-day to explore the museum’s treasures. The main permanent exhibit takes visitors on a journey through the lives and cultures of ordinary Estonians from the Ice Age to the present.

Typa

Typa, formerly known as the Estonian Print & Paper Museum, houses a collection of vintage printing and paper-making apparatus that will reawaken your enthusiasm for the printed word. Tourists will be able to view a dazzling assortment of letterpress alphabets in every style conceivable, which is likely to wow design enthusiasts.

The Typa also provides a variety of workshops where you may try your hand at manufacturing a notebook with a 150-year-old hand press, pulp paper manufacture, or linocut print design. Alternatively, work with the experts on staff to create a bespoke diary, poster, or album.

Saaremaa

Saaremaa is the largest Estonian island, and it is located in the Baltic Sea. The island has an 8,000-year history, during which time it was governed by Danes, Swedes, Germans, and Russians. The majority of visitors nowadays stay in Kuressaare, the island’s capital.

The entirely preserved mediaeval fortress at Kuressaare may be explored. The castle and gardens, which currently house the Regional Museum of Saaremaa, are open for tours. Saaremaa’s Serve Peninsula is a breathtakingly picturesque area to visit whether you enjoy hiking, sightseeing, birding, or photography.

Lake Peipus

One of Western Europe’s biggest lakes, Peipus, is situated on the Russian-Estonian border. This lake is a favourite vacation spot for residents and visitors due to its quantity of fish and broad rural roads. Mansions, old marketplaces, lighthouses, and traditional cottages may all be here.

It’s in good condition. While visiting Estonia, you may stopover here to picnic by the lake with your family and friends.

Final Thoughts

So that is it—top 10 places to visit in Estonia. No matter which one you decide to visit it will be an exciting place to explore, especially if you are a nature lover.