VISIT ESTONIA
This compact country, the northernmost Baltic state, is a jewellery box of historical sights and unspoiled nature.
Currency
€ - Euro (1€ ≃ 1,05$ ≃0,86£)
POPULATION
1,3 millions
MAIN LANGUAGE
Estonian
AREA
45,339 km²
TIME ZONE
UTC+2 / UTC+3
FLAG
🇪🇪
Estonia is the northernmost Baltic country, located at the bottom of the Gulf of Finland. Grouping more than 1500 islands, its diverse landscape includes rocky beaches, century-old woods, and various lakes. This former Soviet nation is also home to several castles, cathedrals, and fortifications perched atop hills. The charming and remarkably well-preserved medieval Old Town of Tallinn is what makes the country's capital world-famous.
There are a couple of things to know before travelling to Estonia:
Water: Tap water is considered safe to drink in Estonia.
Driving: Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road. The main speed limits are as follows: 50 kph / 30 mph on main roads within built-up areas, 90 kph / 56 mph on main roads outside built-up areas, and 110 kph / 70 mph on motorways. Dipped headlights must be illuminated at all times while driving.
Plugs: Two plug types are used in Estonia: C and F, which both have two grounding holes. Estonia operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz frequency.
Tipping: As a general rule - although welcome - tipping is not compulsory in restaurants and cafés in Estonia. If you appreciated the service, it is common to tip about 10% of the bill.
Payment: Bank cards - either debit or credit cards - are widely accepted across Estonia, the most common ones being Visa and Mastercard. American Express cards can be used in fewer places. The use of cash money is still very common, especially for low-value purchases, so it is a good idea to keep a small number of bills and coins with you.
Basic language: Tere = Hello, Good morning; Hüvasti = Goodbye; Jah = Yes; Ei = No; Aitäh = Thank you; Tänan teid väga = Thank you very much; Palun = Please; Oled teretulnud = You're welcome; Vabandage mind = Excuse me; Päev = Day; Öö = Night; Tere õhtust = Good evening; Head ööd = Goodnight; Härra = Mister; Proua = Ma'am
Holidays and closing days: Many shops in Estonia are open daily, especially major shopping centres; smaller businesses might close on Sunday. There are 10 official public holidays in Estonia: New Year's Day (January 01), Independence Day (February 24), Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Spring Day (May 01), Pentecost, Victory Day (June 23), Midsummer Day (June 24), Day of Restoration of Independence (August 20), Christmas (December 24-25-26). On these days, most businesses and offices will be closed, and many attractions may be shut or have limited opening hours.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The information below is provided merely as an indication and applies for short-term tourism visa purposes only. Before your trip to Estonia, or if you are planning to come to Estonia for another purpose (work, studies, ...), check the official information on the Estonian government website: https://www.vm.ee/
No visa is needed if you are a citizen of one of the following countries:
Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czechia; Denmark; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg, Malta; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland
Visa-free but limited to a maximum of 90 days within 180 days if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Albania; Andorra; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Australia; Bahamas; Barbados; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Brazil; Brunei; Canada; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominica; El Salvador; Georgia; Grenada; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Kong; Israel; Japan; Kiribati; Macao; Malaysia; Marshall Islands; Mauritius; Mexico; Micronesia; Moldova; Monaco; Montenegro; New-Zealand; Nicaragua; North Macedonia; Palau; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; San Marino; Serbia; Seychelles; Singapore; Solomon islands; South Korea; Taiwan; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tuvalu; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States of America; Uruguay; Vatican; Venezuela
Visa required (Schengen visa) if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Afghanistan; Algeria; Angola; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Belarus; Belize; Benin; Bhutan; Bolivia; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cambodia; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Central African Republic; Chad; China; Comoros; Congo; Congo (Dem. Rep); Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast); Cuba; Djibouti; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Eswatini; Ethiopia; Fiji; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Jamaica; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kosovo; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Laos; Lebanon; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; Madagascar; Malawi; Maldives; Mali; Mauritania; Mongolia; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nauru; Nepal; Niger; Nigeria; North Korea; Oman; Pakistan; Palestinian territories; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Qatar; Russia; Rwanda; Sao Tome and Principe; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Suriname; Syria; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Togo; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Uzbekistan; Vanuatu; Vietnam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe
❄️ December – February: Winter in Estonia is cold. Snow starts to fall around the middle of December and the country's ski resorts will open until February. It is the less popular touristic season, but this can be a magical time to visit when lakes, rivers, and vast stretches of the Baltic Sea freeze, and when crunchy snow adds a magical air to ancient city centres. During winter, the temperatures in Tallinn usually range from -6°C (21F) to 1°C (34F).
🌱 March – May: Springtime in Estonia is characterised by a sudden explosion of colours transforming the landscape. It also is a great time for birding: Estonia is one of the top three places in Europe to go bird watching, with over 380 species being spotted there each year.
☀️ June – August: During Summer, the country experiences White Nights because of its northern latitude. Visitors can live this extraordinary natural phenomenon in July when the amount of daylight goes up to 19 hours per day. During summer, the temperatures in Tallinn usually range from 10°C (50F) to 22°C (72F).
🍂 September – November: Mid-September onwards sees a sharp drop in temperature, but the changing colours of the deciduous trees' golden-brown leaves against the dark-green pines can make for a very stunning time of year to travel.
Pick an (Estonian) destination
Make your choice from the list below or the map to access all the articles related to specific cities or regions of Estonia.
TALLINN
Home to the best-preserved medieval centre in the world
LAHEMAA NP
For those who love nature and unspoiled forest
TARTU
The second largest town in Estonia and academic hub
ESTONIA HIGHLIGHT ATTRACTIONS
TRAVEL TIME IN TALLINN
At the edge of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn is the capital and the cultural centre of Estonia. It has retained its cobbled old town surrounded by ramparts and a Gothic town hall built in the 13th century.
HANG OUT IN TARTU
In addition to having one of the oldest universities in Northern Europe, Tartu is home to numerous museums and a vibrant nightlife.
DO SOME ESTONIAN ISLAND HOPPING
The most well-known Estonian islands are Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Kihnu, Ruhnu, and Vormsi. Estonia's various islands offer a great deal of charm and old history.
HIKE IN LAHEMAA NATIONAL PARK
Located on the northern coast of the country, Lahemaa is ideal for hiking and observing Estonian nature: rocky and sandy beaches, scenic bogs, pine and cliff woods, and rivers that carve into limestone cliffs.
CLIMB AND SWIM IN RUMMU QUARRY
The Rummu Quarry's pristine, pale blue lagoon and the nearby Ash Hill make for a fascinating pairing and an excellent day trip location.
ALL ESTONIA BLOG ARTICLES
TALLINN
Coming soon
