15 amazing experiences to explore in Estonia

If Estonia were a person, it would embody a free-spirited hippie who evolved into a savvy tech entrepreneur: clever, innovative, forward-thinking, and thriving beyond its small size, all while staying connected to its rich cultural roots and wild essence.

Positioned between east and north, Estonia presents a vibrant mix of experiences for both newcomers and return visitors. Expect a blend of history, a dash of culture, art, and creativity, all set against a backdrop of untouched nature, enhanced by the locals' resilient spirit. Just outside Tallinn's medieval walls, dark forests, enigmatic bogs, rugged coastlines, and serene islands invite outdoor lovers.

Whether you're captivated by the lively streets of Tallinn or seeking the peace of national parks, here are some unmissable experiences in Estonia.

1. Discover the capital of Estonia, Tallinn

Tallinn's medieval allure will captivate you from the start. Every turn in the Old Town reveals charming cobblestone streets, sturdy defense towers, and elegant church spires waiting to be photographed. Start at Raekoja plats, the historic Town Hall Square, and then ascend Toompea Hill for stunning views of the red-tiled roofs. However, don’t confine yourself to the city walls—explore further to find that Tallinn is much more than a storybook setting. From the regal parks and art museums of Kadriorg to the trendy hub of Telliskivi, and from the stylish Rottermann to the artistic neighborhood of Kalamaja, each area of Tallinn is worth discovering.

Insider tip: During the summer months, cruise ship visitors swarm the quaint Old Town. Be sure to check the schedule for arriving ships and plan your day accordingly. When a cruise ship is in port, consider visiting museums or neighborhoods outside of the Old Town during the day and return later in the afternoon when most visitors have departed.

2. Attend the Singing Festival

The joke goes that if you lock three Estonians in a room, they’ll either start a business or form a choir. This highlights both the country’s digital innovation and its deep-rooted passion for singing. Choir music provided a sense of identity during Estonia’s national awakening in the 19th century and played a pivotal role in gaining independence during the Singing Revolution.

Every five years, choirs from all corners of Estonia gather in Tallinn for the Singing Festival (Laulupidu). In early July, boys in wool vests and flat caps, girls adorned with wildflowers in their braids, men in top hats, and women in traditional dresses perform a mix of folk classics and new compositions. You don’t need to speak Estonian to feel the heartfelt emotions. Even if you miss the main event, it’s a joyful time to be in Tallinn, with parades and spontaneous singing breaking out on trams. The next festival will take place in July 2025.

3. Look for bears (or birds)

With a population density of around 30 people per square kilometer (0.4 square miles), Estonia ranks among the least crowded countries in Europe, providing ample space for wildlife. Brown bears and moose can even be spotted in the suburbs of Tallinn. For a better chance to see these animals, consider joining a tour focused on lynxes and the elusive flying squirrel, or book a bear hide in Alutaguse, located in the wild east of the country.

If that sounds too intense, Estonia is also a hidden gem for birdwatching. Its diverse landscapes and strategic position on migration routes attract numerous bird species, including 10 types of owls, various woodpeckers, storks, cranes, and capercaillies. In winter, you can spot graceful Bewick’s swans and striking caramel-colored Steller's eiders among other waterfowl. Coastal national parks like Matsalu and Vilsandi are fantastic locations for birdwatching.

4. Kayak in Soomaa, the Amazon of Estonia

Soomaa, meaning 'land of swamps,' boasts Estonia’s most ancient wilderness, featuring peat bogs and riverine forests where brown bears, wolves, lynxes, and moose roam. Five rivers wind through this 'Estonian Amazon,' and locals historically used a haabjas, a handcrafted dugout canoe, for travel. The best way to experience Soomaa is still from the water. The outdoor company Soomaa.com offers multi-day kayak excursions along with activities like mushroom foraging, kick-sledding, and bog hiking. The friendly Aivar, who manages the operation, crafts haabjas by hand.

Planning tip: During the so-called fifth season, typically best experienced in March and April, melting snow and ice cause rivers to overflow, flooding the land. This creates a breathtaking opportunity to kayak through the forests and meadows of this water-laden landscape.

5. Celebrate the summer solstice

After spending so much time in darkness, it's essential to celebrate the sunlight. Estonians do this on Midsummer’s Eve and Midsummer’s Day (Jaanipäev, or St John’s Day) on June 23 and 24, both of which are official holidays. As significant as Christmas, Midsummer historically marked the beginning of haymaking. Today, it serves as a chance for Estonians to retreat to their summer cottages, grill meat over bonfires, and enjoy abundant drinks.

Local tip: An invitation from Estonian friends will provide the most authentic experience, offering insights into various Midsummer traditions and beliefs. If you’re feeling playful, ask them about where the fern blooms! This is a romantic cue for lovers to sneak off into the woods together. If that’s not an option, visit the Estonian Open-Air Museum in Tallinn or attend one of the public festivities across the country.

6. Ski the President’s Trail

Estonia may lack true mountains, but it certainly receives plenty of snow, making cross-country skiing a national pastime. Even in summer, you might spot enthusiasts in lycra practicing on roller skis for the winter season ahead. You can join locals on the tracks in Tallinn, but the finest skiing experiences are found in the countryside. In southern Estonia, Elva, Haanja, and the winter capital Otepää all offer outstanding facilities for skiing.

Alternatively, take a quick train ride from Tallinn to Aegviidu. Rent skis near the station and traverse the 10-km-long (6-mile) President’s Trail (presidendirada) through pine forests dusted with powdery snow. Don’t let the speed and agility of the Estonians discourage you—they’re practically born with skis! Many locals will be delighted by your efforts in their national sport, and you’ll likely hear plenty of supportive cheers of Jõudu (strength)! After skiing, join them in the sauna to relax.

7. Embrace the freedom to roam

Like other Nordic nations, Estonia honors the right to roam (known locally as igaüheõigus or igameheõigus), allowing everyone to hike, camp, or forage almost anywhere, even on private land. Nothing embodies freedom like wandering through the countryside with a tent on your back! Long-distance hiking trails meander across the country, along the coast, and into the forests. However, with rights come responsibilities—be sure to review the rules, exceptions, and code of conduct provided by the government.

Alongside the right to roam, Estonia’s state forest service, RMK, offers campsites in national parks and other locations. These sites feature basic amenities like fire pits, picnic tables, and dry toilets, and they’re free to use. Popular camping destinations include Cape Purekkari (the northernmost point in Estonia, located in Lahemaa National Park), Nõva Recreation Area (with its dunes, pine forests, and beaches of “singing sand” in the northwest), and the beaches of Lemme and Krapi (south of Pärnu).

Planning tip: Visit RMK’s website for a wealth of information on hiking routes, free campsites, and rental cabins.

8. Hike on duckboards through a bog

For centuries, bogs had a fearsome reputation in Estonia, seen as places where criminals lurked and malevolent spirits misled travelers. This perception has dramatically shifted. Today, bogs are celebrated as some of the country's most treasured landscapes, perfect for Sunday family strolls.

The bogs of Viru and Riisa (located in Lahemaa and Soomaa national parks) attract the largest crowds. To avoid the throngs, visit early when wisps of fog blanket the scenery, or explore lesser-known bogs like Mukri, Tuhu, or Marimetsa. If you're in Tallinn and short on time, the urban Pääsküla bog offers a taste of this unique landscape without leaving the city. Boardwalk trails loop through all these bogs, minimizing the risks of sinking or getting lost.

Local tip: In summer, remember to bring your swimsuit—no wild swimmer can resist a dip in a bog pond!

9. Embrace the island vibes

With over 2000 islands and islets in its archipelago, Estonia presents an unexpected opportunity for island-hopping adventures. The largest and most popular island, Saaremaa, feels like a step back in time. Expect to see ancient windmills, rustic farmhouses, historic churches, a stunning meteorite crater, a fairy-tale castle, and enough juniper bushes to keep a mid-sized capital supplied with gin indefinitely. The proud and entrepreneurial islanders invite you to unwind in one of their many spas—hence the nickname Spa-remaa.

Detour: Don’t overlook the smaller islands; they truly give you a sense of being surrounded by water and are often small enough to explore by bike or on foot. Take a ferry to Ruhnu, Aegna, Naissaar, Vormsi, or Kihnu. The latter, located off the coast of Pärnu, is notable for its matriarchal society—while the men went to sea to fish, the women managed the island.

10. Visit Tartu for an insight into Estonian history

In Tartu, Estonia’s foremost student city, knowledge takes the spotlight. University students fill the streets, their footsteps echoing on the cobblestones, engaged in lively gossip. Each time the Town Hall bells ring, their pace quickens, as lessons commence 15 minutes past the hour. For ages, the spirit of Tartu (Tartu vaim) has drawn eager learners (and beer enthusiasts), artists, writers, and bohemians who continue to gather in bars, pondering life and love.

In a nearby suburb lies one of the nation’s top museums. At the National Museum of Estonia, you can explore the country's fortunes and misfortunes—from the Stone Age to the age of e-Estonia. The remarkable permanent exhibition Echo of the Urals focuses on the Komis, Udmurts, Maris, Sami, and other distant Finno-Ugric relatives of the Estonians. If you find yourself overwhelmed by the information, use your ticket to save the explanation panels digitally for later reading.

11. Discover Estonia’s Soviet history

Despite their desire to move on from this painful chapter, the echoes of the Soviet occupation remain palpable. Many residents of Tallinn wish to see brutalist buildings like Maarjamäe and Linnahall torn down, yet they continue to stand as reminders of the communist era, similar to the residential districts of Lasnamäe and Mustamäe. To delve into this period, visit the Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom, the KGB prison cells, and the Viru Hotel, where secret agents listened in on guests from a concealed 23rd floor.

Detour: Once a fashionable retreat for St Petersburg’s cultural and academic elite, Sillamäe became a closed city, designated as R-6685, following the discovery of uranium. Distrustful of potentially rebellious Estonians, Moscow imported numerous Russian workers to fill factory roles. Today, Sillamäe is the most Russian city in Estonia. Its grand stairway leading to the Baltic Sea, once adorned with palm trees, might almost make you feel like you're in Odessa—until the chilling wind reminds you of your true location.

12. Experience the warmth of a smoke sauna

Much like their Finnish neighbors, Estonians have a deep-seated love for saunas. A sauna visit is crucial for enduring the harsh winter, driving away the chill from your bones, while also serving as a space to unwind and connect with others. The most traditional variant, the smoke sauna, lacks a chimney and requires hours of heating. Many of the finest smoke saunas are located in the countryside, particularly in southern Estonia, such as Toidupada and Mooska Talu. The leil—the steam rising from the stones—doesn’t overwhelm; instead, it envelops you like a warm hug. After a few hours of rotating between the sauna, hot tub, and an ice-cold lake, you’ll find your stress melting away alongside your sweat.

13. Go foraging and savor the flavors of the land

Raspberries, wild strawberries, cloudberries, blueberries, bog bilberries, lingonberries, chanterelles, boletuses, and wild garlic: Estonia’s natural bounty is a true culinary treasure. Locals relish the hunt for these delights. In summer, keep an eye out while hiking through pine forests, and you’re sure to find blueberries. Wild strawberries often flourish at woodland edges, while raspberries can be spotted along roads and trails. Discovering other treats may require a bit more skill.

Even if you’re not keen on venturing into the wild, you can still savor nature’s offerings. Across Estonia, many restaurants and cafes feature berries in drinks, cocktails, and desserts, alongside mushrooms and wild garlic (known as karulauk in Estonian) in main dishes, snacks, and soups. For a more immersive experience, visit forest restaurant Nõmbra for foraging trips, cooking classes, or to simply enjoy the menu.

Planning tip: No Estonian will readily share their secret berry or mushroom spots, but fortunately, the state forest service RMK has compiled a list of foraging areas near campsites (in Estonian). Unsure how to tell a horse mushroom from a destroying angel? Worried about getting lost in endless forests? Several tour operators, including Nature Tours Estonia, Soomaa.com, and Prangli Travel, offer guided mushrooming or berry-picking excursions.

14. Join the summer festivities in Pärnu

For nine months of the year, Pärnu lies dormant. But as soon as the sun shines, half the country—along with many from Finland—flocks to this city affectionately dubbed the 'Ibiza of the north' by Estonians. On warm days, there’s nothing quite like cycling past charming wooden villas while sipping cocktails or a longero (a gin-based long drink) in beach bars, grabbing pizza at the iconic Steffani, or soaking in the ambiance of a seemingly endless sunset. Just don’t expect the sea to be warm.

Local tip: Skip along the lengthy stone pier to catch the finest sunset, and bring your partner to seal the moment with a promise of everlasting love.

15. Discover the Russian Old Believers along the Onion Route

In the 17th century, the Russian Orthodox Church mandated that believers make the sign of the cross with three fingers instead of two. This change sparked discontent among many. To escape persecution—where dissenters faced brutal punishments—some Old Believers found refuge along the shores of Lake Peipsi, a vast lake bordering Russia.

Today, many of them reside in a series of quaint villages known as the Sibulatee (Onion Route), named after the beloved onion that flourishes in the sandy soil. While the region lacks major tourist attractions, its charm is undeniable. Grab a bike to wander through tranquil villages where trout, salmon, and onions hang by wooden homes, samovars continuously brew, and Orthodox icons grace the walls. A newly renovated museum in Kolkja showcases the Old Believers' lifestyle, while worship houses in Kasepää, Kallaste, and Rajaküla, along with the Samovar House in Varnja, offer deeper insights.

Detour: Nestled between southeastern Estonia and Russia, the historic region of Setomaa boasts a rich culture blending traditions from both sides of the border. The Setos possess their own language, religion, and cuisine. Each year, on the first Saturday of August, they select a king, an earthly representative of Peko, the pagan god of harvest.