Estonia

Estonia (Eesti in Estonian) is a 1.3 million people country in the northeastern part of Europe. It belongs to the European Union (EU) and it's surrounded by Latvia, Russia and Finland on the other side of the Gulf of Finland. The population is mostly atheist although there are many Orthodoxs too. The official language is Estonian but some people can speak Russian. The official currency is the euro (€) and the main city, and capital city, of Estonia is Tallinn, with other important cities like Tartu or Narva.

What can I visit in Estonia?

Here you have a list of places in Estonia that are worth to be seen. Check them out and find out the ones you want to visit:

History

Kunda culture tools
The first inhabitants in current Estonia were established around 10,000 BC (oldest settlement known was Pulli one, near the town of Sindi), when the ice from the last glacial era melted. During Mesolithic there used to be Kunda culture (who lived in a semi-nomadic way), with other cultures afterwards like Narva culture (around 4,900 BC) and the Corded Ware culture (around 3,200 BC). From the Bronze Age onwars some hill forts were stablished, with trade with Scandinavian and Germanic tribes. Most of the news about Estonian tribes are related to Scandinavian sagas (like when they defeated king Ingvar) or Russian principalities, with Yaroslav the Wise defeating Estonians. Estonia could be divided into two different cultures: northern and western Estonia was closer to Scandinavia and Finland while inland souther Estonia was closer to other Balts tribes and Pskov. One of the most important Estonian tribes were the Oeselians (from Saaremaa), whose superior god was Tharapita.
Danish territories in Estonia
Pope Innocent III declared a crusade in 1199 in Livonia, reaching Estonia in 1206. The Danish kind Valdemar II tried to invade Saaremaa and the Livonian Brothers of the Sword started attacking the Estonians (leaded by Lembitu) and defeating them in the Battle of St. Matthew's Day. Valdemar II managed to conquer northern Estonia and Sweden tried to invade western Estonia. This way southern Estonia and Latvia were named Terra Mariana (Livonia), northern Estonia became the Danish Duchy of Estonia (with capital in Reval, current Tallinn), prince-bishoprics of Dorpat (currently Tartu) and Ösel-Wiek (current Saaremaa and Hiiumaa) and some terrritories woned by the Livonain Order. In 1346 Denmark sold the Duchy of Estonia to the Livonian Order and, meanwhile some uprisings took place and were defeated, consolidating the power of Baltic Germans. Some of the most important towns in Estonia joined the Hanseatic League like Reval, Dorpat, Pernau (Pärnu) or Fellin (Viljandi). In the 15th century took place the decline of the Teutonic and Livonian Orders, with the Livonian Order unable to stop the spread of Protestatism and Lutheranism from 1517 and the growing threat of Sweden, Russia and Poland-Lithuania.
Tartu University in 1860
In 1558 tsar Ivan the Terrible of Russia invaded Livonia and the Livonian War began, with Polish-Lithuanian and Swedish armies defeating Russia in 1583. Northern Estonia became the Swedish Duchy of Estonia, southern Estonia was part of the Polish Duchy of Livonia and Saaremaa, part of Denmark. After the Polish-Swedish War (1600-1629) Sweden gained whole Livonia (and got Saaremaa transferred in 1645). During this Swedish era Tartu University was founded (1632) under king Gustaf II Adolf and there was an important cultural brilliance that lasted till the begining of the Great Northern War (1700).
Postimees, first
Estonian newspaper (1857)
The Russian Empire finished the conquer of Estonia in 1710. Russian administration was supported by Baltic Germans while Estonian peasants reached their lowest point, leading to the Estonian national awakening in the 1850s to promote Estonian identity, movement leaded by Carl Robert Jakobson and Jakob Hurt (who encouraged Estonian peasants to take pride of their identity). This lead movements like the founding of the Society of Estonian Literati, Estonian Students' Society or the first national song festival (1869) in Tartu. In the end of the 19th century it took place the Russification period, with many Estonian cultural activities being suppressed and Russian language, introduced into the education system. Some of the most prominent figures of Estonian nationalism were Jaan Tõnisson and Konstantin Päts, founding the first legal Estonian political parties during 1905 Revolution.
Declaration of independence
of Estonia in 1918
After February Revolution in 1917 the governorate of Estonia was expanded, forming the Estonian Provincial Assembly (disbanded by Bolsheviks) established the Salvation Committee, that declared the independence of Estonia in 1918. Afterwards it was invaded by Germany and with its defeat in WW1, Soviet Russia invaded Estonia and the Estonian War of Independence began, finishing in 1920 with the Tartu Peace Treaty. Estonia adopted a highly liberal constitution (as a parliamentary democracy) with large cultural autonomy for ethnic minorities till 1933 (after the Great Depression), when president Konstantin Päts established an authoritarian regime (with Patriotic League as the only legal political party), although it was relatively bening compared to other authoritarian regimes in Europe. 
Loss of Estonian territories after WW2
Estonia declared neutrality in WW2 but, when Germany and the Soviert Union signed Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Estonia was annexedd by the Soviet Union, establishing a regime of oppresion with more than 11,000 people sent to Siberia. Germany began Operation Barbarossa in 1941 and, even though many Estonians were hopeful that Germany would help to restore its independence, it was merged into Reichskommissariat Ostland, with a thosand Estonian Jews killed. The Red Army reached Estonia in 1944 and tens of thousands of people fled (including most of the Estonian Swedes) to avoid a new Soviet occupation. Moreover Estonia lost most of Setomaa (including the city of Petseri, current Pechory, and Irboska, current Izborsk) and territories close to Narva (like Jaanilinn, now called Ivangorod). After WW2 Estonia was made part of the USSR as Estonia SSR, despite the fact that many Estonians opposed it (some of them formed a guerrilla movement known as Forest Brothers), having a government-in-exile.
Demonstration in favour
of Estonian independence
In this period collectivisation took place, as well as the deportation of around 20,000 Estonians to Siberia and a policy of Russification (moving the percentage of Estonians in Estonia from 97% in 1945 to 62% in 1989). After the introduction of perestroika (1987) it begun what is called the Singing Revolution, with large protests such as the Baltic Way (2 million Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian people chain) and, after a referendum, Estonia declared independent in 1991. After this the country moved into capitalism economy and in 2004 it became part of the European Union and the NATO. In 2011 it changed its currency from Estonian kroon to the euro.

Unforgettable experiences 

This places and experiences are a must if you want to discover and understand Estonia. This is my top 10:
Tallinn Old Town
  1. Tallinn: largest city in Estonia and its capital, the city of Tallinn, by the Gulf of Finland, is considered to have one of the best preserved medival towns in whole Europe (placed in UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997). Former Reval is full of wonderful sights from different ages like Kadriorg Palace, Alexander Nevski Orthodox Cathedral, St. Olevista Baptist Church or Toompea Castle. Moreover the city has many museums that will allow to introduce the visitor into Estonia's history, culture and even nature, with some very charming beaches.
  2. Lahemaa National Park:
    Lahemaa National Park
    the largest Estonian National Park (and one of the largest in whole Europe) is an incredible experience to get to know most of the landscapes of Estonia and it's quite popular for tourist due to its closeness to Riga. The National Park has a very good mixture of traditional villages (like Altja or     Võsu), manors, unspoilt beaches and coast, beautiful paths crossing woods and even an art museum. It's definitively one of the top experiences in Estonia.
  3. Tartu: the intellectual capital city of Estonia and its 2nd largest city has many things to do. The city is wide know for having Estonia's main university, University of Tartu, and being the birthplace of the Estonian Song Festival. But it's much more, having one of the nicest Old Towns in Estonia with cathedrals, parks, art galleries, different kids of museums or some very curious statues.
    4. Kuresaare Episcopal Castle
  4. Kuresaare and Saaremaa: the largest island of Estonia (Saaremaa) and its capital, Kuresaare, are one of the most popular destinations in the country when deciding to explore it outside Tallinn. Kuresaare has its impressing and old episcopal castle and its beach as some of the main sightseeing points, apart from being a great base to explore the rest of the island. Saaremaa has many things to do like a tree in the middle of a football field (Orissaare Oak), characteristic windmills (the most popular ones are at Angla Windmill Hill), craters (Kaali craters) or even a National Park (Vilsandi National Park).
  5. Hiiumaa: 2nd largest island in Estonia (by far less visited than Saaremaa) with a mixture of forests, lost in time villages, windmills and some interesting ligthouses (like Kõpu lighthouse). Perfect to enjoy some rest being in contact to nature, rural life, some historic buildings and churches.
    Lighthouse at Hiiuma
  6. Pärnu: 4th largest Estonian city and the top summer destination for Estonians, Pärnu has one of the most visited beaches in the whole country. But Pärnu can also offer some cultural sightseeing, with an important Modern art museum, parks, churches of different religions and historical buildings. Moreover from here you can visit Kihnu, an island that preserves traditional Estonian lifestyle and clothing as if it were a life museum. 
  7. Narva: 3rd largest city in Estonia and the easternmost one located by the Russian border. Narva used to have a very nice Old Town that, unfortunately, was hardly destroyed during WW2. It can still be visited its castle and see the former town hall and the Orthodox catherdral. It has a very Russian atmosphere and almost everybody speaks Russian as their mother tongue so its vibe is quite different from the rest of the country's one.
    Narva and Ivangorod (Russia) castles
  8. Viljandi: interesting town that is located outside almost every visitor's route. It's a nice stop when moving between the southeast and southwest part of Estonia. Viljandi is reknown for its importance as a Estonia folk center music but there are some sightseeing point and Estonian lifestyle can be enjoyed.
  9. Haapsalu: town sometimes referred as the Venice of the Baltics. Haapsalu was and is a popular seaside resort (specially during the 19the century, with visitors like the Russian composer Tchaikovsky) with cute beaches and that also introduces the visitor to the Swedish part of the Estonian identity. Visiting Vormsi island from Haapsalu is an excellent choice to discover more of the Swedish heritage here.
    Haapsalu Resort Hall
  10. Soomaa National Park: this National Park, known as land of bogs, is the largest area of bogs in Estonia, located between Viljandi and Pärnu. The most popular activities here are walking the paths by the bogs and, if possible, observe some of the animal species that live here.

 

Planning your holidays

These are some possible routes you may do in Estonia so visit parts of it or discover it all. Estonia's main sightseeing points can be visited in 7 days but to explore parts of all the country, smart journey could last 10 days. If you want to get deeper into Estonia, 13 days can be enough for it.

    a) 7 days tour

  This short journey in Estonia should start in Tallinn. Here you could stay 2 days enjoying its history, medieval architecture in Old Town or visiting its churches and museums. For the 3rd day it can be a great choice visiting the best National Park in Estonia, Lahemaa National Park to enjoy its beauty by the Gulf of Finland, a perfect introduction to Estonian landscapes. The following day in the morning you can go to the 2nd largest city in Estonia, Tartu, to visit the cultural capital of the country and its most important university, the University of Tartu. The next day, going back to Tallinn, could consist in going to Kuresaare, spending the rest of the travel day and the following one visiting the town and exploring the rest of the island, Saaremaa. For the 7th and last day a good idea could be going to the 2nd largest island of the country, Hiiumaa, less inhabited and touristic but worth to be visited.

   b) 10 days tour

  This journey in Estonia should start in Tallinn. Here you could stay 2 days enjoying its history, medieval architecture in Old Town or visiting its churches and museums. For the 3rd day it can be a great choice visiting the best National Park in Estonia, Lahemaa National Park to enjoy its beauty by the Gulf of Finland, a perfect introduction to Estonian landscapes. The following day in the morning you can go to Narva, a city by the border with Russia with an important Russian culture and, on the way to Tartu, enjoy the villages by Lake Peipus. The 5th day would be spent on Tartu (2nd largest and cultural capital city in Estonia with its most important university) and the 6th one in Viljandi, a relaxing out of the radar destination popular among Estonian music lovers and even Soomaa National Park could be enjoyed in case of having time. Pärnu is a perfect destination to have some relax and enjoy the main seaside resort in Estonia. The next day could consist in going to Kuresaare, spending the rest of the travel day and the following one visiting the town and exploring the rest of the island, Saaremaa. For the 10th and last day a good idea could be going to the 2nd largest island of the country, Hiiumaa, less inhabited and touristic but worth to be visited.

   c) 12 days tour

  This journey in Estonia should start in Tallinn. Here you could stay 2 days enjoying its history, medieval architecture in Old Town or visiting its churches and museums. For the 3rd day it can be a great choice visiting the best National Park in Estonia, Lahemaa National Park to enjoy its beauty by the Gulf of Finland, a perfect introduction to Estonian landscapes. The following day in the morning you can go to Narva, a city by the border with Russia with an important Russian culture and, on the way to Tartu, enjoy the villages by Lake Peipus. The 5th day would be spent on Tartu (2nd largest and cultural capital city in Estonia with its most important university). The 6th day can be perfect to visit the unexplored and interesting southeastern Estonia, staying at Võru and visiting it, Otepää, Setomaa and the border town of Valga. It can be a good choice for the 7th day enjoying Viljandi, a relaxing out of the radar destination popular among Estonian music lovers and even Soomaa National Park could be enjoyed in case of having time. Pärnu is a perfect destination to have some relax and enjoy the main seaside resort in Estonia (even visiting Kihnu, a life museum of Estonian culture, in case of having time). The next day could consist in going to Kuresaare, spending the rest of the travel day and the following one visiting the town and exploring the rest of the island, Saaremaa. For the 11th day a good idea could be going to the 2nd largest island of the country, Hiiumaa, less inhabited and touristic but worth to be visited. The 12th and final day could be enjoyed going back to mainland, in Haapsalu, sometimes refered as the Venice of the Baltics.
 

How can I arrive and move within Estonia?

  Estonia is well communicated with neightbouring countries such as Latvia, Lithuania and Finland, mainly via Tallinn. Tallinn is connected with most of the important destinations in the Baltic countries and in the rest of Europe. The best mean of transport to move in the country are buses large cities and smaller destinations (but for some cases in which using the train can be a good idea).
  • Train map of Estonia
    Plane    :     there are international flights to Tallinn International Airport (the most important one in Estonia) from many European cities. There are fewer flights to Tallinn Airport. Most of the flights are from low cost companies.
  • Boat: there are passenger/car ferries to Tallinn from countries like Sweden (Stockholm) and Finland (Helsinki, Mariehamn), usually resulting slow and expensive (but the transportation Tallinn-Helsinki).
  • Train: Estonia's railway system has improved its quality in recent years, being an interesting alternative to buses. The railway system connects Tallinn with places like Rakvere, Narva, Tartu, Viljandi, Pärnu and Valga. It isn't currently connected to neighbouring Latvia, being neccesary to change of train in Valga. There are also trains to other international destinations like St. Petersbourg or Moscow. 
  • Bus: this is the cheapest way to move in Estonia (also the best way to arrive to smaller destinations) and the best idea to go to another Baltic country. There are frequent buses from Tallinn to all the main cities and towns of the country and there are also connections among them (although less frequent). There are buses that connect Tallinn with places such as Riga, Vilnius, Kaunas, Kaliningrad, Warsaw, St. Petersburg or Moscow.
  • Car: this is almost always the most comfortable way of moving for the lack of timetables to follow. It's required to have a green card (International Insurance Card). Most of the roads in Estonia are in good conditions and driving in the country is easy. 

What can I eat and drink in Estonia?

Rukkileib
Estonian food has Baltic influences and also Scandinavian, Russian and German ones; their meals are usually based in potatoes, meat, fish in coastal and lakeside areas. Rye bread (rukkileib) is one of the national dishes and accnoabues almost every savory food in Estonia. One of the most common dishes in Estonian cuisine are soups like meat or chicken stock soups or leivasupp (sweat bread soup). Traditionally the first course in tradition Estonian cuisine is based on cold dishes, with a selection of pickles, meats and sausages served with kartulisalat (potato salad) or rosolje (almost identical to Swedish sillsallad). Other popular dishes are pirukad (similar to Russian pirozhki, often served with bouillion).
Marineeritud angerjas
Some other typical dishes are šauts (dished made of beet leaves and milk) and curd cheese. Fish are very important in the diet of a seaside country like Latvia. Smoked fish is one of the most popular dishes in Estonian, mainly based on herring (mainly silgusoust), sprats, eel (marinated marineeritud angerjas) or crayfish; some other dishes with fish are räim (Baltic dwarf herring), flounder, sparts, perch and pike-perch and delicacies like crabs and shrimps. Meat is also important in Estonian cuisine and some of the main dishes are verivorst (Estonian black pudding), sült (pork cooked in lavender jam), keel hernestega (spiced beef tongue), kartulipõrsad (dish based on mashed potatoes and pork) or mulgikapsad (stewed chucrut).
Semla
In desserts some of the most popular ones are kissell (viscous fruit dish, similar to Danish rødgrød and German Rote Grütze), curd snack, semla (pastry made out of a wheat bun and whipped cream, eaten on Vastlapäev) or the traditional kama (finely milled flour mixture). Other popular desserts and pastries are mannavaht (cream made of semoline and juice or fruit), vaesed rüütlid (similar to French toasts), kohupiimakreem (creamy curd), rhubarb pie, kohuke or kringel (Estonian version of kringle). Fruits of the forest (mainly blueberries and blackberries) are extremely popular as well.
Kali
Talking about drinking, the most famous Estonian drink is the beer (õlu) throughout all the country with important breweries such as A. Le Coq and Saku Brewery (founded in 1807 and 1820, respectively). There are many other kind of stronger traditional spirits like kali (similar to Russian kvass), kasemahl (birch sap bevarages) or mõdu (mead, almost complitely unused), as well as Estonian vodka (viin) or herbal liqueur like Vana Tallinn (dark brown and robust rum-based liqueur). Wine (veini) is also popular, although it's more common fruit wines made of apples or berries.
 
 
 
Learn some Estonian
 
 Estonian is the oficial language of Estonia and is currently spoken by 1.75 million people aprox. Estonian language is related to Finnish, but visitors who speak Russian won't have problems of communication because it's still widely spoken. Estonian is the mother tongue of the 95% of the population in Estonia.
These are some basic words in Estonian:

Estonian
English
Estonian
English
Tere
Hello
Palun
Please
Tere õhtust
Good evening
Tänan
Thanks
Kuidas sul läheb?
How are you?
Jah
Yes
Hüvasti!
Goodbye!
Ei
No
Vabandust
Sorry
Ma ei räägi eesti keelt
I don’t speak Estonian 

Useful links

 In case you want to look for more information about Estonia (https://www.visitestonia.com/en) or its cities and towns here there's a list with some pages to get it:

 
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