Estonia

The compact nature of Estonia and its cities, even the medieval capital Tallinn, allow you to see lots in a short time.

Tallinn attracts lovers of medieval architecture and yet beyond the castle walls is a thriving modern city, covered with wireless internet access and home to luxurious restaurants, hotels and lively nightlife that can compete with anywhere in Europe.

An increasing number of people come to enjoy the cultural attractions: opera, dance, music, art exhibitions and museums – especially the Kumu Art Museum (winner of the European Museum of the Year Award in 2008).

And if that’s not enough, then there’s the shopping: modern shopping centres exist of course but there’s a lot of fun to be had hunting out bargains and exclusive gifts (for your or your friends and family back home) in the small boutiques and specialist shops that permeate the Old Towns in all our cities.

Tallinn’s captivating and UNESCO-protected, medieval old town is the number one tourist attraction but Estonia’s cities have so much more to offer:

• Pärnu the summer capital and famous beach resort is buzzing in the summer plus, with Kihnu Island and Soomaa National Park just a short distance away, its no wonder that many people claim Pärnu is the place to be!
• Tartu the university town is fresh and youthful and a gateway to South Estonia. Rich in museums and full of history and fun, Tartu is growing in popularity every year.

Whether you are looking for luxury & sophistication, simplicity & relaxation or just fun, fun, fun take a look below at what’s on offer in Estonian cities now.

 

EXCURSIONS IN ESTONIA

Tallinn Old Town sightseeing tour with guide and coach/minivan (max 3 hours)

The sightseeing tour starts with an orientation tour around the medieval city walls and further to Toompea Hill, where a walking tour of the Old Town starts, the walking tour includes Toompea Castle, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, St. Mary’s Cathedral, onwards along Pikk Street to the Lower Town with Niguliste Church and the Old Town Hall (the oldest in North-Europe), after this a tour of city centre.

 

The Baroque Kadriorg Palace (max 4 hours)

The tour to The Kadriorg Palace start form hotel in Tallinn, which was founded in 1721 by the Russian Emperor Peter the Great as a gift to his wife Catherine II for their summer residence. Tour The well-preserved main hall with rich stucco and ceiling paintings is the best example of Baroque architecture not only in Estonia, but also tsarist Russia as well as the whole northern Europe. Excellent acoustic and beautiful interior of this two-storied cupola hall makes it one the best chamber music concert hall in Tallinn, tour includes also a marvellous park with a Baroque flower garden, Swan Pond and smaller park ensemble buildings like summer house, kitchen house and guard’s house surround the palace and a second palace, the residence of our President.

 

Open Air Museum ("Rocca al Mare") (max 4 hours)

Tour to The Open Air Museum starts at hotel and after 15 minutes driving out of the city centre, takes you to farmsteads, fishing and inland villages, churches, windmills and a real working village inn Kolu Inn, which have been moved here and create a beautiful collection of Estonian countryside scenery, nearly 100 farm buildings on a scenic seaside area, featuring rural life in different parts of Estonia some centuries ago. On weekends a folk dancing performance in the courtyard of one of the farmsteads can be enjoyed and in summer time at farms, fields or roads the ‘period’ farmers with families can be seen at their traditional activities. (Not a rule).

Lahemaa National Park (max 6 hours)

Tour to the Lahemaa National Park starts at hotel and after one hour driving from city centre offer a possibility to discover Estonia’s most popular nature reserves with its jagged coasts, vast forests, wetlands and many hiking trails with typical Estonian swamp (wetland), main Estonian manors (Sagadi, Palmse), some waterfalls as well as fishmen villages, after the optional lunch in traditional Estonian tavern (not included in a price) the tour also takes through romantical forest in Oandu and along the seaside in Käsmu peninsula.

 

The educational and cultural centre – Tartu (max 8 hours)

Tour to Tartu starts from Tallinn hotel and after about 2,5 hours drive takes in south-east of Estonia in Tartu, the second largest city in Estonia, de facto capital of the South. Throughout the times Tartu has been known as educational and cultural centre of Estonia. Tour goes through an interesting mixture of historical Old Town, romantic bridges, neo-classical buildings with its rich cultural life and of course numerous University students, also city symbol - one of the oldest universities in Europe, where many international conferences and seminars are held, and River Emajõgi, which is one of the Estonia’s best-known rivers. History of Tartu goes back to the 6^th century AD.

 

Island Saaremaa (max 12 hours)

Tour to Saaremaa Island - the biggest island in the West-Estonian archipelago, starts from hotel in Tallinn and after about 2,5 hours drive through the beautiful South-western landscape of Estonia, and about 45 minutes ride on hydrofoil, which is cruising between mainland further to Saaremaa island, which is well known with its beautiful nature and rich historical heritage. Full tour goes through the main places of interest are connected with history (Kuressaare castle), culture (open air museum, archaeological finds) and natural environment (meteorite craters, botanical rarities, nature reserves), the Kuressaare Castle (The Episcopal Castle) is from the end of 14 century, and is the only remaining medieval stonework castle in Estonia, the Kaali meteorite craters are unique and the biggest one known as Kaali Lake, is the first proven meteorite crater in Europe and further to Kuressaare’s Old Town, with its Baroque stone buildings and bustling outdoor market and through the beautiful natural landscapes and countryside of Saaremaa with its thatched roof villages, fortified stone churches and ancient hill forts.