Estonia / Eesti Vabariik – Let’s explore here
What’s it like in Estonia?
Estonia is a small, flat, low lying country in the Baltic region in the north east of Europe. It’s comprised of forests finl farmland and has 2,355 islands. At the coast, there are limestone cliffs, and inland there are lots of woodlands, lakes and wetlands. The highest point is Suur Munamägi (Great Egg Mountain), in the south east of the country, at 1,043 ft (318 m) above sea level.
Despite having been inhabited since neolithic times, it’s been ruled over by many of its neighbours and was only founded as Estonia in 1918. Estonia gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, and since then, it has grown into one of the most developed countries in Europe, with a strong economy and a high standard of living. Its neighbours are Finland, Sweden, Latvia and Russia, most of which it shares its history with.
With a population of fewer than 1½ million people (2024), it is one of the least populous countries in Europe. It’s a fairly rich country with a highly educated populace and despite its size, it’s made a significant impact in the digital world and has a highly digitised economy. Estonia became the first country to offer e-residency, allowing people from around the globe to start and manage businesses online. It also operates a digital nomad visa scheme that you may find interesting.
The country’s beautiful capital, Tallinn, has a population of around ½ million people, and is known for its well-preserved medieval architecture, especially in the UNESCO-listed Old Town.
We love Estonia – it’s relaxed, safe, chilled out and just plain beautiful. It’s a wonder that many more people don’t visit it more regularly.
A bit about the history of Estonia
Estonia has a history shaped by various foreign powers and its strategic position in northern Europe.
Early History and Medieval Period
Estonia’s earliest inhabitants date back to prehistoric times, with its territory being part of the ancient Finno-Ugric culture. In the medieval period, Estonia was ruled by a series of foreign powers, including the Danes, Germans and Swedes. The area was Christianized in the 12th and 13th centuries, primarily by German crusaders.
Swedish and Russian Rule
By the 16th century, Estonia became part of the Swedish Empire during the ‘Swedish Era’. In the early 18th century, after the Great Northern War, Estonia was ceded to the Russian Empire in 1721. Under Russian rule, Estonia developed economically, but it faced increasing Russian cultural and political influence.
Independence and Interwar Period
In 1918, following the Russian Revolution, Estonia declared independence. This was recognized in 1920 after the Estonian War of Independence. Estonia became a democratic republic, with a constitution adopted in 1937. The interwar period was marked by political and economic development, though tensions existed with neighbouring Soviet Russia and Germany.
Soviet and Nazi Occupation
In 1940, Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union as part of a secret pact with Nazi Germany. In 1941, the Nazis invaded Estonia during World War II, but by 1944, the Soviet Union regained control. Estonia became a Soviet republic and was subjected to heavy Soviet influence, including forced collectivisation and deportations.
Restoration of Independence
In 1991, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Estonia declared the restoration of its independence. This was widely recognised, and Estonia transitioned to a democratic republic with a market economy. The country pursued rapid modernization, including the adoption of a digital society.
Modern Estonia
Estonia became a member of the European Union and NATO in 2004 and has since become known for its advanced digital infrastructure, strong economy, and high standard of living. It continues to balance its historical ties to both Europe and Russia while playing an active role in regional and global affairs.
Estonia road trip
We’ve created a blog for our road trip to Estonia. You may find it helpful, and you may pick up some tips, or more likely mistakes not to make that we’ve made 😉 Our Estonian road trip was part of a much larger European road trip.
Throughout our road trip we met loads of really friendly Estonians, who were more than willing to engage in any level of conversation. It also struck us just how safe and chilled out it feels throughout the country – much more so that many other places we’ve visited. In fact we’d put it on a par with Denmark, which also had a similar vibe. This is a great testament to the people we feel.
Estonia may not currently be top of your list of places to visit in the world – but you should seriously consider it! It really is a beautiful country, with lots to see and do! It is quite amazing!
The capital
On our Estonian road trip we travelled from Helsinki in Finland via the ferry into the capital, Tallinn. The journey from the port into the capital centre was very hectic due to the remodelling of the roads around the port, causing massive confusion. We laughed at the chaos! Tallinn is an excellent and beautiful city, definitely one for the romantics! there’s loads to see and do, and the architecture is amazing.
The coast
Having spent some days in Tallinn, we drove west towards Haapsalu on the coast, via the rural roads. We then travelled down to the even more relaxing seaside resort of Pärnu, before arriving in the beautiful area of Häädemeeste. All of these towns were simply amazing, enough to make you want to stop and wonder why you’re going onwards! Finally however, we had to move on to Latvia.
Map of our road trip through Estonia
This is a map of our road trip through Estonia.
Our route took us from Tallinn – Keila – Rummu – Haapsalu – Lihula – Pärnu – Häädemeeste – Ikla
Ferries to Estonia from Finland
There are several ferries throughout the day from different locations in Helsinki, run by different operators. Late night ferries are much cheaper. We went on the 13:30 ferry which was more like a cruise ship than a ferry. It had ten levels! – including two levels for shops, and two levels for restaurants! This was despite it being only a two hour journey.
Our favourite places in Estonia
These are some of the best places that we explored on our road trip through Estonia. We’ve put them in alphabetical order.
Häädemeeste
Häädemeeste is a small rural town located in south western Estonia, in Pärnu County. It lies near the Baltic Sea, making it a scenic area with coastal landscapes and a rich natural environment. The town is known for its proximity to beautiful beaches and nature reserves, offering opportunities for outdoor activities like kite surfing, hiking, birdwatching and swimming. The town has a strong agricultural background, and is a great place to visit to see how rural Estonians live.
When we were there, we stayed at the excellent Suurkivie Nature Escape. It offers a stunningly beautiful coastline that’s a mecca for kite surfers. Long grasses lead to spotlessly clean white beaches!
Haapsalu
Haapsalu is a picturesque coastal town in western Estonia, located on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Known for its charming wooden architecture and relaxing atmosphere, Haapsalu has been a popular resort destination for over a century. The town is famous for its long promenade, beautiful beaches, and the Haapsalu Castle, a medieval fortress with a rich history. Haapsalu is also known for its cultural scene, hosting the Haapsalu Horror and Fantasy Film Festival and attracting visitors with its spa tradition.
When we were there, a huge storm suddenly appeared that drenched everything around us for an hour, and then it was gone!
Keila
Keila is a small town located in northern Estonia, situated in Harju County, approximately 15 miles (25 km) from Tallinn. It’s known for its scenic beauty, with the Keila waterfall being a key attraction. The waterfall, the third largest in Estonia, is a popular spot for visitors, particularly during the spring when the water flow is at its peak. Keila also has a rich industrial history, dating back to the 19th century, and has evolved into a peaceful residential town.
Lehola
Lehola is a small village located in the Harju County of northern Estonia, near the town of Keila. It is primarily a residential area, offering a peaceful and rural environment while being quite close to the capital, Tallinn, making it a convenient location for those seeking a quieter lifestyle outside the city. While not widely known as a major tourist destination, Lehola is valued for its tranquility and proximity to both nature and urban amenities.
Pärnu
What an excellent and pretty seaside town Pärnu is! It’s located on the west coast of Estonia, and is the country’s 4th largest city, although it was pretty quiet when we were there in July 2023. Popular amongst locals, it’s spotlessly clean and there’s loads of the massive beach all to yourself! It’s a very calming place with lovely warm sun! There’s loads of restaurants and cafés to cater to your needs.
Rummu
Rummu is a unique location in Estonia, known for its abandoned limestone quarry and underwater prison. Situated near the town of Vasalemma, the quarry was once an active mining site until its closure in the 1990s. Over time, the quarry became flooded, creating an eerie and picturesque landscape. The submerged prison, which housed inmates in harsh conditions, is now partially visible beneath the water’s surface, adding to the area’s haunting atmosphere. Today, Rummu has become a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors for its fascinating history, striking visual scenery, and opportunities for swimming, diving, and photography.
When we were there, the heavens opened and a huge storm of torrential rain came down on us. Half an hour later it was sunny!
Tallinn
What a beautiful city Tallinn is! And how relaxed and peaceful! It’s definitely one for the romantics!
Tallinn is located on the north west coast of Estonia and is the capital of the country. The wider metropolitan area is home to almost ⅔ million people, although within the city itself, it feels pretty quiet and not densely populated. The old town is one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What’s it like to drive in Estonia?
They drive on the right hand side of the road in Estonia.
Throughout the country, driving is pretty well chilled and relaxing – as is life in Estonia we felt. Great place!
The main issue for us was that we’d been driving in Scandinavia for some weeks, where you can drive for literally hundreds of miles without seeing anyone. Whereas Estonia is a small country, and so it’s much more congested. We just weren’t used to seeing so many cars in the one place. We soon got used to it again though 😉
Also, similarly to Finland, there seems to be a large contingent of car enthusiasts who’ve renovated older American cars – nice!
Driving in the capital, Tallinn
However, entering Tallinn for us was a bit of a nightmare, as they’ve just started the construction of the Vanasadama (Old Harbour) tramline, and thus the traffic was very chaotic. We saw several Finns and some bikers from Latvia driving the wrong way down the road due to the confusion. Clearly it’s caused a great deal of annoyance, as many local drivers were acting very aggressively, with lots of blaring of car horns and not allowing other drivers into lanes. The chaos appeared to be only in this area though, as soon as we escaped, it was back to relax mode!
Parking in Tallinn old town
On-street parking: price zones
There is a zone pricing system. In all the zones, the first 15 minutes are free. Mark your parking start time with a parking clock or a written note under the vehicle’s windscreen.
Tallinn has four controlled parking zones:
- Old Town (Vanalinn): the most expensive parking zone with limited parking spaces. The Old Town is mostly a car-free area where driving is not recommended. Parking restrictions apply 24/7 with no exceptions. See the zone map and rates.
- Downtown (Südalinn): slightly less expensive than the Old Town zone. Parking restrictions apply 24/7 with no exceptions. See the zone map and rates.
- City centre (Kesklinn): the largest and least expensive zone in the centre of Tallinn. Parking restrictions apply on weekdays from 07:00 to 19:00 and on Saturdays from 09:00 to 15:00. On Sundays, parking is free (not applicable to public holidays unless they fall on a Sunday). See the zone map and rates.
- Pirita: limited to two parking lots near Pirita beach, Merivälja tee 1c and 1e. Restrictions apply from 15 May to 15 September from 10:00 to 22:00. See the zone map and rates.
Outside of these four zones, unless stated otherwise, parking is free.
You can find a map of the parking zones and prices on the Parkimine.ee website.
You can buy tickets from parking machines (in cash) on the streets or can pay online via the PARGI.EE mobile app (MasterCard and Visa only): iOS (Apple) and Android.
Taxis in Estonia
We found that you couldn’t get a taxi off the street in Tallinn, you have to use one of the three authorised taxi apps. We used BOLT – super easy and reasonable prices. Also, the taxi has to be able to provide a receipt, if they can’t your ride is free!
Do you require an international driving permit in Estonia?
We’ve created a dedicated page to driving abroad, which answers this question, and more, which you might find helpful.
Can you use your UK driving license when driving through Estonia?
We’ve created a dedicated page to driving abroad, which answers this question, and more, which you might find helpful.
Do I need a carnet de passages to drive in Estonia?
We’ve created a dedicated page to driving abroad, which answers this question, and more, which you might find helpful.
What are the speed limits in Estonia?
The speed limits for cars in Estonia are:
- 30 mph (50 km/h) for urban driving
- 55 mph (90 km/h) outside of built up areas
- 55 mph (90 km/h) on dual carriageways
- 70 mph (110 km/h) on motorways
What currency do they use in Estonia?
In Estonia they use the Euro. The use of credit / debit cards is now widespread. Travellers cheques are accepted. There are lots of ATMs.
You should make yourself aware of the amount that your bank charges you for using credit and debit cards abroad. Often credit cards are cheaper for purchasing items directly, and for withdrawing cash from ATMs.
What language do they speak in Estonia?
They speak Estonian in Estonia. Many also speak Russian, German and English.
What time zone is Estonia in?
Remember, when you’re planning your next trip to take a look at what time zone it’s in.
Do I need a visa to visit Estonia?
We’ve created a dedicated, more comprehensive page on visas, which you should find helpful. Check it out!
Is wild camping legal in Estonia?
Yes, wild camping is fine in Estonia, although you should avoid national parks and natural reserves.
What plug / socket type do they use in Estonia?
In Estonia they use plug / socket type F.
Health issues in Estonia
Is it safe to drink water in Estonia?
Yes, it is safe to drink tap water in Estonia. Bottled water is also readily available across the country.
What vaccinations are required for Estonia?
This NHS website is kept up to date with all relevant information on vaccinations in Estonia.
Phones in Estonia
What is the country calling code for Estonia?
The country calling code for Estonia is +372
What are the emergency phone numbers in Estonia?
- The emergency number for police in Estonia is: 112
- In Estonia, the emergency number for ambulance is: 112
- The emergency number for fire in Estonia is: 112
If you’ve got some useful info that you’d like to share, let us know!
Don’t forget to check out all the other pictures!