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Estonia Vacations, Tours, Trips & Travel Packages

  • Tallinn - typically the starting point for all Estonia tours.
  • Saaremaa, in the Baltic Sea features traditional villages
  • Stroll along the streets in Old Town Tallinn
  • Little Estonian
  • Beautiful Street

Estonia is a Baltic State in Eastern Europe which borders Latvia and Russia. Estonia's coastline lies on the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland and is only 80 kilometres/50 miles by ferry from Helsinki to the north. Estonia is a Baltic delight offering visitors on Estonia tours the chance to see a tiny dynamic land on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Glorious beaches cover the extensive coastline, although the swimming season is short.

The Baltics are not renowned for warm weather - something that any visitor to Estonia should be aware of — the summer is short and the winter is cold. Visitors on Estonia tours can also experience an ex-Soviet occupied country that is now part of the European Union. Traces of the Soviet era are still there to be seen. After 7 centuries of German, Danish, Swedish, Polish and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Annexed into the USSR in 1940, it regained independence in 1991 through its Singing Revolution, a non-violent revolution that overthrew an initially violent occupation. Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia moved to promote economic and political ties with Western Europe. It is now one of the more prosperous former Communist states, enjoying a high-tech environment, an open and liberal economy and a transparent government system. In 2011, the Euro was adopted as the official currency.

Why consider visiting Estonia?

Estonia has a long history, and a wealth of diverse culture and is emerging as a major tourist destination to be enjoyed on European vacations. First of all, Estonia has an interesting history. It has always been under foreign domination. It went from the Germans, the Danes, and the Swedes up to the Soviets until it gained its independence in 1991. However, it fiercely has retained its own character amalgamating all these influences on its architecture, customs and ambience. You can find art galleries museums, old churches, very old streets, city walls, mediaeval towers as well as art nouveau buildings. From mediaeval cities to rolling verdant countryside, Estonia will offer you a worthwhile vacation.

What are the top sights in Estonia?

Old Town Tallinn

The Old town of Tallinn, a  UNESCO World Heritage site, is quite possibly the best-preserved mediaeval city in the whole of Northern Europe. Some of the buildings date back to the 11th Century with their Gothic spires, winding cobblestone streets, iron street lamps and fascinating architecture. It has imposing, surrounding, mostly intact walls and 26 watchtowers and several interesting mediaeval merchants’ houses plus many cafes, restaurants, boutique shops and bars to be enjoyed on Estonia tours.

More information about tours to Tallinn

Toompea Castle 

Toompea Castle, originally constructed in the 13th Century, is located high up on a cliff towering over the city. It is the home of Estonia's Parliament. The Hermann Tower here is an important national symbol. l In the 18th Century, the fortress was completely changed on orders of Russian Empress Catherine the Great who converted it into the -pink baroque palace of today.

Kadriorg Park and Palace

Kadriorg Park and Palaceis are made up of villas and summer estates and Estonian wooden houses. It is situated just outside Tallinn. and is where Estonia’s president lives. Kadriorg is also known for its baroque palace and park built in the early 1700s as the summer palace by the Russian Czar Peter the First for his wife, Catherine. Today, you will find a branch of the Estonian Art Museum dedicated to Dutch, German, Italian and Russian paintings.

Estonian Open-Air Museum

Again, just outside of Tallinn, you will find the Estonian Open Air Museum which portrays the country's rural architecture and way of life on an Estonia vacation with its collection of over 100 preserved 18th and 19th Century village buildings taken from different parts of the country, mainly farmhouses plus you will find a church, a windmill, an inn, a schoolhouse, a fire station, a shop and fishing sheds. This traditional wooden architecture gives you an excellent idea about rural Estonian life going back 200 years. The museum, open year-round, offers entertainment, workshops and events. The staff wear period costumes in order to show how people lived and worked in the past. You can buy handicrafts and try out the traditional foods served in the village tavern.

Tartu

Tartu, Estonia’s second-largest city is home to one of Northern Europe’s oldest universities and is considered the intellectual centre of the country. It is also known for its museums and its nightlife. There are always theatre performances, concerts and festivals to entertain you. interesting buildings include the Lutheran St. John’s Church, the 18th Century town hall and the ruins of the 13th Century cathedral. Today, you will also find as a contrast, several modern buildings made of steel, concrete and glass which mix perfectly with the old buildings.

Saaremaa Island

Saaremaa island is Estonia’s largest island and inhabited for over 8,000 years, only accessible by plane or ferry. To visit Saaremaa Island is like going back in time as you will see ancient windmills grinding grain to make local sourdough bread and dark, home-brewed beer. The 800-year-old Church of Valjala and the Citadel of Kuressaare is the best-preserved mediaeval buildings in the Baltics. The Vilsandi National Park here has a huge crater which was formed when a meteorite fell here about 3,000 years ago. The outstanding Kuressaare Castle, founded in 1260, faces the sea and is surrounded by a moat. It is the best-preserved castle in the Baltics. Outdoor concerts are held throughout the summer.

Kihnu Island

This UNESCO World Heritage site is a fascinating place to visit on Estonian tours, The residents speak their own dialect and dress in colourful, traditional, hand-woven and hand-knitted clothing. Because everybody knows one another, there are no locks on the doors of the wooden houses  The Kihnu Museum is covered on the outside with paintings done by the island’s school children. Inside you can learn about the local culture which includes their music and crafts. Kihnu islanders are farmers and fishermen.

Lahemaa National Park

Lahemaa National Park, located in northern Estonia, was the first area to be designated a national park under the former Soviet Union. It is the largest park in Estonia and also one of Europe’s largest national parks. The park consists of forests, lakes, rivers and areas of historical and cultural interest. Around 840 plant species have been found here including 34 rare ones. You can see brown bears, lynx and wolves and view over 200 types of birds.

 

Estonia Trip Information

Best time to visit Estonia

The best time to visit Estonia has in late spring or summer when the weather is at its best. This is the time of year when Estonia's festivals are held. However, summers are relatively short (mid-June to late August). The daytime can be hot and dry but the nights cool off considerably. Temperatures cool down rapidly from mid-September onwards although the fall can be an extraordinarily beautiful season in which to visit. The first snowfalls can come as early as mid-November, and by early to mid-December winter sets in until after March, Spring comes in April (or even May in northern Estonia), when the countryside is lush and green. July and August are the most popular holiday months for locals who escape to the countryside. The length of days in summer in Estonia is significantly longer than in more southerly places.

More information about the best time to visit Estonia

What types of tours are available in Estonia?

You can simply enjoy a stopover in Tallinn or you can have a customized itinerary of the highlights of the country. You can also take a Baltic cruise which calls in at Tallinn and you can easily combine Estonia with Finland and other Scandinavian countries.

Travel within Estonia

Rail travel is available between major cities as are good bus services on Estonia vacations. Self-drive is an excellent way to see to tour as Estonia has a good network of roads and is a small country.

 "Globetrotting with Goway" blog articles

For some additional reading, the following articles are from our blog “Globetrotting with Goway”….. a great source of information for those people who are, or who want to be, world travellers!

You’ll Love What the Baltics Have to Offer on European Vacations

Estonia Travel Information

At Goway we believe that a well-informed traveller is a safer traveller. With this in mind, we have compiled an easy-to-navigate travel information section dedicated to Estonia tours.

Learn about the history and culture of Estonia, the must-try food and drink, and what to pack in your suitcase. Read about Estonia's nature and wildlife, weather and geography, along with 'Country Quickfacts' compiled by our travel experts. Our globetrotting tips, as well as our visa and health information,  will help ensure you're properly prepared for a safe and enjoyable trip. The only way you could possibly learn more is by embarking on your journey and discovering Estonia for yourself. Start exploring… book one of our Estonia tours today!

Extend your Stay across Europe

Consider an additional stopover to your Estonia vacation at one of Goway's other European destinations. You can choose from a Paris vacation, a London vacation or an Amsterdam vacation. This can be done stopping over en route to or from Estonia.

 

 

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FEATURED TRIP
FEATURED TRIP

Tallinn Signature

DELUXE | PRIVATE-GUIDED: Explore one of the finest cities in the Baltics on this escape to Tallinn. Spread across four nights, you’ll stay in the finest accommodations in the city, explore the Old Town and the local culinary scene, and enjoy private-guided excursions to Kadriorg Palace and Lahemaa National Park.

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    MODERATE | TAILOR-MADE: Spend a few days during your European vacation exploring the vibrant city of Tallinn. This erstwhile party capital of the Baltics boasts what may be the best-preserved medieval city center in Europe, and easily connects to other Baltic, Scandinavian and Russian cities.
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    DELUXE | PRIVATE-GUIDED: Explore one of the finest cities in the Baltics on this escape to Tallinn. Spread across four nights, you’ll stay in the finest accommodations in the city, explore the Old Town and the local culinary scene, and enjoy private-guided excursions to Kadriorg Palace and Lahemaa National Park.
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