The beautiful nature ensures that Estonia stands head and shoulders above its two Baltic brothers. Beautiful old historic towns such as Tallinn are interspersed with ease by small fishing villages and rugged cliffs. Although most of the country is uninhabited and unspoilt, there is much to do and experience. Estonia also includes another 1500 islands. Most of these are uninhabited. Estonia is doing well in terms of nature parks. The parks are well managed so that raccoons, for example, can still enjoy a lot of freedom. Check topmbadirectory for how to get to Estonia.
Estonia ‘s Top 10 Things to Do
#1. Tallinn
The harmony of old and new stands out in this cozy capital. The old town ‘Vanalinn’ which is situated on a hill has many historical sights, including the old Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Dominican Monastery and the Toomkirik Church. The number of museums and cultural heritage make Tallinn an interesting destination. For example, there are underground excursions where you can learn a thing or two about the military history of the country.
#2. Tartu
This university town is located in the south of Estonia. According to some, this is the ‘real’ capital of the country. This may be intellectually correct. After all, the largest and oldest university can be found in Tartu. Many Estonian academics have studied here at one of the sixteen higher education institutions. Many universities are located in the historic part of the city. The Raadhuisplein (Raekoja plats) is an important meeting place. The most special sights are: St. John’s Church (Janni kirik), Toomemägipark, Aura Keskes (recreation center, ruin of the Toomkirik and the municipal museum ‘Tartu Linnamuuseum. Check simplyyellowpages for mass media and culture of Estonia.
#3. Mõniste Vabaõhumuuseum
This oldest open-air museum in Estonia is an excellent representation of how people used to live. There are ten buildings on the site that take you back in time. Sometimes there are theme days where different crafts are explained and demonstrated. You learn to make objects from clay or to forge tools.
#4. Verijärv
At the highlands of Haanja you will find the beautiful beautiful lake ‘Verijärv’ which means lake of blood. The lake lights up between the gently rolling hills of this part of Estonia. It is pre-eminently the best place to fish for pike and/or bass, which often swim there. Not far from the lake is Vastseliina Castle, which dates back to the 14th century.
#5. Soomaa Rahvuspark
This national park is located in the southwest of Estonia. The 390 km² park was established in 1993 to protect the largest intact peat area in Europe. The swamps are interspersed with meadows and forests that provide space for mammals such as roe deer, brown bears, lynx, wolves, beavers and wild boars. The old tradition of making canoes is still very much alive here. There are several hiking trails in this park.
#6. Islands
In addition to the mainland, Estonia consists of just under 1500 islands, most of which are uninhabited. The few islands where people do live are often maintained by traditional lifestyles. The largest island is Saaremaa. The most famous city is Kuressaare. This island is often visited for its national park Vilsandi rahvuspark. The island of Muhu, with about 500 islands, belongs to the municipality of Saaremaa. This island is known for its cheese factory and estate Pädeste Mõis, which dates back to the 16th century. Hiiumaa is Estonia’s second largest island. In the historic town of Suuremõisa is a well-preserved estate from 1772. A red-roofed lighthouse ‘Kõpu Tuletorn’ can be found on the Kõpu peninsula. It is one of the oldest lighthouses in the world still in operation. A somewhat more decadent island is Kassari. Here you will mainly find holiday homes of well-known artists and writers. Due to the lush variety of flowers and plants, there are also many birds to spot on this island.
#7. Altja
Thatched houses dominate this part of Estonia. This small fishing village, which is located on one of the four rocky islands, exudes peace and security. For walkers, this is an extremely delightful destination. The local catering industry provides a good Estonian meal and the village rocking chair provides a pleasant rest point in the day.
#8. Viinistu Kunstimuuseum
In the small village of Viinistu there is a large museum. This museum houses about 400 paintings made by various well-known artists from Estonia. There is also room for contemporary art. The museum has a hotel, restaurant and concert hall. A special fact is that this museum was founded by the manager of the pop group Abba.
#9. Valaste Waterfall
Estonia’s highest and most beautiful waterfall can be found in the northeast between Ontika and Valaste. The waterfall is about 26 meters high and is fed by the Valaste River, also known as ‘the great canal’. Especially in winter, the waterfall is exceptional to see. The severe frost creates fairytale-like sculptures. Since 1997, a platform has been created opposite the waterfall, so that you can shoot from an ideal point.
#10. The sacred lake of Otepää
Swimmers and sunbathers descend on Lake Pühajärv in the summer months because of the warm bathing water for Estonian standards. Along the lake, also referred to as Lake Otepää, you will find a large sandy beach with a large beach house, games facilities, cafes and a pier.
