Estonia is a small Northern European country on the Baltic Sea, neighbored by Finland to the north, Russia to the east, and Latvia to the south. Throughout history, Estonia has been under the control of Denmark, Sweden, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Russia, the USSR, and more. The country only gained its independence in 1991.
Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is the most visited destination in the country, and it has a fairytale-like Old Town as well as a more modern side. Aside from Tallinn, some of the best places to go in Estonia are Tartu, the cultural and intellectual capital of the country, and national parks like Lahemaa National Park and Soomaa National Park.
Estonia quick facts
- Population: 1.35 million
- Language: Estonian (around 50% of the population also speaks English)
- Currency: Euro (EUR)
- Capital city: Tallinn
- Country size: 17,505 square miles
- High season: June through September
Estonia bucket list
- Explore Tallinn’s picturesque Old Town
- Visit the Kadriorg Art Museum, housed in a historic palace
- Learn about maritime history at the Estonian Maritime Museum
- Visit the domed St. Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Cathedral
- Check out the KGB Museum at Viru Hotel to learn about the Soviet occupation
- Eat at a medieval tavern like III Draakon or Olde Hansa
- Explore Lahemaa National Park, 35 minutes from Tallinn
- Visit the cultural and intellectual capital of Tartu
- Stroll along the beach in a resort city like Pärnu
- Explore the unique ecosystem of Soomaa National Park
Getting around Estonia
It’s fairly easy to get around Estonia. Tallinn is a compact capital city that is very walkable, and it also has an excellent public transportation system made up of buses, trams, and trolleys.
If you want to explore the rest of the country outside of Tallinn, it’s easy to do so on buses and trains. The whole country is on the small side, so it doesn’t take more than a few hours to get anywhere.
