Estonia is washed by the sea on three sides, so there are more than enough cozy places to swim and sunbathe. After the gentle Mediterranean, the Baltic Sea may seem cold, but even on the hottest days, the clean, spacious beaches are fresh and cool, and the sand doesn't burn your body.
Estonia's beach season
The moderate climate makes sea vacations in Estonia especially pleasant for the elderly and those who can't stand hot weather. The average summer temperature does not usually exceed 20-23°C in the southern and western counties and 19-21°C in the north of the country. Episodes of abnormal heat, when the thermometer jumps to 27-30°C, are rare and fade quickly.
The high season in the Baltic resorts doesn't last long - just two and a half months. The best seaside vacations in Estonia fall in July and the first half of August when the water warms up to 19-23°C, and warm "mushroom" rains amuse rather than irritate vacationers. However, the idyll is occasionally invaded by crowds of rowdy youths, so in search of peace and quiet, it's best to get off the beaten track and look out for small seaside towns, small islands, and sleepy fishing villages.
Prices for beach tours
The cost of a tour to Estonia with a vacation at sea is much cheaper than a trip to the Cote d'Azur or the Canaries: a trip to the resort for two people with accommodation in a small comfort-class hotel costs a ridiculous amount by European standards - 310-450 EUR. A week of bliss in a large spa complex by the sea with full board costs more - from 500 to 900 EUR.
Conditions for beach vacations in Estonia
Municipal beaches of seaside towns are equipped no worse than closed resort areas of private resorts. Dressing rooms, lockers, and toilets are among the options available by default. There are several tidy cafes, children's playgrounds, volleyball, and beach soccer courts.
The most glamorous places, such as Pirita, Narva-Jõesuu, Pärnu City Beach, and the Roosta resort complex, offer a variety of attractions for those who are bored with sunbathing: surfing, bowling, boat, yacht, and catamaran rentals, tennis courts, mini-golf, baseball fields, kiting, and other pleasures of life.
Where is the sand cleaner and the water warmer?
The quiet seaside village of Kabli offers a worthy compromise between seclusion and civilization. The golden sands are safely hidden from prying eyes by a wall of pine forest, and Pärnu's nightlife is just a stone's throw away.
In July, the resort hosts the Sunset Festival, which has won the sympathy of the intelligent public with its inspiring artistic salon atmosphere. Concerts of classical and jazz music alternate with film screenings, literary readings, and public discussions, generating extraordinary ideas and creative insights.
In the territory of Lahemaa National Park in northern Estonia, there are two traditionally small resorts that were closed to the general public in the past - the Russian nobility's favorite village of Võzu and the "captains' village" of Käsmu, where members of the Estonian Writers' Union drew inspiration.
On the deserted Rukhnu Island, it's easy to feel like Robinson Crusoe, enjoying the melodic moaning of the "singing sands" of the Limo coast. A mesmerizing sea sunset on Cabernetem promises to be one of the most vivid vacation memories.
For a vacation with a small child, it is better to choose warm, shallow water resorts in Kuressaare on Saaremaa Island and on the Paralepa Coast in Haapsalu. One of the best places for family vacations is the charming resort village of Valgeranna near Pärnu, which is not yet occupied by tourists. In the evening you can go to an amusement park or play a round of golf with one of the friendly locals.
In the Põhja-Tallin recreation area, you'll be glad to be shown the children's beach "Shtromka" with amusement rides and trampolines. While the kids play on the playground under the supervision of experienced animators, dad and mom can enjoy a couple of beers at the summer bar.
Surfing and Windsurfing in Estonia
For a vivid experience, a peaceful vacation on Estonia's beaches doesn't hurt to dilute surfing, kiting, and windsurfing.
For beginners, the Aloha Surf School on Pärnu City Beach has a fenced-in area where you can practice balancing on a board without fear of hitting any bathers. After completing the course, a new rider can try his luck in the shallow bay of Mändjala, 10 kilometers from Kuressaare, and in specially equipped areas of recreational zones Kakumäe, Stroomi, and Pirita in Tallinn.
For professional surfing, kiteboarding, and windsurfing, the deep-water windy beaches of northern Estonia are suitable. The fame of Haapsalu's Vazikaholm coast and the resort village of Roosta has spread across Europe, but the downside has been a severe lack of space. At the height of the season, there's no room to spread out in the trendy resorts, so it's best to look for less flashy surf spots. Experts usually recommend Pikakari, Vyzu, Nõva, and Noarootsi, which are much quieter.
Kiting and windsurfing are also thriving in Estonia's lakeside resorts. For the delightful dance of colorful sails and kites over the shores of Lake Peipsi, it's definitely worth putting things aside and dusting off your childhood dream of a magic carpet: in Estonia, a fairy tale becomes a reality!
