Top 20 attractions in Estonia that a tourist should visit

Tallinn's Old Town

Where should you go first if you are in Estonia for the first time? Of course, to its cozy capital Tallinn. The historical center of the city is full of a variety of notable places, thanks to which it was included in the UNESCO heritage list.

What is the Old Town? It is a single complex of old buildings from the Middle Ages, narrow streets and the main square, fenced around the perimeter by a fortress wall.

In general, the Old Town is conditionally divided into 2 parts - Vyshgorod and Lower Town. In each of these parts you can see and visit a lot of interesting places. For example, in Vyshgorod there is one of the oldest churches in Estonia - the Dome Cathedral (18th century), the Orthodox Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky (19th century), as well as the majestic Toompea Castle, which currently serves as a government office. In the center of the Lower Town is the Town Hall Square, where various festivals, concerts and celebrations are held.

Toompea Castle, Tallinn

Toompea Castle, which is also located in Tallinn's Old Town, deserves special attention as a point in your sightseeing program.

For several centuries Toompea was a symbol of Estonian state power, and nowadays it is one of the main attractions of the country. The history of the castle dates back to the 13th century. It was built near a wooden settlement of Estonians

The whole castle complex consists of 3 parts, which were built at different times: the "knight's" part - the western fortress wall with the "Long Herman" tower, the highest tower of Vyshgorod (height 45.6 meters); administrative buildings - buildings erected in the era of Catherine the Great in 1773; Riigikogu - a building with an exquisite facade in pink colors, built in 1922, and today it houses the Parliament of the Republic of Estonia.

Lahemaa National Park

Lahemaa Park is located on the northern coast of Estonia, an hour's drive from Tallinn. The park with a total area of 72.5 thousand hectares offers its visitors fascinating walks or bicycle rides. Camping enthusiasts will find several camping sites in Lahemaa Park.

Lahemaa Park is an ideal holiday destination for those people who want to contemplate picturesque landscapes unspoiled by civilization, enjoy the stunning Nimmeveske Waterfall, breathe clean, pine-soaked air and get acquainted with Estonian rural architecture.

Kadriorg Palace and Park Ensemble

In Tallinn there is a magnificent palace and park ensemble Kadriorg, executed in the Baroque style. It was started to be built in 1718 and opened in 1725. The well-maintained park is incredibly beautiful! Tourists can see pompous buildings - two palaces (the presidential palace and the building that houses the collection of foreign art belonging to the Estonian Art Museum), Kadriorg Palace, Peter's House, a large swan pond, centuries-old trees, rose garden, benches, flowerbeds.

Kadriorg Palace once served as a summer imperial residence.

Tallinn TV Tower

The tower is 314 meters high and is the highest point in Estonia. You can climb up here and see the whole city, and at the same time tickle your nerves: you can walk along the edge of the observation deck on the 22nd floor of the building. But there is no risk in this, the perimeter of the platform is fenced with a cable, which will not let you fall and will not prevent you from taking a good photo.

In addition to the tour and viewing the panorama, here you can have a bite to eat in the restaurant with a transparent floor and a terrace in the open air. There is also an area with telescopes next to the restaurant.

Rocca al Mare Museum

This open-air museum is dedicated to the country's history and traditions. It features old peasant houses where you can see original household items and tools.

There is a restaurant serving national dishes and drinks, and on holidays a special program is organized. On the territory of Rocca al Mare you can ride a bicycle or, what is much more interesting, on a horse.

Palmse Estate Museum

In the heart of Lahema National Park, which we have already told you about above, there is another interesting attraction of Estonia - the museum-estate von Palen Palmse, which today is considered to be one of the best preserved beautiful estates in the country.

The buildings of the Manor were built in the middle of the 18th century in the Baroque style. The Bar House, which houses a collection of period clothing, is of particular interest here now. The estate's greenhouse houses a huge collection of plants, and the former wine factory building houses a hotel with several restaurants as well as a wine cellar. a car museum can also be visited here.

Vilsandi National Park

The first nature reserve established in Estonia is Vilsandi Park. It consists of islands and reefs and is popular primarily for its numerous bird colonies. The park's tourist center is located in a former barn and the former manor house has been turned into a hotel, which gives the place a historical flavor.

Saaremaa Island

Estonia's largest island is located in the western part of the country and is part of the Moondzund archipelago. It is also the 4th largest island in the Baltic Sea.

Nowadays the island enjoys unprecedented popularity among tourists, attracted by its pristine nature, ancient architectural sights and modern resorts. Here everyone can find something to do, be it fishing, horseback riding, jet skiing or quad bike racing.

The only town on Saarem is Kuressaare, which houses one of Estonia's most important sights - the Bishop's Castle. This town is the most popular resort in Estonia. There are mud cures, spa centers, where everyone can improve their health, relax body and soul.

Piusa Caves

Since 1999, the underground galleries formed by the exploitation of sandy sediments of the river Piuza have become a nature reserve. This monument can only be seen with a guide and we strongly recommend you to do so. The Piusa Caves are the largest bat hibernation site in Eastern Europe.

Narva Castle

The main symbol of the Estonian border town of Narva is the unique Estonian landmark Narva Castle or Narva Castle. Situated right above the Narva River, the castle formed a harmonious architectural composition with Ivangorod Fortress. Narva Castle was built in the 13th century on the site of the former wooden fortress.

Nowadays Narva Castle has many places worth seeing: a museum, designed to bring the rich history of the castle to the present day; an observation deck, which offers a view of the outskirts of the castle, etc.

Kuma National Art Museum

The Kuma Art Museum is located in a new, modern building in Tallinn's Kadriorg Park. It is located near the Presidential Palace and now serves as a national gallery. The museum has been operating since 2006, has more than six thousand exhibits, and is the largest not only in the Baltics, but also in the whole of Northern Europe.

Its exposition occupies five floors. The museum presents a collection of art from the XVIII century to the present day.

Rakvere Castle

In the town of Rakvere, in the north of the Estonian state, there is the stunning Rakvere Castle, otherwise known as Vezenberga. The first mention of it dates back to the XIII century.

Throughout the history of its existence, the castle was rebuilt many times and later lost its defensive function. Today the castle offers excursions, skillfully recreated the era of the Middle Ages. Visitors will be able to visit various craft workshops, the illuminated fear room in the dungeon, see the rooms with instruments of torture, the crypt with the dead, find themselves in a room with howling and other sounds that frighten even the bravest, as well as taste the dishes of Estonian traditional cuisine.

Pärnu City Beach

A very beautiful and equipped sandy beach is just a 15-minute walk from the center of Pärnu, the summer capital of Estonia. The beach is surrounded by parks, perfectly protecting vacationers from cold winds.

If your visit to Estonia falls in the warm season, make sure you take some time to enjoy the sea at this beach.

Gapsala Castle

This place is often referred to simply as "the bishop's castle". The cathedral, located in Kuressaare, was built between the 13th and 14th centuries, but renovations and changes went on for another two centuries. Now it houses the Saaremaa Museum, where you can learn about the history of the castle.

According to legend, the "white lady" dwells here. She usually peeks into the Baptist chapel that connects to the castle. The outline of the ghost is best seen in August or September, when the moon is low and shining through the window, and the play of light and shadow creates this ghostly silhouette.

You can book a hotel in Estonia with a discount of up to -65% on the website.

Kipu Lighthouse

The lighthouse on the island of Hiiuamaa is the oldest among the functioning lighthouses in the Baltic States. It was built at the beginning of the 16th century. During so many years of service, the lighting system has been modernized several times: first, it was lit by a fire of wood, then oil and kerosene were added, and then it was switched to electric light.

The height of the lighthouse is just over a hundred meters above sea level. The lighthouse helped ships that traveled the great trade route from east to west through the local waters. Nowadays you can take beautiful photos here as a souvenir.

Marzipan Museum in Tallinn

Marzipan is a favorite sweet treat of the Baltic peoples. It is made of finely ground almond flour, powdered sugar and aromatic additives such as rose water. Several European countries claim to be the birthplace of marzipan, but in Estonia the factory production of unusual sweets with a bright bitter taste and fascinating aroma was started by a local native Georg Shtude in the early 19th century.

The Marzipan Museum in Tallinn consists of an exhibition hall, a café and a store owned by the confectionery company Sweets House OU. The beauty of marzipan is that it can be molded into a variety of figures and painted with food coloring. The display cases and stands are furnished with flowers, fruits, houses, towers, statues of political figures and movie stars made by talented craftsmen.

Toil-Oru Park

On the shore of the Gulf of Finland, in the valley of the Pyuhaiigi River, is the small resort town of Toila, which is popular among locals. Along with the beautiful nature and clean sea, there is an Estonian landmark - Toila-Oru Park, created at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries

The park's landscapes, which cover an area of about 80 hectares, are characterized by diversity and special beauty. More than 250 plant species grow in the park today. The landscape is gracefully decorated with fountains, and numerous alleys in the shade of old maples, lindens and poplars run through the area.

Kihnu Island

Kihnu Island is one of the most memorable places in Estonia. This small island with an area of 16.4 km is inhabited by the descendants of seal hunters, whose unique culture is protected by UNESCO.

Soomaa National Park

This park, located in the southwestern part of Estonia, was established in 1993 to protect rivers, forest bogs and flood meadows. Thanks to its unique microclimate, the park has a so-called "fifth season" - the period of spring flooding. The Riisa, Kuuraniida, Ingatsi and Beaver Trail hiking trails are particularly popular.