ESTONIA

Capital: Tallinn
Form of Government: Republic
Area: 45, 339 km2
Religion: 64,87% No Religion, 34,03% Christinanity
Phone number: +372
Language: Estonian
Time difference: 0
Population: 1,294,455 (2021)
Currency: Euro (Eur)

Estonian mean airports are Tallinn Airport(EETN), Pärnu Airport(EEPU), Tartu Airport (EETU).

There are several flights from Helsinki to Tallinn every day. The route is operated by Finnish airlines, e.g. Finnair and Finncomm Airlines and Estonian Air from Estonia. Air Baltic has flights to Tallinn from Tampere, Turku, Oulu and Lappeenranta. Finnair also has flights from Helsinki to Tartu.

bussi

Estonia has a nationwide bus network. All major cities, such as Tartu, Pärnu, Viljandi and Narva, can be reached by bus. The route guide is called peatus.ee, which is available in Estonian, English and Russian.

laiva

Ships operate from Helsinki (Silja Line, Viking Line, Eckerö Line, Tallink, Linda) to the Estonian capital Tallinn. The journey between Helsinki and Tallinn is only 85 kilometers and takes about three hours. However, there are also faster ships.

Embassy of Finland, Tallinn Address: Court 4, 15180 – Tel. +372 6103 200 Email: sanomat.tal@formin.fi – Website: www.finland.ee

Estonia: Travel bulletin from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs: The security situation is stable. Pocket thefts are common. Comprehensive travel insurance is required. Read more

Tallinn (Capital)

Tallinn is the beautiful capital of Estonia and offers something for every taste. It is situated on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. Approximately 30% of Estonia’s total population lives in Tallinn and it has 430,000 residents.

Tallinn Old Town (UNESCO 1997)

Built between the 13th and 16th centuries, the old town of Tallinn is the majestic heart of the city. Narrow cobblestone streets and medieval markets welcome the traveler to feel its charm. The Old Town has been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. Here are attractions such as Kohtuotsa viewing platform, the Viru gate, the Toompea hill and the Raekoja plats square.

Toompea Hill

The lime hill of Toompea is the highest part of Tallinn and inseparably modifies its skyline. It is also one of the most important political buildings in Estonia, because the mostly rebuilt Toompea Castle houses the riigikogu, the Estonian Parliament in the Expressionistic Stenbock House built in 1922. The castle area also has a Czar era governor’s palace, fortress walls and the Pikk Hermann tower, the national symbol of Estonia.

Sights from the hill also include the Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Lutheran cathedral Toomkirik, the Estonian Knighthood House and the palace of Ungern-Sternberg, which houses the Estonian Academy of Sciences. The complex of Toompea is a historical must-see of Tallinn.

Kadriorg Palace

Address: A. Weizenbergi 37, 10127 Tallinn, Estonia

This Petrine Baroque palace was built between 1718-1725 by command of the Russian Czar Peter the Great. It is situated in the eponymous sub district of Kesklinn. Currently it houses an art museum displaying foreign works from the 16th to 20th centuries.

A vast park surrounds the palace. It is open to the public and is a great place for a walk or picnicking. The park also features a lovely swan pond, fountains and the Mikkeli Museum, which displays an impressive collection of imported art.

Katariina Käik

Katariina Käik (St. Catherine’s Passage) is a walkway in the Old Town that connects Vene street with Müürivahe street. Near that passage is the St. Catherine’s Guild, a cluster of workshops where artisans craft glass, ceramics, jewellery among the other things in traditional ways. The guild also sells these products. The workshops are located in comfy 15th- to 17th-century rooms on the south side of the lane, and are set up in an open-studio fashion so visitors can watch various specialists apply their craft.

Narva Castle

Address: Peterburi maantee 2, 20308 Narva, Estonia

The Narva Castle is one of the main attractions of the city. In the seventh decade of the 13th century, the Danes established a castle as a residence for the Danish King’s vice-Regent. The Narva Castle is one of the most diverse and best preserved defense structures in Estonia. The area of the castle is 3.2 hectares, and the highest point is the Tall Hermann Tower (51 meters), which offers views over Narva, the Kreenholm factory and Ivangorod Fortress across the river in Russia. Today you can visit the museum in the castle, where the displays explain the history of Narva and the castle.

Tartu Old City

The Old Town is without a doubt the most classic part of the city with its narrow pedestrian streets, restaurants, pubs and its Neoclassical architecture that replaced the old burnt down medieval center. Here also lies Tartu’s equivalent for the Pisa’s Leaning Tower, the Leaning House, an art museum (Raekoja plats 18) and the beautiful St. John’s Church.

AHHAA 4D Adventure Cinema

Address: Sadama 1, 51004 Tartu, Estonia

This cinema is a must-see sight for movie enthusiasts. It affords the real-feeling 4D experience with an accelerating and swinging seat and the feeling of blowing wind. The cinema accommodates 15 persons at a time and the minimum height required for visiting the cinema is 110 cm. For smaller guests, a toddler’s cinema is available. Luxurious all-family sight in the classic university town of Tartu.

Kuressaare Castle

Address: Lossihoov 1, Kuressaare, 93815 Saare maakond,

Kuressaare Castle-Fortress was built in the 14th century. Today, the castle houses the Saaremaa Museum. Saaremaa Museum is one of the oldest (founded in 1865) and biggest museums in Estonia and is visited by 70 000-80 000 people every year. As a county museum, its main function is to preserve and strengthen the identity of Saaremaa as a region with extraordinary nature, history and culture. The museum tries to exhibit the essence of the castle and tells its story to the whole world.

Kalev-Marzipan Museum Room

Address: Pikk 16, 10123 Tallinn, Estonia

In this cozy museum a visitor can see 200 marzipan figurines and watch Tallinn’s favourite sweet being made. Visitors can also try their own skills in the craft at the workshop. There is also a café and shop. A very interesting place for an handicraft-aficionado. Tallinn Card holders can collect a small gift at the counter.

More information about Estonia

Tallinn Bicycle Tour

Brisk visitors are welcome to participate in the 16 km bike excursion route consisting of the Pirita promenade, the St. Bridget’s Convent ruins, the Song Festival Grounds and the Kadriorg Palace and Park. The tour is guided in English and includes bicycle rental, a helmet, a safety vest, a soft drink and raincoats if needed. 50 % discount for Tallinn Card holders.

Tartu

Charming Tartu is the historic cradle of Estonian scholarship. Located in south-eastern Estonia, it has approx. 97,000 residents. It is well-known for its university, established in 1632 by the Swedish regime, and its vivid student life. The first permanent settlement here is dated to the 5th century AD and Tartu is first mentioned in written sources in 1030.

Pärnu

Pärnu is located in southwestern Estonia on the coast of the Baltic Sea. It houses approximately 41,000 residents and is definitely the summer capital of Estonia due its sandy beaches and spas.