Estonia

Estonia (Republic of Estonia) is a Baltic country in Northern Europe, bordered by the Gulf of Finland to the north, Lake Peipus and the Russian Federation to the east, Latvia to the south and the Baltic Sea to the west. 

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Estonia has miles of coastline with many bays and hundreds of islets and islands. The land is fairly flat with the highest point Suur Munamagi in the southeast of the country. It is a land of much water, with many rivers, as well as fenland and bogs. There are also hundreds of lakes in the country, the largest, Lake Peipus  the southeast of the country receives considerable snowfall during winter.   The main international airport is Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport. 

Estonia, and Tallinn in particular, has become popular as a city break and spa destination, and for its many music festivals of all genres. The many Museums and galleries in most major cities provide opportunities to explore Estonian history, which includes encounters with Vikings and invasions and influences by countries such as Russia, Germany and Sweden.

Estonia is a member of NATO and the European Union and currency is the euro.  Estonian is the official language, although many older Estonians speak Russian (Estonian is related to the Finnish language). 

The picturesque capital city of Tallinn (chosen as a European Capital of Culture in 2011) is situated on the north coast on the Gulf of Finland. The city has retained part of its medieval wall and towers. Most visitors head straight for the Old Town and Town Hall Square to browse the shops and narrow alleys. Rotermann Quarter is also a popular place for shopping and dining.  The square in the centre of the Rotermann Quarter is used as an open-air market and craft fair as well as for cultural events and also host to a Christmas Market.  The baroque Kadriorg Palace and Art Museum is a must-see.  Looking out over the city is the imposing Toompea Castle, which is the seat of government and a popular tour for visitors.

Popular outdoor activities during summer include cycling, golf, and sailing in Tallinn Bay. Tallinn is popular for spa breaks with its many luxury spa resorts.

Estonia offers a wealth of outdoors activities in summer and winter.  In summer enjoy the beautiful sandy beaches and sail, swim, or scuba dive.  (Estonia is a great destination for wreck diving).  Estonia’s lakes, rivers, national parks and forests offer activities such as cycling, hiking, and horseback riding, camping and canoeing.  For something different take a tour to visit the famous Kaali meteorite craters on the island of Saaremaa,

In winter the mountains of South Estonia come alive with winter sports, including skiing, snowboarding, and ice climbing.   Elsewhere, in flatter regions of the country, cross-country skiing is a popular winter sport as well as tubing, sledging and ice-skating. 

As in any major city of the world visitors need to be alert to the possibility of street crime.  Visitors to Tallinn, especially the Old Town, have been targeted in recent times.  There have been incidents of theft, pickpocketing and mugging, mainly focused around nightclubs, pubs and hotels in the Old Town. Visitors should also be careful when hailing taxis and avoid unmarked vehicles.

As with any trip, it is important to carry comprehensive travel insurance. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is valid in Estonia, but should never be used as a substitute for travel insurance. (The FCO recommneds that travel insurance should include medical insurance up to the value of 30,000 euros when visiting Estonia). The EHIC covers emergency medical treatment but does not provide for non-urgent or ongoing treatment, medical repatriation, or many other common travel-related mishaps.  Always check the exclusions and that the policy covers all your planned actiivities. 

Useful websites: 
http://www.visitestonia.com/
http://www.tourism.tallinn.ee/

Disclaimer: While we have tried to ensure the information in this Travel Guide is correct we do not accept responsibility for any inaccuracy, or the content of external links.

Inclusion in this Travel Guide does not guarantee travel insurance is available in any country at any given time. Travel Insurance is not available in countries where the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have issued an advisory against travel.

You are strongly advised to visit the FCO website for updated travel information and general travel advice before you travel.