Estonia

From a Soviet captive state, this tiny outpost of Scandinavia across the Baltic from Finland has been busy transforming itself into a progressive, high-tech exemplar of the 21st century. Yet it still has loads of historic and natural charm to spare.

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Tartu is a 2024 European Capital of Culture

RAndreyEstonia´s second largest city (a bit over 97,000), astride the Emajõgi River a bit over two hours south of Tallinn by car or train, was founded in the 5th century and has long been known as an intellectual/cultural powerhouse (and home to the country´s national university, established in 1632). Much of Its center was destroyed in World War II, but there’s still a good deal of neoclassical architecture, and top attractions/landmarks include the old Lutheran Jaani Kirik (St. John's…

Return to Tallinn - a look back at an old post of mine

Though I’m (quite obviously) not Estonian, I must admit to a lump in the throat on a cool, overcast morning as the gargantuan green-and-orange Tallink ferry pulled into this tiny Baltic country’s capital after a two-hour sea crossing from Helsinki. It was July 2009, and I was embarking on my introduction to the shiny new Tallinn, 17 years after my last visit and 27 years after my first — as a student studying Russian in Leningrad, then as a travel writer visiting shortly after Estonia‘s…

Shoutout for Tallinn in '11 Unexpected Lovely Spots to See in Winter'

Winter is not necessarily the time to simply tuck in, stay home, and hibernate. it's a season which happens to be the perfect time to visit a number of stunningly beautiful places around the world which get even prettier when it's cold. Here's a list of eleven which (except maybe for one) probably have never occurred to you!read post

Comments

Ed Wetschler December 11, 2025 at 10:20pm

Estonia has much more to offer than Tallinn - here´s a great overview of its second city, Tartu (which was a European Capital of Culture in 2024): https://theculturetrip.com/europe/estonia/articles/the-top-9-things...
Maria de los Angeles December 10, 2025 at 6:53pm

As usual, Lonely Planet has it well covered! https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/top-things-to-do-in-estonia

15 of the best things to do in Estonia

You'll find culture and creativity, a rich history and pristine nature in Estonia. Here are the best ways to enjoy your trip.
Jorge Carlos Tejada Sobrino December 23, 2024 at 1:29pm

Trael+Leisure recently took a look at a bunch of new reasons to visit Tallinn beyond the medieval old town: https://www.travelandleisure.com/tallinn-estonia-why-to-go-in-2024-...
José Balido April 6, 2024 at 12:02pm

On my visit to Tallinn I only had time for the old town, but all this sounds intriguing for next time: https://www.forbes.com/sites/annabel/2023/05/22/the-best-of-tallinn...

The Best Of Tallinn Is Outside The Medieval Walls

Of course the old city in Estonia's capital city is beautiful. But staying within its walls would mean missing out on its contemporary pleasures.
María José October 22, 2023 at 12:12pm

National Geographic recently came out with a good Estonia overview: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/estonia-travel-guide

The essential guide to visiting Es

Here’s everything you need to know about exploring this compact Baltic nation—when to go, where to stay, what to do, and how to get around.
Max Pesling May 18, 2023 at 11:28am

I've only been to Tallinn, but watching this slick video - with no narration, just brief written descriptions -makes me realize how much cool stuff is packed into this small country: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH7JB1RlZTo
Jordan Simon April 30, 2023 at 7:15pm

I was last in Tallinn a few years ago, and I realized I missed several of the must-sees on this list. Very careless of me. https://www.msn.com/en-xl/lifestyle/other/the-16-most-amazing-attra...

The 16 most amazing attractions in Tallinn

The 16 most amazing attractions in Tallinn
David Paul Appell September 2, 2022 at 9:00pm

The other day on Medium, a recent visitor wrote an interesting post on some cool - though "mindblowing" is a little over the top - aspects of this appealing little country: https://medium.com/illumination/10-astonishing-facts-about-estonia-...

10 Astonishing Facts About Estonia That Will Blow Your Mind

My Best Takeaways from the Trip to Estonia
Andrea Spirov March 7, 2013 at 11:54am

Tallinn was delightful - several posts from our time in Estonia: http://inspiringtravellers.com/tag/estonia/
Sally Hammond August 7, 2011 at 4:39am

Just uploaded a video of the Dance Festival on the home page. What a wonderful experience that is if you're ever in the country in mid-summer.