ESTONIA ( EUROPE )

15 PLACE IN ESTONIA THAT WILL MAKE YOU WONDER















Best Places to Visit in Estonia

Estonia is an up-and-coming Eastern European tourist destination with interesting traditions and fun places at reasonable prices. The list of things to do in Estonia is lengthy. You could spend an entire vacation touring only the historic churches, or only visiting the parks and beaches. Here are 15 places to visit in Estonia that are worth your digital photos and social media updates, or for the low-tech traveller, Estonia attractions that you want to experience, learn from and talk about.






1. Kadriorg Palace and Park

An architectural masterpiece with centuries of art on display and adjoining a beautiful park with fountains, the historic Kadriorg palace is many Estonia tourist attractions rolled into one. The Baroque palace in Tallinn was built by tsar Peter the I for his wife, Catherine. The palace contains a beautiful stucco with Catherine’s initials in the great hall. The library, remodeled by the 1st President of Estonia, is impressive in the elaborate Danzig Baroque style, and the Kadriorg Art Museum with foreign art from the 16th through the 20th centuries is currently within the palace. For the work of famous Estonian artists from the 18th century to the present, the prestigious KUMU museum is located in the adjoining park.






1. Lahemaa National Park

The country’s largest national park, Lahemaa National Park is one of the most popular places to visit in Estonia for both locals and tourists. Tours are available from nearby Tallinn or you have the option to drive. The park is 70% forest and has hiking trails and wildlife. The park’s coast along the Gulf of Finland has four bays, and there are several raised bogs including the 7,000-year-old Laukasco Reserve. Within the park are four well-maintained manor houses, the Palmse manor, the Vihula manor, the Kolga manor and the Sagadi Manor.






3. Raekoja plats

Raekoja plats is the ancient town center of Estonia’s historic capital. A town square that dates back to 1322, Raekoja plats was rebuilt in the early 15th century. The square regularly hosts markets with traditional Estonian items. Located in the Tallinn Old Town with architecture dating from the Middle Ages, the area has many historic sites, galleries, markets, shops, restaurants and bars. This historic square is a must visit for any Estonia travel guide, and a great place for genuine Estonia souvenirs.






4. Toompea

Toompea is a concentrated center of historic churches, castles, government buildings and scenic views. The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a grandiose 18th century church created in the Russian Revival style with onion domes, stained glass windows and gilded iconostases and icon boxes. Nearby, St. Mary’s Cathedral was constructed during the 13th century. The partially rebuilt Toompea castle hosts the Estonian Parliament, while the Estonian Government resides in the building of the Estonian Knighthood. The limestone hill of Toompea itself is said to be the grave of a King from folk lore.






5. Tallinn TV Tower

Some of the best places to visit in Estonia are located in the capital city of Tallinn, and for a bird’s eye view of Tallinn, you can go to the observation deck of the Tallinn TV Tower. Built for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the tower features a rotating observation deck 170 meters above the ground. As part of the tower’s history, a handful of Estonians defended the tower in the name of free media, and bullet holes from the 1991 Soviet coup attempt can still be seen in the base of the tower.






6. Estonian Open Air Museum

A good destination for hiking, learning and amateur photography, the Estonian Open Air Museum recreates 18th century life in rural Estonia. The expansive outdoor museum is located outside of Tallinn in Rocca al Mare. It is a beautiful landscape with many hiking trails connecting the historic farmhouses, churches, inn, fire house, windmills and sheds that represent the different traditions of North, South and West Estonia. The museum serves local dishes and offers horse and cart rides.






7. KGB Cages Museum

An interesting look at history that will make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck, the KGB Cages Museum is in the Riia hill where the South Estonia Center of NKVD/KGB operated in the 1940-50s. The cellar with the cages of the arrested and the punishment cells are open to visitors. Some cells and cages are restored, but others are in their original condition. The museum has artifacts and history from Siberian prison camps, post-war Estonian freedom fighting, communist regime crimes and secret resistance organizations.






8. Hermann Castle

Many places to visit in Estonia have historic manors or castles, but Hermann Castle on the Narva River is the most imposing. Built by the Danish in the 14th century as a stronghold against the Russians after several conflicts, the massive Hermann Castle is a towering stone castle with rondels that sits at the edge of the river. The Narva River was once the border between the Danish and Russian territory, and across the water, in a perpetual stand-off with Hermann Castle, is the Russian fortress of Ivangorod.






9. Kopu Lighthouse

This impressive and ancient structure is worth visiting both for the lighthouse itself and the serene, rural island of friendly inhabitants. Located on the highest hillock of the peaceful island of Hiiumaa on the Baltic sea, the Kopu Lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouses in the world. The building is 36 meters (118 feet) tall and is open to visitors. The lighthouse was first lit in 1531 with a bonfire, and with a new modern light, it is still in use today. The lighthouse is constructed as a square prism with over 12,000 tonnes of stone used in its construction.






10. AHHAA Science Center

One of the places to visit in Estonia that kids and adults can both enjoy, the AHHAA Science center is an interactive museum that can occupy your entire day. Located in Tartu, the museum has workshops, a science theater and a planetarium. Permanent exhibits include a Hall of Nature with live, small creatures and a hands-on Hall of Technology. The museum adds fresh exhibits in their Temporary Exhibits Hall every few months, and of course, they have a gift shop with scientific souvenirs.






11. Ridala Church

The Ridala Church in Kolila Village is dedicated to Mary Magdelene, and her sculpture there is one of the oldest sculptures in Estonia. The church also features historic paintings from the Middle Ages and a noteworthy triumphal arch group and pulpit. The graveyard has trapezoid gravestones with suncross and arbour vitae motifs from the 13th century. This ancient graveyard looks very much like the set for a fantasy movie, and folk lore has it that the church was built by a giant maiden to be her dwelling.






12. Church of the Holy Cross in Harju-Risti

For a glimpse of how worship looked and felt and the Middle Ages, visit the Church of the Holy Cross in Harju-Risti. The church is 700 years old and houses the oldest church bell in Estonia from the 14th century. You can climb up the church tower to see the ancient bell and get a view of the surrounding area. The church features an sacristy with a fireplace and a cellar. The nave has been restored, but the church maintains its rustic, medieval atmosphere.






13. Angla Heritage Culture Center

The picturesque Angla Windmill Park on Saaremaa has two different types of windmills, and you can climb into some of the windmills and look at the gears inside. The park also has one working windmill. In 2011, they added a cultural center to teach about the history and traditions of the island. The Angla Heritage Culture Center focuses on local traditions, history and handicrafts. They do workshops, demonstrations and hands-on activities such as spinning yarn, leatherwork, and carving. Local events include live music, and you can taste local Angla rye bread.






14. Kalala Lake Museum

The Kalala Lake Museum on the shore of Kalala Lake in Tartu features both outdoor attractions and museum exhibits. Exhibits include aquarium tanks of Estonia freshwater fish, exhibits on fishing and fishing equipment, a display of primeval fish and fossils and an interactive exhibit for children. You can book a sauna raft for a lake cruise or for a sauna session. They also rent fishing rods, so you can put your newfound knowledge of Estonia fish and fishing to the test.






15. Hellenurme Watermill-Museum

Estonia offers many attractions that take you back to an older and simpler time. The Hellenurme Watermill-Museum in rural Palupera is a functioning water mill with machinery from the 1930s. The miller opens the water gate, and they demonstrate turning grains into flour and flour into bread. The mill is picturesque and traditional with a friendly staff that feeds you warm, fresh buns and drink. It is a relaxing and educational look at how flour is made and how water mill machinery works.