Welcome to Estonia

Estonia doesn’t have to struggle to find a point of difference: it’s completely unique. It shares a similar geography and history with Latvia and Lithuania, but culturally it’s distinct. Its closest ethnic and linguistic buddy is Finland, and although they may love to get naked together in the sauna, 50 years of Soviet rule in Estonia have separated the two. For the last 300 years Estonia’s been linked to Russia,... Read More

Top experiences in Estonia

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48 hours in Tallinn

While Tallinn’s technological wizards are busy shaping our future (this is the birthplace of Skype, amongst many other digital innovations), most visitors to the city come for a blast from the past – albeit with faster wi-fi.

With their plagues and purges, neither the Middle Ages nor the Soviet era were much fun to actually live through, yet their legacy exerts an undeniable fascination for many, and Tallinn is one of the best places today to get a taste for both at the same time. Make the the most of the ancient and the modern with our guide to spending 48 hours in Estonia's capital.
Peter Dragicevich
Lonely Planet Writer

Estonia for beginners

In the space of only one generation and with a newfound sense of confidence, diminutive Estonia has crept out from under the Soviet blanket and leapt into the arms of Europe. The love affair is mutual: Europe has fallen head-over-heels for the charms of Tallinn and its Unesco-protected Old Town.

While the chocolate-box charms of the capital are far from a state secret, the 1500 islands dotted off Estonia’s coast may come as a surprise. Also unexpected are bears and bog-walking in the country’s national parks, long stretches of golden beaches, crumbling castles, joyous song festivals, and a burgeoning food culture taking its cues from the New Nordic kitchens of its Baltic brethren. By all means make a beeline for Tallinn, but don’t overlook the surprising gems (an irresistible blend of Eastern European and Nordic) that deserve to lure you outside the city limits.
Carolyn Bain
Lonely Planet Writer

Tallinn's secret history of espionage

The prettiest city in Europe, top spot for a stag do, or the shady home of Cold War espionage? Tallinn has many faces, but it does not feel like a place gripped by subterfuge. The Old Town is so cute that it borders on saccharine. The streets are frozen in white, the iron lamplights jet black against the stonework. It is indisputably lovely. But Tallinn’s beautiful Old Town hides a history rich in betrayal.

Tallinn’s crucial strategic position between Russia and the West meant that as the Cold War developed, her pretty streets were seething with spies and double agents from all sides, waiting to be sent either east or west. In this extract from a longer piece in Lonely Planet Magazine, we take a tour of Tallinn’s most secretive sights.
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet Writer
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Estonia adventures

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Baltic Adventure

Decades after the fall of communism, the Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia remain a mystery to most travellers. We’re not complaining, though; more mystery means fewer crowds and an easier time getting to know these fantastic countries. Beginning in charming cobblestoned Vilnius and ending in beautiful Helsinki, this 2-week trip gets to the very heart of the region. Get an up-close glimpse of Riga’s castles and art district, experience rural life in Estonia, and venture into the fortresses and medieval architecture of Tallinn before crossing to Finland by ferry. Make the Baltics your special travel secret.
$113.19 Sightseeing tours

Helsinki Day Trip from Tallinn

While in Tallinn, take some time to explore the dynamic, vibrant city of Helsinki on this day trip! Famous for its modern architecture, Helsinki boasts interesting attractions like magnificent pipe-constructed Sibelius Monument and Temppeliaukio Church, built on a rock with a copper-covered. In addition to your narrated coach tour, you’ll have plenty of time to explore independently. After pickup from your Tallinn hotel, hop on the morning ferry for a 2.5- hour ride to Helsinki. When you arrive, you’ll take a 1.5-hour narrated coach tour and learn fascinating facts and the city’s colorful history. See top Helsinki attractions like Senate Square, featuring traditional Finnish architecture, and the city’s most famous landmark, Helsinki Cathedral. Pass the Presidential Palace, built in 1820, and learn how it’s been visited by several important figures such as President George W Bush. Then, see Finlandia Hall, a concert hall used for congress events.Stop at Sibelius Monument, an artistic piece made of 600 steel pipes created in 1967 for famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. You'll also stop at Temppeliaukio Church, which was built into a rock in 1969 and whose modern design features a roof covered in copper.After your coach tour, you’ll have free time to explore the city independently. You’ll find that this compact city is easy to navigate. Visit more top attractions and landmarks, grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant, and head to the ferry port in central Helsinki to sit, relax and watch ferries come and go. At the end of the day, you’ll board the ferry to return to Tallinn.

$20.58 Sightseeing tours

Tallinn Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Tallinn Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

No matter what cruise ship you arrive on, this is the perfect do-it-yourself shore excursion in Tallinn. See Tallinn’s essential sights on a City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour. You'll see historical and modern sights of Tallinn in a comfortable and secure environment, with full commentary provided. Stop at major attractions including Vabaduse valjak (Freedom Square) and the giant matchbox of Hotel Viru.
$20.58 Sightseeing tours

Tallinn Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Tallinn Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

No matter what cruise ship you arrive on, this is the perfect do-it-yourself shore excursion in Tallinn. See Tallinn’s essential sights on a City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour. You'll see historical and modern sights of Tallinn in a comfortable and secure environment, with full commentary provided. Stop at major attractions including Vabaduse valjak (Freedom Square) and the giant matchbox of Hotel Viru.
$20.58 Sightseeing tours

City Sightseeing Tallinn Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

Discover the easiest way to see the sights of Tallinn! A City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off tour allows you to see all the sights of the city at your leisure and in a comfortable, secure environment, with full commentary provided. You'll see Tallinn’s historical and modern attractions, including Vabaduse valjak (Freedom Square), the giant matchbox of Hotel Viru, the former Intourist flagship and the notorious den of Cold War intrigue. Tickets are valid for 1 or 2 days.
$308.71 Small group tours

5-Day Small Group Tour of Tallinn

Get the maximum positive emotions and good memories by joining a comprehensive 5-day tour of Tallinn that includes accommodation in a centrally located hotel with breakfast, round-trip airport transfers, Tallinn walking and bus sightseeing tours and a guided tour to the Rocca al Mare Open Air Museum. Come and discover the unique local traditions, warm hospitality and incredible scenery of the Estonian capital and you will explore the best of Tallinn
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