Estonia Vacations

The people of Estonia tend to be reserved, soft-spoken, and polite, and they’re proud of their cultural identity. The official language is Estonian, but older generations still speak German, and there is a minority of Swedish speakers too. Lutheran Christian and Orthodox are minority religions, but most of the country identify as non-religious.

Tartu is the second largest city in Estonia, after Tallinn, and is home to one of Europe’s oldest universities. It was established in 1632 but was closed from 1710-1802. Tartu is considered the intellectual centre of the country and dubbed the ‘City of Good Thoughts’. Other sites to see in Tartu include the Lutheran St. John’s Church, the 18th century town hall, and the ruins of the 13th century cathedral It’s modern buildings of steel, concrete, and glass have been smartly designed, and blend in smoothly with the old world architecture.

The Old Town in Tallinn has Gothic spires, twenty-six watchtowers, winding cobblestone streets, and iron street lamps from earlier times. Some of its buildings date back to the 111th century. You can take a ‘Legends of Tallinn’ tour while you’re there, and learn about the origin of Tallinn’s former name, Reval, among other mythology and lesser known historical stories.

Within the Old Town also lives Toompea Castle. was originally constructed in the 13th century, and rebuilt in the 18th century. The tower is an important national symbol because tradition dictates that whichever nation flies its flag over it, rules Estonia.

Several holidays are observed in Estonia each year. Some celebrate various important historical days of independence like Independence Day, Victory Day, and the Estonian Restoration of Independence. And some holidays mark other globally recognized events like Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. Spring Day (Kevadpuha) is the pagan celebration of the return of nature from its rest and is celebrated with picnics on the first Sunday in May. 

In Estonia, summer is short and the winter is cold. Luckily, Estonians have a vibrant and enthusiastic outdoor culture in the frigid months.

One of the best winter activities in Estonia is snowshoeing. Imagine yourself walking in the cold. Walking on top of feet of snow, some crunching, some dusty. You’ll enjoy the silence on a crisp and sunny frozen day, and in a blizzard, muffled inside your thick hood. Head to Konnu Wetlands to snowshoe the bog pools there and witness the bonsai-like pine trees.

Estonia is the country of a thousand lakes, and also hosts more than fifteen-hundred islands. A third of the forests are protected in five national parks and nature reserves. Lahemaa National Park is on the northern coast – it has four peninsulas, and inspire the park’s name meaning, Land of Bays.

Soomaa National Park in central Estonia is known as the wilderness capital because it has remained relatively untouched, providing a stable ecosystem for many species. Some animals that call the park home are: beavers, elk, wild boar, grey wolves, brown bears, flying squirrels, and the Eurasian lynx. 

Visiting the Island of Saaremaa will take you over, with its wooden windmills, stunning Saare golf course, meteorite craters, and beaches. The majestic and medievel Kuressaare Castle was founded in 1260. It stands facing the sea on a human-made island ringed by a moat. The castle is the best-preserved castle in the Baltic. Outdoor concerts are held in the castle yard throughout the summer. And you’ve got to check out kayaking in the west end of Saaremaa Island. The shimmering waters take you through fishing islets against the stunning coast. Seals might rear their heads, while pirate ships rest below, sunken over the centuries. Return from your trip to a sauna, and a beer.

Local Vikings, the Oeselians, were known for their ships and raids. They occupied Saaremaa, a beautiful island in the Baltic Sea, which has one of the richest finds of archaeological treasures anywhere.

Foreign Vikings came from the seas, then Christian invaders from the west, and Dutch and German knights invaded, and eventually the Estonian territory was divided between the conquerors. Bishops became central figures of authority and cathedrals were built throughout the country. The transformation to Christianity was slow, and because of the resistance to change, eventually the local religion became a mix of Christianity and the pagan belief system that existed first.

Ivan the Terrible of Russia was defeated by the Swedes in Estonia, and those victors created a peaceful era until the Plague and Great Famine killed twenty percent of the population in the 1690s. A new war then saw Russia take control of the country. During this time peasants purchased their own land (good), industrialization saw poor working conditions (bad) and the Russian Tsar squashed any striking uprisings.

At the end of the First World War Estonia declared itself independent and the Tartu Peace Treaty of 1920 further limited Russia’s influence. WWII was a disaster for Estonia. Like the first world war, many soldiers were killed and the country was annexed by the Soviet Union, beginning a period of repression. In the 1980s Mikhail Gorbachev helped to improve conditions in the Baltics and independence was regained in 1991. Estonia joined the EU in 2004 and is known today for its unspoiled beauty and for being one of Europe’s most friendly nations.

The Euro was adopted as the official currency in 2011.

In Estonia, eating habits have been traditionally characterized by seasonal ingredients. This means that Estonians eat fresh foods during the summer months, and preserve foods to be eaten in the winter. Older generations stick to some of these old practices and there are markets for those who don’t – while younger generations are likely fed some of those preserves by their parents or grandparents.

The cuisine of Estonia has been greatly influenced by Scandinavian, German, and Russian traditions, and meals are usually centred around meat and potatoes or fish in the coastal and lake areas. The fishing industry is dominated by rainbow trout in Estonia’s lakes, rivers, and fish farms, while herring and sprat are common fish in the Baltic Sea.

Estonians love a good kiluvoileib, which is an open sprat (type of fish) sandwich. It traditionally comes on buttered rye bread, a marinated sprat fillet, green onions, herbs, and it usually comes with a poached or hard-boiled egg.

Mjulgikapsad is a hearty, slow-cooked winter sauerkraut dish made from cabbage, pork, and barley. Marineeritud angerjas is eel, marinated in a sweet and sour sauce served cold, and enjoyed especially as a holiday special treat.

Sult is a meat jelly made from boiled meat and gelatin, sliced, and served cold with mustard or horseradish and hakkliha kotlet are minced meat patties, like meatballs or hamburgers made with beef and pork, breadcrumbs and spices. These are baked or fried, and are usually served with potatoes and a  sauce like ketchup, mustard, or a local mixture of caramelized onions and sour cream.

Estonia’s craft beer scene is a growing phenomenon. It's born of a substantial, centuries old history of beer making in the country. It’s a thriving scene, and some breweries have begun exporting to northern European countries. 

Major breweries include Saku (founded in 1820) and A. Le Coq (founded in 1807), are now owned by big beer companies, but small craft breweries, aided with simple regulations and a friendly government, the craft brewers make a dent in the market.

Pohjala Brewery put together an awesome beer festival called Tallinn Craft Beer Weekend, and it’s been regularly attended annually since 2015.