Things to do in Estonia

25 things to do in Estonia

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Get lost in the maze of Tallinn's UNESCO-listed Old Town

  Wander cobblestone lanes past 15th-century merchant houses, hidden courtyards, and the gothic Town Hall Square, a perfectly preserved medieval city core.

  Tallinn, Harju County

• Marvel at the onion domes of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

  Step inside this opulent Russian Revival cathedral atop Toompea Hill, with its striking dark domes, mosaics, and iconostasis.

  Tallinn, Harju County

• Stroll through the baroque gardens of Kadriorg Palace

  Admire the czar-era summer residence surrounded by formal flowerbeds, swan ponds, and the collection of foreign art inside the palace.

  Tallinn, Harju County

• See Estonian art evolution at Kumu Art Museum

  Explore the award-winning contemporary building housing classic and cutting-edge Estonian art from the 18th century to today.

  Tallinn, Harju County

• Travel back in time at the Estonian Open Air Museum

  Roam a reconstructed 18th-century rural village with thatched farmhouses, a wooden tavern, and costumed guides showcasing traditional life.

  Tallinn, Harju County

• Climb aboard a submarine at the Seaplane Harbour

  Explore the massive hangar displaying the 1930s submarine Lembit, a seaplane, icebreaker, and interactive maritime exhibits.

  Tallinn, Harju County

• Hunt for street art and design in Telliskivi Creative City

  Browse independent boutiques, pop-up galleries, and vibrant murals in this post-industrial quarter turned culture hub.

  Tallinn, Harju County

• Sip craft beer at Põhjala Brewery's industrial-chic taproom

  Taste bold Baltic-inspired ales like the oatmeal porter Õhtu directly at the source in a former Noblessner shipyard building.

  Tallinn, Harju County

• Walk the halls of power at Toompea Castle

  Visit the pink baroque facade of Estonia's Parliament, built on a 9th-century stronghold, and peek at the Tall Hermann tower.

  Tallinn, Harju County

• Descend into the chilling KGB Prison Cells

  Tour the basement rooms on Pagari Street where Soviet security forces interrogated and held political prisoners during the occupation.

  Tallinn, Harju County

• Hike the wooden boardwalk over Viru bog in Lahemaa National Park

  Tiptoe across the peatland to a watchtower for a sea of bog pools and pine islands, a classic Estonian landscape just an hour from Tallinn.

  Lahemaa National Park, Harju/Lääne-Viru County

• Canoe through flooded forests in Soomaa's ‘fifth season’

  Paddle across meadows and woods in a traditional haabja dugout canoe when spring snowmelt turns the national park into a vast wetland.

  Soomaa National Park, Pärnu/Viljandi County

• Stand on the highest peak of the Baltics at Suur Munamägi

  Climb the observation tower on the 318-metre hill for a patchwork view of forests, lakes, and the distant Haanja uplands.

  Haanja, Võru County

• Bask on the white sands of Pärnu Beach

  Walk the long, shallow beach lined with wooden promenades and spa hotels, Estonia's ultimate summer playground.

  Pärnu, Pärnu County

• Step into a medieval stronghold at Kuressaare Castle

  Roam the perfectly preserved 14th-century fortress surrounded by a moat, now housing the Saaremaa Museum inside its stone halls.

  Kuressaare, Saaremaa Island

• Gaze into the Kaali meteorite crater field

  Visit nine giant impact craters formed around 3,500 years ago, a sacred site where animals were sacrificed according to ancient beliefs.

  Kaali, Saaremaa Island

• Hike the dramatic limestone cliff of Panga on Saaremaa

  Walk along the highest coastal cliff in West Estonia, where the escarpment drops 21 metres to the sea and folk tales speak of witch gatherings.

  Panga, Saaremaa Island

• Soak up the student spirit at Tartu University's historic main building

  Climb the grand staircase and visit the lock-up cells that once held misbehaving students in the neoclassical heart of Estonia's oldest university.

  Tartu, Tartu County

• Play with science at AHHAA Science Centre

  Launch a hydrogen rocket, walk in a planetarium, or test the physics of a giant bubble in this hands-on mind-bender perfect for all ages.

  Tartu, Tartu County

• Taste true Estonian black bread at Muhu Bakery

  Bite into dense rye loaves still warm from the oven, crafted with centuries-old recipes in a tiny shop amid Rotermann's modern architecture.

  Tallinn, Harju County

• Enjoy Nordic-Estonian fine dining with a sea view at NOA

  Savour inventive tasting menus featuring local game, fish, and seasonal berries right on the shore of Tallinn Bay, where sunset illuminates the city skyline.

  Tallinn, Harju County

• Wander the bohemian streets of Tartu's Karlova neighbourhood

  Explore colourful wooden houses, quirky cafes, and artist studios in this laid-back district that feels like a small countryside village inside the city.

  Tartu, Tartu County

• Catch a ballet or opera at the Estonian National Opera

  Sit in the grand red-and-gold hall of the historic theatre for a world-class performance, from Tchaikovsky to Estonian contemporary works.

  Tallinn, Harju County

• Bog-shoe through the floating mat of Kakerdaja bog

  Strap on snowshoe-like bog shoes and squish across the springy sphagnum moss, surrounded by cranberries and reflective bog pools deep in the wilderness.

  Kakerdaja, Järva County

• Time your visit to see the Tuhala Witch's Well boil

  Witness groundwater burst through the 2.5-metre spout during heavy rains, creating a bubbling wonder that locals attribute to witch spells.

  Tuhala, Harju County