The most digitally advanced country on Earth — the birthplace of Skype and e-Residency, a medieval UNESCO old town in Tallinn rivaling Prague, and a spa culture mixing Soviet-era and Nordic traditions.
- Capital
- Tallinn
- Population
- 1,369,995
- Area
- 45,226 km²
- Languages
- Estonian
- Currency
- Euro (€)
- GDP
- $45,004M
Good to know
Driving side
Right
National dish
sauerkraut stew
Annual visitors
1,695,000 (2020)
Safety
Low (1.54/100k)
Avg temp
6.3°C
Coast
Coastal
☎ Police 110 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 112
Travel guide
Estonia (Estonian: Eesti) is a Baltic gem offering visitors the chance to see a tiny dynamic land on the shores of the sea. The northernmost and smallest of the Baltic states, Estonia has charming old towns and heritage back to the Hanseatic League. Tallinn's old town was built in the Middle Ages, but is in magnificent condition, with the city walls and towers almost completely intact, and it rates as one of Europe's best medieval old towns. Visitors can also experience an ex-Soviet republic that is now part of the European Union. Traces of the Soviet era are still there to be seen, e.g. Paldiski, a deserted Soviet army base that was once off-limits to Estonians themselves, can easily be visited on a day trip from the capital, Tallinn. Estonia is renowned for its bucolic islands and extensive bogs that are now national parks with easy access for tourists. Glorious beaches pepper the extensive coastline, although the swimming season is short — after all, the Baltics are not renowned for warm weather.
© Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)
Explore Estonia
Best time to visit
June–August is the best period with long days and the White Nights in late June. Tallinn is beautiful year-round but gets crowded in summer. Christmas markets in December are magical. Winters are cold and dark but atmospheric.
Visa
Citizens of US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and most Western countries receive 90 days Schengen visa-free in Estonia.
Public holidays
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (2)
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