Every corner of Estonia

Areas of Estonia

Every corner of Estonia, from the capital out to the islands and the lakes — every area we cover is hand-checked against the roads, the seasons and the real distances.

Vega lists 6 areas with stays. Use this index to choose where to base yourself, then open each area for its hotels, guides, things to do and practical travel notes.

Which areas of Estonia does Estoniadestinations cover?

Estoniadestinations covers Pärnu, the summer beach and spa capital; the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa; Haapsalu on the west coast; Lake Peipus, Estonia's largest lake; Matsalu National Park with its birdlife; and Vega, which groups our Pärnu, Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Haapsalu, Lake Peipus and Matsalu stays into one bookable collection.

What is Vega known for?

Vega is the collection name that groups the western and island areas we cover — Pärnu, Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Haapsalu, Lake Peipus and Matsalu National Park. Visitors use it to browse beach and spa stays, ferry-linked island hotels, reed-bed birdwatching and lake-shore guesthouses in one place.

What is Pärnu known for?

Pärnu is known for a kilometre of shallow, sandy beach, century-old sea-mud spa hotels and a compact wooden old town walkable in twenty minutes. Visitors swim from Ranna puiestee, take mud treatments at Hedon, cycle to Valgeranna and day-trip by ferry to Kihnu island.

What is Saaremaa known for?

Saaremaa is known for Kuressaare's moated medieval castle, juniper meadows and quiet coastal roads. Visitors explore the Kaali meteorite crater, windmills at Angla, the cliffs at Panga and long alvar and beach walks, with spa hotels and guesthouses in Kuressaare as the main base.

What is Hiiumaa known for?

Hiiumaa is known for lighthouses, pine forest and an empty coastline. Visitors climb the Kõpu lighthouse, see the Tahkuna light and the meteorite craters at Kärdla, walk the Sakk and Kõrgessaare shore, and pick up smoked fish in the small villages along the island's quiet roads.

What is Haapsalu known for?

Haapsalu is known for its warm, shallow seafront, wooden villa streets and the 13th-century episcopal castle. Visitors walk the Promenade, take a mud cure, ride the old railway museum's Baltic train and visit the Tchaikovsky bench and the cathedral famous for its White Lady legend.

What is Lake Peipus known for?

Lake Peipus is known as Estonia's largest lake: a low, reedy shore of fishing villages, onion-domed Old Believer churches and smoked-fish smokehouses. Visitors swim from sandy beaches, watch birds at the shallows, take boat trips and explore Mustvee and Kallaste on the western shore.

What is Matsalu National Park known for?

Matsalu National Park is known as one of Europe's great bird-migration stopovers. Visitors walk the Suitsu boardwalks and view the flooded meadows and reed beds from observation towers, cycle the Matsalu–Lihula loop and stay in Haapsalu or Lihula for early spring and autumn passage days.

What is Sierra known for?

Sierra is the collection name that groups our inland and eastern areas — Soomaa, Lahemaa, Tartu, Setomaa and the bogs and manor landscapes between them. Visitors use it to find Soomaa's flood-time canoeing, Lahemaa's boulder coast and manors, and quiet bases for exploring the south.

Where can I find Pärnu?

Pärnu is listed on this page as one of the areas Estoniadestinations covers. See the Pärnu section below for details on its sandy beach and spa hotels, its wooden old town and where to base yourself.

Where can I find Saaremaa?

Saaremaa is one of the areas covered on this page. See the Saaremaa section below for what to see and do on the island: the medieval castle at Kuressaare, juniper meadows and quiet coastal roads.

Which other areas are listed?

Alongside Pärnu and Saaremaa, the page lists Tallinn, Tartu, Lahemaa, Setomaa, Soomaa National Park, Hiiumaa, Narva, Haapsalu, Viljandi, Rakvere, Otepää, Võru, Lake Peipus and Matsalu National Park, each with its own section below.

Pärnu

Estonia's summer capital: a kilometre of shallow sand, century-old mud baths, and a wooden old town you can walk in twenty minutes.

Stays in Pärnu ↗

Saaremaa

Estonia's biggest island: a moated medieval castle, juniper meadows and quiet coastal roads.

Stays in Saaremaa ↗

Tallinn

The capital, with its walled old town and the ferry harbour that connects the mainland to the islands.

Stays in Tallinn ↗

Tartu

Estonia's university city in the south, a natural base for exploring the lakes and the southern countryside.

Stays in Tartu ↗

Lahemaa

The national park on the northern coast: forest, bog and manor-house villages along the shore.

Stays in Lahemaa ↗

Setomaa

The south-eastern corner with its own culture and borderland villages, for travellers who want the quieter side of Estonia.

Stays in Setomaa ↗

How to choose an area

Distances in Estonia are short: from Tallinn you can reach most of the northern coast in a day, and the islands are served by ferry. If you are planning a summer trip, Pärnu and Saaremaa fill first; for a year-round city break, Tallinn and Tartu have the widest choice of stays and the best transport links. Lahemaa suits travellers who want forest and coast without going far from the capital, and Setomaa is for those who prefer quiet villages and local culture over beaches and nightlife. Whichever area you pick, book early for July and August, and check the ferry timetables before you fix your dates.