EstoniaBest Time to Visit

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.