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| Estonia |
| Estonia Travel Guide |
| Ever wanted to eat blood sausages washed down with a syrupy liquor of unknown origin, check out abandoned Soviet military installations, or go bog walking then get flogged with birch branches in a scorching hot sauna? You can do it all in Estonia, the small territory which packs in some charming quirks without ruining your budget. |
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Old Town Days
Taking place each June in the heart of this historic city, Old Town Days is a great medieval festival which sees the streets filled with participants dressed in the traditional clothes of that period. Events include a traditional street market, authentic medieval food and drink stalls, street entertainers, folk music and traditional dancing
Opera and Ballet Festival:
Each year the Estonian National Opera holds its "Summer Night Stars" - a week of performances of its most popular works. The event is always popular with sell-out performances that welcomes guest soloists and conductors
Midsummer's Night:
Celebrated throughout Estonia, Midsummer's Night is the celebration of the Summer Solstice which marks the longest day of the year. It is an ancient practice which dates back to pre-Christian times and has many rituals that are closely associated with nature and the hope for a good harvest in the autumn. It is a time to be with friends, family and loved ones and is usually celebrated with a big meal during the day before heading out to one of the many public parties which involve traditional dances and more eating, drinking and singing. Bonfires are also lit which is a ritual that links back to the old tradition of cleansing and warding off evil spirits
Ollesummer Festival:
The largest beer festival in the Baltics, the annual Ollesummer Festival takes place in the heart of the historic old city of Tallinn. Asides from copious amounts of beer, there is also a great programme of live entertainment including Estonian national music, rock, jazz, reggae and hip-hop. Bands and musicians perform on a number of different stages and there is also a separate Youth Zone (POP Arena) with performances by Estonian youth bands and a skate park and a Children's Zone (Summimaa) with a special programme for the youngest festival visitors including aerobics sessions, children's shows and a disco
Tallinn Christmas Market
Helping to get visitors in the festive spirit, the annual Christmas Market turns the historic Old Town into a Christmas shopper's paradise. Amidst the many stalls selling everything from traditional foods and drinks to locally-made handicrafts, choirs and musicians keep crowds entertained with regular performances of seasonal music and singing. |
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Tallinn:
"Tallinn, the capital of the Republic of Estonia, is located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland. The population of Tallinn is about 440,000, which is approximately one third of the entire Estonian population.
Tallinn was first mentioned in historical documents by the Arab geographer al-Idrisi in 1154 under the name of Koluvan. After the Danes conquered the town, the Estonians started to call it Taani linn (Danish Town) which later changed into Tallinn."
Lahemaa National Park:
Estonia's largest national park Lahemaa is located in northern Estonia, 70 km east of Tallinn. The park with a territory of 649 sq km is an unspoiled section of rural Estonia with an attractive variety of coastal and inland scenery. The park takes in a long stretch of deeply indented coast with several peninsulas and more than a dozen lakes and numerous rivers and waterfalls. About sixty five per cent of Lahemaa's territory is forest and nine per cent is bog. Some 838 plant species have been found in the park, including 34 rare ones, plus 37 mammals and more than two hundred species of birds and 24 of fish
SAAREMAA:
Saaremaa, the largest island, is located in western Estonia and has an area of 2,700 sq. km and a population of about 40,000. It is linked with the neighbouring island Muhu by a causeway. The coastline abounds in peninsulas and beautiful bays. Saaremaa is surrounded by many smaller islands and islets. The island today is a thinly populated place of unspoiled rural landscape. There are several high cliffs, juniper fields and sandy beaches. Forests still cover nearly half the land.To protect the rare flora and fauna there are several nature reserves in Saaremaa. Besides its picturesque scenery, the island also has many historical and architectural sights. Old villages with thatched cottages are surrounded by stone fences. There are old windmills, 18-19th century manor houses and medieval churches that are well worth visiting.
Latvia:
"Riga, the capital of the Republic of Latvia, is located in the mouth of the Daugava river. Riga is the biggest city of the whole Baltic area. Its population is 764,328. Riga was first mentioned in historical documents in 1201 and is clebrating its 800th anniversary in summer 2001. Riga is a member of the Hanseatic League since 1282.
During its history Riga has been under the rule of conquerors from Germany, Poland, Sweden and Russia. On 18 November 1918 Riga became the capital of independent Latvian Republic. The first independence lasted till 1940 when Latvia like Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union, Latvia regained its independence in 1991." |
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Time Zone
GMT + 2 Hour.
Language Spoken
Estonia is the offical language spoken
Passport/ VISA
UK citizens must have a valid passport. If holding a passport endorsed British Citizen a visa is not required. British National (Overseas), British Overseas Territories Citizen or British Subject with the right of abode in the UK do not require a visa for a stay of up to 90 days in a six-month period. In all other cases, a visa is required.
Climate
Generally temperate, but slightly cool and damp. Summer is warm, while spring and autumn can be mild. Winter, which lasts from November to mid March, can be very cold. Rainfall is distributed throughout the year with the heaviest rainfall in August. Heavy snowfalls are common in the winter months. |
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