Money and payments
Cards and cash
ATMs and currency exchange offices (valuutavahetus) are widely available.
Tipping
Tipping has been common in Estonia only after the restoration of independence, and therefore isn't always requested.
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Europe · Northern EuropeUsable guideCountry in Northern Europe
Photo: Karksi_panoraam.jpg: Andrus Uuetalu derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0 ee via Wikimedia Commons
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.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about Estonia.
Cards and cash
ATMs and currency exchange offices (valuutavahetus) are widely available.
Tipping
Tipping has been common in Estonia only after the restoration of independence, and therefore isn't always requested.
Estonian
The official language is Estonian. Unlike most other European languages, Estonian is part of the Finno-Ugric language family, which includes languages such as Finnish and Hungarian.
Prepaid (pay-as-you-go) SIM cards and their top up cards can be bought from R-kiosks (ask for a "kõnekaart" - calling card in English).
Mobile networks
Tap water is usually drinkable, though some people prefer bottled water.
For an Estonian, it is considered mauvais ton not to criticize the Estonian healthcare system.
Estonians can be mistaken as somewhat unwelcoming at first. This is just a matter of culture; Estonians generally do not open up to people they don't know that well.
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
Tallinn is Estonia's capital and largest city. Tallinn is an important port of the Baltic Sea, with the busy passenger section of the port reaching the foothill of the picturesque medieval Old Town, which has been astonishingly well preserved and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.
Tartu (formerly known as Dorpat or Yuryev) is the second largest city in Estonia with a population of around 96,000. A Hanseatic city and a university town, it dates back to 1030, and as such it's the oldest city in the Baltics.
Narva is the easternmost city in Estonia, at the Russian border.
Pärnu is a resort seaside city (and Estonia's summer capital) with a small harbour in south-western Estonia. The city is known for its spas, shallow white sandy beach and beautiful parks.
Rakvere (Tarbapea in ancient Estonian, Weisenberg in German, Rakowor in Russian) is Estonia’s fifth largest city and situated the northern part of the country, 20 km south of the Gulf of Finland and approximately 100 km east of Tallinn and west of Narva.
Haapsalu is a major seaside resort town on the west coast of Estonia, approximately 100 km south-west of Tallinn.
Viljandi is an ancient hilly city of 17,000 people (2019) in the South of Estonia.
Kuressaare is the capital of Saaremaa, the largest of Estonia's islands.
Lahemaa National Park (Estonian: Lahemaa rahvuspark) is a national park in North Estonia. It was the first national park to be created in the now dissolved Soviet Union.
Soomaa National Park is in Viljandimaa and Pärnumaa of Estonia. With 390 km², it's the second largest national park in Estonia.
Matsalu National Park is in Läänemaa county, western Estonia.
Vilsandi National Park is on and outside Saaremaa, Estonia's largest island. The park includes the island of Vilsandi, 160 other islands and islets, parts of Western Saaremaa and the Harilaid peninsula.
Karula National Park is in Valgamaa of Estonia.
Alutaguse National Park (Estonian: Alutaguse rahvuspark) in East Estonia is the country's newest national park (as of 2023), established in 2018.
Otepää is a small town with 2,000 inhabitants set in the hills of south Estonia, approximately 50 km south from Tartu.
The South of Estonia is a diverse region with unique cultures, ski resorts and Tartu (an interesting student town).
Saaremaa is the largest Estonian island. It is on the west coast of Estonia.
Hiiumaa is the second biggest island in Estonia. The Swedish and German name of the island is Dagö.
Kihnu is the largest island in the Gulf of Riga and one of the smallest municipalities in Estonia.
Muhu is the third largest island in Estonia, although it is fairly small at 198 square kilometres. It's located between the mainland and Saaremaa Island, to which it is connected by a causeway.
Ruhnu is a small island in Estonia, isolated from the rest of the country in the Gulf of Riga. The island is called Runö in Swedish.
Vormsi is a small island in Estonia. The island is called Ormsö in Swedish.
Noarootsi (Nuckö in Swedish) is a coastal area in northwestern Estonia.
Finland (Finnish: Suomi, Swedish: Finland) is a country with vast areas of unspoiled nature speckled with comfortable small towns and cities. Scraped flat by sheets of ice during several ice ages, Finland lacks the dramatic mountains and fjords of its Nordic neighbours but makes up for it with 188,000 lakes and a similar number of islands.
Places in Estonia on the World Heritage List.
List from Wikidata (CC0). Photos from Wikimedia Commons.
The most industrialised region with over a third of the population. Tallinn, with its nightlife and UNESCO-protected medieval Old Town, is a well-known tourist attraction. There are many beautiful small beach villages, such as Kaberneeme, Laulasmaa, Nõva, Käsmu and Võsu. Lahemaa National Park can be reached within an hour from Tallinn.
Ida-Viru county, adjacent to Russia, where about 70% of the population consists of ethnic Russians. Narva, with its many landmarks, is the easternmost point of the country. Seaside resorts, such as Toila and Narva-Jõesuu, are among the best in Estonia.
Known for its resorts, Haapsalu and Pärnu (the summer capital of Estonia), and its islands (Saaremaa and Hiiumaa the biggest). The region has historical significance. Noarootsi and the islands of Ruhnu and Vormsi are inhabited by coastal Swedes. Other unique places include the islands Kihnu and Muhu with their rich cultural heritage and the national parks of Vilsandi and Matsalu.
Centred around the lively university city of Tartu. Further south and south-east are Mulgimaa, Võromaa and Setomaa with a unique cultural heritage that's still visible today. Karula National Park, Soomaa National Park and the ski resorts near Otepää are in the region.
Public transport and paid services in Estonia.
By bus
Estonia has a comprehensive bus network all over the country. Nearly every city can be accessed by a direct bus from Tallinn or Tartu. Other big cities have their own bus routes, such as Narva–Pärnu.
By train
Estonia's train network does not cover the whole country. The quality of railway tracks and services is steadily improving, thanks to substantial EU funding.
By car
Most roads have two lanes, but some national highways (Tallinn-Tartu, Tallinn-Pärnu, Tallinn-Narva and Tallinn ring road) have 4 lanes in some segments (mainly closer to Tallinn).
By taxi
Taksod.net is a portal about taxis in Estonia.
By plane
Estonia has several domestic flights, mainly between the mainland and islands. Three of the islands have airports: Hiiumaa, Ruhnu & Kuressaare.
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Estonia.
Finding apps for Estonia…
Other ways to travel:By thumbBy bicycleOn foot and navigation
Operators checked against their official websites in October 2026; services that have stopped running are not listed. Logos and Wikipedia links: Wikidata (CC0)
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Tallinn · International · TLL
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Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in Tallinn
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | -2° | -3° | 1° | 6° | 13° | 17° | 21° | 20° | 16° | 9° | 4° | 0° |
| Avg. low | -6° | -7° | -4° | 1° | 6° | 11° | 16° | 15° | 11° | 5° | 1° | -3° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 52 | 42 | 40 | 40 | 48 | 72 | 65 | 72 | 57 | 71 | 68 | 57 |
| Humidity | 94% | 94% | 90% | 84% | 79% | 77% | 77% | 77% | 82% | 87% | 91% | 93% |
Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.
Budget
$75
Per person, per day
Mid-range
$200
Per person, per day
Luxury
$525
Per person, per day
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $35 | $110 | $305 |
| Food and drink | $20 | $45 | $105 |
| Local transport | $10 | $20 | $45 |
| Activities | $10 | $25 | $70 |
Estimate from World Bank price levels (2025). Actual costs vary by city and season. World Bank
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We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 1 of 4Exercise normal precautions
Exercise normal precautionin Estonia. Estonia is generally a safe destination for travelers. Review our travel guidance for Estonia to learn how to prepare for a safe trip.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
No advice against travel. Read the full advice before you go.
Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: see general advice for women travellers read our guide on disability and travel abroad see general advice for LGBT+ travellers read about safety for solo and independent travel see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad Travel insurance If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. Get travel advice updates Sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated. Follow FCDO: travel advice on X travel advice on Facebook Travel Aware on Instagram
Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in Estonia.
Nature & adventureHiking is a great way to explore the forests, bogs, islands and the rural side of Estonia.
Wikivoyage
Culture & historyIn the early hours of 28 September 1994, Europe's deadliest peacetime shipwreck took place when the passenger ferry MS Estonia sunk in the northern Baltic Sea on a journey from Tallinn to Stockholm.
Wikivoyage
ItinerariesVia Baltica is a road leading through the Baltic States and Poland in Northern Europe.
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsThe Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) (Russian: Союз Советских Социалистических Республик (СССР)), or Soviet Union, emerged as the successor state to the Russian Empire in 1917, and was dissolved in 1991.
Wikivoyage
Culture & historyThis article describes old towns and other remnants in the Nordic countries from the unification of Sweden, Norway and Denmark in the 11th century, to the Industrial Revolution of the mid-19th century.
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsThis article is about cruise ferries local to the Baltic Sea. See Cruising the Baltic Sea for international cruise ships visiting the Baltic Sea, and Boating on the Baltic Sea for independent boating.
Wikivoyage
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