Estonia's capital Tallinn is the best-preserved medieval city in Northern Europe. Estonia's UNESCO world heritage capital Tallinn was granted city rights in the 13th century by the King of Denmark. Since then, the streets of Tallinn have seen many world powers, from the Danes and Swedes to Germans, and tsarist and Soviet Russia.
The Estonian language is something unique to the country and sounds different from anything else in Europe. Because of its melodic sound and long vowels, there's an ongoing joke that many visitors think Estonians speak elvish. This magical-sounding language is in fact Estonian, a Finno-Ugric related to Finnish and Hungarian.
It's fair to say that Estonians have a particular tree-hugging spirit. About half of the country is covered by forested land, and almost a quarter is protected by nature. As a result, Estonia has one of the best air quality in the world. Naturally, with so much greenery, Estonians have a special connection to the outdoors.
Did you know....
The air in our cities is among the cleanest in the world!
98% of our rivers have potable water
51% of Estonia's territory consists of forests
21% of farmland is certified organic
23% of the area is protected and accessible to the public
You are never more than 10 km away from a bog at any given point
Tallinn
Estonia's UNESCO world heritage capital Tallinn was granted city rights in the 13th century by the King of Denmark. Since then, the streets of Tallinn have seen many world powers, from the Danes and Swedes to Germans, and tsarist and Soviet Russia. Tallinn's Old Town is filled with medieval houses and alleyways and is still protected by the remnants of the city wall. The wealth of architecture in Tallinn means that there are many legends and stories to explore. In addition to the city's medieval core, newly revamped districts such as Noblessner, Telliskivi, and Rotermann are popping up at lightspeed, offering even more cool architecture to explore.
2000+ Islands
Estonia is the only Baltic country with a deep-rooted and extensive island culture. Although most are uninhabited, Estonian islands tend to be rural, with some holding traces of their local Viking and medieval legacy. Estonia's islands used to be populated by Estonian Swedes, many of whom left the region during WWII, leaving behind a wealth of culture that's visible to this day.
Today, many Estonian islands have their own unique coastal cultures, with traditional singing, dancing, food, and dress. Of course, no matter which island you're on, you'll be sure to enjoy plenty of fish and seafood dishes.
Sauna
Visiting the sauna in Estonia is the most "like a local" experience you can have. Whether it's electric- or wood-powered, you will emerge transformed!
Although sauna may seem like a winter activity, Estonians go all year round. Traditionally, sauna evenings take place on Thursdays, Saturdays, and the night before a major holiday — like Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, or June 23rd, the night before Jaanipäev. However, there are always opportunities to go to the sauna — family gatherings and birthdays are celebrated with sauna. If you don't have a reason, inventing one is perfectly acceptable. When you visit Estonia, a trip to the sauna is the most "like a local" experience you can have.