Estonian Islands

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Tallinn

Arrive at Tallinn Airport. Pick up your rental car and make your way to your hotel in the city center.

Day 2: Tallinn

Breakfast at the hotel and free time to explore the city.

Tallinn is a charming city with a population of about 400,000. It has an incredibly well preserved, picturesque medieval Old Town packed with lots of restaurants and bars. The city has a very Scandinavian feel to it, with its minimalist interiors, fairy tale like Old Town and the steel and glass skyscrapers clustered nearby. Summers are pleasant and the gentle breeze blowing off the Gulf of Finland makes wandering around the hilly old town enjoyable.  People are friendly, welcome tourists and English is widely spoken by the locals.

Day 3: Tallinn - Muhu Island (159 Km/98 Miles)

Breakfast at the hotel and journey to Muhu Island.

Visit Estonia’s largest National Park Lahemaa. In Lahemaa National park you can enjoy a piece of Estonian landscape by discovering parks, forests and lakes. You can also visit Estonia’s magnificent waterfalls. Jägala Waterfall is a waterfall in the lower course of the Jägala River, approximately 4 km before the river flows into the Gulf of Finland. The waterfall is approximately 8 metres high and more than 50 metres wide. It is the widest natural waterfall in Estonia. Keila Waterfall is located on Keila River in Harju County, Keila rural municipality, Keila-Joa small town.  A full 6 metres high, and tens of metres wide, Keila waterfall is the third largest waterfall in Estonia; after the Narva and Jägala waterfalls. There is a road from the park along the riverbed, crossing two suspension bridges, to the waterfall. 

You may also want to visit Haapsalu on the coast on your way to Muhu Island. Haapsalu is small, friendly town only 2 hours away from Tallinn. Haapsalu was once known as a popular summer destination for Russian aristocracy.

Take a ferry from Virtsu Harbour to Kuivatsu on the island of Muhu.

Day 4: Muhu Island - Kuressaare, Saaremaa (60 Km/37 Miles)

Breakfast at the hotel. Continue to Kuressaare in Saaremaa.

Muhu is connected by a land bridge to Saaremaa. Kuressaare lies approximately 48 miles inland, along a well-maintained paved road.

Saaremaa is the largest island in the Estonian Archipelago situated close to the western coast of mainland Estonia. Saaremaa presents welcoming break from the buzz of mainland life, offering peace and natural beauty together with more than 5,000 years of history. The largest town of Saaremaa is Kuressaare with the population of about 16,000, situated 135 miles from Tallinn. For a long time Kuressaare offers quality health spa’s, lively cultural life (especially in summer) and small, charming town atmosphere.

One of the attractions in Saaremaa is the steep and impressive limestone cliff on the northern coast at Ninase and Panga, which rises 21 m above sea level. Culturally interesting are the windmills at Angla, the medieval, rustic Karja church, which is without a steeple yet rich in unique hewn sculptures and frescos. In northwest Saaremaa near Kihelkonna you will find the Mihkli Farm museum. What makes it unique is the fact that the items on display in this fully preserved farmhouse complex have been made on the farm over six generations. Sõrve peninsula is where in World War II some of the heaviest battles in Estonia took place.

Day 5: Kuresaare - Parnu (154 Km/95 Miles)

Breakfast at the hotel. Continue your journey to Parnu, the summer capital of Estonia.

Take the ferry back from Muhu to the mainland.

Parnu is the most popular Estonian summer resort founded in 1251 and situated 80 miles west from the Tallinn. Locally Parnu is also called as Estonia’s summer capital as during the summer population in Parnu doubles due to its main attractions - white sandy beaches, quality spa traditions and charming Hansaetic town atmosphere.

Day 6: Kihnu Island (Ferry)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive to the Munalaiu harbor and take a ferry to the Kihnu Island.

Kihnu is the seventh largest island in Estonia and is an ancient home to seafarers and fishermen. The cultural heritage of Kihnu – the clothing, language, music and handcrafts are part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The inhabitants value old traditions, especially singing and dancing.

Through centuries the men of Kihnu have spent most of their time at sea, while women have become home makers. Kihnu Island is also known as the island of women.

Visit Kihnu Museum and understand the history of the island a bit better. It is also possible to arrange home visits, truck car tours and fishing trips to see how the locals live on the island.

Take the ferry back to Parnu in the afternoon.

Day 7: Parnu - Tallinn (127 Km/79 Miles)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive back to Tallinn. Drop off your rental car.

This map uses Google Maps, so you can zoom and interact with it as we hope it is familiar to you.

For a larger version of this map which opens in a new window, click here

The lines shown give you an indication of our destinations and are not the exact route used.

You'll see...

• Saaremaa »
• Tallinn »
• Estonia Maritime Museum »
• Kadriorg Park And Palace »
• Toompea Hill »

Car Rental

You can rent a car, as long as you have a valid EU or international driver's license. Most cars will have manual transmission.

Will I see the Northern Lights?

Please scroll down to see the specifics for the country you wish to visit:

Iceland:
The Northern Lights are in the Northern sky from September through April but are only visible when the sky is clear and free of clouds. Like many of natures wonders, it’s ephemeral – they may be visible, they may appear for a bit and then be gone. But it’s worth it to be patient. Because they’re a winter event, you need to be prepared to wait outside, while looking for them. It’s best to dress very warmly, in layers, with good footwear, gloves, hats and whatever else will make you comfortable while you await this truly amazing event. The Northern Lights can be pretty spectacular, and for the best photos we recommend using a tripod. Much of Iceland offers a very a good chance to see the Northern Lights when conditions are right. Remember – the Northern Lights are natural phenomena, not guaranteed, but appreciated all the more for their elusive qualities.

Norway:
Northern Norway is one of the world's best places to experience the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). In Northern Norway, Northern Lights occur in up to 90% of every clear night in the period from late September to late March. Most Northern Lights occur in the time span from 6pm to slightly after midnight, with an absolute peak at around 10-11pm. 

In Norway, the area north of the Arctic Circle is prime aurora territory. The various destinations in the High North have a distinct personality, and are well worth exploring. Major places in Northern Norway are Tromsø, Kirkenes, Alta, Bodø, Lofoten and Vesterålen Islands and Svalbard.

Finland:
The best place to see the Northern Lights in Finland is in the Northern Lapland region, which is almost entirely located within the realm of the Arctic Circle. During the dark winter months here, when the sun rarely peaks its head over the horizon, you can expect to see the Finland Northern Lights with regularity, and other peak seasons include February through March and September through October. The most common colours of the Northern Lights are greenish-yellow and red.

The Finnish term for the Northern Lights, Revontulet, meaning fox fire, comes from an old tale where the fox was believed to swish its bushy tail on the snowy fell landscapes, throwing sparks into the air.

As mentioned, Lapland is the best place to see the Finland Aurora Borealis, with the Kilpisjarvi area offering the most abundant opportunities. The best time of the day to see the Finland Northern Lights is between 9 pm and 11:30 pm, though they are certainly not restricted to this time frame.

Sweden:
In Northern Sweden, the Northern Lights usually occur during the winter months through late March or early April, but they can be spotted as early as September in the Northernmost parts. Your best chance of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights is on cold winter nights when the sky is clear and cloudless. You need to be away from city lights, which dilute the effects of these natural phenomena, so head out into the countryside. On clear nights, the Northern Lights can be visible from most locations in Swedish Lapland, occurring between 6 pm to and 2 am, with the strongest shows happening between 10 pm and 11 pm. For those willing to brave the cold on winter nights, here are some of the best locations in Swedish Lapland for viewing these phenomena:

Abisko National Park
Abisko National Park, a couple of kilometers north of Kiruna, is a prime location for viewing the Northen Lights. The scientifically proven “blue hole” — a patch of sky over the Torneträsk lake that usually remains clear despite overcast weather in surrounding areas — gives Abisko its own micro-climate, which is suitable for catching the lights.

Jukkasjärvi and the Torne Valley
Not only does the village of Jukkasjärvi (population roughly 541) boast the world’s first ice hotel (rebuilt ever year from Torne River ice), it’s also one of the best regions to view the Northern Lights. ICEHOTEL organizes guided tours for guests which takes the to the Esrange Space Center located 30 minutes from Kiruna. You can dine at a wilderness camp and get the chance to scan the Arctic winter sky for aurora borealis.

Other regions in Swedish Lapland
As mentioned earlier, if weather conditions are just right (clear, dark, cold, and cloudless), you might catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights from any location within subarctic and arctic Sweden — even close to larger towns such as Luleå, Jokkmokk, Arvidsjaur, and Gällivare.

Greenland:
The northern lights - or Aurora Borealis as it is officially known - actually occur all year round, but cannot be seen during the summer months in Greenland due to the midnight sun. The phenomenon is often seen around midnight and is best experienced on a dark, clear night in the period from September to the beginning of April. If you are travelling during this period, you can see the Northern Lights from anywhere in the country, whilst in South Greenland the northern lights can be seen from as early as the end of August.

Transportation

Railway mostly serves domestic routes and is used as an easy and quick way to get from the capital to major cities of the country. There are some international routes, like to Moscow and St. Petersburg, but time spent on the way will be quite long.

Buses are one of the most convenient ways to travel between the Baltic States. Eurolines will get you between Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn. One way tickets will cost £ 15 - £ 20 and approximate travel time is 5 hours between the cities. Ticket reservations in advance are recommended.

Taxis are the quickest and most convenient way of travelling round the city. You'll find them located close to the main hotels. Usually it's quite easy to catch a taxi on the street, however, it's much better and safer to order one by phone. Taxi costs in all of the Baltic countries and Poland are approximately the same and a ride in the centre of the city will cost you approx £ 5 - £ 7.  Taxis in Finland and Russia are considerably more expensive.  It is always a good idea to get your hotel to book a taxi for you and ask approximately how much the trip will cost before you get in.

We would not recommend you to take public transportation within the city, as it's usually crowded and it may cause you unnecessary anxiety about where to stop.