Welcome! Tere tulemast! The northernmost and smallest of the Baltic countries welcomes its visitors, amiable and at the same time unobtrusively Hanseatic.
Estonia has an eventful past that is characterized by oppression and foreign rule. But a lot has changed since independence in 1991: Estonia is progressive, many Estonians speak excellent English, modern communication and one of the densest WiFi networks in Europe are part of everyday life.
Whether it is a modern metropolis, a traditional health resort or lonely nature – Estonia offers variety. Shopping tourists will find what they are looking for in Tallinn, those looking for relaxation can relax in Pärnu, Haapsalu or on the Estonian Islands, nature lovers will find a wonderful setting for hiking and wildlife observation in the Lahemaa or Soomaa national parks or along the coast dotted with boulders. It is the versatility that makes Estonia so interesting as a travel destination. Old Hanseatic cities, monastic castles and manor houses steeped in history characterize Estonia as well as unspoiled and varied nature.
The hub of a trip to Estonia is the capital Tallinn. The medieval cityscape with the rock solid city wall, the massive defensive towers and the small cobblestone streets is complemented by city guides who stroll across the market square in a historical gap. In the restaurants you order honey beer and wild boar … Here everything is from a single source.
Welcome to Estonia!
Entry requirements
According to Countryaah, Estonia is part of the Schengen states and the EU. Germans need a valid passport or identity card to enter the country. Children need their own passport (with photo), an entry in the parents’ passport is no longer accepted.
Currency
Since 2011, Estonians have been paying with the euro.
ATMs are widespread, especially in the larger cities. To be able to withdraw money, you need a credit card or an EC card with the “Maestro” symbol. International credit cards are common. But you cannot necessarily pay with it in all hotels or in smaller shops. It is therefore advisable to always have enough cash with you.
Time zone
CET + 1 hour
Climate
Estonia has a cool, moderate climate with warm summers and cold winters.
Language
The official language is Estonian. Due to the high proportion of the population of Russian descent, many people speak and understand Russian. Many Estonians, especially those who work in tourism, often speak very good English or German.
Telephone / internet
The international dialing code is +372.
The mobile network has been expanded across the board. WLAN is often available free of charge in public places. Estonia has a very good WLAN network coverage, in Tallinn it is almost 100 percent!
Electricity & mains voltage
The voltage is 220 to 240 volts, 50 Hz, so that all devices can be used without any problems. As a rule, two-pin plugs are used.
Emergency numbers
Fire brigade / ambulance 112
Police 110
Arrival by air
The largest international airport is located in Tallinn and is called Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport. There are connections to Estonia with Air Baltic, Lufthansa, Finnair or LOT and SAS.
Arrival by ferry
Due to its location by the sea, Estonia can be easily reached by ferry. The Tallinn Ferry Terminal is only a ten-minute walk from the old town.
Ferry connections are offered, for example, by the shipping companies Tallink and Viking Line. Tallinn is only served from Sweden, Finland and Russia, there are no direct connections from Germany. If you want to travel from Germany to Tallinn by ship, you have to plan a stopover in Helsinki. The passage from Travemünde or Rostock to Helsinki with Finnlines takes about 28 hours. From there you can continue to Tallinn with Tallink or Viking Line.
Arrival by land
Anyone traveling to Estonia “overland” by car must travel via Poland, Lithuania and Latvia (and possibly Kaliningrad) and cross numerous borders. However, these countries (with the exception of the Kaliningrad region) belong to the Schengen area. The “Via Baltica” (E 67) leads from Prague via Wroclaw, Kaunas and Riga to Tallinn.
For the journey you should bring your passport or identity card, your driver’s license and your vehicle registration with you. The green insurance card is strongly recommended, as is a power of attorney if you are not the owner of the vehicle yourself.
The following applies to traveling by car …
The gasoline prices in the Baltic States are relatively cheap by our standards. The fuel names are not necessarily identical to “ours”. It is important to choose the correct octane number, 95 stands for super, 98 for super plus. “Unleaded” means “lead-free”, it is sometimes indicated by the addition of an “E”.
Maximum speed in urban areas: 50 km / h
Maximum speed outside urban areas: 90 km / h
Maximum speed in highways / national roads: 110 km / h
Light during the day: all year round
Compulsory winter tires: 1.12. until 1.3.
Blood alcohol limit: 0.0
Obligation to carry: bandages, fire extinguishers, two warning triangles, drag shoes
(information without guarantee, please inform yourself about the relevant provisions before departure)
Best travel time
Estonia is a year-round destination: While the summer is ideal for cycling trips, camping, nature holidays and tours, autumn and winter are ideal for city trips or winter sports holidays.
The main travel season is from June to August, the summers are warm and especially in June you can admire the “White Nights”. Then the sun hardly sets in Estonia and the nights remain twilight. In summer, Estonia is ideal for a holiday in nature: there is a lot to discover as a cyclist, hiker or nature enthusiast. This is also the time of the Estonian summer vacation. The vacation spots never seem overcrowded.
Summer is also the time of mosquitos. Mosquito repellants should be in your luggage, especially for holidays in nature, especially in wetlands.
Spring and autumn are good travel times for those who do not mind changeable weather and who want to benefit from cheap flight, ferry and hotel prices. These seasons are usually cooler than here, but the experience of nature is hardly clouded by them.
Even if you hardly expect it: Estonia also has good conditions for winter sports. Skiing and snowboarding, for example, are possible around Otepää in the southeast. If you want to enjoy winter less actively, you can admire Tallinn as a city traveler or spend a wellness holiday with sauna and the like in the Baltic States.
Health
The European health insurance card should be carried as proof of EU-wide insurance coverage. A private international travel health insurance is also recommended.
The supply of doctors and pharmacies is usually quite good. Of course, you should definitely take with you any medication that you need to take on a regular basis. If you travel close to nature and in remote areas, you should stock up on the most necessary medication (for diarrhea, fever and pain, disinfectants, …) in advance. A good mosquito and tick repellent should also be in the first-aid kit.
Vacationers should seek advice from their family doctor about a vaccination against the tick-borne disease TBE (early summer meningoencephalitis). Borreliosis, which can be transmitted by ticks, is also more common here.
Drinking tap water is not recommended in some parts of the Baltic States.
Holidays and memorial
days In addition to Christmas, New Year, May 1st and Christian holidays with changing dates such as Easter, Pentecost or Ascension Day, the following holidays apply:
February 24th Independence day (from 1918)
June 23rd Victory day
June 24th St. John’s
day August 20th day Regaining independence
Embassies & Consulates General
German Mission
Toom-Kuninga 11
15048 Tallinn
Tel: +372 6275300
Austrian representation
Vambola 6
10114 Tallinn
Tel: +372 6278740
Swiss representation
c / o Trüb Baltic AS
Laki 5
10621 Tallinn
Tel: +372 6581133
