The best time to visit Estonia is in late spring (Apr.-May) and summer (June to early Sept.). Temperatures reach highs of 30˚C (86˚F) in July and August. Although winters can be cold (with limited hours of daylight), Estonia offers an abundance of skiing and skating. Beware that warm summer weather draws heavy crowds to Estonian beaches.
Embassies And Consulates. Foreign embassies to Estonia are in Tallinn . Embassies and consulates abroad include: Australia, 86 Louisa Rd., Birchgrove, NSW 2041 (☎2 9810 7468; www.eesti.org.au/consulate); Canada, 260 Dalhousie St., Ste. 210, Ottawa, ON K1N 7E4 (☎613-789-4222; www.estemb.ca); Ireland, Riversdale House, St. Ann’s, Ailesbury Rd., Dublin 4 (☎353 12 19 67 30; www.estemb.ie); UK, 16 Hyde Park Gate, London SW7 5DG (☎020 7589 3428; www.estonia.gov.uk); US, 2131 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20008 (☎202-588-0101; www.estemb.org).
Tourist Offices. Estonian Tourist Board offices, marked with a white “i” on a green background, are in most towns; they offer advice about accommodations and services. They keep extended hours in summer months, except on national holidays (June 23-24 and August 20), when they’re open from 10am to 3pm.
Money. The Estonian unit of currency is the kroon (EEK), plural krooni, which is divided into 100 senti. Since its 2004 accession to the EU, however, Estonia has followed the path of economic integration and intends to switch to the euro between 2011 and 2013. Currently, the best foreign currencies to bring to Estonia are the euro and US dollar; travelers should stay attuned to economic developments over the coming months. Annual inflation averages 6%, although this has been decreasing over the last decade. A common bank in Estonia is Hansabank, which offers the most services, including Western Union transfers, currency exchanges and travelers checks. Hansabank also generally offers the best rates. SEB Banks are also widespread. ATMs are available everywhere, and offer acceptable exchange rates. Most credit cards are accepted throughout the country. Tipping is common; 10% is expected in restaurants. Bargaining is appropriate only at outdoor markets; written prices should be treated as fixed.
Medical services for foreigners are few and far between, and usually require cash payments. There are two kinds of pharmacies (apteek) ; some stock prescription medication, but most are chains that stock everything. Public toilets (tasuline) , marked with an “N” or a triangle pointing up for women and “M” or a triangle pointing down for men, usually cost 3EEK. While Tallinn’s tap water is generally safe to drink, bottled water is necessary in the rest of the country. Petty crime is rare, though pickpocketing is common in Tallinn’s Old Town, especially along Viru St. Women should not have a problem traveling alone, but may want to dress modestly. Minorities in Estonia are rare; they receive stares but generally experience little discrimination. For English-language help in an emergency, contact your embassy. Homosexuality, though not always tolerated, is legal and is generally treated with curiosity rather than suspicion.
By Plane, Train, And Ferry. Several international airlines offer flights to Tallinn, the site of Estonia’s major international airport ( TLL; ☎605 8888; www.tallinn-airport.ee). Try SAS or AirBaltic, or consider the budget airline easyJet . Some travelers find it convenient to fly into the larger international airport in Rīga, LAT. Trains in Estonia are mainly used for hauling freight. If you are traveling from Russia or another Baltic state, you may consider taking a ferry, but expect more red tape when crossing the border. Tallinksilja serves the entire Baltic Sea region (online at www.tallinksilja.com/en). Ferries also connect with Finland, Germany, and Sweden.
By Bus. Euroline buses (www.eurolines.ee) run to Estonia from international cities. Domestic buses (www.bussireisid.ee) are cheaper and more efficient than trains, though service can be infrequent between smaller cities. Taking buses on the islands can be especially frustrating. Students receive half-price bus tickets from September to late June.
By Car, Bike, And Thumb. If entering Estonia by car, avoid routes through Kaliningrad and Belarus: both require visas. Although road conditions are steadily improving, the availability of roadside assistance remains poor. Check out the Estonian Road Administration (www.mnt.ee). Taxis (about 7EEK per km) are generally safe. Bicycling is common in Estonia. Those who want to hitchhike should stretch out an open hand. Let’s Go does not recommend hitchhiking.
Email And Internet. Although Internet cafes are not as common as you might expect, Wi-Fi is widespread. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout Tallinn; check www.wifi.ee for more info or look for the “wifi.ee” sign.
Telephone. Public telephones, which are very common at bus stations and shopping malls, require magnetic cards, available at any kiosk. These come in 20, 50, and 100 EEK denominations. International calls are expensive, usually costing around US$0.80 per minute. Tele2 cards offer the best rates. International direct dial numbers include: AT&T Direct (☎0 800 12 001); Canada Direct (☎0 800 12 011); MCI (☎0 800 12 122). If you bring a GSM mobile phone, SIM cards (around US$1) offer a convenient and sometimes cheap way to keep in touch. Tallinn, unlike other Estonian cities, has no city code; to call Tallinn from outside Estonia, dial Estonia’s country code (372) and then the number. To call any city besides Tallinn from outside the country, dial the country code, the city code, and the number. The 0 before each city code only needs to be dialed when placing calls within Estonia.
Mail. Estonia’s state-run postal system is reliable, and mail from Estonia generally arrives in the US or Canada within 5-9 days. The standard rate for a letter to the US or Canada is 8EEK. Most postal workers speak English well. Mail can be received general delivery through Poste Restante to Tallinn, Pärnu, and Tartu. Address envelopes as follows: First name, LAST NAME, POSTE RESTANTE, post office address, 0001 (Postal Code) Tallinn (city), ESTONIA.
Language. Estonian is a Finno-Ugric language, closely related to Finnish. Knowledge of English is widespread among Estonians, especially those of the younger generations. Many also know Finnish or Swedish, but German is more common among the older set and in resort towns. Russian was once mandatory, but Estonians in secluded areas have probably forgotten much of it.
Each tourist office has accommodations listings for its town and can often arrange a bed for visitors. There is little distinction between hotels, hostels, and guesthouses; some upscale hotels still have hall toilets and showers. The word võõrastemaja (guesthouse) in an establishment’s name usually implies that it’s less expensive. Some hostels are part of hotels, so be sure to ask for the cheaper rooms. Homestays are common and inexpensive. For info on hostels around Estonia, contact the Estonian Youth Hostel Association, Narva Mantee 16-25, 10120 Tallinn (☎372 6461 455; www.balticbookings.com/eyha). Camping is the best way to experience Estonia’s islands; doing so outside of designated areas, however, is illegal and a threat to wildlife. Farm stays provide a great peek into local life. For more info visit Rural Tourism (www.maaturism.ee), or search for a variety of accommodations at www.visitestonia.com.
Most cheap Estonian food is fried and doused with sour cream. Local specialties include schnitzel (breaded, fried pork fillet), seljanka (meat stew), pelmenid (dumplings), and smoked fish. Bread is usually dark and dense; a loaf of Hiiumaa leib easily weighs a kilo. Pancakes with cheese curd and berries are a delicious dessert. The national beer Saku and the darker Saku Tume are acquired tastes. Local beer, like Kuressaare’s Saaremaa, is of inconsistent quality. Värska , a brand of carbonated mineral water, is particularly salty. It is difficult to keep a vegetarian or kosher diet in Estonia.
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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