Things To Do in Estonia

Cross-country skiing
A massively popular sport, the best place to do cross-country skiing is in the resort town of Otepää(www.otepaa.ee), home of the cross-country skiing world cup.

Haapsalu
Haapsalu (www.haapsalu.ee) is a small town on the western coast which has been a well-known resort since the 19th century. It is the ideal place to get away from it all with its romantic wooden houses and tree-lined avenues.

National parks
Explore the countryside and see unspoilt forest and bogs, picturesque old fishing villages and historic manor houses in one of Estonia's three national parks - Lahemaa (www.lahemaa.ee), Soomaa (www.soomaa.com) and Vilsandi.

Wife-carrying World Championships
Estonia's most unusual tradition is its Wife-Carrying World Championships (www.v-maarja.ee), an ancient Baltic tradition revived in the 1990s and now dominated by Estonia.

Wildlife
Catch a glimpse of wildlife such as lynx, bears, wolves and elk. Watch eagles, storks and a variety of wetland birds at Käina Bay Bird Reserve and Matsalu Nature Reserve (www.matsalu.ee).

Railway Museum
Spot unusual trains on the wide-gauge track, and visit the Railway Museum (www.jaam.ee) in Haapsalu; pay respects in the ‘train graveyard' behind the museum.

Beaches
Sunbathe on white sandy beaches or at the pools and lakes which abound in the interior of the country. In the north of the country, it's possible to find small coves used for nude bathing, though there are no designated areas for this.

Saaremaa Island
The breathtaking and unspoiled Saaremaa Island (www.saaremaa.ee) offers good opportunities for hiking and cycling.

Outdoor activities
Otepää (www.otepaa.ee), with its lakes and forests, is best for outdoor activities, such as skiing in the winter or canoeing.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.