Did you know that the annual number of tourists coming to Estonia exceeds the number of residents who live in this country? And it's not surprising. After all, this Baltic region has everything you need for a holiday full of vivid impressions. The sea coast, picturesque lakes, charming forests, amazing sights , developed tourist infrastructure and hospitable hosts, who are always glad to guests.
Seaside resorts in Estonia
The most part of Estonian territory is washed by sea waters, but beach rest here is cardinally different from visiting resorts of azure Mediterranean, shores of the Black and Red Sea. There is no "eternal summer", exhausting the scorching sun and an endless series of hotels with refreshing pools on the coast. The Baltic Sea is not so warm, and the beach season is limited to only three months a year, but the seaside resorts of Estonia are famous for a special atmosphere. Almost the entire coastline is framed by dense pine groves, crystal fresh air is permeated with a thin coniferous aroma, the beaches are covered with snow-white soft sand, and the water in the sea strikes with its cleanliness.
The most popular tourist resorts of Estonia at sea:
- Võsu is a small village located on the territory of Lahemaa National Park (a 3 km sandy beach is surrounded by beautiful dunes, the water at the shore here warms up well in summer, so families like to visit families with children come to Võsu);
- Cabernetem - a resort village 40 km from the capital , which is famous for incredibly beautiful sea sunsets (a 2 km long beach borders the pine forest);
- Laulasmaa - is located on the shore of the Bay of Lahepere (fans of active tourism (kitesurfing, diving and windsurfing) like to rest here;
- Paldiski - a popular resort of Estonia in Soviet times (the beach is small, very picturesque coast with beautiful cliffs);
- Nyva is a place for lovers of rest among the pristine nature; here there is a clean wild beach among the high dunes (up to 5) and camping in the nearby pine forest;
- Valgeranna is a cozy place not far from the bustling tourist town of Pärnu (a half-kilometer beach with a gentle sunset into the water attracts tourists with children, there is also a golf course and the adventure park Valgeranna Adventure Park);
- Kabli is a small village on the beach (except for a promenade along the embankment, there is a birdwatching station, the Kabli nature trail and an information natural center).
Separately it is necessary to say about the spa resorts of Estonia. In the days of the Soviet Union, citizens of all republics came to the Baltic States to strengthen and improve their health with miraculous mud and gifts from the Baltic Sea. Many of the Estonian health resorts work in our time, and modest sanatoria have turned into modern spa centers.
So, the sea spa resorts of Estonia:
- Tallinn - the capital has the largest selection of spa hotels, ranging from small hotels with mud baths to elite complexes with a wide range of spa services;
- Narva-Jõesuu - is located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland (spa services are provided here since 1876, when the first hydropathic institution was built);
- Toila - this place is called an "ozone resort", thanks to clean fresh air;
- Pärnu is a famous spa resort in the west of Estonia with landscaped beaches and picturesque nature (in the sea near the coast there are several islands to which you can swim by boat or yacht);
- Kuressaare is a town on the island of Saaremaa, washed by the waters of the Gulf of Riga.
- To health-improving resorts of Estonia also it is possible to carry Värska , Rekvere and Vihula .
Ski resorts in Estonia
Despite the ideal weather conditions in Estonia for mountain skiing, the flat landscapes of the Baltic States do not allow to go beyond the amateur level. Therefore skiers-extremals and snowboarders-stunts here are unlikely to be interested, but for skiing in the "light version" format at the ski resorts in Estonia is everything you need.
There is a wide choice of winter entertainments:
- snowmobile safaris;
- riding on a Finnish sleigh;
- snowtubing;
- extreme tours on snowmobiles and off-road vehicles;
- horse rides;
- driving in a sleigh with a dog sled;
- walking in snowshoes and swamps in difficult places.
Almost all winter recreation centers are concentrated in the south-west of the country. The infrastructure of ski centers and sports complexes can be called respectable, but it remains accessible to tourists with different levels of prosperity.
Popular ski resorts in Estonia:
- Otepää - national and international competitions in biathlon and cross-country skiing are held annually;
- the Valgekhobusemäe ski resort is located in the Kõrvemaa nature reserve (specially equipped for snowboarding and tubing);
- Kuutsemäe - located just 14 km from Otepää, there are 7 equipped descents of varying complexity, a ski school and a fan club for snowboarders;
- Kutiorg is a small winter resort with three mountain slopes and two running tracks, there is a rental of equipment and two lifts (tow and chair);
- the Tehvandi sports center is a training base for professional athletes, but ordinary tourists like it (there are shells for freestyle, biathlon-shooting galleries, and complicated hilly descents).
Also ski runs (mountain and cross-country) are equipped in Kohtla-Nõmme (in the Mining Park), and on the Muedaku sports base, cross-country skiing is held every year.
Not all popular resorts in Estonia are located on the seashore or in the mountains. There are wonderful places to relax on the banks of numerous lakes, sanatorium complexes in protected areas and picturesque forests. Fans of excursion tourism will get a lot of impressions from visiting large Estonian cities ( Tallinn , Tartu , Maardu , Viljandi ) and their surroundings with a lot of cultural and architectural attractions.