Estonia Tours

• Estonia is the first country in the world whose residents participate in the national vote online!
• Lake Peipsi is Estonia’s largest lake and one of the biggest in Europe. It is shared with Russia, with the border running right through it.
• Estonia is the smallest of all the Baltic States, being only slightly bigger than Switzerland or Denmark.
• It has 2,355 islands and islets in the Baltic Sea.
• Bring an eye mask if you like to sleep late in the summer: sunrise during the short Estonian summer is about 4am; sunset is about 10:45pm, and with lingering twilight, it never gets fully dark.
• Estonia has a higher proportion of women to men – for every 100 women, there are approximately 88 men.
• Just over half the country is covered in forests.
• Estonia is famous for its digital innovation and is the home of many tech startups, including Skype, which was developed with significant contributions from Estonian engineers.
• Bolt, the ride-hailing app, is Estonian — founded in Tallinn.

Australian passport holders travelling to Estonia do not need a visa at this time.

We require that your passport is valid for travel for at least six months from the date you are planning to return to Australia. Your passport must be valid to travel internationally and must be machine-readable. You also need to carry a valid return ticket on you.

Whether travelling on an Australian passport or the passport of another country, all travellers require visas for a number of countries, and it is your responsibility to secure what may be required before departing Australia. You can consult with your travel agent, but it is also recommended that you check the foreign embassy website for your respective destination as it can also provide you with useful information.

Australian Consulate in Estonia:

C/- Standard Ltd
Marja 9, Tallinn EE-10617
Ph. +372 6 509 308
Fax. +372 6 678 444

The official currency of Estonia is the Euro. Notes come in denominations of €200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5.

The recommended currency to take to Estonia is the Euro. Ensure you change a small amount into small denominations.

Advise your bank of your travel plans so that they can make a note of it, otherwise they may cancel your credit card as a safety measure due to the overseas transactions. Also make a note of the 24-hour emergency contact number of the bank or building society which issued your credit card in the unlikely event that your card is lost or stolen.

Whenever possible use ATMs when the banks are open (Mon – Fri) so that if a machine ‘eats’ your card you can then deal with it straight away. It is always advisable to carry a supply of cash in addition to your credit card.

If you don’t have Euros with you on arrival, we advise you to exchange some money into the local currency at the airport even if the exchange rate is not the best, this way you’ll have money to get a drink, snack or give a tip during those first few hours of arrival. Your guide will be able to advise you on the best places to exchange money.

Small change is also useful for paying for toilets while on tour which is customary in many places outside of Australia.

• The price of a cappuccino in Tallinn is approximately €4-5.
• The price of an inexpensive lunch is approximately €12-16.
• The price dinner in a moderate restaurant is approximately €25-40.
• The price of a beer in a local pub is approximately €5 - €7

The traditional cuisine of Estonia has a heavy German influence and potatoes are a staple part of most meals. The most typical foods in Estonia are black bread, pork, potatoes and dairy products. Estonian food preferences have historically depended heavily on the seasons as well as their natural resources. Fish is also a very popular dish with herring being the most common.

Important: When dining at buffets (i.e. breakfast) please refrain from taking food away with you to ‘save’ for later! If you feel that you’ll need snacks between meals, pack some dried fruit, nuts, muesli bars etc.

If you have specific food allergies and/or preferences, we highly recommend you take every precaution before your tour, including carrying a small card with your food allergy listed in each language of every country you are travelling to show to table staff when ordering. Whilst we take all dietary requirements seriously, due to the serious nature of potential allergic reactions, it is your responsibility to be as prepared as possible.

Estonia generally has a moderate climate but can sometimes be slightly cool and damp. Summer is warm, while spring and autumn can be mild. Winter, which lasts from November to mid-March, can be very cold and heavy snowfall is common. Rainfall is distributed throughout the year.

Want to get out and explore on your own?

In Estonia, jumping in a taxi is the easiest way to get around - all taxis should have their company name displayed and a sign on the roof.

And, of course, walking is a must in Europe’s finest cities. Tallinn is a particularly wonderful city to walk around and most attractions are within walking distance of the old town centre.

When catching taxis, have small change on you and choose one with a meter, if it doesn’t have one then negotiate the price before getting in. Also, ask your guide or hotel staff the names of reputable taxi companies.

So, you’d love to bring home a special souvenir from Estonia…

In Estonia the most popular souvenir is amber. The fossilised resin is commonly set into silver for jewellery or woven into crocheted works. Most amber sold on the streets is a plastic imitation so make sure you buy from a qualified dealer. You will also find hand knitted woollen jumpers, socks and caps for sale all over the country. One of the country’s largest selections is found at the atmospheric outdoor market set in the city wall on Tallinn’s Müürivahe Street. Dozens of stalls piled high with knitwear line the street here selling wool sweaters, bold jester-style caps, long socks with leather slipper bottoms and scarves with intricate geometric patterns.

Estonians are famously reserved — quiet on public transport, like generous personal space, and don’t often engage in small talk with strangers, though this should not be considered rude.

Carry moist wipes for cleaning your hands after using public transportation and being out and about. They can be invaluable on sticky summer days. And carry some toilet paper or tissues in case you’re faced with using a public restroom.

Estonia prides itself on the many and varied cultural and music festivals that occur throughout the year. These include jazz, classical and hard rock music festivals, the Saaremaa Opera Days festival and the Black Nights Film Festival held in Tallinn every year. 

Other national public holidays to be aware of include:

• New Year’s Day
• Independence Day (February 24th)
• Easter Friday and Easter Sunday
• Spring Day (May 1st)
• Pentecost Sunday (50 days after Easter)
• Victory Day (June 23rd)
• St Johns Day (June 24th)
• Independence Restoration Day (August 20th)
• Ethnicity Day (3rd Saturday in October)
• Christmas Eve
• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day