Estonia is one of the newer countries within Europe and it has started to become a popular destination with travellers, for a variety of reasons. This northern country hosts a wild and lush series of forests, rivers, lakes, bogs, and islands, and the relatively small population – who mostly choose to live in the city – has left the surrounding countryside relatively untouched by human hands. As a result this is one of the more serene wildlife destinations to really get out there and experience nature without being bogged down by nearby resorts or trains and cars.
The countryside is sprinkled with relics of Estonia’s medieval history. The capital city of Tallinn was once part of the Hanseatic League in the 13th century, an alliance of trading cities that established a trade monopoly along the coast of northern Europe. As a result of this, Estonia became a rather wealthy nation, and one of the places where the Teutonic knights came in all their splendour and built the massive castles that dot the countryside, now left to the sands of time.
With such an impressive history, it is a wonder that Estonia has remained off the charts for tourists for so long. Some of that may have to do with it being a communist country until 1991, which means the country has had little time to develop into a tourist destination as accessible as some others.
You can fly in direct, and accommodation is plentiful. Countryside lodgings, hotels in the city, it’s simply up to you to decide how you want your trip to go. You do not need a visa, but you will need to provide proof of traveller’s health insurance before entry into the country is allowed.