Estonia, the Northernmost Baltic State. From fairytale towns to raw Soviet history
In this travel blog about Estonia you will find:
- Estonia in a nutshell
- Travel to the former Soviet Union in Eastern Estonia!
- Visit the closed Soviet town of Sillamaë and the abandoned Uranium village of Viivikonna
- Visit the Fairytale city of Tallinn!
- Practical tips for Estonia!
Estonia in a nutshell
Estland is gelegen in het Noord-Oosten van Europa. Samen met Latvia and Lithuania vormen deze 3 landen de Baltische staten van Europa. Deze 3 landen delen een gedeelde geschiedenis, wat van de Middeleeuwen loopt tot een meer recente geschiedenis in de tijd van de Soviet-Unie. Although all 3 countries have a very similar culture and are very similar in terms of sights, we can still conclude that all 3 countries are also very different from each other.
Estonia is perhaps the most different of the Baltic states, with less than 1.3 million inhabitants it is a quiet country. In the fairytale capital Tallinn you will still find most Estonians, with 450,000 inhabitants it is by far the largest city in Estonia.
What makes Estonia so different is the fact that this country is incredibly diverse, on the one hand it is an extremely modern country. By far the most digitalised country when it comes to everything you need in everyday life. From digital government matters such as online voting and with the lightning-fast internet leading as digital a life as possible, it is therefore not surprising that there is a large Tech scene can be found with all kinds of startups. On the other hand, in Estonia outside Tallinn you will still find plenty of remnants of what Estonia was until a few decades ago, namely part of the Soviet Union. In eastern Estonia you feel more like you are in 1989 than in modern Tallinn. It is precisely those differences, in combination with vast nature, that make Estonia an incredibly interesting country for me!
Our own tips from Estonia out of own experience!
- Travel to the former Soviet Union in Eastern Estonia!
The vast majority of people only stay in Tallinn, which is a shame because Estonia is so much more! With a rental car under my ass I left for the east of the country. In the first week of January this was even more exciting with temperatures of -26 degrees! On the way east I chose to go first Narva to drive, located on the river, how did you guess, the Narva, this city is only separated by a river Rusland! While this was a city without a border during the Soviet Union, there is now a harder and clearer border than ever. While Estonia is a full-fledged EU country, neighboring Russia is an incredible contrast. Located on the river there are large forts on both sides that have been there for centuries. Looking from the Estonian fortress at the Russian fortress you can see the Russian flag flying grandly and soldiers marching along the river. Do you think they're keeping an eye on you?
Walking around Narva you find yourself in a special part of Estonia, and especially in today's Eastern Europe. Most people are in Narva Russian, people speak Russian, they often have both passports and often hop across the border to family/work/etc. You will see plenty of Russian dishes in the local restaurants! Since I was there in January, and the days are not long, I decided to take a walk in the dark through a typical Soviet suburb. The gray Brutalism, the mysterious, the Babushka’s on the street and the overall atmosphere of Post-Sovietisme made this a very cool experience for those who want to experience something other than perfect pictures! In Narva, in the far east of the EU, the West feels far away.
- Visit the closed Soviet town of Sillamaë and the abandoned Uranium village of Viivikonna
During the Soviet Union there were several republics scattered throughout the country where people wanted to have even stricter control. These places were often designated because of valuable raw materials in the area for which special factories could be built. Think of Uraniummine's for the many Nuclear Power Plants and feeding the Cold War Industry with building Atoombommen. The area surrounding Sillamaë was just as much part of this. Together with the surrounding villages such as Viivikonna, uranium was mined here in the area. To ensure this went smoothly, the regime in Moscow sent the elite from the population here because of the required specialization. To keep the Elite happy, the Soviets decided to build a new city, Sillamaë.
In Sillamaë they had compared to other cities in the Soviet Union better facilities than elsewhere. Various types of sausages, chocolate, soft drinks, groceries and better houses than the standard Brutalist blocks "Khrushchevka" meant that the elite could also be kept happy here. Here is a wonderful example of why the Soviet Union was a crooked system. In Viivikona the village had just been re-established to house the uranium miners and families. After the fall of the Wall, the entire industry stopped overnight. As in many places in the Soviet Union, the fall of the wall caused decay here. In Vivvikona, to such an extent that almost the entire village has become empty, perfect for Urbex .
De vele bewoners in dit gebied hebben dan ook een andere mening over de komst van het moderne Estland, hoewel een groot deel mee is gegaan in het nieuwe Estland. Is er ook bij een groot deel van de bevolking met een Russische roots een grote onvrede ontstaan over de achteruitgang wat hier in dit gebied juist zo is ontstaan. Combineer dit met een grote heimwee naar de Soviettijd en je merkt hier een hoop polarisatie. Want voor de val van de muur was het leven hier juist beter dan elders 😉
- Visit the Fairytale city of Tallinn!
Tallinn, there are few cities that have such a perfect medieval city center as Tallinn! Combine this with a thick layer of snow and my trip really had everything for the ultimate experience! Largely surrounded by the medieval city wall, the city center is a fairytale picture! With delicious restaurants for lower prices and a wonderful sauna culture, I had a great time here! It often feels like Scandinavia but for half the money. Not surprising because Estonia has a strong shared culture with Finland!
In Tallinn you cant miss restaurant Olde Hansa Yes, it is touristy and pricey too, but what an experience you get in return! The cuisine consists purely of medieval dishes. From daily fare from the past, to luxurious dishes with flavors you have never tasted before! Completely in a setting with staff who are good in the role, they also serve fantastic beer while you have the feeling of being like a Hobbit in a medieval inn! 
Tallinn's city center is easy to explore, a full day should be enough to explore the many beautiful streets! Visit the Alexander Nevski Kathedraal for the beautiful architecture and the beautiful viewpoint of the old city that is nearby! From there the 125 meter high falls Sint-Olafchurch from the 14th century even more than it already does! You will find this viewpoint under the name Kohtuotsa. And check if you can find the social seagull right away 😉
Just outside the old town you will find the covered market Balti Jaama Turg! In addition to all kinds of delicious food stalls where you can try all kinds of cuisines from the region, you will also find nice antique shops on the top floor! Just outside the market you also have the many startups in a wonderfully raw industrial setting where you can get a good taste of the hip side of Tallinn! And while you're there, take a stroll through Valgevase street to see the traditional wooden houses from the beginning of the last century, you immediately get a Scandinavia feeling!
- Practical tips for Estonia!
- Estonia can be FREEZING COLD in the winter months, with -26 degrees during the day I really recommend good winter clothing!
- Estonia uses the Euro, is an EU country, your EU ID is enough!
- Book a hotel with sauna for the real Estonia experience
- Rent a car if you want to go outside Tallinn, public transport exists but does not reach everywhere
- Estonia is one of the most digital countries in the world, no cash required!
- Fly cheaply and efficiently with Air Baltic. Or by Ferry from Helsinki (2 hours) and in the future by high-speed train between the Baltic states. Until then, best by bus.
In short, Estonia is a beautiful country! Not yet discovered by mass tourism, and outside Tallinn there is plenty of nature to explore with special regions! From green to gray, and colorful again. Estonia is a wonderful country for those who want to visit a less standard European country 🙂
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