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From enjoying the stunning beaches of Pärnu to exploring the picturesque town of Otepää, here are the best day trips from Tallinn, Estonia!
If you’re looking for some of the best day trips from Tallinn then you’ve come to the right place! In this blog post I’ll tell you all about some of my favourite places to explore in Estonia. There really is so much to do here!
Estonia is genuinely one of my favourite countries in the world. I just love how it sneaks in under the radar – it’s a place that few talk about and even fewer visit. But for such a small country there is so much to do here, especially if you’re a lover of the outdoors.
The city of Tallinn is a hidden gem worth exploring for a couple of days. From its paved streets in the Old Town and the lovely Rotermann Quarter to the beautiful Kadriorg Park, the capital of Estonia is blessed with wonderful sights and unique architecture.
Besides its historical sights, Tallinn also has that modern 21st-century vibe. Whether you are looking for a hipster bar where they serve innovative cocktails or a trendy restaurant that offers Baltic cuisine, Tallinn has it all.
However, if you wish to explore what lies beyond the capital, there are many seriously amazing day trips from Tallinn. I think getting out the city and into the countryside is the best thing you can do in Estonia and I can’t stress this enough – it is such a beautiful country!
With Tallinn day trips to the beautiful Soomaa National Park or the little island of Kihnu, there’s no shortage of unique places around the capital. So, if you’re heading to Tallinn, I really recommend a few of these places to visit – you can thank me later!
Planning a trip to Tallinn? Then make sure you bookmark my winter guide to Tallinn, and you can see some photos of Estonia for while I love the country so much.
How many days do you need in Tallinn?
I get asked this a lot, so here’s my honest take: three days is the perfect amount of time to explore Tallinn and fit in one or two day trips without feeling rushed. That gives you enough time to wander the cobbled streets of the Old Town, explore the creative neighbourhoods, and still escape the city for a day.
If you’ve only got a couple of days, I’d stick to the closer options like Jägala Waterfall, Rummu Quarry or Lahemaa National Park. They’re all easy day trips that don’t involve long journeys. If you’ve got four or five days, you can venture further afield to places like Tartu or Pärnu, or even hop on the ferry to Helsinki for the day.
Either way, I wouldn’t try to squeeze too much into one trip. Estonia is best enjoyed at a slower pace, and whether you’re exploring a national park, relaxing on the coast or discovering one of the country’s islands, you’ll appreciate having the time to soak it all in rather than rushing from place to place.
Quick overview
| Destination | Journey time | Best mode of transport | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lahemaa National Park | 1 hour by car / 1h15 by bus | Car | Nature – forests, bog walks and historic manor houses |
| Rummu Quarry | 50 min by car / around 1 hour by bus | Car | Photography – turquoise water and the flooded prison |
| Tartu | 2h20 by car / around 2 hours by train | Train | Culture and history – museums, cafés and Estonia’s university city |
| Helsinki, Finland | Around 2 hours by ferry | Ferry | City break – Nordic design, food and sightseeing in another country |
| Soomaa National Park | Around 2 hours by car / 3h30 by train and bus | Car | Wildlife and nature – bogs, boardwalks and canoeing |
| Prangli Island | 30 min by car to the ferry / around 1h30 by bus and ferry | Bus & ferry | Island life – quiet beaches, forests and traditional Estonian villages |
| Haapsalu | 1h20 by car / around 1h45 by bus | Bus | Seaside charm – colourful streets, a medieval castle and coastal views |
| Pärnu | 1h45 by car / around 1h50 by train | Train | Beaches – Estonia’s favourite seaside resort |
| Otepää | 2h40 by car / around 3h15 by train and bus | Car | Outdoor adventures – hiking, lakes and winter sports |
| Jägala Waterfall | 30 min by car / around 45 min by bus | Car | Scenery – Estonia’s widest natural waterfall |
| Naissaar | Around 1 hour by ferry | Ferry | Nature – peaceful forests, beaches and military history |
| Kihnu Island | 2 hours by car to the ferry, then 1-hour ferry / around 3h45 by train, bus and ferry | Car | Traditional culture – Estonia’s unique UNESCO-listed island heritage |
If you’re travelling by train, you can check times and compare ticket prices on Omio, which brings together routes from different rail operators so you can book everything in one place.
Map of Estonia
To help you plan your trip, I’ve put together this interactive map with all of the best day trips from Tallinn featured in this guide. Every place mentioned in this post is pinned below, so you can see exactly where each one is in relation to the capital and work out which ones fit your itinerary best.
Best Day Trips from Tallinn
Lahemaa National Park
Located 50km from Tallinn, Lahemaa National Park is probably one of the most picturesque national parks in the country. If you wish to learn more about the Estonian culture and countryside, a visit to the oldest national park in the region should definitely be on your travel itinerary.
You can go hiking through thick forests, chill on sandy beaches, and even spot brown bears. One of my favourite things to do in Lahemaa National Park is to go bog swimming during summer. Just make sure you bring your swim shorts! You can also bring your own picnic here and really enjoy being a million miles away from anything.
A tour of Lahemaa National Park costs £102. This is for a full-day tour (7 hours) where you’ll learn all about rural life in Estonia and how beautiful the nature is there. The price includes all guides and transfers.
By public transport: Around 1 hour 15 minutes by bus from Tallinn to Võsu or Palmse, depending on which part of the national park you’re visiting.
By car: About 1 hour from Tallinn.
Rummu Quarry & Underwater Prison
You will find many Tallinn tours that include a visit to the Rummu Quarry & Underwater Prison. If you’ve never heard about this place, expect the unexpected! A rather unusual attraction in Estonia, Rummu is a flooded and an abandoned area where you can see an underwater prison from the Soviet times.
I suggest taking the night tour of Rummu on lighted rafts, as it is the best way to experience this place. The rafts have electric lights attached on their bottom part, which allows you to see all the submerged buildings here. You can also paddle around the lake during the daytime and this is a great spot in the summer.
A tour of Rummu Quarry and Paldiski costs £96. This is for a full-day tour (7 hours) where you’ll visit the coastal cliffs in Estonia, Soviet Paldiksi and Rumme Quarry. The price includes all guides, entrance fees and transfers. This *might* just be the most popular day trip from Tallinn.
By public transport: Around 1 hour by bus from Tallinn.
By car: About 50 minutes from Tallinn.
Tartu
Another fantastic place I really recommend is Tartu. This place is home to the oldest university in Estonia and is packed with attractions including the KGB museum and the Tartu toy museum which is an ideal place to visit when traveling with kids.
You can admire the traditional wooden architecture by paying a visit to the Supilinn neighborhood. It’s also a good idea to take a walking tour there to learn more about the area. Tartu is also famous for its restaurants where you can find delicious Estonian delicacies like smoked sprats and selma on rye bread.
By public transport: Around 2 hours by direct train from Tallinn.
By car: About 2 hours 20 minutes from Tallinn.
Helsinki, Finland
Did you know that you can reach the capital of Finland on the Helsinki Tallinn ferry in just 2 hours? It’s no wonder the Tallinn to Helsinki day trip is so popular!
From enjoying Finnish saunas and visiting ancient museums to grabbing a drink at local bars, there is no shortage of activities to keep you entertained during your day excursion from Tallinn to Helsinki.
Admire the Suomenlinna Fortress, eat some local foods at the Market Square, or visit the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma to find an amazing contemporary art collection. For other things to do here, check out my Helsinki guide which is packed full of the best things to do. A return day trip ferry ticket costs £38 and you can get them here.
By public transport: Around 2 hours by direct ferry from Tallinn.
By car: Not possible, unless travelling via the ferry.
Soomaa National Park
There are a few tours that can take you to the beautiful Soomna National Park in Estonia. Open all year long, this national park boasts many stroller accessible trails and has a very good infrastructure for getting around. There are plenty of hiking trails too so make sure you bring your walking shoes!
Soomaa National Park is also one of the best places to go canoeing and kayaking. I think this was one of my fav activities while I was in Estonia and it was so peaceful too.
Bear in mind that the park is flooded during the rainy season and the only way to access it is by canoes or boats. Oh and if you wish to come close to a beaver, there is a special Beaver Trail which you can take!
By public transport: Around 3 hours 30 minutes by train to Viljandi, followed by a local bus or taxi into the national park.
By car: About 2 hours from Tallinn.
Prangli Island
This is one of your classic Estonia day trips. The nearest island to Tallinn, Prangli Island is a true Estonian paradise located 30 km from the capital. The locals here have their own dialect, there are nice sandy beaches to enjoy, and the seafood is delicious.
What I like most about this place is that there is no massive tourism here, so you can enjoy the beauty of the island and have some peace and quiet at the same time. Make sure to visit the fishermen villages to learn more about the culture of the island and go for a walk through beautiful pine forest paths. St. Laurentius Church is also worth checking out.
An all-inclusive day trip to Prangli Island costs £134. This is for a full-day tour (9 hours) where you’ll explore the beautiful islands off Estonia’s coast an learn all about the way of life here. The price includes all guides, entrance fees, transfers and an Estonia lunch too.
By public transport: Around 1 hour 30 minutes by bus to Leppneeme Harbour, followed by a ferry to Prangli Island.
By car: About 30 minutes to Leppneeme Harbour, followed by a ferry.
Haapsalu
Situated on the west coast of the country and just 90 minutes away from Tallinn, Haapsalu is a cute resort town where you can relax in the sun and enjoy some of the best white sand beaches in Estonia.
There is also the Estonian train museum at the Haapsalu train station, which is one of the best train museums in the region. It’s an ideal attraction for travelers who are into technology and mechanics.
To learn more about the history and culture of Estonia, visit the fabulous Haapsalu Castle. I really enjoyed the castle (I love a good castle) and the views from the top of the walls are ace too.
This is probably the best day trips from Tallinn by train. Traveling by train isn’t that common in Estonia but it’s a fantastic way of seeing the country.
By public transport: Around 1 hour 45 minutes by direct bus from Tallinn.
By car: About 1 hour 20 minutes from Tallinn.
Pärnu
No summer day trips from Tallinn are as good as a visit to the city of Pärnu. Honestly, this place comes to life as soon as the sun comes out in the summer.
From the lovely beaches and activities like windsurfing and kayaking to tasty foods at local restaurants, there is lot’s to do and see in Pärnu. You can go for a walk along the promenade, rent a bike and go cycling, or just laze on one of the beaches and enjoy the relaxing vibe of this city.
By public transport: Around 1 hour 50 minutes by direct train from Tallinn.
By car: About 1 hour 45 minutes from Tallinn.
Otepää
I also like traveling to Estonia during the winter season and the small town of Otepää is a place that I somehow always get back to. Thanks to its slopes and tracks which are ideal for snowboarding and skiing, this town is located a 3-hour drive from Tallinn and offers ice skating on Puhajarv lake.
Surrounded by valleys and forests, Otepää is also beautiful during the summer. You can go biking through the forest, swim in the lake, or enjoy various water sports. Hiking along the river is one of the main activities so again, make sure you bring your walking shoes.
By public transport: Around 3 hours 15 minutes by train to Palupera, followed by a short bus or taxi to Otepää.
By car: About 2 hours 40 minutes from Tallinn.
Jägala Waterfall and Historic Harju County Tour
The Jägala Waterfall and the magnificent Harju County is a true hidden gem of Estonia. On this tour, you’ll have an opportunity to discover mystical Bronze Age graves in Rebala, check out an ancient Estonian sanctuary and medieval Christian chapel at Saha, and see the lovely Jägala waterfall.
For best views of the bay and some excellent seafood dishes, make sure to stop by the Ruhe seaside restaurant for lunch and dinner.
A tour of Jaegala Waterfall and the historic Harju countryside costs £100. This is for a half-day tour (5 hours) where you’ll discover the natural beauty of the Jägala waterfall. The price includes all guides, entrance fees and transfers. I would say this is up there as the most popular Tallinn day tour.
By public transport: Around 45 minutes by bus from Tallinn.
By car: About 30 minutes from Tallinn.
Naissaar: Soviet Military & Coastal Folk Heritage Day Trip
Soviet Military & Coastal Folk Heritage Day Trip on Naissaar Island is a great tour to discover an ex-top-secret Soviet military base. I really liked the sailor’s graveyard here, as well as the sea mined stockyard. As the name suggests, it’s a stockyard of old giant seamines – quite scary really!
The tour also includes a visit to an old Swedish church and a visit to a lovely sandy beach. After all the sightseeing, a buffet lunch is available. If you’re into your history I would say this is the tour for you.
By public transport: Around 1 hour by ferry from Tallinn (seasonal service).
By car: Not possible, unless travelling via the ferry.
Kihnu Island
The last place on my list of day trips from Tallinn is an island that celebrates its women. Welcome to the Estonian island of Kihnu, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity island that consists of four villages.
Although there aren’t any hotels here, the island is very popular with tourists because of the community’s culture. The thing is that men usually work off the island, while women stay here and do everything from farm work to making handicrafts and fishing.
If you are looking for a different sightseeing opportunity and wish to learn about the traditions and culture of the women of Kihnu, a day trip to this island is simply a must.
By public transport: Around 3 hours 45 minutes by train to Pärnu, bus to Munalaid Harbour, then ferry to Kihnu Island.
By car: About 2 hours to Munalaid Harbour, followed by a 1-hour ferry to Kihnu Island.
Which of these Tallinn day trips would you go on? I would love to know what you’ve got planned for your trip to Estonia so let me know in the comments below!
Like this blog post? Then make sure you Pin it!
Especially liked the recommendations by Macca S. We won’t have much time because we want to visit sites where family was born and lived. But some descriptions are irresistible!
Thank you so much Helle, I really appreciate the comment! I hope you have an amazing time in Estonia!