UNESCO Site
Tallinn's Old Town is filled with medieval houses and alleyways and is still protected by the remnants of the city wall. The wealth of architecture in Tallinn means that there are many legends and stories to explore.
Photography
There are certainly plenty of photography opportunities on this trip. From wildlife and beaches to historic cities, be sure to keep your camera charged!
Unique Wildlife
Home to many wild animals, look out for moose, wild boar, bears, and lynx as well as a large variety of bird species.
National Parks
Lahemaa National Park is home to the best that Estonian nature has to offer including lush native forests, wetlands stretching to the horizon, and both rocky and sandy beaches.
Overview
A beautifully balanced road trip through Estonia’s wild side. Combining storybook cities, untouched forests, rare wildlife encounters, and peaceful island beaches. This itinerary is designed for slow travel, giving you time to properly experience each place rather than rushing through it.
Expect long summer days, quiet roads, and landscapes that feel almost completely undiscovered.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1–2 | Tallinn – Medieval Streets & Creative Energy
Touch down in Tallinn and transfer into the Old Town, where cobbled streets, pastel buildings, and gothic spires create one of Europe’s most atmospheric city centres.
Summer is the perfect time to visit — terraces spill out into squares, the city feels lively but never overcrowded, and daylight stretches late into the evening.
Spend your time exploring at a relaxed pace, letting yourself get lost among winding alleyways and hidden courtyards.
What to do:
- Wander through the UNESCO-listed Old Town, stopping at small cafés and artisan shops
- Climb up to Toompea Hill for sweeping views across the red rooftops and out to the Baltic Sea
- Visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and step inside medieval churches
- Explore Telliskivi Creative City for a more modern, artistic side of Tallinn
- Walk along the old city walls at sunset
Food & atmosphere:
Tallinn has quietly become one of Northern Europe’s most exciting food cities — expect everything from cosy traditional taverns to modern Nordic-inspired dining.
Stay 2 nights in a hotel in the Old Town.
Day 3-5 | Tallinn to Lahemaa National Park - Deep Forests & Bear Watching
Collect your rental car and drive to Lahemaa National Park (approx. 1 hour)
Leaving Tallinn behind, the landscape quickly opens into forests, wetlands, and quiet countryside. Roads are easy to navigate and traffic is minimal, making this an ideal first taste of driving in Estonia.
Lahemaa is Estonia’s oldest and largest national park — a vast, peaceful wilderness of pine forests, bogs, and remote coastline. The experience here is all about slowing down.
Bear Watching Experience
One of the highlights of the trip is a guided bear watching excursion. Estonia has a surprisingly large population of brown bears, and this is one of the best places in Europe to see them in the wild.
- Join a specialist guide and head into the forest in the evening
- Spend time in a purpose-built hide, quietly waiting as wildlife emerges
- Bears are often seen at dusk, along with other animals like elk and wild boar
Explore the Landscape
- Walk the iconic Viru Bog boardwalk, especially early morning or late evening when the light is soft and mist hangs over the pools
- Visit beautifully preserved manor houses such as Palmse and Sagadi
- Discover small fishing villages along the coast
- Take forest walks where you may barely see another person
Stay for 3 nights in Lahemaa National Park.
Day 6-8 | Saaremaa Island – Baltic Beaches & Island Life
Drive south and take the ferry to Saaremaa
The journey to Saaremaa is part of the experience — a scenic drive followed by a short ferry crossing, where you’ll start to feel the pace of life slow even further.
Saaremaa is Estonia’s largest island and feels completely different to the mainland. Think wide open spaces, juniper fields, traditional wooden houses, and quiet sandy beaches along the Baltic coast.
What to do:
- Spend relaxed days on uncrowded beaches, often with hardly anyone else around
- Visit Kuressaare Castle, one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in the Baltics
- Explore Angla Windmill Hill for a glimpse into traditional island life
- Cycle or drive along coastal roads, stopping wherever the scenery draws you in
- Enjoy long, light-filled evenings and sunsets over the sea
Stay for 3 nights on Saaremaa Island.
Day 9 | Depart
Make your way back to the mainland via ferry and drive to Tallinn (allow 4–5 hours including crossing).
Return to Tallinn airport where you will drop off your hire car and fly home.
Why we love it
Wildlife Encounters
Historical Cities
Stunning Scenery
Activities
Gallery
All images courtesy of © Visit Saaremaa and Visit Estonia
