Travel facts

Location

Estonia lies along the Baltic Sea, just below Finland. Tallinn, Estonia’s capital city is only about 40 miles south of Helsinki, across the Gulf of Finland. Sweden is Estonia's western neighbour across the Baltic. Russia is to the east, with St. Petersburg just across the north-eastern border. To the south is Latvia with its capital city Riga. You can depart from Tallinn's international airport and in less than two hours be in Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Riga, Moscow, St. Petersburg, or Vilnius.

History

Estonians have been living in this tiny portion of the Baltic lands since approximately 2,500 B.C., making them the longest settled of the European peoples. Due to Estonia’s strategic location as a link between East and West, it has been highly coveted through the ages by rapacious kings and conquerors.

At the beginning of the 13th century, Estonia was subjugated by the Teutonic knights. Their castles still dot the countryside, in varying states of eerie decay. By 1285, Tallinn was part of the Hanseatic League. Trading activities were dominated by the German merchant families which settled there, and successive generations of Germans built their manor houses across the country.

But the Germans were only the first of successive waves of conquerors. Danes, Swedes, Poles and Russians all swept across Estonia, setting up successive regimes, fortifying their towns and castles, and shipping their goods through Estonian ports.

In the late 19th century a powerful Estonian nationalist movement arose. Eventually, on 24 February 1918, Estonia declared its independence. Its period of independence was brief, however, and Estonia was forcibly annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940. But in 1991 Estonians again reasserted their independence, and peacefully broke away from the Soviet Union.

Visa

Visitors entering the country must have a valid passport. A visa is not required of citizens from:

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Swiss Confederation, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, USA and Vatican City/ The Holy See.

Please note that visa regulations can change, and we suggest you contact the Estonian consulate or embassy for up to date visa rules or look at Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ web site http://www.vm.ee

Climate

The climate in Estonia is temperate, characterised by warm summers and fairly severe winters. The weather is often breezy and humid due to the proximity of the Baltic Sea. Average temperatures range from 20.9° C in summer (usually July is the hottest month) to - 8°C in winter. Although occasionally the temperature may rise to 30°C and above in summer or sink below - 23°C in winter, it is very usual at our latitude. Bring your umbrella and a light raincoat in case of occasional showers.

Holidays

Banks, offices and shops are closed on the following public holidays:

• 1 January New Year's Day
• 24 February Independence Day
• March/April Good Friday
• 1 May May Day
• May/June Whitsun
• 23 June Victory Day
• 24 June Midsummer's Day
• 20 August Re-Independence Day
• 25 December Christmas Day
• 26 December Boxing Day

Money

The national currency of Estonia is called the Kroon and was introduced on 20 June 1992. The Kroon is abbreviated as EEK. The smaller unit is called the Sent, 1 kroon = 100 sents. The kroon is pegged to the EURO at 1 EUR = appr. 15.65 EEK. Foreign currencies can be easily exchanged in banks and exchange offices. There are exchange offices in several hotels, in the port of Tallinn, at the airport, the railway station and many other places.

Credit cards
Credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard/Eurocard, Diner's Club, American Express etc. are accepted in most of the major hotels, restaurants and shops, but ask first. Most banks will give cash advances on credit cards supported by a valid passport. Check with the credit card company for further details before travelling.

Traveller’s Cheques
The most widely accepted traveller’s cheques in Estonia are Amex, Thomas Cook and Eurocheque.

Banking Hours
The main banks in Estonia, which serve tourists, are: Hansapank, Ühispank, Sampo Pank.

Banks are open from Monday to Friday between 9.00 and 16.00. Most banks are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Currency exchange offices are open from Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 18.00 hours; on Saturdays from 09.00 to 15.00 hours. Some are also open on Sundays.

Electricity

The electricity supply in Estonia is 220 volts AC, 50 Hz. European-style 2-pin plugs are in use.

Post & telephone services

Post Offices and Postal Charges
Post offices are generally open during normal shopping hours: from 09.00 to 18.00 hours on weekdays, and 09.30 - 15.00 on Saturdays. The Central Post Office in Tallinn is at Narva mnt. 1, phone 661 6616. Opening hours for the Central Post Office: Mon- Fri 07.30 to 20.00 hours and from 08.00 to 18.00 on Saturday.

Postage on letters and postcards within Estonia is EEK 4.40. Letters and postcards within the Nordic countries: EEK 5.50, EU: EEK 6.50, Russia: EEK 6.50, USA and Canada: EEK 8.00 and other countries: EEK 8.00

Telephone Services
Calls to Estonia: the country code for Estonia is +372. Dial +372, then the area code and the subscriber's number.

Calls from Estonia: Calls from Estonia: Dial 00 + the country code + area code + the subscriber's number.

Local calls: Pay phones accept phone cards. If you wish to make a call within Estonia, first dial the area code and the number. Phone cards may be purchased from hotel reception desks, tourist information offices, post offices, newsstands and some shops.

Some area codes:

City Code City Code
Haapsalu 47 Rakvere 32
Hiiumaa 46 Rapla 48
Jõgeva 77 Saaremaa 45
Kohtla-Järve 33 Tallinn *
Narva 35 Tartu 7
Paide 38 Valga 76
Pärnu 44 Viljandi 43
Põlva 79 Võru 78

(*) for call to Tallinn and Harjumaa within Estonia, just dial the number as described above, without area code.

First aid

Emergency Telephone

Number 112

Emergency numbers are the same from all phones, including mobiles, anywhere in Estonia.

For police, dial 110
For the Fire Department, dial 112
For ambulance services, dial 112
Medical Care

No vaccinations or health certificates are required upon entering Estonia, though health insurance is advisable. Ordinary over the counter medicaments are available in pharmacies (“Apteek”) in every town. However, for the convenience of the traveller we suggest you bring along your own supply.