Charming European Towns Estonia

The seaside town of Haapsalu was once a favorite of Russian tsars and the composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky. There are wooden villas with ornate balconies.

At the center of town you’ll find the ruins of a 13th-century episcopal castle, a venue for festivals, concerts, and the town’s signature “White Lady” ghost legend.

Take a leisurely stroll along the seafront promenade.

Located in northwestern Estonia, Hiiumaa Island sits by the Baltic Sea.

It offers coastal beauty, quiet forests, and pine-scented trails.

See the lovely Kopu Lighthouse, which is one of the oldest in the world still in operation. Climb to the top to get wonderful views over the Baltic Sea.

Keila is one of the oldest towns in Estonia from the 10th century. It features historic monuments. See the Keila Castle.

It is known for the amazing Keila waterfalls, one of the most impressive natural formations in Estonia.

In western Estonia you’ll find the small town of Koluvere, which is known for its 900-year-old water castle. The castle is built on an artificial island created in a dammed-up part of Liivi River.

The town of Kuressaare sits on the island of Saaremaa in the Baltic Sea. The streets are lined with 17th-19th-century buildings.

The town surrounds the preserved 14th-century bishop’s castle with a moat, towers, and a park.

See the impressive town hall.

The coastal villages of Altja and Kasmu have quaint wooden fishing huts and wind-swept shores. (pictured above)

These are a part of Lahemas National Park with deep forests, quiet bogs, and old-world manors.

A favorite among visitors is the Viru Bog Trail with a wooden path leading through wetlands.

Among the historic manors are Palmse and

Sagadi

The town of Narva was built during the Soviet regime, so one can see the buildings of the Soviet era.

Narva Castle stands by the Narva River.

On the other side of the river, you can see Ivangorod Fortress, which is in Russian territory.

Known as Estonia’s winter capital, Otepaa is the center for skiing and snow sports. The quaint town has old churches, stone villas, and timber architecture.

Nearby, Lake Puhajarv is surrounded by sauna houses and forest trails.

Considered the summer capital of Estonia, Pärnu has early 20th-century spa architecture with a mix of Art Nouveau.

Visitors enjoy the wide beach lined with trees and dunes.

You’ll like Vallikäär Park, the restored moat area near the old bastion.

Beautiful Rakvere is a fortress town.

Rakvere Castle is a medieval castle that sits high above the town.

It's a town known for its public art, such as the iconic bronze bull.

Estonia’s second-largest town, Tartu, highlights neoclassical architecture, while the Old Town has pastel facades and cobbled squares.

The town is home to the University of Tartu, founded in 1632.

Toome Hill is a lovely place to walk with monuments, parks, and university buildings.

The Emajogi River winds its way through town.

The beautiful town of Torva sits in a natural setting surrounded by sandstone cliffs.

Lakes Vanamoisa and Riiska border the town.

The Torva Veemonula spa complex offers views across the water and forest.

The town of Viljandi showcases wooden architecture and early 20th-century villas.

Overlooking the town are castle ruins atop a hill. Once a stronghold of the Livonian Order, the ruined fortress is surrounded by a large park overlooking Lake Viljandi.

An unofficial symbol of the town is the suspension bridge over the valley.

The town of Voru was designed on a grid, which is rare in Estonia. It has wide boulevards and open views. The town was founded in 1784 under the order of Catherine the Great.

On the edge of the town you’ll find Lake Tamula with a long wooden promenade.