Lahemaa National Park is a sensation among visitors coming to Tallinn. In a country of only 1.3 million people, untouched nature is just a few steps away from the busy capital. Since the first companies began taking people to Lahemaa National Park and tourists started sharing their experiences on TripAdvisor, there were suddenly lines of people in front of Tallinn Tourist Information Centre, demanding day trips to Lahemaa, which during the peak season is most often sold out.
Lahemaa National Park is gorgeous and a perfect opportunity to see nature, beautiful coasts, and lush bogs, and obtain a glimpse of Estonian history by visiting the romantic manors in the area. If you are looking for a day packed with an abundance of sights, then read no further and book a day trip. But if you were already at the national park or looking for something else, here are the best alternative tours from Tallinn.
Warning! National parks in Estonia are not safari parks
Watch out for what you expect from a “national park” — it is not a fenced area where bears and wolves are kept so tourists can take selfies with them. A national park in Estonia means an area protected for its ecological value and spectacular nature.
Wolves, bears, beavers, foxes, and many other wild animals live in this wilderness. Still, they are excellent at minding their own business and typically stay far away from people, especially on popular tourist trails.
So, where to go if you want to explore nature but also avoid tourists who already leave a large footprint on Lahemaa’s ecology? Here are some ideas for you…
1. Escape to Prangli Island – Quiet, authentic and close to Tallinn
Only 30 km from Tallinn, tiny Prangli Island feels like a world of its own. Home to around 100 residents, pine forests, and sandy beaches, it is one of Estonia’s oldest island communities — and still undiscovered by many locals. If the folks from the city happen to visit Prangli, they need some time to get accustomed to the islanders’ way of life and their local dialect. Just like Lahemaa, Prangli has plenty of sights to visit. Highlights include:
- 19th-century wooden church
- natural gas “eternal flame”
- traditional fishing villages
- unique dialect and island legends
- peaceful hiking trails by the sea
The culture in Prangli is somewhat more unique than in Lahemaa due to its separation from the mainland. Take your time and wander through the forest, or listen to the waves on the coast, with a much lower chance of being disturbed by other tourists than you would in Lahemaa. But we have an option that combines the Lahemaa National Park and Prangli Island tours with a 2-day overnight tour.
Recommended tours:
- Prangli Island Day Trip from Tallinn
- Hiking and Sauna Tour on Prangli Island
- Overnight island escape at our Nature Energy Villa
If you are not convinced yet, read the 7 Interesting Facts about Prangli Island.
2. Meet the grey seals of the Baltic Sea
If wildlife is your priority, seal watching offers a genuine encounter with nature. The Baltic Sea is home to around 25000 grey seals, and around 4000 are found in Estonia. Here is one of the best places to observe them responsibly. Looking at their huge eyes, small nose, and whiskers should be enough to get you on the hook.
Seals spend most of their days eating, as a grown-up seal consumes about 10 kg (22 lbs) of fish in a day, and an adult grey seal can easily weigh more than 200 kg. They are inquisitive animals and are attracted to anything interesting happening nearby. Thanks to that, the local fishermen somehow figured out that seals like classical music, so when they play Mozart or Pärt, it is almost guaranteed that soon some seals will pop their heads up from the water to look and listen with their tiny ears.
A seal watching trip from Tallinn is relaxing, slow-paced, and deeply atmospheric. You can enjoy the gentle rocking of the boat, the fresh smell of the sea, the sound of waves against the hull – and the chance to spot seals surfacing around you.
If you are determined to see some wildlife, then this experience gives you a much better chance of spotting some wild animals than you would in Lahemaa National Park. To better understand how the seal-watching trip would go, read more in our blog post here.
3. Go off-trail in Estonia’s bogs
Estonians deeply love bogs. They offer silence, endless views, and some of the most unique landscapes in Europe. The amber-coloured vegetation, tiny twisted pines, and mirror-like bog pools create an almost otherworldly atmosphere. You cannot hurry in a bog, as the ground is soft, and the fact that most other countries have dried their wetlands to make room for farmland creates a sense of appreciation and respect. Everything around you is quiet. There are no sounds, just your footsteps, a few birds, and a soft wind.
Lahemaa includes bogs, but its most famous boardwalks can be busy. If you want a more intimate nature experience, go with a local guide to a less-visited bog and enjoy the peace that locals treasure.
With bog-shoes (light, wide, short “skis”), you can leave the boardwalk behind and explore deeper into the landscape where regular visitors cannot go.
Recommended tours:
- Bog-shoe Hiking Tour (bog shoes included)
- Estonia’s Bogs and Sauna Tour (bog shoes can be added with extra cost)
- Old Town Walking Tour with Bog Visit (bog shoes can be added with extra cost)
- Jägala Waterfall and Bog Walk (bog shoes can be added with extra cost)
4. Discover the relics of Soviet Estonia
If you prefer culture and history over nature, there is plenty to explore beyond Lahemaa. Although a young country, Estonia’s Soviet past is visible in abandoned bases, old factories, and concrete structures that the forest is slowly reclaiming. If you are not the type who cares too much for beautiful parks and fountains and are looking for something different, this is an option for you.
Tallinn and its surroundings still hold:
- coastal defence ruins
- crumbling industrial areas
- eerie watchtowers
- hidden bunkers
For a deeper understanding of Estonia’s 20th-century history, join a guided Tour in Tallinn and its Surroundings: the Soviet Estonia tour and hear real stories of everyday life under Soviet rule.
5. Visit Jägala Waterfall and combine it with a quiet nature walk
If you want a short but memorable nature experience, this is one of the best alternatives to Lahemaa. Only 30 minutes from Tallinn, Jägala Waterfall is the highest natural waterfall in Estonia and spectacular in any season.
In winter, it freezes into a blue-white ice wall. In summer, it offers lush greenery and powerful water flow. Add a peaceful bog walk or boardwalk hike nearby, and you get an easy half-day escape without the crowds.
Recommended tours:
So… what if you only have one day?
Estonia has far more to offer than one national park. Whether you choose a quiet island, peaceful bog, wildlife adventure, or cultural tour, you can still experience nature and authenticity – without the crowds.
Ready to explore the best alternative tours from Tallinn?
Use the links in this post to book a tour. If you didn’t find the perfect one, feel free to tell us what kind of experience you’re after, and we’ll recommend the ideal tour or create a custom one. Send the e-mail to booking@tallinndaytrip.comor send the WhatsApp message from the message bubble on the website.
