After being in Tallinn for a couple of days and seeing all the top attractions you probably would like to experience more of Estonia. A whole new world begins outside of the borders of Tallinn with lots to discover. Enjoy a day out of Tallinn on an Estonian island, or the most famous national park, try an Estonian sauna, visit bogs, or take a boat ride – all doable in just one day. Here you will find the 5 best day trips from Tallinn.
1) Lahemaa National Park Day Trip
Lahemaa National Park is the oldest and the biggest in Estonia, established for the protection of North-Estonian cultural heritage, biodiversity, landscape, historical and architectural monuments. Luckily for us, it’s also very close to Tallinn making the park very easy to visit in one day. There you will find a mixture of Estonian culture, traditions, history, countryside, thick forests, picturesque bogs, beautiful seaside, and landscape shaped by the Ice Age.
Go for a hike in Viru bog and visit Jägala waterfall
A bog is a wetland (read more here), a unique landscape with flora and fauna that you cannot find anywhere else. In Viru bog, there is a well-maintained wooden hiking trail (about 3.5 km) leading you over bog pools to the observation tower and former peat-digging fields. Throughout the trail, many information boards are introducing the ecosystem.
Jägala waterfall is the most popular tourist attraction in the area with locals. The waterfall looks different in every season, and it turns to something very special during the winter when it completely freezes. The Jägala waterfall is the biggest natural waterfall in Estonia. The streams of the Jägala River are used to produce energy.
Learn more about the cultural heritage and nature in Sagadi manor
Sagadi manor is more than 500 years old, a former property of a Baltic German family, and is considered to be one of the most classical manors in Estonia. Nowadays Sagadi manor has become the cultural and natural education centre in Lahemaa. There you can find a manor museum introducing the olden-day Baltic Germans’ life, a forest museum, a hotel, and a restaurant. We also recommend having a stroll in the romantic manor garden with a pond in the middle.
There are many more things to do in Lahemaa National Park. Prangli Travel will take you on a Lahemaa National Park Day Trip where we visit Sagadi manor, hike in Viru bog, see Jägala waterfall, enjoy the seaside at Altja fishing village, and much more.
2) Prangli Island Day Trip
There are 2222 islands and islets in Estonia. Saaremaa and Hiiumaa are the biggest islands situated in the west. However, we recommend you take at least two days to visit them. Conveniently, there are other islands close to Tallinn that you can visit in one day. Our very own Estonian paradise island Prangli is just 30 km from Tallinn. It’s a small (about 6.4 km2) yet diverse Estonian island. It has its own dialect, coastal traditions, historic fishing villages, and unique natural and cultural attractions. Since mass tourism hasn’t reached the island, don’t be surprised to find yourself all alone on a beautiful sandy beach or walking among blueberry-filled fairy tale forest paths.
There is a regular ferry connection to Prangli island from Leppneeme port. At Prangli island, you can rent bikes, buy the virtual tour guide of the island, have a bite to eat, and relax.
Prangli Travel is also offering all-inclusive day trips to Prangli island starting from Tallinn. On the day trip, you also have time to just be on your own and enjoy the unique North-Estonian island atmosphere.
If you wish to stay longer and enjoy the island even more, it is possible to rent our Villa of Nature Energy and/or have a guided private Sauna and Hiking tour.
3) Jägala Waterfall and Historic Harju County Tour
It is believed that nowadays Harju county was the area where the very first settlers of Estonia established their first villages. While the settlers who came to these areas after the Ice Age (roughly 10 000 years ago) were hunters and gatherers, prehistoric villages were established at least 3000 years ago.
Rebala Heritage Reserve full of history
Rebala Heritage Reserve is the biggest in Estonia. Here you can find the oldest ancient field patches, the oldest burial field with stone-cist graves. Also, an ancient stronghold grounds that used to be the biggest in the whole North of Europe. There are more than 300 archaeological monuments in this area.
In our 5-hour Jägala Waterfall & Historic Harju County tour we visit Rebala Heritage Reserve, Saha chapel, Rebala museum with stone-cist graves. Also Jägala waterfall, Linnamäe stronghold grounds and the hydroelectric power plant. We enjoy the lunch in Ruhe restaurant in Neeme village right next to the seaside.
4) Rummu Submerged Quarry and Coastal Cliffs Day Tour
Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Estonia lies the captivating Rummu Submerged Quarry, a hidden gem with a fascinating history. Originally a limestone quarry, Rummu now boasts crystal-clear waters that have submerged the industrial remnants, creating an otherworldly underwater landscape. This diverse tour combines beautiful nature and hiking along the coastline with alternative sights from the Russian and Soviet history in Estonia.
During our Rummu Submerged Quarry and Coastal Cliffs Day Tour you will see beautiful coastal cliffs, waterfalls and alternative abandoned sights all during one day tour. Hike along northern Estonian coast and admire the view on the cliffs over the sea. Explore hidden remains of Peter the Great’s Naval Fortress and walk through its underground rooms. Drive through the Soviet-era industrial city of Paldiski and visit its Russian Orthodox church. Explore the unearthly Rummu submerged quarry and former Soviet-era prisons.
5) Seal-watching Trip in the Baltic sea
Here is something for true nature lovers. This one of a kind nature tour in Estonia takes you to the natural breeding grounds of grey seals. You’ll hear stories and legends of coastal folks and the surrounding islands, have a memorable boat ride, hear some classical music (that’s right!) and meet the biggest mammals of the Baltic sea. Read more about the grey seals here.
