Why Estonia
Tallinn has kept its complete medieval town — walls, towers, Hanseatic warehouses — World Heritage listed, and it is covered on foot in a day. It is one of the best preserved in the Baltic.
The rest of the country is very sparsely populated: half the territory is forested, with peat bogs crossed by boardwalks, two thousand islands, and national parks where you come across elk. Tartu, a university town, and the island of Saaremaa complete the picture.
Getting around
Coaches link the whole country cheaply, and the distances are short: three hours is enough to cross it. The train serves Tartu and Narva.
In Tallinn, public transport is free for residents and charged but very cheap for visitors. Ferries reach Helsinki in two hours, which allows Finland to be added to a stay.
Money
The country is almost entirely cashless: cards settle everything, and mobile payment is the norm. It is possible to spend a week here without cash.
Prices are moderate for the eurozone, appreciably below neighbouring Finland — which explains the ferry traffic. Tipping is not compulsory; rounding up is enough.
Before you go
Winter is cold and dry, with very short days: in December, daylight comes around nine and goes around half past three. That changes the way a visit is built.
The bogs and forests are open to all under the right of access to nature, including for picking berries and mushrooms — on condition that nothing is damaged and that you keep your distance from dwellings.
The mosquitoes from June to August in the wetlands are a real subject, not a joke: effective protection is necessary for bog walks.