What are the best things to do in Estonia?

The best things to do in Estonia include exploring Tallinn’s medieval Old Town, visiting Lahemaa National Park, relaxing on Pärnu’s beaches, and discovering the country’s unique islands like Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. Outdoor lovers can also enjoy hiking trails and forested bogs throughout the country.

Where can I go on day trips from Tallinn, Estonia?

From Tallinn, you can take day trips to places like Tartu, Pärnu, or Narva by train, or fly with NyxAir to the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. These short flights take 30 to 40 minutes, making it easy to explore beyond the capital.

How can I visit Estonia's islands?

You can visit Estonia’s islands year-round by bus and ferry, with trips from Tallinn to Saaremaa taking around 4 to 5 hours and costing about €20 to €25 ($23 to $29) each way. From spring to fall, NyxAir operates flights to Kärdla and Kuressaare that take 30 to 40 minutes and typically cost less than €50 ($58) one-way.

Are trains in Estonia reliable?

Trains in Estonia are reliable, modern, and affordable. They run on time, offer free Wi-Fi, and connect major cities like Tallinn, Tartu, and Narva efficiently.

What can I see in Tartu, Estonia?

In Tartu, you can visit the University of Tartu, explore the Estonian National Museum, stroll around Toome Hill Park, and enjoy the lively cafés and street art in the city center.

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Beyond Tallinn: 2 Easy Day Trips To Add to Your Trip to Estonia

Updated: November 23, 2025, 9:02am CST

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Table of Contents

Booking Hotels With Points in Estonia
Cheap, Fast Flights to Kärdla or Kuressare in the Western Islands
Train Ride to Tartu in Southern Estonia
Final Thoughts

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In an ideal world, there would be a hotel you can book with points in any location you want to visit. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. That’s especially true in the Baltic country of Estonia.

Tallinn, the country’s capital, has most of the properties you can book with hotel rewards programs, and that may cause you to focus your trip there. But even if you’re using your Tallinn hotel as a home base, you can get out of the capital to see more of Estonia.

Here are 2 easy day trips from Tallinn during a trip to Estonia.

Booking Hotels With Points in Estonia

Tallinn has some great things to see and do, but rather than only seeing 1 city, it’s worth exploring more of Estonia.

You can find Tallinn hotels to book with points with ALL – Accor Live Limitless, Best Western Rewards, Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, Radisson Rewards, and World of Hyatt.

Hyatt Place Tallinn 1 King Deluxe High Floor bedroom — A deluxe room at the Hyatt Place Tallinn.

There is also a Small Luxury Hotels of the World property, Pädaste Manor, on Muhu Island in western Estonia, where you can book a stay using Hilton points and free nights.

Unfortunately, IHG One Rewards and Choice Privileges don’t have any properties in Estonia at present.

Bottom Line:

You’ll probably stay in Tallinn if you book your Estonia hotels using points. With some easy day trips, you can get out of the city to see other parts of Estonia.

Cheap, Fast Flights to Kärdla or Kuressare in the Western Islands

Ever heard of NyxAir? I hadn’t either, but it operates flights between Tallinn (TLL) and some of the islands in Estonia’s western archipelago. There are nonstop flights from spring to fall, taking 30 minutes to Kärdla (KDL) or 40 minutes to Kuressare (URE).

You can find flights for €34 to €44 ($40 to $51) to Kärdla, while one-way tickets to Kuressare cost €36 to €46 ($42 to $54). Flights operate twice daily, allowing you to depart in the morning at around 7:30 a.m. and return at 5 p.m.

NyxAir uses Saab 340 aircraft with a 1-2 layout. The cheaper “Light” fares don’t include seat selection, and you’ll walk out to the plane at KDL or URE, given the small size of these airports. However, the flying experience is totally fine.

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Boarding NyxAir at Kärdla's small airport.

In Kärdla, you’ll find the Hiiumaa Museum (about Hiiumaa, the island Kärdla is on), a beach, lots of parks and walking paths, restaurants, cafés, and a World War II memorial in front of the Kärdla Church.

Kardla church WW2 memorial — Kärdla Church and WW2 memorial.

Taxis are nearly impossible to find around Kärdla, but the city is walkable, and there’s a bike rental shop near the center. When you arrive at the Kärdla airport in the morning, a bus will be waiting outside for anyone who needs a ride into the city center. It takes about 10 minutes and costs €2 (around $2). It will head back to the airport about 1 hour (yes, that’s enough time) before the evening flight departure, and you can pay by credit card or mobile wallet.

Train Ride to Tartu in Southern Estonia

Tartu is Estonia’s second-largest city, after Tallinn, with a population of nearly 100,000. It’s a university city, home to the University of Tartu, and has a relaxed vibe with some beautiful buildings.

The main things to see in Tartu aren’t near the train station (seen in the featured image for this story), so you can get a taxi, take the No. 3 bus, or walk 20 minutes. The walk will take you through several parks, past the university, and under some old bridges that provide nice scenery.

Tartu Devils Bridge Cathedral Hill Park — The so-called Devil’s Bridge within the Toome Hill Park.

The city government offices are in this red-meets-pink building with a fountain out front — including a statue of 2 students kissing under an umbrella. The square in front of this building has cafés, restaurants, tourist information, and the local art museum. This is where you’ll find most of the city’s activity.

Tartu city government kissing students statue — The “kissing students” statue and fountain are in front of the city government building.

From here, you’re 2 blocks from the Emajõgi River, which is flanked by walking paths and green spaces.

You can reach Tartu by train in 2.5 hours with an express train or 3 hours on a train that makes additional stops. Elron sells tickets online, and you’ll find numerous daily departures in both directions.

Tallinn Tartu train options — Image Credit: Elron

You can purchase tickets online and download them to your phone. Printing them out isn’t necessary.

Hot Tip:

Elron, Estonia’s train service, doesn’t sell tickets more than a week in advance. Don’t worry, though, as you should still be able to get a ticket for the time and route you want.

Final Thoughts

For travelers who want to book their hotels using points, options beyond Tallinn are essentially nonexistent for exploring further afield in Estonia. That doesn’t mean you can’t go to these places, though.

If you’ve booked several hotel nights in Tallinn, Estonia, using your points and want to use that as a home base for further exploration, some easy day trips don’t require much effort. Whether it’s a quick flight to one of Estonia’s islands or a train ride down to the country’s second-largest city, you don’t have to spend a lot of effort or money to see more than just Tallinn.