Essential Estonia travel tips: what I wish I knew before visiting

Getting around without the tourist traps

Tallinn's Old Town is beautiful, but it's also where most visitors stay trapped in their hotel-restaurant-souvenir loop. I almost made that mistake until a local friend dragged me onto a tram heading to Kalamaja, a neighborhood that actually shows you how Estonians live today. The wooden houses, small cafes, and lack of cruise ship crowds felt like discovering a secret the guidebooks forgot to mention.

Public transport works remarkably well. The buses run on time, trams cover the city efficiently, and ride-hailing apps function just like home. What surprised me most was learning Tallinn residents ride public transport completely free. As a visitor, you'll pay, but tickets are cheap enough that renting a car for city exploration makes no sense.

The money situation nobody explains clearly

Estonia uses euros, but cash is almost extinct here. I watched locals pay for everything from coffee to parking with cards or phones. Even small market stalls accept digital payments. I carried emergency cash that stayed emergency cash because nowhere needed it.

The digital society extends beyond payments. Estonia invented e-residency, runs government services online, and generally treats technology as normal rather than innovative. This means free WiFi appears everywhere, mobile data works reliably, and you can handle most practical needs through apps rather than queues.

Weather reality versus what you pack

The Baltic weather plays tricks. Summer days stretch incredibly long, with sunset around 10 PM, but temperatures rarely climb much above 20°C. I packed for "summer in Europe" and spent my first evening shivering in a sundress while locals wore light jackets without irony.

Layers matter more than heavy coats except in deep winter. The wind coming off the sea cuts through thin clothing, so that packable windbreaker becomes your most-worn item. Rain appears suddenly, so either embrace getting damp or carry an umbrella you'll actually use.

What actually costs money and what doesn't

Restaurant prices pleasantly surprised me after Western Europe's sticker shock. A proper meal costs half what you'd pay in Paris or London, and the quality often exceeds the price point. Supermarkets sell familiar brands at reasonable rates, making self-catering easy if you're budget-conscious.

Museums charge admission, but many offer free entry on specific days. Check individual websites because each institution sets its own schedule. Nature, Estonia's real treasure, costs nothing. Forests, beaches, and hiking trails stay completely free, which matters when half your trip involves outdoor exploration.

The language bridge that works

Estonian looks and sounds impossible at first glance. Those double and triple vowels create words that seem designed to confuse visitors. Here's the relief: most Estonians under 40 speak excellent English, often better than they admit. Russian works with older generations, and Finnish gets you surprisingly far due to linguistic similarities.

I learned "tere" for hello and "aitäh" for thank you, which earned smiles but wasn't strictly necessary. Estonians appreciate effort but won't force you to struggle through their complex language when English works perfectly fine for everyone involved.

The real tip? Visit outside peak summer. September gave me autumn colors, fewer crowds, and lower prices while weather stayed decent enough for comfortable exploring. Estonia rewards visitors who treat it as a destination worth understanding rather than just another stamp in the passport.