Wonders of Eastern Estonia
North and South Estonia are home to the two largest cities, and the West of Estonia gets a lot of love in summer thanks to being on the coast of the Baltic Sea. But what is life like in the east? In this blogpost, we are going to dive into a few reasons to visit Eastern Estonia all year round!
Firstly, a must see place in Eastern Estonia is Lake Peipsi. It is the largest lake in Estonia even though half of it is in Estonia and half is in Russia. There are many small cities and villages dotted along the shore of the lake and each of them have a strong fishing culture. You’ll be able to enjoy fish in every different state along with other fresh food that is grown in this region.
Thanks to the right to roam, you are allowed to enter the beach area everywhere. One place with beautiful sandy dunes and clear water is Kauksi rand. This beach attracts people from all over the country with what has been dubbed as the “singing sands”.
During winter time, you may be able to walk on the ice of Lake Peipsi. There are always limits to the distance you can go, and of course you must wait for an announcement from an official source that walking on the ice is permitted. If you are not up for walking on the ice, you can also take trip to the various farms with sled dogs and huskies, and spend a day with these friendly animals.
Heading north from the shores of Lake Peipsi, we find ourselves in the industrial region of the country. If you want to find out more about the life of miners and discover the world of oil shale, you’ve come to the right place. You can visit the mines and climb on top of ash hills, which have now been covered by plants. One place you should not miss is the Estonian Mining Museum, where you can learn more about the history of mining and explore 1000 meters of mining shafts.
On your next stop, you may want to head to the North-Eastern tip of Estonia where the city of Narva extends to the coast and turns into the small relaxation hub of Narva-Jõesuu. This seaside resort town is a wonderful getaway spot for anyone looking to relax all year round.
What is your favorite spot in Eastern Estonia? Did we miss any special spots on this list? Let us know in the forum thread here or in the comments under this blog post! We are excited to hear about your adventures in this region and recommendations for anyone else interested in exploring!
Ingrid, OLS Community Manager — Estonian