How to access national parks and other nature reserves in Estonia by public transport

However glorious Tallinn, Tartu and Pärnu can be, you’re missing out on a quintessential experience if you stick to the cities of Estonia. Nature is what defines this country. Wherever you turn, you’ll find forests and meadows full of wildflowers, dramatic cliffs and sandy beaches, marshes and bogs, lakes, islands and waterfalls.

Estonia’s nature can be enjoyed in every season, but the long June and July days are especially suitable for berry-picking, swimming in lakes, making bonfires, camping or simply going for a hike. Estonians use these summer months to recharge the batteries for the long and wearing winter.

No car? No problem! Cities are better connected than the countryside, but that doesn’t mean that backpackers or budget travellers can’t enjoy the national parks and nature reserves of Estonia using public transport. As long as you have time and patience, you can get almost anywhere.

Below, we list some options to inspire you. Nature is everywhere in Estonia, so your only limit is your own imagination. Be creative, get off the beaten track. If we can do it, without a car or smartphone, you can, too.

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My Caribbean nightmare: a week in the Mexican Riviera Maya

Anete could probably live by the sea for the rest of her life, but I’ve never been much of a beach bum. Yet, when we booked a flight home from Cancún, I still wanted to see the Riviera Maya. If only for anthropological reasons. After a week spent in all those Mexican tourist hell-holes, I’m quickly reconsidering. Mass tourism is ugly.

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