ESTONIA
An impeccably preserved medieval capital, unspoilt wildernesses,
cutting-edge galleries and a thriving sauna culture make the Baltic
nation an alluring European escape. Words: Jamie LaffertyWEEKENDERI
n many ways, Estonia can be a little hard
to pin down. There are clear cultural
parallels with its Nordic neighbour,
Finland, across the water, but a centuries-
long relationship with Russia — including
the former Soviet Union — mean things are a
little more complicated. Ever focused on the
future, this nation in northeast Europe has
carved its own niche and offers something
entirely unique for a short-haul escape.
What to expect? The secret of Tallinn’s Old
Town — all cobbled lanes, slender-steepled
churches and medieval architecture — has
long been out, but the Estonian capital is
also a modern and progressive city, too, and a
burgeoning hub of creativity and technology.The cuisine will also catch first-time
visitors by surprise, with dishes drawing
heavily on the excellence of the produce
coming from Estonia’s remarkable larder.
The country has no shortage of space for
producers, either — head out of Tallinn
and you’ll quickly see just how sparsely
populated a nation this is. Without people,
animals have moved in to fill the wild,
wooded wilderness, and a trip to one
of Estonia’s national parks can include
meetings with bears, elk and wolves. Throw
in beautiful baroque mansions, excellent
beer and an established sauna culture, and
there’s suddenly far more here than you can
possibly squeeze into one weekend.60 nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel