Camping in Estonia

Camping in Estonia means seemingly endless Baltic Sea beaches, idyllic moorland landscapes and plenty of unspoilt nature. Around half of the northernmost Baltic country is covered in forest, with over 2,000 islands dotted along the Estonian coast. Numerous national parks allow you to immerse yourself in a wild, secluded world. In addition to pristine landscapes, there are also cosy villages and exciting cities such as the green city of Tartu and the vibrant capital Tallinn to discover. Estonia is ideal for families and nature lovers.

Special features of camping in Estonia

Most of the campsites in Estonia are located in the north and west of the Baltic Sea republic. In addition to pitches on estates and nature campsites with fire pits, there are also campsites with good infrastructure. You can enjoy comfort and peace and quiet not far from the charming Nordic city centre of Tallinn as well as in the picturesque spa town of Haapsalu and on the campsites in Pärnu, the so-called summer capital of Estonia.

You can also park your home on wheels on some Estonian islands, for example in an old apple orchard on Muhu or on a campsite surrounded by pine trees and sand dunes near Kuressaare on the island of Saaremaa. In the south of Estonia, the tranquil Lake Peipus beckons, to the west of which is the Kirivanna meadow campsite, which has its own beach sauna on the shores of Lake Võrtsjärv.

Travelling to Estonia

If you are travelling to Estonia by caravan or motorhome, the journey is often the destination. Berlin and Tallinn are just under 1,500 kilometres apart. The overland route takes you through Poland via Warsaw, Kaunas in Lithuania and the Latvian capital Riga to the Latvian-Estonian border crossing at Ikel/Haynasch, not far from the harbour town of Ainaži. From there, the national road Põhimaantee 4, a section of the European route E67 also known as Via Baltica, continues northwards. There is no direct ferry connection between Germany and Estonia. However, you can take a ferry from the Schleswig-Holstein seaside resort of Travemünde to the Finnish capital Helsinki in around 29 hours and from there on to Tallinn, 80 kilometres away. Alternatively, you can take the ferry from Rostock to Ventspils in Latvia and then take the A10 motorway to Riga, change to the E67 and reach Pärnu in western Estonia. On arrival, please note that dipped headlights are always used in Estonia, even during the day, that flashing green traffic lights are the same as amber in Germany and that you can expect to cross wildlife both in the early hours of the morning and in the evening.

Destinations in Estonia

Estonia's natural landscapes, characterised by their austere beauty, invite you to go hiking - whether on foot, by bike or in a canoe. Pure cultural enjoyment awaits in the cities.

Northern Estonia and the capital Tallinn

In the north of Estonia, Lahemaa National Park, known for its primeval forests and the Viru bog, is a true hiking paradise. For wildlife spotting, head south of the park to the Kõrvemaa Nature Reserve, which is home to moose, lynx and even brown bears. The Ontika cliffs and the Valaste waterfall are also worth exploring, while in the far east of the country you can visit the monumental Hermann's Fortress in Narva. An extended stroll through the former Hanseatic city of Tallinn, which is vibrant and casually Scandinavian, is a must. The finely polished medieval old town and the lively cultural scene of the Estonian metropolis are a sight to behold.

Southern Estonia and the university city of Tartu

Gently undulating hills, deep blue lakes and dreamy villages characterise the south of Estonia. In the eastern region of Setumaa, you can immerse yourself in the rural life of the Setukese ethnic minority, who are famous for their elaborate traditional costumes and an art of singing known as leelo. After a paddle boat tour in Soomaa National Park, you might want to visit the impressive castle ruins of Viljandi, which is the venue for summer music festivals and medieval markets. Museum lovers are drawn to Tartu, the oldest university city in Northern Europe with plenty of young flair.

Best time to visit

Estonia is characterised by a cool, temperate, continental climate. The sparsely populated country is surrounded by the Baltic Sea in the north and west, which is why maritime influences also determine the weather. Winters are considered to be long, usually starting at the end of October and sometimes accompanied by bitter cold and thick snow, especially inland. Spring arrives from around the end of May. Nature then seems to explode. From the beginning of June to mid-July, it hardly gets dark, so life on the streets pulsates and outdoor activities can be savoured well into the white nights. The best time to visit is from May to September, with average air temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius and average water temperatures of 16 degrees Celsius in midsummer.