tour of estonia ladies

Ladies Tour of Estonia 2024

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Ladies Tour of Estonia

UCI, One-day race, 25th May 2024, Estonia

Information.

25th May 2024

1.2 | 104.2 km

Maverick Traveler

Estonian Women: The Ultimate Guide

My first trip to Estonia was absolutely magical. I had just flown in from Copenhagen, Denmark , landed in the capital, Tallinn, and then took a trip to my hotel, dropped off my bags and started exploring Tallinn.

Yes, the women were absolutely incredible, and here’s what you’ll learn in this post.

What Estonia is like for single men

How to visit and where to stay in Estonia

The safety factor and scams in Estonia

Which language do they speak in Estonia

Dating Estonian women: What are the women like? How to meet them?

Things you should never with Estonian women

And much, much more…

Introduction

Estonia is one of the three Baltic republics, along with Latvia and Lithuania. Both three used to be part of the Soviet Union, and out of all of the three, Estonia is the most advanced and richest per capita republics out there.

Estonia was the first former republic to be admitted into the European Union and was also the first former republic to be accepted into the Eurozone, sharing the Euro currency along with 27 other European nations.

Although the three are all Baltic countries, Estonia is more closely aligned with Finland than either with Latvia or Lithuania. Estonian language, while being unique, is somewhat intelligible with Finish and it was very popular for Finnish people to hop on the offer and visit Estonia for cheap booze and liquor in the previous years.

Estonia is perched all the way at the edge of northeastern Europe, so you can accept fairly cold weather. While the summers are nice and mild—and never scorchingly hot—the winters are snowy and freezing, slightly helped by the coastal cities like Tallinn where it doesn’t get extremely cold like the inland.

Much like with Latvia and Lithuania, the best time to visit Estonia would be during the summer. But then, everyone else would be there as well. That includes the college girls who will be returning back to their villages, so the bigger cities like Tallinn would be mostly empty.

The second best time would be to visit any other time of the year, but then, you’d need to pack some super warm clothes like a serious winter jacket and some big boots and hope that the winter is super mild and you won’t be experiencing constant days of -30C weather.

Regardless, which time of the year you visit, you can expect to experience the same old Estonia and should have a good time nonetheless.

Orientation and logistics

Estonia is a relatively small country, so your only choice for traveling would be to visit Helsinki on a ferry or wander about the country visiting smaller cities like Tartu.

When I was in Tallinn, I opted to take a bus down to Riga and then Vilnius, so there’s another option to quickly visit the other countries and see what they’re like. Even though, they’re mostly very similar to each other.

Safety and scams

Estonia is one of the safest countries in Europe and the world. The chance of random muggings are fairly low, but, like anywhere else, it pays to be vigilant about your surroundings and try not to get drunk and sleep on the bench in some city. I mean, really, there are no guarantees in life and anything can happen.

Because Estonia is a country with a high standard of living, even things like pickpocketing are fairly rare even in the tourist-laden old town.

One thing you do have to be aware of is the various scams pulled by local women during the night in the various bars and clubs. Although this isn’t as bad as in neighboring Latvia , it’s still something you have to be concerned about.

Other than that, there’s really nothing for you to worry about.

The official language in Estonia is Estonian. It’s a Finno-Ugric language that includes Finnish and Hungarian. Although Estonian is somewhat understood by the Finns across the bay, it’s not really intelligible with Hungarian.

It’s a very hard language to learn by foreigners and it’s very common to have very long, unpronounceable words that only a local would know how to say correctly. For instance, try saying “Aastapäevaball” ten times fast.

The good news is that because Estonia is a fairly advanced country, English is all but universal among the young population (under 35). And because Estonians are looking toward the West for inspiration, they wouldn’t mind practicing English with you if they get a chance.

While the older generation does speak Russian, you have to vary of speaking Russian to them because they might think that you because Estonia was in the Soviet Union, they’re automatically Russian and Russian is their native language.

Fortunately, that kind of hostility to anything Russian has somewhat decreased in recent years, even though it has remained strong on the political level.

Estonian women are in three words: very fair-skinned. Most of them are blonde, blue-eyed, tall and have this light hair.

While one can mistake them for Finnish or even German women, no one would ever mistake them for Slavic women such as Russian or Ukrainian. They just look and act very differently, much more similar to Latvian and Lithuanian women in that regard.

Estonian women are also the most Westernized women out of all the baltic women, more Westernized than any Slavic women, but less Westernized than their Scandinavian neighbors.

When dating Estonian women, it’s becoming more and more common to split dinners, something that’s common in the West, but not very common in Eastern Europe.

But, then again, Estonia doesn’t really consider itself as an Eastern European country, and after spending a good amount of time there, I would certainly agree.

Estonian vs other women

In order to really understand Estonian women, it helps to compare them to other women that hail from neighboring countries.

First, you should never confuse an Estonian woman with any kind of Slavic woman. Slavic women from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova are very different from Estonian women.

First of all, they just look different. While it’s hard to notice an Estonian woman to an untrained eye, it’s never a problem to notice a Slavic woman, and they’re worlds apart.

Second, Estonian women are just “colder” than Slavic women. While it’s hard to exactly pinpoint this “colder” aspect, it’s something you’ll experience after dating them.

Part of that is because Estonia is a northern country and Ukraine is a country in Southern Europe. But Estonian women are also “colder” than Russian women from some very cold parts in Russia!

The best way I can put it is that Estonian women are like a mix of Lithuanian women and maybe German women. While they still have that Eastern European femininity and softness that German and Danish women do not possess, they’re definitely the world’s part when comparing them to women of Belarus, Russia and elsewhere.

Dating Estonian women

There are three ways to meet Estonian women: you can meet them during the day, you can meet them at night, and you can meet them online.

Each method has its pros and cons, so you have to decide for yourself which method suits you best.

Or you can utilize all three methods to maximize your chance for success.

Meeting Estonian women during the day is the purest way to go about it. That’s because you saw a woman, you liked her and you approached her. There are no filters, social circles, friends or anything else that helped you get there.

Estonian women can be readily approached on the street, coffee shops, restaurants, parks, or pretty much anywhere else where people congregate.

Since Estonian girls aren’t approached very often, all you have to do is come up, say hi, introduce yourself and start talking to them. This isn’t America where you need some special lines and whatnot, but with Estonian women, you can simply be yourself.

Of course, when you approach women out of the blue, you have to be prepared for rejections. That can happen for an array of reasons: she may have a boyfriend/husband, be in a bad mood, or just need to be attracted to you. All of that is absolutely fine as you did the most important thing: approached her.

If she rejects you, simply smile, shrug it off and continue on your way.

Meeting Estonian women at night is another popular way. In the Tallinn old town, you will find lots of different bars and clubs where both foreigners and locals will be spending their time and chatting up women. The scene is both lively during the long summer days as well as the long winter nights, too.

In fact, I’d argue that it’s easier to meet women during the winter when it’s all dark and the days are short because the women need someone to keep them warm. And because there aren’t much competition—other foreigners prowling the streets for women.

Estonian nightlife culture makes it super easy to new people because, contrary to other countries like Romania and Serbia, women aren’t sitting around with the people they already know, but, in fact, are always ready to meet someone new.

In fact, sometimes it’s so easy that all you really need to do is look your best and show up, and the women will naturally give you choosing signals so that you can approach and chat them up.

Online game

Another way to meet Estonian women would be online. Remember, this is Estonia, one of the most Internet-connected countries in the world, where most girls are on Facebook and Instagram and have a dating profile somewhere else as well.

As always, tinder is very popular, but because there are tons of scam artists and low-quality women, we highly recommend another site for meeting women . Not only is it a great option for meeting Estonian girls, but you can also meet a different kind of women there as well.

Final thoughts

There you have it, a brief guide to Estonian women. While Estonian women aren’t as high in demand as Ukrainian or Russian women , they sure bring a lot to the table.

Estonian women are the perfect combination of Eastern European charm, Northern European pragmatism, and Western European mentality.

Regardless of whether you come to stay for one day or one year, in the summer or the winter, one thing is for sure: you won’t be disappointed.

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Ladies Tour of Estonia

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• 1 TUISK Aidi Gerde
• 2 KAGEVI Stina
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• 4 GRANGIER India
• 5 VAN ROOIJEN Eline
• 6 DALE Stine
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Siim Kiskonen won the Tartu GP stage and the Tour of Estonia

15 of the best things to do in Estonia

Jul 18, 2024 • 13 min read

From enjoying summer vibes in Pärnu to touring the Old Town of Tallinn, here are the best things to do in Estonia. Valdis Skudre / Shutterstock Valdis Skudre / Shutterstock

Imagining Estonia as a human being, it would be a hippie-turned-tech entrepreneur: savvy, innovative, forward-looking, and punching above its (tiny) weight, yet deeply rooted in its cultural heritage and ever embracing its wild side.

Torn between east and north, Estonia offers visitors – both first-time and returning – a diverse palette of experiences. You’ll find a pinch of history, three teaspoons of culture, art and creativity, served on a bed of pristine nature and spiced up by the resilient spirit of the locals. Outside the medieval walls of its capital Tallinn , dark forests, mysterious bogs, windswept coastlines and tranquil islands lure outdoor enthusiasts.

Whether you’re drawn to Tallinn’s bustling streets or the solitude of the national parks, here are some experiences you shouldn’t miss in Estonia.

1. Explore Estonia’s capital, Tallinn

Tallinn's medieval charm will woo you first. Behind every corner of the Old Town, a cobbled alley, a stalwart defence tower, or an elegant church spire waits to be pictured. From the Raekoja plats, the historic Town Hall Square, climb up Toompea Hill to admire views over red-tiled roofs. But wander outside of the city walls and you’ll discover that Tallinn is more than just a fairy tale. From the stately parks and art museums of Kadriorg to hipster eldorado Telliskivi , from chic Rottermann to bohemian Kalamaja, Tallinn’s neighborhoods beg to be explored.

Local tip: In summer, cruise ship tourists flood the tiny Old Town. Check the schedule for incoming ships and adapt your itinerary accordingly. When a cruise hits town, explore museums or neighborhoods outside of the Old Town in the daytime and return when most cruisers have left, by late afternoon.

2. Experience the Singing Festival

Lock three Estonians in a room, the joke goes, and they’ll either found a start-up or a choir. That joke signifies both the digital advancement of the country and its love of singing. Choir singing gave the country a sense of identity during the Estonian national awakening of the 19th century and helped it break free from the yoke of the Soviet Union during the Singing Revolution.

Twice every five years, choirs from Estonia’s furthest corners flock to Tallinn to sing their hearts out during the Singing Festival (Laulupidu). At the beginning of July, boys in sheep wool vests and flat caps, girls with wildflowers in their braided hair, men with top hats and women in traditional dresses go through a repertoire of folk classics and newly composed songs. You don’t need to understand Estonian to sense the emotions. Even if you don’t attend the main event, it’s a merry time to be in Tallinn, with parades all over town and spontaneous bursts of singing in trams. The  next one will happen in July 2025 .

3. Spot a bear (or a bird)

With around 30 people per sq km (0.4 sq miles), Estonia’s population density ranks amongst the lowest in Europe. That leaves ample room for wild animals to roam – brown bears and moose are sometimes even  spotted in Tallinn suburbs . For a more reliable chance to see wildlife, join a tour looking for lynxes and the elusive flying squirrel . Or book a bear hide in Alutaguse, in the wild east of Estonia.

Sounds like too much adrenalin? Estonia is an underrated birding destination. Its variety of landscapes and its location on migration routes from east to west and north to south attract plenty of feathered friends, including 10 owl species, a handful of different woodpeckers, white and black storks, cranes and capercaillies. Winter draws elegant Bewick’s swans, pretty caramel-colored steller's eiders and other waterfowl. Coastal national parks like Matsalu and Vilsandi are exquisite spots to see birds. 

4. Kayak in Soomaa, the Amazon of Estonia

Soomaa ("land of swamps") is Estonia’s most primaeval nature, a wilderness of peat moors and riparian forests in which brown bears, wolves, lynxes, and moose hide. Five rivers meander through this "Estonian Amazon" and locals traditionally used a haabjas to get around, a handmade dugout canoe. The best way to see Soomaa is still from the water. Outdoor company  Soomaa.com organizes multiday kayak trips (as well as mushrooming, kick-sledding, bog and snowshoeing). Affable Aivar, who runs the show, makes haabjas by hand.

Planning tip: During the so-called fifth season (usually best experienced in March and April), when snow and ice melt and the rivers cannot drain the excess water in time, the water rises and floods the land. It presents a spectacular opportunity to navigate your kayak through the forests and over the meadows of a water world.

5. Celebrate the summer solstice

When you spend so much time in the darkness, you have to honor the sunlight. Estonians do so on Midsummer’s Eve and Midsummer’s Day (Jaanipäev, or St John’s Day). Both days, June 23 and 24, are official bank holidays. As important as Christmas, Midsummer used to mark the start of haymaking. Nowadays, it’s an excuse for Estonians to escape to their countryside house, grill meat on bonfires and drink copious amounts of alcohol.

Local tip: An invitation from Estonian friends will get you the most authentic experience, teaching you about the many traditions and beliefs around Midsummer – if you’re feeling flirty, ask them where the fern blooms! This is a code for lovers to disappear into the woods together. In lack thereof, head to the  Estonian Open-Air Museum in Tallinn or one of the public events around the country.

6. Cross-country ski the President’s Trail

Estonia might not have proper mountains, but it does get plenty of snow, so it’s no surprise that cross-country skiing is a matter of national importance. Even in summer, you might see guys and gals in lycra on roller skis, practising for the next winter. You can join the locals on the tracks in Tallinn, but the best skiing awaits in the countryside. In the south of Estonia,  Elva ,  Haanja and the country’s winter capital  Otepää all boast excellent facilities.

Alternatively, take the short train ride from Tallinn to Aegviidu.  Rent skis next to the station and follow the 10-km-long (6-mile)  President’s Trail (presidendirada) through powder-sugar-topped pine forests. Don’t be deterred by the Estonians’ speed and agility – they’re born with skis on their feet. In fact, you’ll find many locals charmed by your attempts at their national sport, even if you’re not moving at record speeds, and you’ll likely hear plenty of encouraging shouts of Jõudu (strength)! Afterwards, join them  in the sauna .

7. Use the freedom to roam

Like other Nordic countries, Estonia upholds the everyman’s right (locally called igaüheõigus or igameheõigus ), granting everyone permission to hike, camp or forage almost everywhere, including on private land. Nothing says freedom quite like rambling through the country with a tent on your back! Long-distance hiking trails  crisscross the country ,  follow the coast or  seek out the forests . With rights, however, comes responsibility – do check  the rules, exceptions and code of conduct outlined by the government.

Parallel with the freedom to roam, Estonia’s state forest service RMK provides campsites in national parks and elsewhere. These have basic amenities, such as fire pits, picnic tables and dry toilets, and are free to use. Deservedly popular camping spots include  Cape Purekkari (Estonia’s northernmost point, in Lahemaa National Park ),  Nõva Recreation Area (dunes, pine forests and beaches of "singing sand" in the northwest of the country), and the beaches of  Lemme and  Krapi (south of Pärnu).

Planning tip: RMK’s website overflows with information about hikes, free campsites and rental cabins.

8. Hike over duckboards in a bog

For centuries, bogs had a serious reputation problem in Estonia. They were scary places where criminals hid and evil spirits caused travelers to get lost. That attitude has changed completely. Bogs are now the country’s most-revered landscapes, where Estonians go for Sunday family walks.

The bogs of  Viru and  Riisa (in national parks Lahemaa and Soomaa) pull the biggest crowds. Beat the masses by going early, when wisps of fog veil the landscape, or aim for one of the lesser-known bogs, like  Mukri ,  Tuhu or  Marimetsa . On a city break in Tallinn and no time to go rural? Urban  Pääsküla bog allows you to experience such a landscape without leaving Tallinn. Hiking trails over duckboards loop through all these bogs, limiting the age-old risk of sinking in or losing your bearings.

Local tip: In summer, don’t forget your swimsuit – no wild swimmer resists a plunge in a bog pond!

9. Soak up island vibes

With an archipelago of more than 2000 islands and islets, Estonia offers an unlikely island-hopping opportunity. The biggest and most-visited island, Saaremaa, sends you straight back in time. Expect ancient windmills and farmhouses, even older churches, a spectacular meteorite crater, a  fairy-tale castle and enough juniper bushes to provide a mid-sized capital with gin from now until eternity. The entrepreneurial islanders, fiercely proud of their home, welcome you to one of the many spas – no wonder Saaremaa is nicknamed Spa-remaa.

Detour: Don’t skip the smaller islands. They give you a proper sense of being surrounded by water and are often tiny enough to explore on a bike or even on foot. So embark on a ferry to  Ruhnu ,  Aegna ,  Naissaar , Vormsi or Kihnu. The latter, off the coast of Pärnu, is known as a matriarchal society – whilst the men were at sea fishing, the women ran the island.

10. Head to Tartu for a lesson in Estonian history

In Tartu , Estonia’s prime student town, knowledge takes center stage. University students flood the streets, their feet tapping or scuffing on the cobblestones, the frantic chatter of gossip. Every time the Town Hall bells chime, their pace quickens. Lessons start 15 minutes after the hour. Since time immemorial, the spirit of Tartu (Tartu vaim) has attracted youngsters thirsty for knowledge (and beer), artists, writers and bohemians. They still congregate in bars across town, philosophizing about life and love.

In a suburb lies one of the best museums in the country. In the  National Museum of Estonia , you can learn about the fortunes and misfortunes of the country – from the Stone Age to e-Estonia. The superb permanent exhibition Echo of the Urals hones in the Komis and the Udmurts, the Maris, the Sami and all those other distant Finno-Ugric cousins of the Estonians. When your brain is tired from the information overload, use your ticket to save the explanation panels digitally to read at home.

11. Get to know Estonia’s Soviet past

However much the Estonians would like to forget this painful chapter in their history, the remnants of the Soviet occupation still linger. Many Tallinners would prefer to see brutalist structures like Maarjamäe and Linnahall demolished, but for now, they continue to serve as reminders of the communist era, much like the residential districts of Lasnamäe and Mustamäe. The  Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom , the KGB prison cells , and the  Viru Hotel , where secret agents eavesdropped on guests from the hidden 23rd floor, are the best places to learn about this period.

Detour: Once a resort town where St Petersburg’s cultural and academic elite holidayed, Sillamäe became a closed city and a code on the map, R-6685, after the discovery of uranium. Suspicious of the potentially dissident Estonians, Moscow shipped in loads of Russian workers to staff the factories. To this day, Sillamäe is the most Russian city in Estonia. Its pompous stairs leading to the Baltic Sea, once lined with palm trees, can almost make you believe you’re in Odessa (until an icy wind reminds you of your real geographical location).

12. Sweat in a smoke sauna

Like their Finnish neighbours, Estonians are addicted to saunas. A visit to the sauna is essential to survive the brutal winter, chasing the cold out of your bones, but also to relax and socialize. The most traditional form, the  smoke sauna , has no chimney and must be heated for hours. Many of the best smoke saunas can be found in the countryside, often in the south of Estonia.  Toidupada and  Mooska Talu , among others, welcome guests. The leil in a smoke sauna – the steam that vaporizes from the stones – does not suffocate, but feels rather like a warm embrace. Rotate for a few hours between sauna, hot tub and ice-cold lake and your stress will evaporate together with your sweat.

13. Go foraging and taste the land on your plate

Raspberries, wild strawberries, cloudberries, blueberries, bog billberries, lingonberries, chanterelles, boletuses, wild garlic: Estonia’s culinary gold comes from nature. The locals love nothing more than to hunt for it. In summer, keep your eyes peeled whilst hiking through pine forests and you’ll undoubtedly stumble upon blueberries. Wild strawberries often grow on the edges of woodlands, raspberries on the sides of roads and trails. Finding other delicacies might need a tad more expertise.

Even if you’re not up for a walk on the wild side, you can still enjoy nature’s bounty. In restaurants and cafes all over Estonia, look out for berries in drinks, cocktails and desserts, mushrooms and wild garlic (called karulauk in Estonian, bear garlic) in main dishes, snacks and soups. Or head out to  forest restaurant Nõmbra for foraging expeditions, cooking classes or to simply savor the menu.

Planning tip: No Estonian in their right mind will reveal their favorite spots to collect berries or mushrooms, but luckily state forest service RMK compiled  a list of foraging spots near campsites (in Estonian). Not sure that you can distinguish a horse mushroom from a destroying angel? Afraid to get lost in the boundless forests? Several tour operators, such as  Nature Tours Estonia ,  Soomaa.com and  Prangli Travel , will happily take you on mushrooming or berry-picking trips.

14. Join the summer revelers in Pärnu

During nine months a year, Pärnu is asleep. But come the first sunny day and half the country – as well as a good chunk of Finland – gathers in the city that tongue-in-cheek Estonians call the "Ibiza of the north". On balmy days, few things are more glorious than zipping past wooden villas on a bike, sipping cocktails or longero (gin-based long drink) in beach bars, ordering pizza at legendary  Steffani or basking in the glow of a never-ending sunset. Just don’t expect the seawater to be warm.

Local tip: Hopscotch to the end of the long stone pier for the best sunset, and bring along your partner for the promise of eternal love.

15. Meet the Russian Old Believers on the Onion Route

In the 17th century, the Russian Orthodox Church forbade its believers from making the sign of the cross with two fingers. From then on, it could only be done with three fingers. Not everyone appreciated this change. Fleeing persecution – dissenters were routinely burned alive or had their tongues cut out – some Old Believers settled on the shores of Lake Peipsi, a massive body of water on the border with Russia.

Many still live in a string of old row villages known as the Sibulatee (Onion Route), named for the beloved bulb crop that thrives in the sandy soil. Lacking major attractions, the area nevertheless exudes a unique charm. Jump on a bicycle to explore sleepy villages where trout, salmon, and onions are drying by wooden houses, samovars are always brewing and Orthodox icons adorn the walls. A newly renovated  museum in Kolkja explains the lifestyle of the Old Believers, worship houses in  Kasepää ,  Kallaste and  Rajaküla and the  Samovar House in Varnja offer a further glimpse.

Detour: Straddling the frontier between the southeast of Estonia and Russia, the historic region Setomaa nurtures a distinct culture that mixes traditions from both sides of the border. The Setos have their own language, religion and cuisine. Once a year, on the  first Saturday of August , they choose a king, an earthly representative of Peko, the pagan harvest god.

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Brooke Henderson Pre-Tournament Press Conference | 2024 CPKC Women's Open

Brooke Henderson speaks with media ahead of the CPKC Women's Open

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