If you wish to visit Estonia as part of your camping adventures, here are a few things you need to know before starting your adventure in the country.
Estonia is a country in Northern Europe that borders the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea. It has over 1,500 islands with rocky beaches, lakes, and old-growth forest. Apart from the beaches, Estonia has an expansive countryside that is ideal for wild campers and hikers.
Places to Visit in Estonia
Hiiumaa
Apart from the capital city Tallinn, the island of Hiiumaa is another tourist destination. You can reach the island by plane or a ferry from a number of coastal cities. The island is ideal for surfing, sailing, and hiking. The country’s tallest lighthouse is in this island and it is made from cast iron from the 19th century.
Lahemaa National Park
The park is an hour’s drive from Tallinn, and has a must see part known as the Viru Bog where trees dig into swampy ground. To explore the Viru Bog, you will follow a 5km boardwalk that is dry but close to the scenery. Sagadi village is in the middle of the park where you can take a tour of Sagadi Manor to learn about the region’s history and culture. Other places to visit in Estonia are the cities Tartu, Parnu, Saaremaa, Tallinn, and Narva Castle.
Camping Estonia – Legal Camp Area
Camping in Estonia is legal especially on government land. You can camp in any place you like such as in the forest, beach, and beside lakes as long as you are not camping on private or cultivated land. Other areas that you should avoid are those around inhabited buildings, national parks, and military zones. You should therefore have the right information on restricted areas in the location you intend to pitch camp.
Another important thing to know before you visit Estonia is that you can only camp in one place for a maximum of two nights. If you are camping in a forest, there are a few simple rules that you have to follow:
Don’t make unnecessary noise, that is, do not bother anyone or anything
- Pick your trash and leave with it
- Clean your dishes and bath on dry land, not inside natural water sources
- Follow visible hiking trails, do not create your own trails
- Leave no evidence that you were there.
Visit Estonia – Ready Campsites
The Estonian State Forest Management (RMK) manages dozens of campsites on walking and hiking routes. The campsites are free and some of them have facilities such as picnic tables, toilets, and charging points with electricity. Anyone can use the campsites as long as they follow the rules stated above, which also means being respectful to other campers.
If you prefer a little bit more exclusivity there are also private campsites available that will make your stay a lot more comfortable, still without paying much. You can check the wide variety of options in our website campstar.com, where you will find campgrounds from many destinations and the best booking prices available.
Camping Estonia – Making Campfires
It’s legal to make a campfire in Estonia but you also need to follow some safety rules. The most important one is that you cannot start a fire that has the potential of leading to a wildfire. Different areas in Estonia have a fire hazard index which is available at the Estonian Weather Service. If the area where you are has a hazard index of 4/5, you should not make a fire in the area at all.
When in a forest, campfires should only be made with fallen dead wood and branches; do not cut down trees or branches from live trees. If you intend to make a campfire, it’s better if you call the Rescue Board on 1524 and find out if the area you intend to camp in is allowed to have campfires as they are completely forbidden in some areas.
Camping Estonia – Last Word
Estonia has many beautiful places to visit at different times, with 52 percent of the country being a forest, it gets the title of one of Europe’s greenest countries, which also makes it perfect to get lost in the nature in your next camping adventure. Visit Estonia and discover the friendliness of its people together with the fun sports they practice like kiiking (360 swing) and wife carrying competition. Sounds interesting, right? For more information about campsites and campervan in Estonia visit Campstar.com