Estonia Travel
Estonia is a nation of northeastern Europe and the northernmost of the 3 Baltic states (a term given to the countries in northeastern Europe situated on the Baltic Sea, namely Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia) comprising 2317 islands and islets (as per statistics from 2020). Throughout a large part of its history, Estonia has been dominated by foreign powers. Following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, Estonia was invaded and occupied by the Soviet Union in June 1940. On August 6, 1940, after a rigged election, the parliament proclaimed Estonia as one of the Soviet Union's constituent republics, thereby naming it as the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (Estonian SSR). Estonia remained a Soviet republic until August 20, 1991, when it declared its complete independence, which was acknowledged by the Soviet authorities on September 6, 1991, and membership in the United Nations followed soon after. Estonia began the process of converting its government to a parliamentary democracy and shifting its economy to market capitalism. It desired further European integration and joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) in 2004.
Through this series of articles, I intend to share our stories and experiences of traveling across Estonia with our fellow photography and travel enthusiasts. I hope they help you plan your travels across this beautiful country!
Tallinn's medieval Old Town takes on a particularly romantic look in the winter, when a new dusting of snow covers its rooftops and candles cast a flickering glow across its cobblestone alleyways. Tallinn is at its most enchanting during the winter, despite the dark nights. From ice skating on the Old Town's outdoor rink to sipping mulled wine on the ancient Town Hall square at one of Europe's best Christmas Markets, it's a true winter wonderland!