Five Reasons Why Visiting Estonia Is Safer Than Ever

Text Stewart Johnson
Photo Toolbox Estonia / Toomas Tuul

When I first came to Estonia in the 1990s, I was warned by my friends that I would never come back. And they were right! But for the wrong reasons. This is a contemporary list of why visiting Estonia has never been safer.

1. The US Senate has voted to extend an “ironclad commitment” to the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. This includes the sale and delivery of 21st-century technology, such as the HIMARS missile system, bolstering Estonia’s ability to strike deep into the territory of any neighbouring aggressor state, should the need arise. Incidentally, the term “ironclad” refers to 19th-century technology involving warships covered in iron, which effectively resulted in naval stalemates. This comes at a time when the US government itself is shut down due to a political stalemate in the Senate, which approved the ironclad commitment.
2. Estonia’s beaches are clean, pristine, and not in any way crowded. While this could largely be attributed to Estonians’ commitment to environmental cleanliness, and penchant for avoiding social contact—similarly to Finns—it could also be a result of the current water temperatures at Estonia’s numerous seaside beaches being anywhere from 10°C to 13°C. It is the perfect time to enjoy swimming in a wetsuit at one of Estonia’s many nudist beaches. Also good to know is that the wetsuit could also protect you from sunburn.
3. Tallinn has been named as one of the safest cities to visit in the European Union. It is generally considered safe to walk alone downtown in the middle of the night. Common sense should still be practised of course, yet it is safe to say that gun violence in Estonia is non-existent, despite the massive influx of American tourism in the country. In fact, the largest and most recent mass shooting in the country involved only cameras.
4. Traffic safety in Estonia has improved remarkably over the years. There is zero tolerance for driving under the influence of alcohol, meaning that if you’ve had even a small beer, take a taxi. The vast majority of Estonians respect this total ban on drunk driving, and the traffic culture shows it. Bicycle lanes are becoming more common, speed limits have been lowered to near-walking speeds in the more congested traffic zones, and the use of AI cameras has recently been approved. This means that even if you are somehow victim to a hit-and-run traffic accident, rest assured that the Finnish* driver will be identified.
   *This was said only to keep readers engaged in reading this article.
5. Camping and hiking in Estonia are perfectly safe. The State Forest Management Centre, or RMK, maintains a robust network of campsites throughout the country, and keeps these sites stocked with firewood, as well as permanent, on-site grills. Most campsites are free of charge. There are hundreds of kilometers of boardwalks through wetter areas, such as Estonia’s famous bogs. Visitors to Estonia can also enjoy over a thousand kilometers of well-maintained hiking paths, despite Estonia’s recent decision to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines.

Enjoy your time in Estonia! And remember…when leaving some cities, you will see a sign that says “Welcome back” in English, even though you’re on your way out. The city official responsible for such signs has not yet heard of ChatGPT.

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