| Estonia ((and)Eesti) | |
 | |
| Flag | |
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| Information | |
| Capital city | Tallinn |
|---|---|
| Area | 45 000 km² |
| Population | 1 300 000 hab. (2010) |
| Density | 28,89 inhab./km² |
| Form of State | Republic |
| Change | euro (EUR) |
| Electricity | 230 V/50 Hz, European plug |
| Telephone prefix | 372 |
| Internet suffix | .ee |
| Flow direction | Right-hand drive |
| Spindle | UTC 2 |
| Location | |
 59 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ N 26 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ E | |
| https://www.eesti.ee/en/, https://www.eesti.ee/ru/ Official site | |
TheEstonia is one of the three Baltic countries ofEurope.
Understand
Geography
Estonia is a country located North Europe, its surface area is 45,226 km2 which places it 131st in the world. The relief is flat, the highest point is Suur Munamagi located in the south-east of the country which culminates in 318 m. Off the coast, the territory covers more than 1,500 islands located on the Baltic Sea. The largest are the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. The lakes are very numerous, the largest is Lac Peïpous (3 555 km2) at the border with the Russia is the fourth largest lake in Europe. The longest river is the Parnu river with a length of 144 km.
Weather
History
Population
Estonia is populated by 1,286,479 inhabitants, including 424,445 in Tallinn. The population density is 31 inhab./km2. The north of the country is the most populous region. The Russian population represents about 20% of the total population. Russians are more numerous in the northeast but they are found all over the country. The country has four other cities with more than 30,000 inhabitants: Tartu (103 284) in the center, Narva (65 886) to the northeast, Kohtla-Järve (46 740) to the northeast and Pärnu (40 401) to the southwest.
Regions
 Large regions of Estonia. |
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Cities
North Estonia
- 1 Tallinn – the capital of the country, remarkable for the architecture of its old town.
- 2 Paide
- 3 Rakvere
- 4 Rapla
West Estonia and islands
- 5 Pärnu – fourth largest city in Estonia, known for its balneotherapy complexes and spa centers.
- 6 Kärdla
- 7 Haapsalu
- 8 Kuressaare
South Estonia
- 9 Tartu – a very pleasant student city.
- 10 Jõgeva
- 11 Põlva
- 12 Valga
- 13 Viljandi
- 14 Võru
- 15 Otepää – city surrounded by many winter sports resorts called the winter capital of Estonia.
East Estonia
- 16 Narva – third largest city in the country, the main monument of the city is Hermann Castle, a fortress located on the border with the Russia.
- 17 Jõhvi
Other destinations
He is
- 1 Saaremaa Island – the most interesting is also the largest. There is an excellently preserved castle in its capital, to the south. The island is worth especially for its wild character, of seaside. Be careful however with the climate, it rains very often. The island is well served by ferries.
- 2 Hiiumaa Island – it houses lighthouses and ancient churches. In winter it can sometimes be reached by car via an ice bridge over the Baltic Sea.
National parks
- 3 Lahemaa National Park
- 4 Soomaa National Park
- 5 Karula National Park
- 6 Matsalu National Park
- 7 Vilsandi National Park
To go
Formalities
- See as well: Traveling in the Schengen area
Estonia is part ofSchengen area. The citizens of the Swiss and the European Economic Area which includes theEuropean Union, theIceland, the Norway and the Liechtenstein only need a national identity card or a passport valid. They don't need any Visa to enter or circulate in the Schengen area and are generally allowed to stay as long as they wish.
Remarks (1) Nationals of these countries need a biometric passport to enjoy visa-free travel. (2) Serbian nationals with passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate (residents of Kosovo with Serbian passport) need a visa. (3) Taiwanese nationals need their ID card number (a letter followed by nine digits) written in their passport to enjoy visa-free travel. |
Nationals of the following countries do not need a visa to enter the Schengen area: Albania(1), Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and herzegovina(1), Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, South Korea, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, United Arab Emirates, United States, Grenade, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, North Macedonia(1), Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova(1), Monaco, Montenegro(1), New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, St. LUCIA, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia(1,2), Seychelles, Singapore, Taiwan(3) (Republic of China), East Timor, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela as well as holders of a passport of Hong Kong SAR, of Macau SAR and all nationals British (including those who are not citizens of the European Union).
- The visa-free travelers mentioned above and not members of theEEE or from Swiss cannot stay more than 90 days in a period of 180 days in the Schengen area in general and, in general, cannot work during their stay (although some countries in the Schengen area allow certain nationalities to work). The counting of days begins once you enter one of the Schengen countries and does not return to zero when you leave one Schengen country for another.
- New Zealand citizens can stay longer than 90 days, but without working if they do not have a work permit, in some countries of the Schengen area, namely Germany, Austria, the Benelux, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland
If you are not a national ofEEE or from Swiss, even if you are exempt from a visa, unless you are Andorran, Monegasque, San Marino or Vatican, make sure your passport is stamped both when entering and leaving the Schengen area. Without an entry stamp, you may be treated as having exceeded your stay when trying to leave the Schengen area. Without an exit stamp, you may be refused entry the next time you seek to enter the Schengen area as you may be assumed to have exceeded the time allowed on your previous visit. If you cannot get a stamp in the passport, keep documents like boarding passes, transportation tickets, etc. which can help convince border control personnel that you have stayed in the Schengen area legally.
By plane
- Tallinn International Airport – It is Estonia's main airport. It is served by the company Estonian-air. Regular lines serve the major cities of Europe. However the link to Paris is not insured all year round.
On a boat
- Port of Tallinn – Five companies provide continuous rotations from Tallinn to Finland for pedestrians and vehicles of all classes. Prices vary from 10 to 60 € depending on the companies, classes and timetables, with a departure every hour on average. The Tallinn-Helsinki journey takes two hours. Consult This site to get to Tallinn by ferry from the France.
By train
Rather, it is not recommended to travel to Estonia by rail, as these lines are in very poor condition. Unexpected stops and delays are very frequent due to catenary breaks or forest congestion on the tracks. In addition, connections are very infrequent (related to these problems).
By car
It is possible to get to Estonia by car from France. The journey is long, so you have to plan several days. The countries to cross are members of theSchengen area.
By bus
The bus remains one of the best ways to travel to and in Estonia. Inexpensive, this means guarantees you to arrive in the city center without having to look for parking and without the fatigue of the journey. The European Union is currently subsidizing the repair of the main roads and accesses in the Baltic countries, which can create traffic jams at the borders but ensure a smooth journey.
- Eurolines – Bus lines to Estonia
- Estonia-Tallinn – Traveling to Estonia
Circulate
By car
International car rental agencies have offices at Tallinn and Tartu. The company Tulika rent offers rates ranging from 38 to 50 € per day to travel from Riga to Tallinn, free of charge for depositing the vehicle in the other country.
The surface of the main axes is good but half of the territory's road network is poorly maintained. However, if driving rules should be harmonized with the European Union, driving in Estonia can become very stressful and dangerous for a motorist who respects French rules and customs on the roads. The dipped headlights must be switched on as soon as you are driving, whether day or night. The consumption of alcohol is strongly discouraged before taking the wheel, the blood alcohol level being only limited to 0.2 g/ l of blood. The speed limits applied in Estonia are as follows:
- Residential area: 20 km / h
- Urban area : 50 km / h
- Route: 90 km / h
By bus
Inexpensive and numerous, buses make it easy to get from one city to another. The international student card allows you to obtain reductions of 10 to 15% depending on the company.
By train
As in the other Baltic countries, the rail network is little used. It is practically reserved for freight. So be careful with the cards. The lines shown are sometimes unusable for passengers. Also be careful at borders, which trains do not cross. Often only one or two trains run per day, and at difficult times. The inhabitants prefer the bus, which is very developed. However, the train is not expensive.
By bike
Estonia has a road network which lends itself well to cyclo-tourism. The secondary roads are thus almost all paved, as long as one does not enter the remote areas. Study the map carefully, and watch out for western maps, especially IGN, which do not always have the facing information. On the tire side, the use of semi-slick tires (or city) is suitable. It also allows you to travel to neighboring countries without too many problems. Be careful with spare parts, indeed few cities have bicycle shops. Sometimes you have to do about fifty kilometers.
Speak
Estonian is a Finno-Ugric language, close to Finnish and to a lesser extent Hungarian. Its grammar is therefore more western Asian languages than Latin / Greek. Learning is made difficult but like everywhere learning a few words will allow you to be all the more pleasantly welcomed wherever you go.The majority of Estonians (especially those under 30) speak excellent English, and they do not It is not uncommon to meet young people speaking German or French, especially in restaurants in Tallinn. Note that a large percentage of the population is of Russian origin and speaks little or no Estonian (especially in the region from Narva). As in most countries of the former communist bloc, Russian speakers are sometimes looked down upon and the ethnic Estonian population may show a certain mistrust of Russian speakers.
See as well: Estonian language guide
Make
Be invited to a sauna in private homes in the middle of a nature reserve. Some campsites on the shores of Lake Peipsi also have a sauna, which usually belongs to the owner, but which is intended for rental. Do not hesitate to inquire with him and take advantage of it.
In winter
Do not skimp on warm clothes, you will not be ridiculous wearing your ski clothes (except for après-ski), the fur hat or head cover and gloves are essential, "damart" or tights strongly recommended. On the other hand, the apartments and other interiors are overheated, it is preferable to foresee the "blow" if you go out.
In summer
Beware of preconceived ideas! Estonian summer can be very hot and very sunny. However, plan to protect yourself from the rain, the weather is extremely changeable. A torrential downpour can follow an idyllic afternoon in less than an hour. At the beginning of July, the sun hardly sets. From midnight to four o'clock in the morning, we just have the impression of being at dusk, "between dog and wolf", then, the sun rises. Also watch out for mosquitoes. Near the many lakes, very popular for swimming, they abound. If you choose to camp in the many camps (wild and very pleasant), absolutely plan for your evenings: long sleeves, pants, socks (under penalty of not being able to put on your walking shoes). Or you run the risk of quickly seeing yourself covered in bites.
Buy
Estonia uses theeuro. It is one of the many European countries that use this common currency. Euro banknotes and coins are legal tender throughout the country.
Countries which have the euro as official currency:
These countries are collectively referred to as the "euro area". |
One euro is divided into 100 eurocents or euro cents abbreviated cents or cents.
The official euro symbol is €, and its ISO code is EUR. There is no official symbol for Eurocents.
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- Tickets
- Euro banknotes are the same in all countries.
- Ordinary parts
- All euro area countries have issued coins with a distinctive national side on one side, and a common standard side on the other side. Coins can be used in all countries, regardless of the country of origin of the coin used, for example a one euro coin from Finland can be used in Portugal.
- Two euro commemorative coins
- They differ from normal two euro coins only on their "national" side and circulate freely as legal tender. Each country can produce a certain quantity of it as part of their normal parts production. There are also commemorative two euro coins "at European level". They are produced to commemorate special events, such as the anniversary of important treaties.
- Withdrawal of money
- Cash withdrawals from ATMs are billed at the same price as cash withdrawals in the country of origin for holders of a bank card from an account in a country in the euro zone. Money transfers between two accounts are also considered by banks as a transfer between two accounts in the same country.
Wool and linen effects, vodka and beer (popular with Finnish neighbors). The streets of Tallinn are full of tourist bouibouis, selling imported goods at high prices. Note: the "Vanna Tallinn" liqueur, citrus-based and very strong.
Eat
No meal times, "we eat when we are hungry" it is possible that this is one of the side effects of "we eat when there is, to eat" .... In winter by -25 °, delicious soups based on salmon and sour cream, which are clearly not typical Estonian food. In Tallinn I would strongly advise against the large, trendy, rather expensive medieval restaurant where you can't tell the momentum from the bear, nor the wild boar hare. But on the other hand, a little soup by the fireside at the Yacht Club in Pirita, or at the Hell Hunt (bar pub considered to be the first open after independence). Otherwise the small Russian restaurants with their small soups and fish sandwiches.
Drink / Go out
The national drink is beer. More and more young people are drinking "Mix" based on Vodka, Gin, Rum. The consumption of vodka is also strong. As in all the countries of the North of Europe, alcoholism a national health problem and it is not uncommon to cross on the sidewalks of Tallinn at night the inhabitants at least. tipsy. The permitted blood alcohol level is 0, driving under the influence of alcohol is subject to heavy fines.Beware, Estonians, jealous of their culture, exclude any language other than Estonian in the marking of food products . This makes it difficult for people with allergies to eat. Serious cases of repatriation of children following Kick edema have highlighted this problem. The country is remarkable, only this problem of cultural closure is difficult to manage.
Housing
- Accommodations in Estonia
Hotels
Three main types of hotels exist: the large Soviet "tourist factories", the smaller establishments built after independence, and the hotels of international chains. The former have often been renovated, but their gigantic dimensions give them a gloomy side. Count from 32 to 51 €. The other two categories are more expensive, often with breakfast included. In all establishments there is an optional sauna.
Youth hostels
In Tallinn alone there are six hostels linked to the IYHF and many more privately owned. Good choice in the south-east of the country and around the Lahemaa National Park. Some are only open from May to September. The prices fluctuate between 10 € and 16 € for a bed in a dormitory of 3 or 4 people.
At the inhabitant
Bed & Breakfasts (kodumajutus) normally have less than five rooms, pensions (külalisternaja) have more. Growing in popularity, farm accommodation (turismitalu) offers on-site activities such as horse riding. For two people, count between 32 and 45 €.
Camping
Two options: in regional or national parks or in better equipped private sites. The former are very inexpensive 3 or 4 €, even free, but there is no service. The latter are barely more expensive, but have toilets and running water. More comfortable, the wooden cabins are very popular with Estonians at weekends. Count from 13 to 19 € for 4 people. Wild camping is allowed outside the cities. If you plan to camp, know that it is impossible in Estonia to buy a gas canister for a stove. No store or gas station sells them.
Learn
The country has several universities and business schools. The main university town is Tartu.
Read
Here is a list of interesting books to read before a trip to Estonia:
- Estonia – by Suzanne Champonnois and François de Labriolle at Karthala editions. 2000 years of Estonian history, political, economic, sociological, globally interesting but rather botched on the twentieth century and marred by many factual errors.
- The beauty of the story – by Viivi Luik published by Christian Bourgois publisher. A young Estonian leaves for a day in Riga, the writing of this book reveals the linguistic system of the Soviet Omerta and the origins of the Estonian language. This book is both perfectly illegible and fascinating.
- The compromise – by Sergei Dovlatov published by Editions du Rocher. Fragments of the life of a Russian journalist based in Tallinn in the 1970s, enough to laugh and smile at the various Soviet aberrations of the time.
- Marie in Siberia – by Heino Kiik at the Temps Actuels editions. This book leaves one perplexed as to the effects of deportation in the kolkhozes of Siberia and makes you want to pursue the subject. Its fluid writing makes it accessible to everyone.
To work
To work in this country, you have to start by obtaining the ID card requested from the police and immigration services, it is a simple formality for Europeans, the cost is 16 €Fluency in Estonian is not always required but fluency in English is a minimum, German is also often required. Salaries remain well below European standards, but the low cost of living compensates for this fact.
- Estonia-Tallinn – Expatriate and work in Estonia
Volunteering
The international voluntary association EstYes welcomes several hundred international volunteers from all over the world mainly on environmental and social projects. It is also possible to participate in projects supported by the Erasmus program that allow you to join a local project with a grant from the European Commission.To participate, it is essential to be a member of an accredited sending association such as the International Voluntary Service
Communicate
In Estonia, you will have no trouble finding an internet cafe. Tallinn is full of them, but computerization has spread to the smallest villages. In Tallinn, many parks are also marked with the "WiFi area" logo, Estonians are used to visiting these parks with their laptop.
European roaming
Since June 15, 2017, "European roaming" has been introduced. It allows all SIM card holders belonging to one of the European member countries to maintain the same pricing conditions as in the country of origin.
Telephone calls and Internet browsing are valid at no additional cost in all European countries, unless authorized by national authorities (generally minor operators) or when a data Gbit threshold is exceeded, which increases year by year. To use this service, simply activate the roaming option on your mobile phone.
The participating countries are those ofEuropean Union (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary , Ireland , Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, UK, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden), those ofEuropean Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and some Oversea territories (Azores, Canary Islands, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Madeira, Martinique, Mayotte, The meeting, Saint-Martin).
Manage the day-to-day
Health
European citizens
Citizens ofEuropean Union (EU), who fall unexpectedly ill during a temporary stay, studies or a professional stay, are entitled to the same medical care as in their country of residence. It is always useful to take the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which constitutes physical proof of your insurance in an EU country. However, if you do not have the card with you or if you cannot use it (as in the case of private assistance), you are still entitled to treatment, but you are obliged to pay the costs on the spot. , then you will ask for a refund on your return.
The countries in which health coverage is provided are all those that are members of theEuropean Union (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary , Ireland , Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden), those ofEuropean Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), the Swiss, the UK and the Oversea territories member of the European Union (Azores, Canary Islands, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Madeira, Martinique, Mayotte, The meeting, Saint-Martin).
security
 | Emergency telephone number: All emergency services:112 |
Estonia is a safe country, although there are cases of petty crime and theft in urban centers like Tallinn, Narva and Tartu. Use common sense, as in your country: do not leave your valuables unattended, be careful in isolated areas and outlying areas like the industrial area of Kopli or around the port.
Government travel advice
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Belgium (Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) 
Canada (Government of Canada) 
France (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 
Swiss (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs)
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Respect
Estonians are very proud of their country and their culture, which they have been able to preserve despite centuries of foreign domination. Thus, Estonians hardly appreciate if we consider them as Russians or Eastern Europeans because Estonians are a Finno-Ugric people close to Finns who have lived in Estonia for 5000 years. Estonians have a predominantly Nordic culture, influenced by Sweden, Denmark and Germany. The predominant religion is Lutheranism as in other Nordic countries and not Russian Orthodoxy as in several countries of Eastern Europe.
Some Estonians, seem heartbroken by the obedience of their people as to the wishes of the European Union, they regret their little "hips" to the "good franquette" which had to transform their kitchens into a laboratory, while other countries of the Union have not necessarily been so obedient. Estonia is in the midst of an economic "boom" and although the country is in the process of normalization, the scars of the "nouveau riche" effect are sometimes annoying.
If the transition to independence was smooth, a human chain holding hands from Tallinn to Vilnius via Riga, the fact remains that some people born in the 1940s and not having known than the Soviet occupation, were completely disarmed at the beginning of the 1990s. Indeed, these being then at the end of their career, but not having yet reached retirement age, they lost their benchmarks in the big economic "boom" and have fallen or still fall into depression and therefore as is customary in alcohol and in fact, die of cirrhosis.
All Estonian families have experienced deportation to Siberia, whether they are collective farm workers or "Gulaguians". This is not a taboo subject. On the other hand, Estonians hardly appreciate being seen as communists. Not all Estonian families went hungry as there were some privileged families affiliated with the Estonian elite of the 1930s who, thanks to their higher education, kept their posts under Soviet rule. Their "sworn enemy" is not the Russian as one might think, but the Finn, who has always taken Estonians for backward people.
One thing is important to understand Estonians, their determination to speak a language that 1,100,000 people speak in the world, including 900,000 in Estonia. In the middle of XIXe century, 90% of Estonians could read. What people can boast of having been able to preserve and divulge their language after 2000 years of various and varied occupations? (Estonia has many languages and still has two Estonian languages, one official and the other studied at school).
