Saaremaa Travel Guide

 
by akkipaa
 
  •   Saaremaa
    by akkipaa
  •   Saaremaa
    by akkipaa
  •   Saaremaa
    by akkipaa
  •   Things to Do
    by akkipaa
  •   Things to Do
    by akkipaa
 

Pro

harmoni profile photo

 Lot of pure nature and sightseeings 


Con

LanaFromRiga profile photo

 The weather might change suddenly 


In a nutshell

lotharlerch profile photo

 maybe the "most Estonian" part of Estonia 

 

Explore Saaremaa

Things to Do  

The hole - Kaali's meteorite crater

The hole - Kaali's meteorite crater, Saaremaa

 akkipaa Says:  The folk story tells there is no bottom, but nowadays the depth is 16 meters. In 1930's some iron ochides was found and that's the evidence this is a meteorite crater. Water diameter is 50 meters and the whole crater about 110.Researchers have different opinions about the... 

Kuressaare Fortress

Kuressaare Fortress, Saaremaa

 Leipzig Says:  Kuressaare Fortress is surounded by a ditch on which you can row now. The fortification walls are several meters thick and covered with ivy and grass. Inside is a museum and a place for open air theatre. 

The Kaali meteorite craters

The Kaali meteorite craters, Saaremaa

 LanaFromRiga Says:  Andrey was very impressed after attending this place. I have scepsis about this "cosmic" things. Anyway, near the place Kaali is round small lake. All informations tell that this is the place where meteorite felt. 

Piretikivi

Piretikivi, Saaremaa

 js77 Says:  This big rock is named after Piret, the wife of mythological hero Suur Toll. As everywhere in Estonia and Latvia almost every big rock or stone has a legend. The legend about Piretkivi you can read in www.saaremaa.ee. 

Valjala hillfort

Valjala hillfort, Saaremaa

 js77 Says:  This was the centre of pagan Saaremaa before German crusaders took over the island in 1227. After heavy and merciless fighting for Muhu fortress (see my Muhu Things to do tip) German knights with their allies came to Valjala and took Valjala hill fort without a fight... 

Poide St.Mary's church

Poide St.Mary's church, Saaremaa

 js77 Says:  This church is built in 13th century. It is very impressive by its size and as a fortified building. Originally it was a part of a castle surrounded by walls which belonged to Livonian Order. In 1343 the settlement was besieged by Estonian rebels during St.George's Night... 

Panga cliff

Panga cliff, Saaremaa

 js77 Says:  In my opinion this is one of the most impressive places in Saaremaa. Of course, it can not be compared to the cliffs in Ireland or somewhere else, but in Baltic countries where we have no hills at all it really looks very good. This cliff was used as a place where people... 

Maasilinna medieval castle ruins

Maasilinna medieval castle ruins, Saaremaa

 js77 Says:  This castle of Livonian Order was built few years after Poide stronghold was destroyed. Maasilinna ruins may seem so unimpressive you could even change your mind and go immediately further without visiting the ruins, but the main attraction there is not what you can see at... 

Restaurants  

Vana Konn: Try something local

Vana Konn: Try something local, Saaremaa

 LanaFromRiga Says:  Pub "Vana Konn" is in the center of Kuuressaare not far from the market place. The pub has cosy interior and stuff speak English.Open hours: Sun-Thu 11-24, Fri-Sat 11-02. I took pasta, Andrey took pork chop - portions were huge. Very nice beer. You know that in Estonia they... 

Nightlife  

Kuressaare centre: Summer nighttime

Kuressaare centre: Summer nighttime, Saaremaa

 harmoni Says:  Well, as Kuressaare (still) is more a village than a town, it´s very OK to spend late summer evenings in an outside pub or coffe bar. There are lots of terraces now right in the centre, where one can just sit, relax, eat, drink and watch people walking by... 

By the fire and under the stars

By the fire and under the stars, Saaremaa

 Lodestar Says:  Although you'll be able to find several bars and clubs in the towns (especially in Kuressaare) on this island, my suggestion would be - build a nice little fire (using your common sense and following safety rules), barbeque some saussages, sit around the fire (preferably... 

Transportation  

Mostly by boat

Mostly by boat, Saaremaa

 Thoomuch Says:  As Saaremma is an islands mostly people come here by ferry from the Estonian mainland. The ferry comes to the neighbourisland of Muhu wich connect Saaremaa with an road.We did pay (in july 2005) 175 EEK for ONE waytravel to the island (for 1 car and 2 persons). On the way... 

Ferry

Ferry, Saaremaa

 LanaFromRiga Says:  The only way how to get to Saareemaa island is by ferry. You have to take ferry in a place Virtsu and go there till ferry station Kuivastu. It is possible to book tickets in Internet and you will have the priority for getting on ferry. Anyway, rows are not so long and... 

Ferries to both islands

Ferries to both islands, Saaremaa

 lotharlerch Says:  Saaremaa is reached by the ferry going from Virtsu (85 km from Haapsalu) to Kuivastu, the ferry to Hiiumaa leaves from Rohuküla near Haapsalu to Heltermaa, fligts from Tallinn go to Kuressaare and Kärdla. 

Local Customs  

The speciality of fencing
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2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

LanaFromRiga 640 reviews
Fence from stones

As I mentioned befor there are too many stones in Saaremaa. Local people collect stones in they fields and bring them to houses. Year by year and you can see a big fence from stones near each house now.

Written Jan 26, 2004

Related to:
 Historical Travel

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What to Pack  

Changeble weather

Changeble weather, Saaremaa

 LanaFromRiga Says:   Be prepared for sudden strong wind and rain. I know about this and took with us warm closes, shoes and it was very right decision. During the day everything was nice - warm weather, no wind, during the evening started strong wind and rain was during all the night and next... 

Climate on Saaremaa

Climate on Saaremaa, Saaremaa

 Leipzig Says:   There is no special rainy seasonAvg. Temp. in Spring: max.: 2 - 11°C ( 36 - 51°F ); min: -3 - 6°C ( 26 - 53°F )Avg. Temp. in Summer: max.: 14 - 19°C ( 59 - 66°F ); min: 9 - 14°C ( 48 - 59°F )Avg. Temp. in Autumn: max.: 5 - 14°C ( 51 - 59°F); min: 2 - 9°C ( 36 - 48°F )Avg.... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Sõrve peninsula

Sõrve peninsula, Saaremaa

 LanaFromRiga Says:  Saaremaa is more than Kuressaare and Panga cliffs - the northern part of island is full of interesting places. Sõrve peninsula is one of such kind of plcaces. The most impressive object is the black-white lighthouse. It was a pitty, we came late and the lighthouse was... 

Favorites  

Saaremaa

Saaremaa, Saaremaa

 Leipzig Says:  The island of Saaremaa isn't very big but has a lot to offer. Main town is Kuresarre - here you find all shopping possiblities - a mall, several small stores and a lot of cafés and restaurants. Form this town it takes not more then one hour to almost every point on the... 

Great place to be alone

Great place to be alone, Saaremaa

 Leipzig Says:  My friend and I didn't want to drive to Tallinn on a Sunday so we tought better to go to a beach. On our road map we discovered this island. It was one of our best ideas during our holidays.Hardly anyone on the beach, sunny weather and mild temperatures. Most of the day we... 

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Map of Saaremaa