HAKAN ŞAHİN
Lahemaa forest path at golden hour, Estonia
Personal Travel Journal

Discovering Estonia —
One Journey at a Time.

Practical tips, personal stories, and honest impressions from a Turkish traveller exploring the Baltic north.

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Estonia, Baltic North
Hakan Şahin — traveller and writer
The person behind the notes

One traveller,
one honest perspective.

Hi, I'm Hakan Şahin, based in İzmir, Turkey. Estonia caught me off guard — its silence, forests, and medieval streets pulled me back again and again. What started as a single trip turned into something closer to an obsession.

This blog is my field notes: where to go, what to skip, and what no guidebook tells you. No sponsored detours, no glossy exaggerations — just what I actually saw, felt, and wrote down.

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The Journal

Latest from the Journal

Inside the Old Town Walls: What the Tour Groups Miss
Tallinn7 min read

Inside the Old Town Walls: What the Tour Groups Miss

Most visitors follow the same route from Raekoja plats to Toompea and back. I spent three days deliberately going wrong — ducking into half-hidden courtyards, climbing forgotten towers, and finding the café that locals actually use.

Lahemaa in September: Estonia's Forests at Their Most Honest
Nature9 min read

Lahemaa in September: Estonia's Forests at Their Most Honest

September strips Lahemaa of its summer crowds and replaces them with chanterelle mushrooms, amber birch leaves, and a silence so complete it feels borrowed. A two-day slow walk through Estonia's oldest national park.

Eating in Estonia Without Eating Badly: A Practical Guide
Practical Tips6 min read

Eating in Estonia Without Eating Badly: A Practical Guide

Tourist trap menus exist, but so does extraordinary local food if you know where to look. Black rye bread, smoked Baltic sprat, kama desserts, and the one supermarket chain every traveller should know about.

Haapsalu: The Town That Tchaikovsky Came to Rest
West Estonia8 min read

Haapsalu: The Town That Tchaikovsky Came to Rest

A three-hour drive from Tallinn brings you to a seaside town with a ruined bishop's castle, the longest wooden promenade in the Baltics, and a peculiar ghost story the locals tell with complete straight faces.

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Honest Traveller Notes

Things I Wish I Knew Before Going

No sales pitch. No sponsored framing. Just the practical stuff that would have made my first days in Estonia smoother — gathered from months on the road here.

Best Time to Visit

Late May through August is Estonia's golden window — long days stretch past 10 pm in June, wildflower meadows bloom, and outdoor terraces in Tallinn fill up. September brings crisp golden light and far fewer crowds. Winter (Nov–Feb) is dark and cold but genuinely beautiful: frozen sea ice, candlelit Old Town, and an authenticity that summer can't offer.

Getting Around

Tallinn is wonderfully walkable — Old Town to Kalamaja takes 20 minutes on foot. For day trips, Lux Express and FlixBus connect Tallinn, Tartu, and Pärnu reliably and cheaply. Renting a car unlocks the real Estonia: bog trails, coastal villages, and the islands. Taxis via Bolt are surprisingly affordable — far cheaper than most European capitals.

Language Basics

Estonian is a Finno-Ugric language — don't expect to crack it in a weekend. But you won't need to: nearly everyone under 40 speaks excellent English. A few words go a long way: 'Tere' (hello), 'Aitäh' (thank you), 'Vabandust' (excuse me/sorry). Estonians appreciate the effort, even if they smile at your pronunciation. Russian is also widely spoken, especially among older residents.

Budget Expectations

Estonia uses the euro and sits in a sweet spot — cheaper than Scandinavia, pricier than its Baltic neighbours. A sit-down lunch in Tallinn runs €10–14; a craft beer costs €4–6. Budget travellers can get by on €50–60/day including a hostel bed. Mid-range comfort — a good hotel room, one proper dinner out, a museum or two — typically comes to €100–130/day per person.

SIM & Connectivity

Estonia has one of the best digital infrastructures in Europe — 4G/5G coverage extends deep into forests and out to smaller islands. Pick up a Tele2 or Elisa prepaid SIM at the airport for around €5–10; 20–30 GB of data costs under €15 for a month. Tallinn's cafés, libraries, and even many bus stops offer free public Wi-Fi. eSIMs from providers like Airalo also work flawlessly here.

What to Pack

Estonian weather is famously changeable — sunshine, rain, and wind can all visit in a single afternoon. Pack a lightweight waterproof jacket year-round. In summer, add mosquito repellent for bog hikes and forest walks — they are relentless. Comfortable walking shoes are essential; Old Town cobblestones punish city sandals. In winter, pack real thermal layers: January temperatures regularly drop to -10°C or below.

All tips reflect personal experience as of 2024–2025 and are updated regularly. Travel conditions change — always verify critical information locally.

“Estonia is the quietest country I have ever loved.”

— Hakan Şahin

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HAKAN ŞAHİN

One traveller. Real Estonia.
Honest notes from the road.

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