Estonia 'about more than just Tallinn'

Holidaymakers planning flights to Estonia this year or in the future have been urged to explore more of the country than just its capital, Tallinn.

According to Tom Hall, travel editor of Lonely Planet, Estonia and Tallinn have become "inseparable" in the minds of many people.

Mr Hall stressed that "there's much more to Estonia than Tallinn", but also acknowledged the appeal of the capital, describing it as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

"The reason people are attracted to Tallinn in the first place is its medieval old town, which is stuffed full of cafes, restaurants and clubs – it's a very pleasant place to settle in for a couple of days," he added.

Despite the appeal of the Estonian capital, Mr Hall urged people not to limit themselves only to short city breaks, but to venture out and explore the rest of the country.

He claimed that this should be a fairly achievable ambition owing to the size of the country in the far reaches of eastern Europe.

"Estonia is a small country and it's easy to get around, even to somewhere like the island of Saaremaa, which is Estonia's largest island," he commented.

"It's four hours away by bus, but it's covered in dense forests, it's got some wonderful beaches and some little fishing villages, and its star attraction is a town called Kuressaare, which is not only a lovely historic town but also has a growing reputation as a spa destination."

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