Lahemaa National Park

Lahemaa rahvuspark

Estonia's largest national park, a scenic mix of forests, bogs, rugged coastline, waterfalls and restored manor houses. Visitors hike boardwalk bog trails, explore fishing villages and tour grand estates like Palmse.

Things to do

• Tour Palmse Manor — Explore the beautifully restored Baltic-German estate with its formal gardens, ponds and museum, the park's visitor centre hub.
• Walk the Viru Bog boardwalk — Follow the easy 3.5 km wooden trail across a mystical raised bog dotted with pools and stunted pines, with an observation tower.
• Visit Sagadi Manor — Admire the pink baroque manor and its forest museum surrounded by parkland and a restaurant and guesthouse.
• Explore Käsmu fishing village — Wander the 'Captains' Village' with its maritime museum, coastal boulder fields and scenic seaside walking paths.
• See Jägala Waterfall — Marvel at Estonia's highest natural waterfall, over 8 metres tall and especially dramatic in spring or when frozen in winter.
• Visit Altja fishing village — See the thatched-roof net sheds and swing by the coast, then eat at the traditional Altja Tavern.
• Tour Vihula Manor — Stroll the restored 16th-century manor complex with watermills, spa and country club set along a river.

Food to try

• Altja Tavern rustic fare — Sample hearty Estonian country cooking like pork with sauerkraut and barley in a candlelit historic tavern.
• Smoked Baltic fish — Try locally smoked herring, sprats or flounder from the fishing villages along the coast.
• Black bread (leib) — Dense dark rye sourdough bread is a staple served with nearly every Estonian meal.
• Manor restaurant dining — Dine on refined Estonian cuisine at Sagadi or Vihula manor restaurants using seasonal local ingredients.
• Foraged mushrooms and berries — Autumn menus feature chanterelles, lingonberries and bilberries gathered from the park's forests and bogs.

Local customs & good to know

• Everyman's right to roam — Estonian law lets you freely walk, forage berries and mushrooms, and pick wild plants in the forests, but stay on boardwalks in fragile bogs.
• Start at a visitor centre — Stop at Palmse or Sagadi for maps and trail info, as mobile signal and services are limited deep in the park.
• Respect the manor heritage — Many manors were German-owned estates nationalised after independence; treat the restored buildings and grounds with care.
• Dress for weather and bugs — Bring waterproof footwear and insect repellent, as bog and coastal areas can be wet and mosquito-heavy in summer.

Nearby

• Pirita — 52 km
• Kadriorg Park and Palace — 55 km
• Tallinn — 57 km
• Seaplane Harbour Museum — 57 km