Top Things to do in Saaremaa
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Top 10 Things to do in Saaremaa, Estonia
Discover the best top things to do in Saaremaa, Estonia including Kuressaare Episcopal Castle, Saaremaa Museum, Suur Toll and Piret, Kuressaare Town Park, Trahter Veski, Angla, Kaali Meteorite Crater, Jarve, Main Square Kuressaare, Monument For the Inhabitants of Saaremaa Who Have Lost Their Lives in the War of Independence.
Restaurants in Saaremaa
1. Kuressaare Episcopal Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 190 reviews
Reviewed By rfortey - Henley-on-Thames, United Kingdom
A most remarkalbe medieval survivor, possibly the best preserved castle of this type on the Baltic, and perfectly set against the sea.
2. Saaremaa Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 149 reviews
Reviewed By Film G - Aurora
The castle was in much disrepair, but has been carefully restored. There is not much historic stuff like medieval swords, but the exhibits on the Soviet occupation and late 1800s and establishment of Estonian independence are very good, with some (not all) in English. Simply a Must Visit place. Be sure to walk around the ramparts.
3. Suur Toll and Piret
Overall Ratings
4 based on 131 reviews
The sculpture, situated in front of the SPA Hotel Meri was created in 2002 by a renowned Estonian sculptor Tauno Kangro. The sculpture depicts Suur Toll (the Great Toll), a mythical hero of the island Saaremaa, and his wife Piret.Good to know:According to the Legend, Sorve peninsula was important to Toll, as from there he reached the shortest way to the island Ruhnu, where he had his cabbage field. When his wife Piret started to make a fire under the cauldron, then Toll went through the sea to his cabbage field and came back in half an hour, so that he could hand Piret the cabbages when the water had just started to boil.
4. Kuressaare Town Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 68 reviews
The establishment of housing and landscape gardening got into full speed in the second half of the 19th century when Kuressaare became thanks to discovery of medical mud one of the spa cities of Estonia. For park establishment and administration in 1861 was formed a park committee. Versatile help was offered by residents who donated money, seedlings and gave for work horses and vehicles. In 1930 new rare types of trees that were ordered from Tartu University were planted in town park. The plant life of park is rich, here you can find around 80 species of trees and bushes.Interesting to know:Town park is a former cemetery.
Reviewed By Halkidis - Naantali, Finland
Beautiful Park near Castle, which is number 1 attraction in Kuressaare. Also walkable from City "Centre". Playground for kids and restaurants and terraces for adults. Definitely worth of visit, if You are in Kuressaare
5. Trahter Veski
Overall Ratings
4 based on 135 reviews
Of three formerly functional windmills used within the city borders this windmill is the only one preserved. Initially this construction was known as the Trei windmill, after the name of its builder and owner. The windmill was built in 1899 and it was used until the beginning of World War II. The restoration of the windmill began in 1972 and it was reopened as a coffeehouse in 1974. The aim of the restoration was to preserve the initial constructions of the Dutch type stone windmill. Good to know: the windmill was declared an architectural monument of national importance. The windmill is 17 m high and if we include its wings then its highest point reaches 24 meters of height.
6. Angla
Overall Ratings
4 based on 110 reviews
Quaint village with windmills.
7. Kaali Meteorite Crater
Overall Ratings
4 based on 140 reviews
Reviewed By rfortey - Henley-on-Thames, United Kingdom
A short walk from the road is this remarkable crater, which caused scientific discussion for more than a century. Definitely worth a walk around. Local craft shop has some surprisingly good stuff.
8. Jarve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 35 reviews
Reviewed By mikeedeedee - Darlington
Saaremaa has a number of Lighthouses but this is one of the more impressive ones with its distinctive and dominant two colours. The surrounding area is worth a walk though it can be bracing in the wind.
We saw a number of birds in our March visit including a number of impressive White-tailed Eagles and eight Smew (a small waterbird that looks a bit like a duck).
If you're doing a drive circuit of the island then we'd recommend a visit. Hopefully the visitor centre will be open for you though it wasn't for us in March. We had also been recommended the cafe close to the carpark but this was unfortunately shut too.
We didn't recognise the name Jarve but this in fact refers to another lighthouse near Kuressaare - this one in extreme south-west Saaremaa is called Saare Lighthouse.
9. Main Square Kuressaare
Overall Ratings
4 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By mikeedeedee - Darlington
The main square has some beautiful and historic buildings which are very photogenic. However, it is let down by not being pedestrianised.
10. Monument For the Inhabitants of Saaremaa Who Have Lost Their Lives in the War of Independence
Overall Ratings
4 based on 29 reviews
The monument was erected to commemorate those who lost their lives in the War of Independence (1918-1920). The author of the monument is Amandus Adamson, a well-known sculptor in Estonia whose best known work is the Russalka (mermaid) monument in Tallinn. The construction of the monument began in Italy in 1927. The monument was opened in 1928. Later 2 bronze plates were added to the monument containing the names of the inhabitants of Saaremaa who were wounded or have died in the war.Good to know:This figure is not the original. The original was tossed into the sea by Soviet troops and was never found. A local sculptor from Saaremaa recreated it.
Reviewed By mikeedeedee - Darlington
The monument is found in the heart of Kuressaare (just along from St Nicholas' Church) and depending on your perspective this is either a good or not so good location. On the plus side it is easy to find and will consequently remain prominent in people's memories. For us, however, as the monument is surrounded by roads, there was too much traffic noise which was a shame, as there were some benches where it would have been possible to have a few minutes of reflection.
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