What to do and see in Toila, Estonia: The Best Places and Tips

The Oru Park and grand palace in the beautiful valley of the Puhajogi River was built by Grigori Jelissejev – one of the wealthiest men in 19th century Russia. In 1935, three industrialists bought the palace and park and presented it to President Pats for his summer residence. The palace was totally destroyed during the Second World War. Today you can walk in the well-marked and well-maintained park, look at various species of trees and shrubs, explore the Silver Spring Cave, as well as enoy the sea view and the sunset from the petrel nest. Interesting fact: the Oru Park Promenade organized annually in August has become a tradition.

Toila baths have a variety of saunas for you to enjoy: steam, infrared, aroma, wood-fired and salt saunas. There are also heated relaxation benches, Jacuzzis, sunbathing spots and a log sauna cabin on the roof. The interior design of the baths brings to mind ancient Rome, with tiled floors and walls and reed mats on the ceilings – you will feel as though you have been transported back in time! Toila Spa was the first in Estonia to offer the unique Sauna World treatment.

The Aluoja cascades are in the village of Puhajoe in Toila municipality, in the Magara creek, which flows into Puhajoe valley from the west. Aluoja is a unique slate valley with a variety of cascades, clefts and Springs.Moving downriver, its terraces are 1.4 m, 0.7 m, 1.9 m, 1.3 m and 0.5 m in height. They expose different layers of limestone dating to different eras – the three top terraces from one era and the bottom two from another. The valley deepens suddenly by up to 10 metres. In places, particularly near the third Terrace, it resembles a canyon.

This hiking trail, which starts in the village of Toila, winds its way not only along high clifftops but also down onto the seashore below. Hiking along it you will enjoy the scenery of the Baltic Glint, its Forests and famous blue clay sediments and granite, and find out more about local cultural history. You can cover the hiking trail as two different distances: the shorter, at 3.2 km, takes in the harbour and beach, the old fishing port and the German soldiers’ cemetery; the longer also takes in the geological features of the area, its ancient Forests and a mill tower before returning to Toila along the old trade road.