Sustainability: not a label but a way of life
Tiny Estonia is green in every single season. Like other Scandinavian countries, Estonia ranks high on the sustainable tourism index. Green Destinations, an international organization focusing on sustainable tourism promoting eco-friendly travel, features seven Estonian destinations, all certified and recognized for their sustainability. Get ready to discover some of them!
Tartu in the Southeast
As a living organism, a city is responsible for making human interaction smooth and inspiring. Located in southeastern Estonia, Tartu charms everyone with its success story of environmentally friendly urban transport. Its eco-friendly atmosphere, green buses, bicycle rentals and the resulting clean air make visiting Estonia’s oldest university town a treat for the traveler and for the planet. As a matter of fact, Tartu is so green that it sometimes even bans cars from the roads!
Pärnu in the Southwest
Situated in southwestern Estonia, Pärnu is a very green city in the most literal sense: one-fifth of the city’s area is covered in forest groves, parks and tree-lined avenues. It is an attractive place, alluring guests from all over the world with its white sandy beaches.
Even if beach weather isn’t on your side, there is a Natura 2000-protected area in the city center, preserving the diversity, uniqueness and beauty of the coastal meadows. In order to introduce plant and animal species to people, the city created a tourism infrastructure of bird-watching towers on its beaches. Everyone can use the hiking platforms to become immersed in nature all year round. And from spring to autumn, don’t miss the Highland cattle grazing peacefully in their natural habitat!
Saaremaa Island in the West
Saaremaa, an island that has lived in harmony with nature for centuries, already belongs to UNESCO’s “Man and Biosphere” biosphere program. And now, Saaremaa is teaching the world how to party! More specifically, how to organize one.
I Land Sound, the island’s most loved music and art festival, focuses on reducing, reusing and recycling throughout the festival: no posters are printed; free water is available to everyone; disposable tableware, straws and plastic bags are not part of the scene; and festival-goers are encouraged to use a designated bus to cut down on C02 emissions. Even the drinks served are made from ingredients that are ecologically friendly to produce.
Other sustainable destinations in Estonia
For sustainable travelers who prefer smaller places, there are other directions to turn to: Hiiumaa, an island in the Baltic Sea that is bringing back its local dialect; Rakvere, in northern Estonia, with urban comforts in a rural setting and an alternative art scene; Paide, in central Estonia, which seasonally changes its car-dominated public square into a cultural events arena; and the County of Järvamaa in its entirety, now dedicated to sustainable lifestyles and to the protection of the environment as the region’s main values.
It’s time to take out your compass and see which Estonian corner it points to!