As a destination, Estonia has it all — regional cuisine, local traditions, music, and community festivals. From fishing villages to farms and forests, every region will find something to celebrate this summer. Celebrations mean food, so come hungry!
On Estonia’s largest islands, Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, the cuisine revolves around fresh and smoked fish, juniper, black bread, and homemade beer. These traditions come alive during the Saaremaa Food Festival in early September. Local farms, fishermen, and chefs introduce visitors to island specialties through special restaurant menus during Saaremaa Restaurant Week and pop-up home cafés during Küllä-Küllä and Apple Café Days.
Along the shores of Lake Peipsi, the famous Onion Route has been shaped by centuries of Old Believer traditions. The region is known for growing the best onions in Estonia and turning them into delicious pies; piping-hot samovar tea; and fish fresh from the lake. During the Peipsi Food Street festival, dozens of homes and businesses open up as temporary cafés, inviting visitors to taste family recipes passed down from generation to generation.
In South Estonia, Setomaa is known for its hearty farm cuisine, supplemented by mushrooms and berries from the forest and fish from the local lakes. During the summer, visitors can experience traditional Seto cooking during home café days, folk festivals like Seto Kingdom Day, and music festivals such as Treski Fest. While this region may seem remote, it’s only three hours from Tallinn, and there’s plenty to do — visiting museums to learn about Seto culture, hiking on well-marked trails, or even taking time to relax in a rustic sauna followed by a swim in one of the area’s many lakes.
Pärnu's food festivals focus on grilling, craft drinks, and modern Estonian cooking. Grillfest, one of the country’s largest food events, attracts thousands with barbecue competitions, street food, local produce, and live entertainment. Pärnu’s lively atmosphere and amazing beach mean you can enjoy good food with a side of summer fun.
Estonian takes on casual classics such as hamburgers and pizza and international favorites like spring rolls and tacos can be found at street food festivals held in Tallinn, Tartu, Rakvere, and Pärnu. If you can’t make it to Estonia for one of these festivals, you can still try street food at local eateries, especially in Tallinn; the neighborhoods outside of Old Town have a wealth of options to choose from!
These summer food festivals are the perfect addition to a weekend getaway or a weeklong adventure. You can rub shoulders with the locals, listen to Estonian music, and eat your way around the country. After all, everybody’s got to eat — why not do it in Estonia this summer?
