Family vacation on Saaremaa

All about Saaremaa!

Family vacation on Saaremaa

Interesting facts about Saaremaa

• Saaremaa enjoys more sunshine than any other place in Estonia (more than two thousand hours a year) • The total length of Saaremaa’s coastline is 1,414km • There are eight different spa hotels on Saaremaa • The spas on Saaremaa contain a total of 55 different saunas and swimming pools • There are nine playgrounds in Kuressaare • Kuressaare is a member of the ‘Child and Youth Friendly Cities’ movement which was initiated by UNICEF

SAAREMAA

Children do not need much for their happiness. What matters most to them is the attention of their parents. If that attention is received while they are enjoying an adventure on a nice island, the tiniest members of any family will be especially delighted. On Saaremaa there is also plenty to do for the older members of the family as well as the younger ones. Playing in the sea, walking through open nature, and investigating the island’s history are just a few of the opportunities that will greet you on the island.

Dip your feet in the sea

It is nothing short of impossible to keep the children away from a warm sea. In actual fact, the water need not even be particularly warm. It pulls children towards it like magic. There is plenty of water and plenty of beaches on the largest of Estonia’s islands. Most of Saaremaa’s beaches are shallow and well-suited for having fun in knee-deep water. In order to be able to go for a more serious swim, you’ll have to walk about a hundred metres to reach deeper water.

There are various kinds of beach on the island. Hundreds of metres of sandy beach are actively used by holidaymakers.

There are tiny patches of sand hidden behind the reeds where you can swim all by yourself. And there are stony beaches, which are brilliant for skipping stones.

Loads of fun

Besides swimming, the sea also offers other opportunities for fun-filled, energetic activities. Various vehicles can be selected for travelling across the water, such as a rowing boat, a canoe, or a kayak. Anyone who is keen on adventure should try kitesurfing or wind-surfing. When the weather is calm, you can test your balance by taking a ride on an SUP board. And why not take a familiarising peek at the world underneath the water’s surface with the help of diving equipment? If you are drawn to adrenaline and speed, hook yourself onto a speedboat on a pair of water skies or a tube.

Once upon a time...

In today’s era of smart devices, it’s not a bad idea to take the children back in time every once in a while. Museums are very well suited to this purpose. Today’s children may not even know which tools were used by their ancestors to work in the fields, what a full-size elk might look like, or what on earth is dolomite? Every little lad feels like a brave warrior when climbing the ruins of a stronghold. When walking up the stairs of a castle, the thoughts of every little girl are filled with princesses. The parents themselves also gain a pleasant dose of nostalgia and can take a look back on the past by visiting historical sites.

Self-made things are cool!

The tiniest members of the family love creating things with their own hands. Their parents, of course, quite like it too.

It feels as though soap which has been shaped by your own hands foams a lot better than anything that can be bought in a shop. A silk scarf hand-painted by yourself beautifies any outfit. Even the bitterest herbal tea tastes fine when it is drunk from a clay cup which you have crafted yourself. A lucky nail, which you forged with your own hands, is guaranteed to make you feel confident about the future.

Go for a walk in a forest!

The nature around Saaremaa has plenty more to offer in addition to the coastal areas. The Kaali crater of history long ago and Panga bank fascinate the youngest members of any family. Children love seeking lucky stones with holes in them on the beaches of Saaremaa. Koigi mire, however, offers a whole different kind of an experience. They say that if you are very, very quiet, you can hear the spirits guarding the gold hidden in Lake Koigi. Looking for a lady’s slipper orchid in a grove or a Burgundy snail between the leaves should fascinate people of all ages. Sometimes, however, you won’t even have to look; it is not rare to have to give way to a wild boar with its piglets crossing the road.

Be active!

To put their bubbling energy to use, children love to be on the move more than they love anything else. There are plenty of opportunities on the island for being on the move. There are roughly 20km of smooth cycle and pedestrian tracks around Kuressaare, which are great for cycling or rollerblading. Tiny athletes are welcome to try tennis courts, grounds for ball games, and golf courses, including the first foot golf course in Estonia. Anyone who doesn’t suffer from vertigo should make their way to an adventure park, which offers easier courses for small adventurers as well as more serious tests for the older ones.

Bon appetite and good night!

Wandering about all day obviously makes one very hungry, and then you’ll need to eat. There are a good number of eateries on the island where tiny visitors also have to be borne in mind.

In addition to high chairs and play corners, which have become a standard offering these days, fun-filled, child-friendly menus have also been worked out.

After an action-packed day and a decent meal, the energy of even the most active kids fades away. A restful sleep will help them to recharge their batteries for their next round of adventures. While a hotel bed with soft sheets would be a simple solution, children may enjoy a much better experience on a tourism farm with sheep baa-ing outside; or a camping site with the sounds of the sea lulling you to sleep; or a windmill in which your dreams are especially sweet; or a deserted island, with no one to disturb your rest.

Important phrases to remember: Tere!

Hello!

Aitäh!

Thank you!

Head aega!

Good-bye!

Mulle meeldib siin!

I like it here!

Isa, anna raha!

Can I please have some money, Dad! Emme, tahan jäätist!

Mummy, I want ice-cream!

Lähme ujuma!

Let’s go swimming!

Mul on nii lõbus!

I’m having such a great time!

Tahan Saaremaale tagasi! I want to go back to Saaremaa!

Kuressaare Tourist Information Centre NGO Visit Saaremaa Tallinna 2 Kuressaare Estonia +372 45 33 120 www.visitsaaremaa.ee info@visitsaaremaa.ee

European Union European Regional Development Fund

Investing in your future

Regional Initiatives Promoting Employment and Enterpreneurship Activities Supported by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

Saaremaa local governments