Reading time : 6 min.

Oh really ? But why ??

Well, in 2021, I had the opportunity to study abroad for my last semester. I wanted to get a change of scenery and go to a part of Europe that I didn’t know. After making a comparison chart to see which country had the most things to see while remaining affordable, I chose Estonia. To tell the truth, the pictures of the old town on the internet convinced me. (As well as the free public transport and the free wifi in the streets of Tallinn).

But remember! At the end of 2020, we were still in the middle of a pandemic and everything was uncertain, including my semester abroad. Eventually I was able to leave. I found a studio a month before arriving in Tallinn on kv.ee , one of the most popular websites to find accommodation in Estonia.

I packed my bags and left for Tallinn alone, on January 11, 2021.

A bit of history-geography.

After being ruled by many countries (Sweden, Denmark, Poland etc.), Estonia declared its independence in 1918 and became a Republic in 1920. The country was then annexed by the Soviet Union from 1940 until 1991, when Estonia finally regained its independence.

Today, it is a small country with a population of 1.3 million, situated between Latvia and Russia, by the Baltic Sea. The capital, Tallinn, is home to 33% of the total population of Estonia. 

It is one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world and has a large number of start-up and tech companies.

First impressions

On arrival, it was 15 degrees colder than in Paris and a good 10 centimeters of snow covered the landscape. I wanted a change of scenery and I got it! Everything was very beautiful and the architecture was really different from what I have seen so far in my life.

The people seemed nice but somewhat distant. They were hardly smiling but it’s definitely not rude: here they say that the bad weather is responsible for that.

The prices in the supermarkets seemed higher than in France (outside Paris, that is), especially for hygiene products and fruit and vegetables.

What I loved during my erasmus semester

In Tallinn

My first walk was by the Baltic Sea, or rather the Baltic ice. With (almost) permanently negative temperatures in the winter, the sea freezes and gives a really atypical landscape for those who are not used to the cold. The sand was covered by a thick layer of snow (like everything else). It was really a special and beautiful sight, filled with calmness.

The old town of Tallinn (Vanalinn) is extremely well preserved and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has many colorful buildings dating from the 14th-16th centuries, medieval atmosphere guaranteed! I cannot tell how many times I have been wandering in the small streets of the Old Town. 

Sunset lovers beware: whether seen from the seaside or from the viewpoint platforms of the old town, Tallinn had the most beautiful sunsets I have seen, especially from March.

Moreover, there is a real sense of security when walking around Tallinn. I had no problem walking home alone at night for example.

This is more personal, but it seems to me that in Estonia there is more of a spirit of “everyone minding their own business”; and therefore, I didn’t feel judged on any subject whatsoever, where, by contrast, in France, we enjoy giving our opinion on everything and meddle in what does not concern us. It’s a matter of point of view: everyone has their own preferences!

Outside of Tallinn

The nature outside the capital is also incredible and really worth seeing. I personally fell in love with Viru Bog, one of the famous bogs in the Lahemaa National Park. I had the opportunity to go there several times and at different seasons, and each season has its beauty.

The city of Tartu in the south of Estonia is also very charming and worth a visit, in sunny times preferably. It is a city with many students as well. You can get there by train or bus from Tallinn in 2 hours for about 10€.

A quick note on the food in Estonia, and especially the diversity: there are always choices for vegetarian/vegan people, whether it is in restaurants, supermarkets or even in the middle of nowhere on the highway. Personally it was the first time I’d seen this and it was really great, I didn’t have to worry about whether I was going to find food or not when away from home.

Another thing you might not know until you visit Estonia is that it is a very modern and technologically advanced country (much more than France for example). 

At last, once your residence permit is created, everything is done through this card. It gives you a national identification number (isikukood) and it is not only an identity paper but also what allows you to do all your administrative procedures online, get your prescribed medication from the pharmacy or what allows you to have free public transport and so on!

What I liked the less during my erasmus semester 

The weather, ironically! Or rather the endless winter. I really enjoyed the change of scenery and the snow, but the winter in Estonia is particularly long. When in March/April it was already over 20 degrees in France, there was still snow at home. It was a bit depressing at times, but that was also due to the context since all my courses were online (and therefore from my small studio).

As for the cold, the main thing is to know how to dress in order to enjoy your strolls properly :).

Above, I praised the diversity of culinary options in Estonia, but there is a catch. If you eat meat, you may be disappointed. In supermarkets it is often not of good quality and already prepared/marinated.

As for breakfast, Estonians eat much less sugar than in France, which was a problem for my sugar addiction but a real advantage for my health. You can still find cereals easily, it’s just a bit more expensive.

Trip conclusion

I loved my semester in Estonia. The “change of scenery” was efficient enough to feel a cultural gap when I came back to France, so, mission accomplished. I met a lot of people, I saw landscapes I had seen nowhere else before, and discovered new dishes and desserts. 
I lived differently for six months and I came back to France with a different view of “small” countries that often have much more to offer than we think. And even more if you love nature !

In fact, I enjoyed the semester so much that I decided to move back to Estonia, and I stayed there for a year after my Erasmus semester. 
In short, I can only recommend Estonia: whether you are looking for a destination to study or to move abroad, Estonia has many advantages.