Exploring Lahemaa National Park: The Perfect Winter Day Trip from Tallinn
Tallinn, with its ancient city walls and medieval grandeur, feels like a city trapped inside a snow globe.
But step beyond those walls and an entirely different side of Estonia begins to unfold.
I loved my time in the capital, wandering past Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and warming up with a cup of glögg at the Christmas Markets as snow gently fell onto the cobbled streets. A true winter paradise.
Yet my favourite memory from the Baltic section of my Winterrailing adventure came from leaving the city behind altogether for an unforgettable day exploring Lahemaa National Park.
On my five-week Interrail journey from Kraków to Bergen, I made it a mission to escape each city and spend time in nature whenever possible. Partly because nothing beats the fresh air and quiet of the outdoors, but also because I wanted to prove something: that an adventure of this scale is still possible even in the depths of winter.
I set out to find destinations that fully embraced the season, and Estonia’s wilderness was certainly one of them.
During my stay in Tallinn, I partnered with Prangli Travel to join a day tour into Lahemaa National Park. Here’s how the adventure unfolded.
What is Lahemaa National Park?
Located just over an hour east of Tallinn, in the direction of the Estonia–Russia border, Lahemaa National Park is the largest and oldest national park in the country.
The park was established in 1971 during the Soviet era to protect a vast stretch of northern Estonia’s Baltic coastline, encompassing forests, wetlands, rugged shoreline and traditional fishing villages.
What drew me to visiting this area was just how unique the landscapes are. Estonia has scenery unlike anywhere else in Europe. Within a single day, you can walk across mysterious bogs on wooden boardwalks, visit centuries-old manor houses from Estonia’s Baltic German past, stand beside powerful waterfalls and wander through coastal villages that feel almost frozen in time… and quite literally frozen when visiting in winter.
It’s a complete contrast to the medieval streets of Tallinn and exactly the kind of outdoor adventure I had been hoping to experience during my Winterrailing journey.
How to get there?
While Lahemaa National Park is relatively close to Tallinn, visiting independently isn’t always the easiest option without a car. Especially in winter, when daylight hours are short, and most tourists are warming up with glögg at the Christmas markets rather than venturing out into Estonia’s snowy wilderness.
Since I was travelling through the Baltics using my Interrail pass and trying to complete as much of the journey by train as possible, I wanted a simple way to experience Lahemaa in a single day without worrying about complicated transport connections or getting stranded somewhere deep in the boglands.
That’s when I reached out to Prangli Travel, who kindly invited me to join their Lahemaa day tour in exchange for creating some content showcasing why this trip is such a fantastic escape from Tallinn.
The Estonia-based tour company specialises in small group excursions to some of the country’s most scenic destinations, making it a perfect option for travellers wanting to explore beyond the capital.
Our tour began at 9:30am with a central pickup in Tallinn. I joined a minibus with four other travellers and our knowledgeable guide, Andreas. With such a small group, the journey immediately felt relaxed and friendly, more like travelling around Lahemaa with a group of friends than being on a typical tour.
Throughout the day, we explored different parts of the national park, learning about the region’s geography, wildlife and fascinating social history, while also enjoying the quiet beauty of Estonia’s winter landscapes. We even stopped for a cosy lunch break before eventually returning to Tallinn around 6pm, tired but full of unforgettable memories.
Trips like this are a brilliant way to experience Lahemaa, as you can simply relax and enjoy the adventure without worrying about planning routes or transport.
If you’d like to experience Lahemaa in the same way, you can book the exact tour I joined with Prangli Travel here.
Now, let me show you exactly how this incredible winter day trip unfolded…
Jägala Waterfall
When you think of Estonia, waterfalls probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. But Jägala Waterfall is a must-see when exploring Lahemaa National Park.
At around 8 metres high and more than 50 metres wide, it’s the largest natural waterfall in Estonia. That might not sound enormous by global standards, but in a country known for its flat landscapes, the sight and sound of Jägala crashing over the limestone cliffs is surprisingly dramatic.
Our guide Andreas joked that if you made a list of the top ten waterfalls in Estonia, your shower might end up making the cut, which makes Jägala all the more special.
After leaving Tallinn behind, the landscape quickly shifted from city streets to quiet forests and frozen countryside. Before long, we pulled up beside the Jägala River, where the distant roar of water hinted at what was waiting ahead.
Walking towards the falls, the sound grew louder until the trees opened up to reveal the wide cascade plunging over the cliff below. The river itself had a dark, cola-like colour, caused by peat in the surrounding wetlands, which made it stand out even more against the snowy-white winter landscape.
We stopped at two viewpoints – one above the waterfall and another below – allowing us not only to see Jägala from different angles but to truly feel the power of the water as it crashed down beside us.
It was a mesmerising way to begin our adventure through Lahemaa National Park.
Viru Bog Boardwalk
Next up was my favourite part of the entire tour – Viru Bog.
Bogs aren’t ecosystems I’ve had much opportunity to explore before, which made this stop even more special. Every plant, pool and stretch of wetland felt completely unfamiliar, creating a landscape unlike anything I had seen before.
At first glance, the bog almost looks unreal. Wooden boardwalks stretch out across a vast wetland landscape dotted with dark pools of water, mossy islands and small twisted pine trees that seem to grow in every direction except straight.
These boardwalks allow visitors to fully immerse themselves in the landscape. Without them, crossing the bog would be almost impossible.
Beneath the wooden planks lie layers of peat – partially decayed plant matter that has been slowly accumulating for thousands of years. In some places across Estonia, these peat layers reach depths of several metres, creating soft, sponge-like ground that would swallow your boots without the raised paths.
In winter, many of the pools freeze over, giving the entire landscape an even more surreal appearance. Andreas explained that later in the season, the ice can sometimes become thick enough for skating, although I certainly wasn’t brave enough to test that theory.
Instead, I climbed the observation tower overlooking the bog. From the top, the flatness of the landscape meant I could see for miles in every direction, taking in the endless patchwork of frozen pools and moss-covered wetlands stretching across the horizon.
If you’re visiting in winter, one thing to keep in mind is that the boardwalks can become quite slippery. Every step requires a bit of caution, but that only adds to the adventure, and reaching the end of the trail without slipping into the muddy bog below feels like a small victory.
Lunch Break
For lunch, we stopped at a local tavern for some well-earned hearty food.
Stepping inside felt like entering another era. The wooden interior, rustic décor and warm atmosphere made it the perfect refuge from the cold Baltic air outside.
To warm myself up, I opted for a pork schnitzel with roast potatoes on the side. Despite the generous portion size, this ended up being the cheapest meal I had during my time in Estonia. The schnitzel and a refreshing apple juice came to around £7 – another benefit of leaving the major cities behind for a while.
The meal was delicious and also gave everyone on the tour a chance to get to know each other a little better.
After lunch, we put that newfound teamwork to the test by trying out a traditional Estonian village swing.
This enormous wooden swing is unlike anything you might find in a typical playground. It requires several people to work together to get it moving, pushing in rhythm to build momentum.
What followed was a lot of laughter. With each push, the swing climbed higher into the sky, and bending your knees at just the right moment sent it soaring even further.
Despite the deep snow surrounding us, everyone stepped off feeling warm, energised and slightly amazed by just how high this thing could go.
After all the hilarity, it was time to continue exploring what else Lahemaa National Park had in store.
Sagadi Manor
After the laughter and excitement of the Estonian swing, our journey through Lahemaa National Park took a more elegant turn with a visit to Sagadi Manor.
Nestled among pine forests and surrounded by some of the deepest snow we encountered all day, the manor stood pristinely in the landscape, like a mansion lifted straight from a Disney film.
I could only imagine what it would be like to sit by one of those windows watching the snow gently fall, a book in hand and a warm cup of cocoa nearby.
The manor itself is a soft pink colour and dates back several centuries to a time when Baltic German nobility controlled much of Estonia’s rural land during the Russian Empire.
Today, the beautifully restored estate offers visitors a glimpse into what life might have been like for the aristocratic families who once lived here. The contrast between this refined manor and the wild bog landscapes we explored earlier in the day was striking.
Our guide Andreas shared stories about the manor’s past and how estates like Sagadi played an important role in shaping the region’s social and economic history.
We finished our visit wandering through the fairytale-like gardens, surrounded by towering hedges and a tranquil frozen lake. Definitely Anastasia vibes. I can just imagine the calm classical music soothing your heart as you skate across the lake.
Sagadi was a reminder that Lahemaa National Park isn’t just about dramatic natural scenery; it’s also a place where Estonia’s history quietly unfolds among the forests.
Altja Fishing Village
Our final stop of the day took us to Altja Fishing Village, a small coastal settlement tucked away along the northern shores of Lahemaa National Park.
After a day spent exploring forests, bogs and historic estates, arriving at the Baltic Sea just as the sun began to set felt like the perfect way to end the adventure.
Lahemaa actually means “Land of Bays”, and from this viewpoint, we could see the peninsula stretching out across the sea. Altja is also one of the best-preserved traditional fishing villages in Estonia, with cosy wooden huts and a peaceful coastal atmosphere.
On this calm winter evening, the Baltic Sea gently lapped against the shore as snow rested along the sand.
It was an extraordinary sight to see snow meet sand meet sea, three completely different textures blending together along the quiet shoreline.
It was the most relaxing way to conclude the trip.
Overall, Lahemaa National Park makes for an incredible day trip for anyone looking to explore beyond the historic walls of Tallinn.
From mysterious bog landscapes and timeless manor houses to powerful waterfalls and even gigantic traditional swings, spending a day on the edge of this peninsula creates memories that stay with you long after the journey ends.
I’ve always been fascinated by what lies beyond the cities and major tourist hotspots, and this tour with Prangli Travel felt like a private adventure into Estonia’s wilderness. For much of the day, we barely saw another soul.
That’s the beauty of Lahemaa National Park, within a single day you can experience Estonia’s unique landscapes, rich history and quiet coastal culture all in one unforgettable journey.
And if you visit in winter like I did, the entire park transforms into a breathtaking world of white.
A huge thank you to Prangli Travel for such an amazing day. If you’d like to experience this Lahemaa National Park tour for yourself, you can book it here.
Let this be your reminder that sometimes the most memorable experiences on a trip happen beyond the capital cities.
Thanks so much for reading.
Lewis 🙂
Lost in Travel 
fantastic Blog. 😃
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Thanks, Dad! 🙂
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