Saaremaa in your pocket

Saaremaa, the largest island in the Estonian Achipelego, presents a welcome break from the buzz of mainland life. Dispite the flood of tourists that come here every summer, Saaremaa and Muhu, the sister island connected to Saaremaa by land bridge, are synonymous with peace and natural beauty.



Roughly 40% of its inhabitants live in the capital city, Kuressaare, where a historic Old Town and parks surrounding a picturesque 13th-century castle set a romantic mood for all who visit. Inhabited for at least 6000 years, Saaremaa is known in older German and Russian sources as Ösel. German Crusaders took the island in 1227 and from that time on it was divided between the Bishop of Riga and the Order of the Knights of the Sword. Denmark gained power over the island in the 16th century and granted city rights to Kuressaare in 1563. In 1645, Denmark ceded the island to Sweden, who controlled mainland Estonia. During the Soviet period, the entire island was a restricted military zone where even Estonians needed a special permit to visit. Today the island - with its windmills, medieval churches, limestone cliffs and rare wildlife - is one of the most popular destinations in Estonia.



Getting there

Regular buses depart from Tallinn to Kuressaare about ten times daily. The trip takes just over four hours, including a 30-minute ferry ride from Virtsu to Kuivastu, on the island of Muhu. Muhu is connected by a land bridge to Saaremaa proper. Kuressaare lies about 76km inland, along a well-maintained paved road.The buses are guaranteed a place on the ferry, but those travelling by car will have to wait in the queue to board, and should definitely reserve a place if they plan to cross on Friday or Sunday.



The Bus and Ferry schedules are here

Contact the ferry company, tel. 047 75 020, www.slk.saaremaa.ee for reservations and timetables.



The local airline Air Livonia also connects Kuressaare to Tallinn, Pärnu and the island of Ruhnu.



Once in Kuressaare, it's easy to get oriented. The main road, Tallinna maantee, runs directly to the central square. Here you’ll find the tourist information office and a couple of cash machines. Elsewhere on the island cash machines are harder to find.



Tourist Info Bureau

Kuressaare Town Hall Tallinna 2, tel./fax 33 120, tel. 33 766

info@oesel.tourism.ee, www.tourism.ee/oesel.




Where to stay


Most hotels here have only 8 - 20 rooms, so they fill up quickly in summer. But with enough telephone dialing, you might get lucky and find a cancellation at one of the health spas or in one of several tiny guesthouses around town. For a full list of guesthouses, try www.visitestonia.com.