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How to prepare for your first trip to Eesti (part one)

In North America, one’s heritage comes up in conversation quite a bit. It can be an identifier of your traditions, how you grew up, and through what frame of reference you see the world. Then the question arises: “Have you ever been to... insert country of heritage?”

Photo by Ojārs Balceraitis

The Estonian diaspora talks a lot about its ancestral home. And since Estonia re-gained its independence in 1991, Estonians have been able to travel back. So if you’ve never had the chance to visit, it can feel like an itch that needs to be scratched.

Here are some things to keep in mind and prepare beforehand if you now have the opportunity to visit Eesti for the very first time, or for the first time on your own.

Timing: Choosing the best time of year depends on what your preferences are. Want to see outdoor concerts and stroll on the beach in Pärnu, Estonia’s summer capital? Go in the summer. Would you enjoy brooding in a tavern and enriching your intellectual side at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival? Go in November. Are you seeking the energy of student life? Visit Tartu at the end of April. Keep your eye on sites like the Visit Tallinn calendar to inform your decision.

You can always mix and match, splurging in one place and economizing elsewhere.

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