We spent part of our Baltic road trip on the islands of Muhu and Saaremaa. I love islands. There’s something exotic and romantic about them. Saaremaa and Muhu are the most accessible of a group of islands off the west coast of Estonia. These islands are renowned for their natural beauty and cultural heritage. Here is my pick of the top 10 things to do on a visit to Saaremaa.
How to get to Saaremaa
There is a ferry crossing between Virtsu on the Estonian mainland and Kuivastu on Muhu island. Crossings are frequent (roughly every 35 minutes) between around 5 am and midnight. The crossing takes approximately 27 minutes and costs €4.30 for passengers and €12 for cars (prices are 20% higher at weekends). Details are approximate because the timetable is seasonal. Further details can be found on the TS Laevad OÜ website.
To reach Saaremaa, you must then drive across Muhu and take the Väinatamm causeway. Several bus companies offer services to Saaremaa from either Tallinn and other major towns. Alternatively, you can also fly to Kuressaare, the island’s main settlement, from Tallinn.
We opted to sail to Muhu and Saaremaa. The departure point is the ferry terminal at Virtsu Port. We followed Google Maps to reach the port. This brought us to a building on an industrial estate. We had to stop and ask the security guard for directions. This was obviously a regular occurrence because he had the route from his office to the port open on his computer. Second time lucky, we located the ferry terminal and boarded our boat for the 3 mile crossing to Muhu. The ferry ride offers stunning views of the Baltic Sea and thousands upon thousands of wind turbines.
Getting Around Saaremaa
Ideally, you need a car to get around Saaremaa. Buses are infrequent and don’t travel directly between attractions. My guide book recommendws cycling, but a route taking in all the attractions we visited would cover 70 miles, so you’d have to be a very strong cyclist.
Where to Stay on Saaremaa
We stayed at the Georg Ots Spa Hotel, which is conveniently located with views across the harbour and the Baltic. The hotel has a spa plus indoor and outdoor pools.
Saaremaa: Top 10 Things to do
| 1 | Explore the picturesque island of Muhu |
| 2 | Visit Eemu Windmill |
| 3 | Cross the Väinatamm causeway |
| 4 | Walk round Kali Meteor Crater |
| 5 | Visit Angla Windmill Park |
| 6 | Take a walk along the cliff top at Panga Park |
| 7 | Stroll round the cobbled streets of Kuressaare |
| 8 | See the Suur Toll and Piret sculpture |
| 9 | Wander round historic Kuressaare Castle |
| 10 | Relax at a Spa Hotel |
No 1 – Explore the picturesque island of Muhu
To reach Saaremaa, first you must drive across the tiny but picturesque island of Muhu, which is famed for its windmills.
No 2 – Visit Eemu Windmill
The most iconic of Muhu’s windmills is Eemu Windmill. Thiss ancient windmill now forms part of Muhu Museum and is open to visitors. Entry costs €1.
No 3 – Cross the Väinatamm causeway
From Muhu, continue to Saaremaa across the Väinatamm; a 4 km long causeway spanning the Suur Strait. There are lay-bys along the road so you can pull over to admire the view. My favourite sight was an art installation in the sea consisting of upside-down figures reflected in the water.
No 4 – Walk round Kali Meteor Crater
One of Saaremaa’s most visited tourist attractions is Kaali Meteor Crater. Here, you can walk along a path round the top of a huge crater (22 metres deep and 110 metres wide to be precise) created when a meteor hit the spot long ago. Experts estimate that the meteor struck in around 1500 BC, making it one of world’s youngest giant meteor sites. The meteor actually broke up prior to impact and created 9 craters in total, but Kaali is the largest and most interesting.
No 5 – Visit Angla Windmill Park
North of Kaali is Angla Windmill Park. Here, perched on a hill, are a group of 5 beautifully preserved windmills, mostly dating from the 19th Century. You can pay to visit Angla Windmill Park to see the windmills close-up and gain an insight into the island’s agricultural history. But to be honest, there’s a great view of the windmills from the road.
The park is open daily from 9 am until 8 pm ( 10 am until 6 pm in winter) Adult entry costs €8.
No 6 – Take a walk along the cliff top at Panga Park
Continuing north to the coast and then west brings you to Panga Cliff. Running along the north of the island for 4 kilometre is Saaremaa’s highest clifftop. There are great coastal views from Panga Park. Here, you can walk along the cliff top to admire the cliffs and the spectacular views.
No 7 – Stroll round the cobbled streets of Kuressaare
From Panga, heading south until you hit the coast once more is the picturesque little resort town of Kuressaare. Take a wander, admiring the quaint architecture and cobbled streets lined with restaurants and bars.
No 8 – See the Suur Toll and Piret sculpture
A visit to Kuressaare wouldn’t be complete without seeing the statue of Suur Toll and Piret. The sculpture depicts a naked Suur Toll (a mythical hero of the island of Saaremaa) and his wife Piret carrying a boat full of fish out of the water.
No 9 – Wander round historic Kuressaare Castle
On the edge of the town, sitting on a moat overlooking the sea, is the medieval Kuresaare Castle. Surrounding the castle is a pretty park. It is possible to go inside to discover the castle’s rich history, explore its towers and courtyards, and learn about the lives of the people who once inhabited this impressive stronghold.
To visit the castle, you must purchase a ticket for Kuressaare Museum. Opening times are seasonal; in summer it is open daily from 10 am until 6 pm. (In winter, hours are 11 am until 6 pm Wednesday to Sunday). Adult entry costs €12.
No 10 – Relax at a Spa Hotel
Saaremaa is renowned for its spa hotels. We selected the Georg Ots Spa Hotel. The hotel has a lovely outdoor pool area where you can lounge overlooking the Baltic Sea. In addition, there is an indoor pool. If it gets too hot/cold, you can swim between the two pools via a curtained hole in the wall.
Spend some time relaxing by the hotel pool, admiring the Baltic views, dining and enjoying the sunset.
I hope you found the above information useful. For more top picks from other destinations in the 50+ countries we have visited, check out my full Top 10 Things To Do list here.
- Trip taken: September 2016
- Updated: April 2024
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