Hiiumaa island tour “Paradise with original traditions. Ferries from the mainland to Hiiumaa are limited in capacity Ferry to Hiiumaa timetables

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TALLINN, 1 April – Sputnik. On Sunday, April 1, capacity restrictions were introduced for regular ferries Rohuküla-Heltermaa (Mainland - Hiiumaa Island), all transport concessions and benefits of e-tickets were canceled, a general queue applies. This was reported by the praamid.ee portal, which informs both about the situation at sea in the area of the ports connecting the mainland with the islands of Hiiumaa and Saaremaa, as well as about the occupancy of ferries and loading conditions Vehicle and boarding of passengers.

The introduction of restrictions is explained by the drop in sea level in the area of the ferry crossing to critical levels. This message is not an April Fool's hoax, as the drop in sea level and the possible introduction of restrictions have been reported since March 31, citing the latest data from the TUT Marine Systems Institute.

Ferry company TS Liinid apologized for the inconvenience caused. It is recommended to travel to the mainland from the island on Monday, April 2, or to cross by ferry on foot without vehicles, to avoid problems with loading.

It is also emphasized that police cars, ambulances and rescuers, as well as postal service cars, have priority access to the ferry. Shuttle Buses, vehicles transporting people from handicapped or deceased, as well as vehicles with diplomatic plates.

In the past few months, ferry traffic has been repeatedly disrupted due to a drop in the water level in the Rukki canal near Haapsalu, through which ships pass on Hiiumaa. Residents of Hiiumaa are sure that the reason for the disruption in the ferry service was not the weather, but irresponsibility and negligence. According to one of the initiators of the petition, Peep Lillemägi, a member of the opposition Reform Party, new ferries were ordered for a hundred million euros, but the problems remained the same.

In turn, Minister Simson said that the crisis with the ferry service between the island and the mainland is to blame for the former Minister of Economics, the reformist Kristen Michal, who refused two years ago to deepen the bottom in the Rukka canal.

In Soviet times, it was possible to get to the island of Saaremaa only with special passes issued by the border service. Now, 30 years later, it is open to everyone. From Tallinn to Kuressaare, the main and only city of the island of Saaremaa, 221 kilometers. There are four ways to overcome them.

Bus.

Tallinn bus station was overhauled in 2012.

The most popular way to get to the island.
The bus service between Tallinn and the islands is excellent, and Saaremaa is certainly no exception. Buses from Central Station Tallinn depart to the island almost every hour.
The station is located at Lastekodu 46 (Lastekodu 46). It is very easy to get to it, as it passes next to it. a large number of public transport. Buses No. 17, 23, 47, 54 stop on Juhkentali Street (Juhkentali, 48). Trams No. 2 and 4, as well as buses No. 2, 15, 39 stop on the Tartu highway (Tartu maantee 58).
From airport to bus station there is a bus No 2. C railway station you need to take tram number 2. You can even walk to it from the Old Town. It takes 15-20 minutes to walk from the Viru Gates. More routes can be found here. https://routes.one/ru
The station is open from 5 am to 1 am. Tickets go on sale from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Depending on the day of the week, the number of flights to Saaremaa varies. The “richest” day on the routes is Friday. The bus goes to Kuressaare 14 times.
Travel time is about four hours. The time depends on the carrier and the number of stops along the way. The first bus leaves at 7:55. The last one is at 22.15 and arrives at the bus station of the island at 2.10.

Lux Express has only modern buses.

There are several carriers, so the price and level of comfort on the buses differ. The price fluctuates between 12-16 euros. There is a 40% discount for children under 16 and people over 60. Buy a ticket and find out detailed information information about flights can be found on this website. The site supports Russian.
Several flights are made by Lux Express buses, which often have sales and a ticket can generally be bought for 5-6 euros. Therefore, it is better to buy tickets for these buses directly on the company's website. They have a system, the earlier you buy a ticket, the lower the price. You can save a little more if you plan your trip in advance.

The bus goes to the pier in the village of Virtsu, there it calls in a ferry (about the ferry separately), swims across the strait and calmly rides on. You can stay on the bus or take a walk on the ferry. From Kuressaare to Tallinn, the first bus leaves early in the morning at 4.55, and the last one at 17.55.
You can also get to the island from Tartu (travel time about six hours, two flights a day) and Pärna (travel time three hours, four flights). Information can be found on the same website as about buses from Tallinn.

Automobile.

Most convenient way get to the island.
And if you plan to stay on the island for a few days and get to know it better, then this method is the only true one. Many sights are located in the countryside, and getting to them without a car is problematic. You can rent a car either on the island or in Tallinn. Rental price for 2 days 50-70 euros. You can arrange delivery of the car to your hotel.

If you are traveling by car, then no matter where you are coming from, you will still arrive at the port in the village of Virtsu. You can view and download your itinerary at Google Maps or Yandex maps. The distance from Tallinn to Virtsu is 137 kilometers. Then you take a ferry to the port in the village of Kuivastu. This is not yet Saaremaa, but the island of Muhu. It is connected to the island by a dam. The dam is three and a half kilometers long. It has special places for car stops to admire the surroundings.

Ferry "Tõll" finishes loading.

The ferry service between the mainland and the islands is operated by Tuule laevad.
Ferries start running from 5-35 in the morning until late in the evening. The last one departs at 22.15. The interval of movement in summer is about 35 minutes, in winter much less frequently. The cost of transporting a passenger car is 8.4 euros. Adult passenger 3 euros, child 1.5 euros. On Friday after 13:00 the price of travel from the mainland to the island increases by 50%, and on Sunday after 13:00 the price increases for travel from the island to the mainland.
The ferry travel time is 30 minutes, and the entire trip with arrival and departure is 50 minutes. good weather you can go to the upper deck, where there are chairs for sitting. The ferries have free toilets and a snack bar.
Transportation is carried out by four new ferries built in 2017. The ferries are named after the mythological creatures that once lived on the islands. "Till", "Leiger", "Piret", "Tiina". At the same time, any of them carries 700 passengers and 150 cars, so there is usually enough space for everyone. The ferries have four decks, two for car parking and two for passengers. One closed, for winter and bad weather, and open, summer.

A "live" queue of those wishing to leave for the mainland.

Tickets are sold both directly at the pier in special terminals or at the cashier-operator, and online in advance. There is one undoubted plus in pre-purchase, such passengers and cars are allowed through a special passageway, there is no need to stand in line. The ticket can be bought. The site is in Estonian and English, but everything is clear. If there are no tickets on the Internet (which happens on holidays), then it's okay. Some of the tickets are left for the live queue.

If you have e-ticket, and you arrived earlier, then if there is space on the ferry, you can leave on it. If you missed your flight, then your ticket is valid for another 48 hours, but only on a first-come, first-served basis.
It is better to print the ticket and take it with you. When buying a ticket, you must correctly indicate the license plate of the car and enter the Russian letters of the number in Latin.

Airplane.

Jetstream-3200 on runway at Kuressaare airport.

The fastest way.
Strangely enough, there is an air connection between Tallinn and Kuressaare. Flights are operated by Transaviabaltika and will continue to do so until at least May 31, 2019. Until that time, she won the competition for flights to Saaremaa.
There is a unique opportunity to ride on a 19-seat Jetstream-3200 aircraft. On weekdays, there are two flights from Tallinn at 08:35 and 18:35, on Saturday at 10:50, on Sunday at 18:35. From Kuressaare at 9:30 and 19:30 and 11:45 on Saturday and Sunday at 19:30. Travel time is only 45 minutes. The price is quite reasonable -26 euros. However, this is all theory. In practice, it is not very clear where to buy a ticket. There are no online sales on the websites of search engines or on the website of Tallinn Airport. Although if you wish, you can try to fly to Tallinn from Kuressaare. The airport is located three kilometers from the city, and it will not be difficult to get to it. It is open from 10 am to 7 pm. More detailed information on tickets can be obtained by calling +372 6058887, +372 55603687 or on this website.

Buying a tour.

The most carefree and easiest way to visit the island of Saaremaa is to buy a tour of the island in Tallinn or even in St. Petersburg. And then get on the bus, relax and enjoy the road and communication with the guide. Prices of course vary from company to company. We offer this tour as an option. The price may not be the cheapest, but the tour is individual and you will definitely remember it for a long time.

If you decide to come to the island for a few days, see our articles about and if you are traveling by car.

Everyone is waiting an amusing trip- sightseeing tour big island Estonian Hyuma. We will see ancient churches and windmills, visit a noble estate and a peasant farm, climb a real lighthouse, get acquainted with the culture local residents and enjoy the modest charm of the Baltic nature. Hiiumaa is full of unique charm and keeps the legacy of past centuries.

We invite you as part of our four-day excursion tour visit Estonia picturesque island Hiyuma. Hiiuma Island (German: Dago) is the second largest island in Estonia, it has an area of just under 1000 sq km. The island has an eventful history, in 1563-1721 it belonged to Sweden and is still an important center of Swedish culture in Estonia.

Tour program:

Departure from St. Petersburg

Departure from metro station "Rebellion Square"(Ligovsky pr., 30, near the shopping center "Gallery") at 06.20
from st.m. Baltic at 7.00

1 day
Moving to Ivangorod.
Passage of border formalities.
Moving to Haapsalu.
Breakfast.
(additional charge)
Excursion around the city.
Haapsalu is a wonderful resort town that certainly captivates its guests: quite small, but very cozy and hospitable. There is a medieval episcopal castle, several museums, an 18th century town hall, Lutheran and Orthodox churches, a kursaal, and a promenade, which is a must-see.
Visit to the Museum of the Coastal Swedes.
Estonian Swedes have been living on the northwestern coast of Estonia and the islands for over 1,000 years, according to various sources. Many institutions and societies are now involved in preserving the culture of Estonian Swedes. One such place is the Rannarootsi Museum in Haapsalu, officially opened in 2002 by the Swedish royal couple. The museum has a 20-meter hand-embroidered one that depicts the history and way of life of Estonian Swedes.
(additional charge)
Hotel accommodation.
Free time.
2 day
Breakfast in the hotel.
Transfer to the port of Rohukula.
Boarding the ferry, journey to the island of Hiiumaa.
Excursion to the island of Kassari.
We will see the picturesque ruins of the church of St. Martin, built in the 16th century, and the Kassari chapel, the only one operating on the island. Its harsh stone walls and tall tower with a wooden roof seem very impressive in Kassari, where there are so few buildings. It is no coincidence that this temple is considered an object cultural heritage Estonia. Some representatives of the Stackelberg family are buried under its walls. A significant period in the history of the island is associated with this genus. At the crossroads we will see one of windmills and a monument to the giant Leiger, who, according to legend, lived on this island. It is associated with one of the most beautiful places islands - Cape Syaare Tirp, from which a long rocky spit stretches.
You will have a walk along the seashore and the Sääre Tirp spit, which will take about 1.5 hours: a real juniper valley will give you the opportunity to get an excellent aromatherapy session - walk to the very end of the spit and take part in one important island tradition - a matter of honor for every guest of Hiiumaa.
Transfer to Kärdla.
Hotel accommodation.
3 day
Breakfast in the hotel.
Visiting the estate Suuremiyza.
The history of the estate is connected with three noble Swedish families who once owned the entire island. The manor house is surrounded by an English park. Nearby we will see the church of St. Lawrence of the XIII century - this is one of the oldest churches on the island, built by German knights. The owners of the Suuremiyza estate are also buried there.
Tour of the island.
You can get acquainted with the life of local residents on a real farm of the 19th century, where almost all the buildings have been preserved.
We will also get acquainted with the "smallest county capital" - the only city of Kärdla on the island that still remembers the times of the Vikings. Thanks to the picturesque nature, beautiful parks and charming island architecture, Kärdla has become a great place to relax. The settlement of Reigi is also connected with Swedish history, where people who speak Old Swedish still live. There is also the estate of the Ungern-Sternbergs, an old Ostsee noble family, who was in the service of first Swedish and then Russian monarchs.
Museum "Long House" in Kärdla - the main museum of the island,
which is popularly called the "Long House" (this is the longest wooden building in the city of Kärdla, more than 60 meters long). The building was built in the 1830s as a residence for the directors of the cloth factory. Along with the history of the development of the city and the factory, the exposition allows you to get acquainted with residential buildings simple factory workers. The museum contains the history of not only the factory, but the city and the island.
Visiting the Kõpu and Tahkun lighthouses.
A separate item on the Hiiumaa program is a visit to the lighthouses. The lighthouses themselves are always impressive. At the northern end of the island, on the shore, there is a white giant, the Tahkun lighthouse, 39.6 m high. The light of the lighthouse is visible for 18 nautical miles. The lighthouse was purchased by the Russian government in 1871 at an exhibition in Paris, and in 1875 it was put into operation. Near the lighthouse on the seashore there is a monument of sorrow and sadness, in memory of the children who died from the ferry Estonia. This is a bell with baby faces.
Return to the hotel.
Day 4
Breakfast in the hotel.
Transfer to the port of Heltermaa.
Ferry crossing to Rohukula.
Transfer to Matsalu park.
Walk in the national park.
Läänemaa, the westernmost county of mainland Estonia, the real gateway to the islands – beautiful place relaxation for absolutely everyone. national park Matsalu is a protected area of 48,610 hectares, which includes the Matsalu Bay, the Kasari river delta surrounded by picturesque lowlands, coastal meadows, reed beds and about 50 sea islands. Several nature trails have been laid on the territory of the park, seven birdwatching towers have been installed; Matsalu is one of the most important European waterfowl nesting and stopover areas during seasonal migration.
Moving to St. Petersburg.

Attention:

For participation in this tour You must have a valid visa and health insurance.
To participate in tours to the Republic of Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Moldova and Mongolia, a visa is not required.
The tour program does not include visits to water parks, shopping malls and fish shops.
Late autumn, winter, in early spring, due to the short daylight hours, visiting some of the objects declared in the program may take place at night.
The Organizer is not responsible for queues at border points, delays on the way due to customs, border and other official formalities, weather conditions, as well as traffic jams.
If weather on the route may threaten the safety of tourists (heavy snowfalls, low / high air temperatures, mudflows, showers, floods, forest fires, smog, etc.), the organizer reserves the right to unilaterally change the tour program: to replace one object with another, and if replacement is impossible, exclude objects from the program.
Seats on the bus are distributed by the organizer as the group is recruited.

There is something infinitely intriguing in small islands, some kind of completely different life than on the mainland, it would seem, quite close to them. And we can’t, and we don’t try, to overcome this charm, and we go to the islands Baltic Sea time after time, fortunately, there are many of these islands, and you can not even repeat very much. We were in Estonian Saaremaa a few years ago, young and childless, with good friends. Last year, other good friends revealed their favorites to us. Åland Islands. This year we returned to Saaremaa and went to another tiny island, Hiiumaa.
Every day, two ferries run from Saaremaa to Hiiumaa, morning and evening, it takes about an hour to go, ferry schedules can be found, tickets were sold directly on the ferry and cost about 10 euros for two adults and a car.
I remember when I first came to Estonia with a school friend, we crossed the border on foot, and once in Narva, he said something like "now we exhale and walk calmly and not in a hurry, we are in a quiet little country." In Narva and even in Tallinn, everything really seems very calm and measured compared to our metropolis. On Saaaremaa, Tallinn and all of mainland Estonia are perceived as vain, loud, full of people. It seems that it simply cannot be quieter and more deserted. Well, maybe, in Hiiumaa. Ten cars that arrived by ferry instantly disperse over 990 square kilometers of the island, the roads are empty, according to the reaction of local residents, it seems that our car is the first one in a week, although it is clear that this is not so.
Our first stop is the ruins of the church in the village of Kaina, a 15th-16th century Gothic church that burned down during the Second World War. This is the largest church on the island, 600 people were placed in it (and about 9000 live on the island in total!).

A hole in the wall leads to a ladder leading up to the choir stalls. Dad and Vlad climbed, I looked at it from below.

And when we left the church in the square surrounding it, we met a fox! True, she escaped before I had time to photograph her. From the post office in Kaina, we sent postcards to friends, some of them reached, some - the second month on the road.

Then we went to the northernmost point of the island, the Tahkuna lighthouse, built at the Eiffel factory, in the same place as the tower :). Its height is quite small, 50 meters.

Entrance to the lighthouse is conditionally paid, perhaps two euros, the caretaker is a cheerful old man who joyfully greets visitors and distributes sweets to children after they overcome the ascent and descent. Which Vlad, by the way, did completely on his own. Proof picks:

Climbed!

Views from above of the sea and the forests of Hiiumaa.

Vladik swings on a swing on the lower floor of the lighthouse.

We wanted to eat our take-away lunch on the rocks not far from the lighthouse, but as we descended, it became like this.

It was raining and I had to eat in the car. After lunch, we drove around the island further, along this road:

While I was making this shot and treating myself to blueberries, Vladik and dad went deeper into the forest for half an hour and returned with Vladik's bucket full of porcini mushrooms. We then ate them for dinner. And then we drove to the Kõpu lighthouse.

The Kõpu lighthouse is one of the oldest surviving lighthouses in the world, built in the middle of the 16th century on the initiative of the Hanseatic sailors. The lighthouse itself is not high, 36 meters, but since it is located on the highest point of the island, its light is visible from a distance of 46 km (against 33 km from the higher Tahkun). I was surprised how far it really is from the sea:

Initially, the tower was solid, and they climbed up the wooden stairs installed along one of the walls! Only in the 19th century a staircase was made in the tower, which is still used today. Compared to this climb, climbing Tahkun was very easy!

Happy that the stairs finally ended, dad and Vlad ran around the lighthouse platform several times.

Inside the tower, at the top of the stairs, there is a very interesting exhibition that tells about the history of the construction of lighthouses in the Baltic Sea, with photographs and the current state of each of them. Near the lighthouse there is a small cafe (almost the only one on the island), but rather from the "drink coffee" series than "eat something".
And then we took a little roundabout way to see more of the island and went back to the ferry. In general, there is still something to see on Hiiumaa - a couple of beautiful churches, a museum-farm, nature trails ... To be honest, what we saw was enough for us, and Vladik plays into the lighthouses that shine in the sea and help ships keep their course. still.

Regular message water transport in Estonia is widely distributed and available. On the domestic directions ferry service connects mainland Estonia with western islands, with small islands to the north of Tallinn, as well as the island of Piirissaar on Lake Peipus. Between Tallinn and Helsinki, about five ferries run daily, making a total of more than a dozen trips per day, and on some of them tourists are given the opportunity to spend the night on board. Two flights a day are made on the route Tallinn - Stockholm.

Ferries to Estonia

Tallink & Silja Line ferries

Estonia has the largest ferry operator on the Baltic Sea, Tallink (www.tallink.com). Six ferries depart daily from Tallinn to Helsinki, departing from 7:30 am to 10:30 pm. The number of flights has been reduced from 24 to 31 December. The same schedule is valid on the return route, but there is an additional night flight at 0:35. The line is operated by Star and Superstar vessels with a journey time of 2 hours, as well as the more spacious and luxurious Baltic Queen, which makes one trip per day. It departs from Tallinn (Terminal D) at 12:30, from Helsinki (Western Terminal, Länsisatama) at 18:30, travel time 3.5 hours.

Travelers can spend the night on the ferry and disembark in the morning. This option is valid for Baltic Queen on the flight from Helsinki to Tallinn, as well as for the last Star flight of the day in both directions. Star leaves Tallinn at 22:30, accepts night passengers in Helsinki until 0:35, releases passengers from Tallinn at 06:30 and goes to Tallinn at 07:30, where both night and morning passengers from Helsinki go ashore.

On the night from Saturday to Sunday, the opportunity to spend the night on board, also in both directions, is provided to passengers of Superstar, which spends the night in Tallinn.

Fare for base rate ranges from 24 to 53 euros, depending on the day of the week and the time of departure. 20 euros must be paid extra for Star Comfort Class, which includes hot and cold drinks, snacks and wireless Internet. If you wish, you can book a cabin, which will cost 30 or 35 (for a cabin with a porthole) euros on top of the price of a basic ticket.

An overnight ferry ticket costs 81 euros on Star/Superstar ferries, while on Baltic Queen it usually costs between 81 and 131 euros. When choosing a cabin with a porthole, the price increases by 5 euros.

Another Tallinn route running from the Estonian capital is to Stockholm with a stop in Marienhamn. Departure from terminal D at 18:00, arrival in Värtahamnen at 10:00. Departure from Stockholm at 17:45, arrival in Tallinn at 10:00 (at winter schedule- at 10:45). The route is served by Victoria I and Romantika ferries. The cost of a place in a 4-bed cabin - from 39 euros.

Viking Line and Eckerö Line ferries

International destinations are also served by the Finnish companies Viking Line (www.vikingline.fi) and Eckerö Line (www.eckeroline.fi). On the route Tallinn - Helsinki ferry Viking XPRS makes 2 trips per day (on summer schedule- 3). The cost depends on the flight and the time of booking and starts from 19 euros (Sunday morning flight Tallinn - Helsinki, without a cabin and meals), the usual minimum price is 24-34 euros. The minimum ticket price for a car and driver is from 32 euros (Sunday morning), the usual minimum price is 41-54 euros. For frequent travelers, a ticket for 10 trips is beneficial, which costs 210 euros. However, this ticket is not valid during the peak season - in July. On an evening flight, it is possible to spend the night on board; the ship spends the night in Tallinn. The schedule depends on the season.

Once a day at 14:25 there is a flight to Stockholm (arrival at 10:00) with stops in Helsinki and Marienhamn. On the way back, departure from Stockholm at 16:30, arrival in Tallinn at 13:40. The line is served by the Mariella and Gabriella ferries. Viking Line operates terminal A in Tallinn, terminal Katajanokka on the Katajanokka peninsula in Helsinki and Stadsgården in Stockholm.

Eckerö Line operates two flights daily on the route Tallinn - Helsinki and back on the Finlandia ferry. Ticket prices start from 19 euros. In Tallinn, terminal A is used, in Helsinki, the Western terminal (Länsisatama).

Linda Line ferries

High-speed catamaran ferries Linda Line (www.lindaline.fi) also run between Tallinn and Helsinki. Travel time is 1 hour 40 minutes. Ferries do not run to winter time of the year. Tickets cost around 30-40 euros, but the site regularly offers various promotions for day trips round-trip, with early or late booking, for group tours etc.

Ferries on the Estonian islands

Ferry services to numerous Estonian islands are operated by Saaremaa Laevakompanii (www.tuulelaevad.ee) and Kihnu Veeteed (www.veeteed.com). The island of Saaremaa can be reached by ferry Virstu - Kuivastu, which connects continental Estonia with the island of Muhu, from where you can drive to Saaremaa along the dam. In summer, the ferry runs every half an hour, in winter breaks can be up to two hours. Travel time is 25 minutes, a ticket for an adult passenger costs 2.6 euros, and a car costs 7.4 euros.

There is a ferry from Saaremaa (Triigi port) to the island of Hiiumaa (Syru port) once every two days. Travel time 65 minutes, ticket price 2.6 euros, car transportation - 7.4 euros. Hiiumaa can be reached from the mainland by the Rohuküla-Heltermaa ferry, which runs several times a day. Ticket price - 8.8 euros per car, 3 euros per adult, travel time 1:15. The ferry goes to the island of Vormsi (rohuküla - Svibi route) four times a day, the exact schedule depending on the season should be viewed on the website of the operator Kihnu Veeteed.

The same company serves the southwestern direction: the islands of Manilaid, Kihnu and Ruhnu, as well as the northern one with the routes Leppneeme - Kelnase (Prangli Island; 6 euros one way), Tallinn - Aegna (4 euros one way and 6 euros round trip ) and Tallinn - Naissaari. On Lake Peipus, the route Laaksaar - Piirissaar (3.2 euros) operates. The frequency of flights to these destinations depends on the season.

It should be remembered that in the summer, especially on Midsummer Day (June 24), there can be long queues on the ferries. Tourists traveling by car are advised to book tickets in advance. Some popular flights may run out of seats more than a week before departure.