Product Description

This extensively updated guide is essential for those wishing to explore this beautiful Baltic state. Detailing the country's medieval capital, Tallinn, the guide escorts the visitor down its timeless cobbled streets and pinpoints architectural highlights. Extensive coverage is given of the country's complex cultural history, and its best artists, writers and musicians. With generous information on sites of interest and vital practical information, this guide remains a lively companion before, during and long after a visit to Estonia.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #401347 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Review
'A thoughtful and well-written introduction to the country.' --The Lady

'Bradt's Estonia is best - detailed, reliable, and pleasantly opinionated.' --Conde Nast Traveler, USA

'A wealth of practical information.' --The Yorkshire Post

'Bradt's Estonia is best - detailed, reliable, and pleasantly opinionated.' --Conde Nast Traveler, USA

'A wealth of practical information.' --The Yorkshire Post

From the Author
Request for further information
A guidebook really has many authors even if only one name appears on the title page. To be good, it needs to be supported regularly by travellers passing on up to date reports and views. I fortunately have the chance to visit Estonia about four times a year but there may be many developments, particularly outside the larger towns, of which I am unaware. I would welcome further comments to add to the one that is already on the site, and perhaps ideas for places and buildings to include in future editions that were neglected in the current book.

About the Author
Neil Taylor previously ran a tour company specializing in the Baltics. He is the author of the Bradt guides to Estonia, Baltic Cities and Vilnius.

Customer Reviews

Disappointing in terms of facts
We recently visited Tallinn which is a beautiful city with a fascinating history. This book was all that we had to rely on for information and while it is true to say that the history side of the book is interesting and well done, practical facts and figures for the (dare I say it) tourist, tended to be very vague. Distances seemed to be quite randomly set and in some cases the book suggested visits with no indication at all of how long it might take to get there or how far it might be. We walked a long way to get a boat to Aegna Island, the book said we would need to get the boat from "the small jetty by the cafe" and so we not unreasonably assumed that the Pirita area must be pretty small. It isn't, and even the harbour master had no idea what we were talking about. The lack of photographs was disappointing and some basic information on how to get to Riga, St Petersburg, Helsinki and Vilnius would have been a good idea bearing in mind that many visitors to Estonia for any longer than a weekend probably are looking for a 2 centre visit. All in all I don't think I will be trying Bradt again. The author obviously loves the country but seems to forget what it must be like for a first time visitor, he makes too many assumptions based on his own knowledge. The commercialisation and rate of growth of Tallinn requires something less academic and of more practical assistance. Having said all of that, the Old Town walking tour was faultless and very enjoyable and earns the book an extra star.

Good introduction to Estonia
This book adequately covers all the main towns and areas of interest for the independent traveller, although nothing is dealt with in too great detail. Rather a flimsy book in that respect. Very clear town maps and good itinerary suggestions. Some more pictures would have been nice. I would have liked to see more info on the People, Food and Modern life, rather less of History, which is by far the most comprehensive section of the book. Rough Guide fans will like the layout and tone of this book, those of us who prefer Lonely Planet will be less impressed. It is, nevertheless, a useful guide if you're planning a trip to Estonia

A Fine Introduction to Estonia
This newly revised guide is an excellent and comprehensive introduction to Estonia, the newly reborn Nordic country on the Baltic Sea.

I have been a regular visitor since 2000 and have travelled extensively around Estonia and cannot fault this book in any of its details, whether on history, recommended destinations or the ambience of hotels.

Whereas some guides tend to concentrate mainly on the capital Tallinn, this one goes on to give extensive detail on the regional towns. To anyone contemplating their first visit to Estonia they should plan to venture beyond Tallinn because that is where the true beauty of the country lies, in the forests and lakes and fields of wildflowers; and this book makes excellent reading on where to go.

The substantial entry on Estonian history is also essential to give an understanding on how extraordinary its current progress is and how a modern Scandinavian democracy has risen elegantly from 50 years of oppression and colonisation.