Estonia Country & Tourist Information

Location
Northern Europe.

Area
45,226 sq km (17,462 sq miles).

Population
1.3 million (2008 estimate).

Population Density
29 per sq km.

Capital
Tallinn.
Population: 401,694 (official estimate 2007).

Government
Republic since 1918. Annexed by the USSR 1940. Regained independence in 1991. EU member since 2004.

Language
Estonian is the official language. Many older people also speak some Russian, which is the mother tongue of around 30% of the population. However, using Russian can cause offence and it's better to speak English, which is widely spoken by people under 40.

Religion
The majority are non-religious. 23% Christian, with Lutheranism and Orthodoxy.

Time
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs are used.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Andrus Ansip since 2005.

Head of State
President Toomas Hendrik Ilves since 2006.

Recent History
Estonia continues to make European integration a keystone of its foreign policy and is planning to adopt the Euro in 2010, having joined the EU in 2004. Estonia enjoys high regard throughout western Europe for its successful handling of the transformation from ailing post-communist state to transparent social democratic government.

Relations with neighboring Russia have nosedived since 2007, following the removal of a Soviet war memorial in Tallinn that triggered ethnic Russian riots in the city. A short time afterwards, a ‘cyber attack' was launched on Estonian government websites and computer systems, which was roundly attributed to Russia, although Moscow denied responsibility.

Telephone
Country code: 372. Public telephones, which are plentiful, are operated by phonecards, available from kiosks.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Good coverage.

Internet
The Internet is key to Estonia's economic success. Public access is available at Internet cafes, post offices and libraries in main towns and cities. There is free Internet access at Tallinn Airport. Free wireless zones can be found all over the country, including in hundreds of places in Tallinn.



Media
Estonia was ranked third worldwide by press freedom in 2007 by Reporters Without Borders. The post-independence years of the early 1990s saw a large increase in the production of newspapers, which has now fallen off as the market becomes more stable. Broadcasting also boomed, attracting several foreign players; the two main commercial TV stations are owned by Swedish and Norwegian companies. Cable TV is popular.



Post
Post to western Europe takes three to six days.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-2000, Sat 0900-1800, Sun 0900-1500 (hours may vary in rural areas).

Press
• Privately-owned dailies include Postimees, Eesti Ekspress, Eesti Paevaleht and the business Aripaev, along with the evening tabloid SL Ohtuleht, and weekly Maaleht.
• Estoniya is published in Russian.

Radio
• The public station is Eesti Raadio, which operates four networks including flagship station Vikerraadio.
• Raadio Elmar and Kuku Radio are privately-owned stations.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
24 Feb Independence Day. 
10 Apr Good Friday.
1 May May Day.
31 May Whit Sunday (Pentecost).
23 Jun Võidupüha (Victory Day - anniversary of the Battle of Võnnu).
24 Jun Midsummer's Day/Jaanipäev (St John's Day).
20 Aug Restoration of Independence Day.
25-26 Dec Jõulud (Christmas) and Boxing Day.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
24 Feb Independence Day.
2 Apr Good Friday.
1 May May Day.
24 May Whit Sunday (Pentecost).
23 Jun Võidupüha (Victory Day - anniversary of the Battle of Võnnu).
24 Jun Midsummer's Day/Jaanipäev (St John's Day).
20 Aug Restoration of Independence Day.
25-26 Dec Jõulud (Christmas) and Boxing Day.

Contact Information:

Estonian Tourist Board
13/15 Liivalaia Street, 10118 Tallinn, Estonia
Tel: (6) 279 770.
Website: www.visitestonia.com

NB: There are no Estonian tourist offices outside the country.

Embassy of the Republic of Estonia in the UK
16 Hyde Park Gate, London SW7 5DG, UK
Tel: (020) 7589 3428.
Website: www.estonia.gov.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700 (embassy); Mon and Fri 1000-1300, Tues and Thurs 1300-1600 (consular section).

Embassy of the Republic of Estonia in the USA
2131 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 588 0101.
Website: www.estemb.org


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