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5 recommendations for visiting a unique Estonian island – Prangli

In category: Islands , Nature & Wildlife

Source: Martin Andreller

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• 5 recommendations for visiting Prangli island

Prangli is a one of a kind Estonian island situated near Tallinn , a hour-long ferry ride from the Viimsi peninsula . People have inhabited the island for over 600 consecutive years, which makes Prangli the only Northern Estonian island with native settlement based on year-round inhabitants.

There’s an old saying that Prangli is located behind God’s back. Situated between Finland and Estonia, during Soviet times, even at the border of the Iron Curtain, the island has retained its local dialect, traditions and the culture of coastal people. Prangli is a rather tiny place, yet it has surprisingly diverse and untouched nature. With each year, the mysterious, timeless aura and unique fishing villages of Prangli delight more and more Estonians and tourists who are visiting Tallinn.

• Come for a summertime visit!

Active tourism season on Prangli begins in May and ends in September Most visits to the island are day trips – undoubtedly the most convenient and meaningful way for visiting the place, offered to Estonians and foreigners alike. Prangli island day trips  take place 3–4 times per week, the groups depart from Tallinn or Leppneeme harbour. These are fully guided day trips (incl. transport, pickup truck excursion, catering) which are led by a local guide and meant for everyone interested in this Estonian island, regardless of their age or nationality.

Photo by: Marko Poolamets

Groups of over 10 people can order guided tours in various languages at any time. During the winter season, we recommend the very Estonian sauna and hiking tour of Prangli , which starts from Tallinn.

• Come by bike or on foot!

Solo adventurers can find their way to the island all year round, be it by bike or on foot. The ferry connection to Prangli island is organised with the ferry Wrangö, which departs from Leppneeme harbour. (Tickets and schedules tuuleliinid.ee  on the Leppneeme-Kelnase line.) The best way to get to Leppneeme harbour is to take a taxi from Tallinn (about 10–15 euros) or bus No. 1A or V2 .  

Photo by: Marko Poolamets

A bike rental is open on Prangli, at Kelnase harbour, which is the northernmost (small) harbour in Estonia, from May to September. You can buy a comprehensive island introduction tool – a self-guided tour – from online or from the tourism information point; the virtual guide will lead you to important sights, share fascinating legends with you, as well as give directions to the best accommodation options and dining places.

• Explore with your colleagues!

Prangli island is a great place for organising team events. A lot of Estonian and international collectives have used this opportunity to escape into nature for a day or two and experience something educational and relaxing together. Team events on the island are organised by Prangli Travel.

Photo by: Prangli Travel

• Attend concerts or take part in competitions!

Culture and sports events on Prangli island delight visitors! Naturally, the busies days on the island occur in the summer and include culture and sports events . Additional transport options are available during such busy days. The most popular events are the Prangli Jooks (running event), summer theatre and various concerts.

• Take other trips from Prangli!

Prangli island is the centre of the Kolga Bay archipelago. With advance notice, special trips can be arranged to visit Estonian small islands of Aksi and Keri. Seal-watching trips can be organised on Malusi islands. Additionally, seal-watching trips are also arranged with departures from the mainland – from Tallinn or Kaberneeme Marina.

Prangli is a great place to visit by yourself, with friends, family members, colleagues, grandparents and even babies. Everyone is bound to find something fun to do. Come and explore this beautiful Estonian island!

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Prangli Travel

• See all photos

Day Trip to Prangli Island from Tallinn

Day Trip to Lahemaa National Park

Small-Group Half-Day Tour of Rummu and Coastal Cliffs

Tallinn Old Town Walking Tour

Jägala Waterfall and Picnic Tour

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Prangli Travel - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

Prangli Travel

• See all photos

Day Trip to Prangli Island from Tallinn

Day Trip to Lahemaa National Park

Small-Group Half-Day Tour of Rummu and Coastal Cliffs

Tallinn Old Town Walking Tour

Jägala Waterfall and Picnic Tour

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Prangli Travel - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Island life near Tallinn: Aegna, Naissaar, and Prangli

Tallinn’s own island, Aegna

How to get to Aegna?

• Travel info:  sunlines.ee ,  meretakso.ee ,  watersport.ee  
• Information about the island and the services offered there can be found at  www.tallinn.ee/aegna .

Musical Naissaar with a military past

• The Central Trail (11 km), with several natural attractions: the Danish King’s Garden, the island’s highest point (Kunila Hill), Põhjaküla (the Northern Village), and the mines. The trail starts and ends at the Naissaar camping area and is marked with white-green-white signs.
• The Southern Trail (12 km) is known as the Cultural Trail, as it includes the Naissaar Church, cemetery, and chapel. The trail also passes the Sepa Farm, where the world-famous optician Bernhard Schmidt was born. The circular trail is marked with white-blue-white signs. The trail runs largely along roads and can also be traversed by bicycle. The trail starts and ends about 300 metres away from the former Naissaar visitor centre building.
• The Northern Trail (7 km) is also known as the Military Trail. The trail starts from the village of Haldja and runs north along the coast to the northern tip of Naissaar. All of the island’s main military attractions are located along the Northern Trail. The trail is marked with white-red-white signs.

How to get to Naissaar?

• Travel info: for all information about Naissaar, from excursions to cultural events and access to the island with different vessels, and also on tours of Aegna and Prangli, see monica.ee ,  sailing.ee , nicesaar.eu .
• You can find information about Naissaar’s attractions, hiking trails, and other practicalities at  naissaar.ee.
• Naissaare harbour: 59° 33,4´ N 24° 33,2´ E 
• Tel: +372 5345 0651
• More info:  naissaar.ee

Unspoiled Prangli with a traditional settlement

How to get to Prangli?

• Travel info:  www.tuuleliinid.ee

Private tours to Prangli

• You can book maritime transportation at:  www.pranglireisid.ee  ,  watersport.ee ,  sailing.ee
• Port of Kelnase: "59°38'18"; N 25°00'48" E" 
• Tel: +372 5191 9167
• More info:  visitestonia.com

Where to enjoy nature in Tallinn?

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TRAVEL BLOG

Escape to Prangli: A Rural Treasure Island

Did you know that Estonia has more islands than Greece? Neither did Duncan Rhodes , before he took a day trip to discover the rural charms of Prangli, a short ferry ride away from Tallinn.

The sky is a porous grey blanket, the Baltic summer air spiky and cold, as our minivan deposits us at the world’s most depressing ferry terminal, just outside Tallinn . Far from a busy transport node, the only seaworthy vessels I spy are a handful of battered Soviet fishing boats, roped to concrete brown jetties, whilst the rest of the port consists of no more than an unmanned crane and a miniature fork lift truck – their rusting yellow paint jobs affording a dab of colour to the landscape at least. Several damp-feathered seagulls huddle on the nearby rocks, their miffed expressions clearly stating: we don’t want to be here either .

Several damp-feathered seagulls huddle on the nearby rocks, their miffed expressions clearly stating: we don’t want to be here either .

If I were more awake I’d no doubt regret my decision to get out of bed this morning, but the 7am start required to join this trip has numbed my brain to such an extent that I’ve been functioning on autopilot since my alarm sounded. Sensing the imminent opportunity to fall back asleep however, I instinctively clamber on board our morning ferry and, curling up on a cushioned chair, pull my hoodie tightly over my head and plug my earphones in. The twenty-odd-seater bark is almost empty and, aside from our seven-person tour group, the only passengers are a young couple, their newborn baby… and their cat, which they store in a basket next to a guitar and several crates of beer. As we glide out onto a grim sea the colour of iron filings, men, women, babes and felines are blissfully silent, and I soon find myself drifting off to the dirge-like refrains of Beirut’s Rip Tide .

When I wake up there’s the welcome sight of a low band of green at the horizon, fighting its way into the otherwise black-and-white seascape, as slowly Prangli island reels us to its shores. Two cormorants skim the waves, and an artic tern flaps higher above. The micro nap has refreshed me and, spying my first signs of life – dogs and fishermen milling around on the jetty – my tiredness gives way to excitement about setting foot for the first time on an Estonian island.

In fact, Estonia boasts an impressive collection of 1,521 isles, more even than Croatia or Greece , and some of them have already embraced tourism. The largest, Saaremaa, is a well-known spa resort destination, frequented by the Finnish, Swedish and Latvians, whilst second larget Hiiumaa is a popular summer weekend get away for locals, who can take the ferry across from Rohuküla, or fly directly to Kardla airport. For travellers enjoying a short break to Tallinn however, a trip to either of these isles, on Estonia’s Western shores, is neither quick nor easy. Which is why Prangli Travel comes to exist in the first place. Established in 2011, they organise day trips four times week from Tallinn to the island, which lies just 25km off its coast.

Company founder and our guide for the day, Annika (whose surname co-incidentally is Prangli, although she claims no special affiliation with the isle other than her love of the place) started the project as she was keen to show travellers – who normally venture little further than the seductive pubs and clubs of the country’s capital- the untouched nature and ancient culture of Estonia. In this respect she really couldn’t have found a more perfect place to show visitors than Prangli: its 6.5 square kilometres is home to just slightly over 100 people, and boasts only one shop, one church and a single bar. But of course, this being E-stonia, you still have WiFi. “In fact if you search on your phone you should find three separate networks,” Annika assures me.

…its 6.5 square kilometres is home to just slightly over 100 people, and boasts only one shop, one church and a single bar. But of course, this being E-stonia, you still have WiFi.

As we clamber on the back of a clapped-out pick-up truck, our transport for the day, she starts to tell us some of the history of the isle; whilst I do my best to fend off the hordes of sparrow-sized mosquitos that are feasting on my hands and face. “In Soviet times, when the island was part of a fishing collective, three hundred people used to live here. In those times there was a watch tower in the port and, on one side (the northern coast), the island was fenced off with barbed wire, with smooth sand so that border guards could see any footprints. They often raked the beach. Members of the same family were not allowed to go in the same boat, in case they escaped, but in fact it was not necessary. People were happy in those times. Life was good, fishermen had good work with high pay. And the women worked in the Prangli fish smoking factory, so everyone had jobs.”

After a visit to the community house – a rather fetching wooden edifice with turquoise-tiled roof, where we see photos of the Estonian president’s visit, use the toilet and I apply all the insect repellant Annika has brought with her – we’re ferried along the isle’s dirt tracks to the next stop. The Prangli Museum . The museum building is a delightfully shabby shed with a pond outside and a classic orange lifesaver ring hanging on the outside. Venturing inside and we take a look at some of the everyday items of island life, such as sewing machines, musical instruments and of course plenty of fishing and hunting equipment. I’m amused to discover that many of the items on display bear a family mark denoting who it belongs to… the olden day equivalent, I suppose, of writing your name in Tippex on the office stationery . After a fun half an hour sifting through these rustic treasures, and admiring the black and white photos of villagers at everyday life, we emerge into the fresh air to discover the sun has come out from nowhere. The grey skies have magically broken up, leaving nothing but a scattering of white clouds and a big bright blue sky.

I’m amused to discover that many of the items on display bear a family mark denoting who it belongs to… the olden day equivalent, I suppose, of writing your name in Tippex on the office stationery.

Back on the truck and there’s plenty more to visit, such as the island’s only church. Built by a wealthy French merchant (who despite finding the cash to buy the entire island in the mid-19th century, funded the construction with a public whip around) this pretty little place of worship sadly attracts little in the way of a congregation (three old ladies are the only regulars, according to Annika), but there’s no time to dwell on God’s dwindling influence in Estonia as we climb the tower for views over the island. Here we can see the tops of the fir forests that characterise the isle, the roofs of a handful of rural cottages (some of which act as holiday homes for affluent mainlanders…), and the sunlight shimmering on the still Baltic Sea.

After climbing down we leave the pick-up van by the church and take a stroll out to the island’s shores. The deserted beaches are breathtakingly serene: narrow strips of rocky sand, backed with lush reeds and bright purple flowers and fronted by a mirror-smooth ocean. Here we also find a traditional Prangli-style boat, which has been dragged up the shore, under the shade of a tree.

“It’s a seal hunter’s boat. It doesn’t have a keel, it has a flat bottom with a kind of skis instead so that you can take it with you when you go on ice.”

“It’s actually one part of Estonian maritime history,” says Annika. “It’s a seal hunter’s boat. It doesn’t have a keel, it has a flat bottom with a kind of skis instead so that you can take it with you when you go on ice. Seals were hunted on ice, and they didn’t sail with it, but they dragged the boat with them, so that if the ice broke they could jump onto the boat. Also they used it for transport to drag the seal furs and fat, because sometimes those hunting trips lasted a week even, so they stayed on the ice during that time and slept under the boat. Nowadays seals are not hunted any more and they are used for fishing instead. Still every man on the island goes fishing nearly every day.”

After explaining to us that the daily catch is usually fresh plaice and cod, it definitely feels high time for Annika to treat her hungry tour group to lunch. We drive back towards the port, to a modern wooden bungalow, where a small team of Estonian matrons have prepared a delicious meal of the aforementioned grilled flatfish, along with Prangli-grown potatoes and veg, and a rather sweet homemade compot to wash it down with. Oh to have an Estonian grandma!

The rest of the day is given over to private exploration, and Prangli is small enough for me to trek all the way over the sandy dunes of the desolate Northern side of the island, where eagles fly overhead and I am able to contemplate a rare feeling of isolation. A lone sail boat gliding by at a distance is the only sign of human life. After a quick (and yes, I confess, naked) dip in the sea and a stretch on the sand, I idly check my phone for the time. Shit, only 25 minutes ’til the last ferry back to Tallinn . It’s time to lace my shoes up and test my dune-running skills. I like it here… but come on, there’s only one bar.

Other Estonian Islands

The largest of the Estonian islands, at 2673 square kilometres Saaremaa is comfortably bigger than Rhodes, Tenerife or Minorca and a giant in comparison to tiny little Prangli. Life on the isle dates right back to 5000 BC, whilst today nearly 40,000 dwell here, 15,000 in the capital of Kuresaare. Ever since the island’s first spa opened back in 1840, it has been a popular destination for tourists, and you’ll certainly find no shortage of wellness resorts and hotels. Bathing is far from the isle’s only pleasure though as Saaremaa is also popular with cyclists, nature lovers and bird watchers, whilst its characteristic windmills and Kuresaare castle provide attractions to admire. The island also plays host to a number of events such as Kuressaare Opera Days, Kuressaare Maritime Festival, Kuressaare Castle Days, Saaremaa Cycling Tour (June) and the Saaremaa Rally (October). Finally beer lovers will be delighted to know that the islanders are famed for producing home-brewed ales…. and, unlike Prangli, there’s more than one bar in which to sample them! www.saaremaa.ee

Forged from a meteor explosion around 455 million years ago, Hiiumaa is Estonia’s second biggest floating land mass, which like Saaremaa beneath it, is found on the West Coast of the mainland. With a population of just 9,000 friendly folk, and a less in the ways of tourist development, Hiiumaa is a great place for those looking for a quiet holiday in an idyllic natural environment. Apart from visiting the meteor crater, attractions include the isle’s famous lighthouses, the Hiiuma Military Museum and the Soera Farm Museum, whilst hiking and watersports (sea kayaking and sailing) are popular activities. And whilst both ferries and flights will get you there anytime of the year, Visit Estonia proposes a more interesting way of arriving during the colder months: “The most exotic and spine-tingling way to Hiiumaa is the winter ice road. Driving on the Hiiumaa ice road is a unique experience especially when the vehicle in the next lane is a boat!” Good luck! www.hiiumaa.ee

…And The Rest

Whilst the majority of Estonia’s isles are uninhabited bits of rock, there there are certainly plenty more worth visiting ( Muhu was a tip given to me by more than one local!). Many have completely different histories and cultures, depending on who spent the longest time living there (many were previously occupied by the Germans, Swedish, Finnish and Russians). The Visit Estonia website is definitely the best resource for researching your trip.

Duncan travelled as the guest of Prangli Travel, to whom he extends his thanks. You can check out their website Tallinn Day Trip , as well as their Tripadvisor reviews for even more details on the experience. He also stole several photos from their Facebook page (as his camera was sadly broken during this trip!).

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Current version updated on October 28th, 2015

First published on August 29th, 2013

Posted in Escape , Experience with destination tags Estonia , Prangli , Tallinn

2 thoughts on “ Escape to Prangli: A Rural Treasure Island ”

There’s one hidden treasure more: Naissaar. It’s a bit bigger than Prangli, but sine it has 100 years of military, theres almost zero inhabitation. And there’s much to see, old fortifications, military narrow gauge railway, etc.

Hey Vax, many thanks for the input. Just discovered your comment buried under 1000s of spam ones. Will have to return to the islands to check Naissaar, sounds intriguing!

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Prangli Travel

• See all photos

Day Trip to Prangli Island from Tallinn

Day Trip to Lahemaa National Park

Small-Group Half-Day Tour of Rummu and Coastal Cliffs

Tallinn Old Town Walking Tour

Jägala Waterfall and Picnic Tour

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

PRANGLI TRAVEL (Tallinn) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Prangli Travel

• See all photos

Day Trip to Prangli Island from Tallinn

Day Trip to Lahemaa National Park

Small-Group Half-Day Tour of Rummu and Coastal Cliffs

Tallinn Old Town Walking Tour

Jägala Waterfall and Picnic Tour

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Prangli Travel - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

Enjoy touring the Estonian islands and coastal areas

Day Trip to Lahemaa National Park

Prangli Island Day Trip

Rummu Submerged Quarry and Coastal Cliffs Day Tour

Tour reviews, day trip to lahemaa national park in estonia.

Day trip to Lahemaa National Park. It was a fantastic day! We were two retired couples (Canada and USA) with backgrounds in national park management. Our guide, Jorge, was excellent – great Estonian history and natural resources information. As well as a safe driver with a comfortable van. Jutith from USA, October 2023

Prangli Island Day Trip Tour in Estonia

This was one of the best tours. The island is just amazing and our guide Andreas was a true professional who kept us laughing and interested during all the day. Michael and Margo from USA, August 2022

It was a gorgeous Trip. Fantastisc landscape. Our guide Katrin was very friendly and knew a lot about Estonia and the region. One of the Highlights of my vacation! Donnie from USA, August 2023

Bog Shoe Hiking Tour in Estonia

Thank you for organizing a very interesting bog-shoe walk with Helen and her charming son, Orm. We really enjoyed all of it – including the bath in a bog pool and Helens tasty lunch snacks. Hanne, Erland and Sofie from Norway , July 2022

Fantastic day trip to get a feeling for the beautiful Estonian nature. Helena was a great guide, very knowledgeable and a good storyteller! Jelka from Germany, August 2023

Jorge made this experience INCREDIBLE! Best tour guide we’ve ever had. I LOVED the Rummu. I wish we could have stayed there longer but loved each part of the trip. It was awesome. James from USA, August 2023 

Tallinn Old Town Walking Tour

Jorge – A very educated guide who explains with elegance and naturalness the history and places of this city, making it more beautiful and welcoming. Guillermo from Spain, March 2024

We thoroughly enjoyed our day trip to Lahemaa National Park, which was greatly enhanced by our fantastic guide Christo. His knowledge, stories and sense of humour made the whole day so much fun. Being a local man who knew so much about the nature of the area and gave us fascinating facts everywhere we went was so interesting. The Jagala waterfalls were spectacular, part frozen and the Sagadi Manor House was fascinating, making me feel as if I was in War & Peace, and all just the right length of time at each stop. The Viru Bog walk was also great and we enjoyed seeing something a bit different. The beach at Altja was amazing, all covered in snow and we did enjoy seeing the coastal area. The lunch stop was also a highlight – delicious food and the hearty soups certainly warmed us up on a cold day. We felt very welcome in the local restaurant. All in all I would not only highly recommend this fabulous tour, a great day out and well worth the price, but if you have the opportunity you should ask for Christo as he just made it the perfect day for us. Thank you Christo – we so enjoyed your company. Travellers from Australia, February 2024

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