Celebrate springtime in Estonia

The world turns from white to green. Foraging, birdwatching, and canoeing through flooded forests are just a few ways to enjoy the season.

Spring in Estonia is a time of renewal with brighter evenings and fabulous sunsets.

Admire the spring flowers, or visit a local garden fair. Replenish your vitamin reserves with refreshing birch sap. Go birdwatching during the annual spring migration, and don't forget about Estonia's extra season — the fifth season in Soomaa National Park.

Fast facts

Average dates:

March to May

Average temperature:

2 °C to 11 °C

Estonia's top springtime city:

Turi

One of the best birding destinations in Europe

Estonia's rugged coastline, numerous islands, forests, swamps and other diverse cultural landscapes are all good places for birdwatching. The birdwatching season begins as early as March. Spring migration ends in mid-May, and the prime bird observation season winds down by mid-June. Professional guides can also help you spot hard-to-find species.

Swan takes off from the water near Saaremaa, Estonia

Source: Kristina Mägi

Climb these birdwatching towers for a better view.

Source: Visit Estonia

When the forests of Soomaa National Park flood, the fifth season begins.

During the fifth season, you rent a canoe in Soomaa National Park when the river Halliste overflows its banks and floods nearby meadows and forests.

Learn more about Estonia's extra season

It's the only time of year you can canoe through the forest.

Plants come alive in spring.

Sap flows from the roots into the tree branches, buds burst open, and leaves unfurl. Nature is a veritable pantry for those who know what to look for.

Nettles are one of the first herbs to sprout in the spring. Nettle contains calcium, potassium, iron, and vitamin C and has been shown to soothe inflammation, strengthen the blood, and relieve fatigue. Besides physical properties, nettle was believed by ancient Estonians to protect spiritually. It was thrown into the fire to shield a house from lightning and added to bath water to break spells cast on the bather.

Wild garlic can be found already at the end of April. Thanks to its intense flavor, wild garlic banishes harmful microbes from the body and aids digestion. Did you know that springtime wild garlic contains 15–20 times more vitamin C than lemons? Wild garlic is great in salads, soups, herbal butter, and pesto. However, keep in mind that wild garlic is under protection and should, therefore, be foraged for personal use only or bought from the market or from friends who grow it in their gardens.

Rhubarb contains vitamin K, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, B vitamins, vitamin C and carotene, organic acids malic, citric, and oxalic acid, flavonoid compounds, and others in moderation. Despite its strong taste, rhubarb contains up to 93% water and is also high in fiber. Young shoots taste the best, and rhubarb is most commonly used in cakes, jams, and juice. Strawberry-rhubarb sparkling wine and several other dry rhubarb wines have become popular in Estonia.