Estonia country profile
Capital City: Tallinn
Area: 45,227 sq km or 17,413 sq miles
Population: 1,340,602
Time Zone: EET
Country dialling code: 372
Currency: Estonian Kroon

Estonia's climate
Despite its northern latitude, Estonia enjoys a fairly mild, if cool climate. Annual rainfall is fairly high, although mostly in the western regions and uplands. Being on the Baltic Sea the country is subjected to sea breezes and humidity, and its northern latitude means long summer daylight hours (the longest summer day stretches to 19 hours), and dark winters when daylight lasts sometimes only six hours.

The south is the coldest area of the country, with snow cover often lasting from December to Mac

Country highlights of Estonia
Tallinn is the likely point of arrival for most tourists - the capital of Estonia, a medieval town still retaining much of its ancient architecture, but at the same time a town deemed to be extremely modern!

The beaches of Parnu are another haven for tourists, particular for those looking for rest and relaxation in the many local health spas. To the north you will find many quiet villages hidden among the bogs and forests, and to the west vast open landscapes and fresh sea air.

Accessibility
Tallinn's busy international airport is within easy reach of most European destinations, and flights are easily available from the UK. From London flights are only a little under 3 hours.

Buying property in Estonia
Partially thanks to its recent EU membership, the Estonian economy is in very good shape, with a lot of overseas investment, and steadily rising property prices. The government has put a great deal of work into improving the buying process, and there are currently no restrictions on buying property.

During 2005 and 2006, Estonian property prices rose faster than in almost any other European country. In the run-up to joining the EU, the country enjoyed rapid economic development, unemployment fell dramatically and GDP increased impressively. However, some experts think that this boom is too rapid to last.

Destination Hot Spots

Tallinn
Recently voted as one of the top cities in Europe for investment, Tallinn can offer excellent returns due to Estonia's strong economic climate, and the very limited amount of new development within the city itself. Demand for property is likely to stay high. Property prices in Estonia overall have been falling in recent months, but the capital, Tallinn, is still seeing moderate price rises. Rents have begun to rise in the past two years, after remaining relatively stable for several years. Average rents for a furnished apartment in Tallinn are now around 9–13 euros per square metre per month. National rentals statistics also suggest that rents on the smallest Tallinn apartments have risen around 20 per cent in the past two years.

Parnu
With demand for property straining supply in Tallinn, the emerging market spotlight is beginning to inch towards Parnu, Estonia's prime beach resort. Already popular with holiday-makers, many agents are now looking at the region.

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