Fresh Off the Press: GO Hiiumaa 2025 Magazine is Here!
The beloved travel magazine GO Hiiumaa is back with its brand new 2025 edition—packed with inspiration, local stories, and insider tips for anyone planning a trip to Estonia’s charming island of Hiiumaa.
Described by its creators as “it works as a tourism catalog, but not only that – it also offers plenty of warm, engaging reading and eye-opening information,” the magazine is much more than just a destination guide.
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a long-time fan of Hiiumaa, this issue delivers a refreshing mix of practical travel info, hidden gems, and local voices.
From slow travel ideas to off-the-beaten-path experiences, it’s your perfect companion for discovering the island at your own pace.
Our incoming project Managers Merylin and Hele have just returned from a refreshing spring FAM trip to Latvia, and I’m full of new ideas and inspiration! Even though Latvia is a familiar destination for many, it still manages to surprise – with new places to visit, creative experiences, and warm hospitality.
Discovering Limbazi – A Lovely New Stop
One place that truly caught my attention was Limbazi – a town I had never been to before. It’s peaceful, friendly, and full of small-town charm. There, we visited the Limbazi Silver Museum, where local silversmiths create beautiful, handmade pieces.
Just nearby is the Limbazi Bread Factory, which is a real treat. You can smell the fresh rye bread as soon as you walk in, and the tour gives a lovely insight into Latvia’s baking traditions. Of course, we tasted some too – and it was as good as it smelled!
Seaside Stories in Jurmala
In Jurmala, we enjoyed a walk through the Open-Air Museum, where you can step into the life of old fishing villages by the sea. The wooden buildings, pine forest setting, and sea breeze made it a perfect stop.
Right around the corner is the Dzintari Concert Hall – a wonderful place for live music, with both indoor and open-air stages. It’s a unique venue where culture meets nature.
A New Song Festival Near Riga
One of the most special moments of the trip was a visit to a new Song Festival near Riga. The energy was incredible – hundreds of voices singing together in a stunning outdoor setting. It was powerful, emotional, and something I won’t forget. Latvia’s song tradition is truly alive and well.
Ready to Explore the New Latvia?
If you’re planning something fresh for your clients, Latvia is full of surprises – from charming towns like Limbazi to unforgettable musical events. I’d be happy to help create a program that brings out the best of this beautiful country.
Until next time,
Your Go Travel
The biggest annual events in Estonia
These major events draw visitors from all over Estonia and abroad. If you plan to travel to Estonia to attend one of these events, then plan ahead!
There is always something going on in Estonia.
Tallinn and Tartu offer a wide variety of events throughout the year — from culture to sport, indoors and outdoors. But there is no shortage of events in other parts of the country either. Some festivals and competitions take place annually and have become established as exciting traditions. We have compiled the larger ones here in the order they occur throughout the year.
Plan a visit to see one of these spectacles for yourself!
Tallinn’s historic medieval taverns, elegant cafés, and retro restaurants offer diners a chance to step back in time while enjoying a delicious meal.
A trip to Tallinn is the closest you may ever come to time travel.
Thanks to the cobblestone streets and red-topped roofs, the medieval vibe is a given, but your time travel experience doesn’t have to stop in the Middle Ages. These historic Tallinn eateries can transport you back to any point in the last two hundred years.
Local Cuisine You Must Try While Visiting Estonia:
Eesti Kartulisalat (Estonian Potato Salad) – A well-loved dish featuring potatoes, peas, carrots, cucumbers, sausage, and hard-boiled eggs. A staple at gatherings and celebrations.
Mulgikapsad (Sour Cabbage and Barley) – A slow-cooked dish combining tangy cabbage, barley, and pork. Though time-consuming to prepare, it remains a classic in Estonian cuisine.
Mulgipuder (Barley and Potato Porridge) – A creamy and filling mix of barley, potatoes, and often bacon. Best enjoyed with rye bread and sour cream.
Verivorst (Blood Sausage) – A must-have during the Christmas season, made from pig’s blood, barley, and pork, typically served with cranberry jam, marinated pumpkin, and sour cabbage.
Wild Boar – A prized game meat known for its rich and bold flavor, featured in various Estonian dishes.
Kiluvõileib (Sprat Sandwich) – A simple yet flavorful rye bread snack topped with egg butter, hard-boiled egg, and sprat fillets. A classic part of Estonian food culture.
Pirukas – A savory or sweet pastry filled with ingredients like ham, cheese, cabbage, or apples, perfect as a quick bite or party snack.
Kringel – A beautifully braided bread often served at festive occasions. Sweet versions contain raisins or chocolate, while savory ones are filled with ham and cheese.
Kirju Koer (Spotted Dog) – A no-bake dessert made from biscuits, marmalade, cocoa, and condensed milk, enjoyed for its rich and chewy texture.
Kohuke – A small curd snack coated in chocolate, available in various flavors like vanilla and blueberry. Easily found in grocery stores and widely loved across Estonia.
The XXVIII Song and XXI Dance Celebration “Iseoma”
The XXVIII Song and XXI Dance Celebration “Iseoma” (“Kinship”) will take place from July 3rd to 6th, 2025. It is a traditional national event that covers the whole of Estonia, featuring over 40,000 choir singers, orchestral musicians, folk dancers, and folk musicians. More than 100,000 spectators gather to witness three dance performances, one folk music concert, and two concerts of the song festival. The procession of the song festival, which takes place on July 5th before the opening concert, is also very popular. The procession follows a 5-kilometer route from the center of Tallinn to the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds.
Take a look at the biggest annual events in Estonia!
Visitestonia.com has put tohether a list ofthe most important events in Estonia. Plan a visit to see one of these spectacles for yourself!
The list includes different music festivals, major sport events, song- and dance festival, film festival – something for every taste. Take a look at the list here, invite your friends and family and see you in Estonia!
Tallinn Airport named best airport in Europe
Yesterday, 6 March, Airports Council International (ACI) World and the travel technology company Amadeus announced the winners of the 2022 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) awards, which recognise airports around the world offering an outstanding customer experience. One of the winners was Tallinn Airport, which earned the prestigious title of Best Airport among those serving 2-5 million passengers per year. It was also one of just five airports around the globe to be inducted into ACI World’s Roll of Excellence for having won multiple awards as part of the ASQ programme.
Riivo Tuvike, Chairman of the Management Board of Tallinn Airport, says everyone at the airport is delighted with the award. “As recognition goes, this is big!” he smiled. “It’s the result of years of dedicated work. The award belongs to everybody who works at Tallinn Airport, because the passengers we survey give us feedback on more than 30 aspects of the airport experience – from arriving and checking in to passing through security, and from the cleanliness of the place and the food on offer to getting out of the airport. Receiving an award like this isn’t something you can attribute to one person in particular: it means that every link in our chain has to be as strong as all the others.”
Passengers are at the heart of everything, and Tallinn Airport constantly seeks ways to make the customer experience even more convenient and efficient. “In June we opened a self-service bag drop for airBaltic and SAS passengers, and in September a new gate area with a self-service shop,” Tuvike explained. “And out of sight of passengers there’s a new fully automated baggage sorting system that’s transforming us into a modern, contemporary airport. To ensure that we remain competitive and to enhance services for our passengers we’re planning to invest in the expansion of the terminal, the development of our staff and new technology that will further boost the quality of our service. They’ll include cutting-edge equipment for scanning hand luggage and automatic boarding gates.”
ACI World issues the ASQ Awards in recognition of the world’s best airports for customer experience, based on survey information gathered direct from incoming and outgoing travellers. Launched in 2006, the awards constitute the world’s leading airport passenger satisfaction programme, involving almost 400 airports in 95 countries. The ACI surveys cover more than 30 performance indicators across key elements of the passenger’s airport experience, such as ease of finding your way around, check-in and shopping and dining offerings. This provides the most detailed overview of the passenger journey in every airport and a basis for global comparison in the aviation industry. More than half of the world’s travellers passed through an ASQ airport in 2022.
Amazing 10 cafes in Tallinn that should be on your radar. Some iconic places that have been in business for over 70 years, independent bakeries, gorgeous cafes to bring your dates to and sample some healthy yet delicious vegan goods.
Tallinn has been awarded first place among L-category meetings destinations at the MTLG Awards 2022. Since 2010, Kongres Magazine has been presenting the most interesting meeting destinations to international meeting planners. The 2022 L-destinations are cities that can host up to 2000 conference attendees, and Tallinn was the best meeting destination in 2022, for the second consecutive year. You can learn more about what makes Tallinn special and on what basis Tallinn was awarded points in Kongres Magazine.
Riga, the capital of Latvia, is a modern metropolis that is a fascinating combination of old and new. The city has managed to preserve much of its varied history and architecture. Riga has a diverse offering of culture, history, architecture and restaurants. In addition, there are good entertainment and shopping opportunities here. And last but not least – the price level in Riga is really reasonable.
More information about the destination
Riga has grown in popularity in recent years, and is today one of the trendiest urban destinations in the Baltics. In the city, you can come across the opening of new art exhibitions every day, experience new taste experiences in many restaurants or enjoy live music at concerts – the perfect destination for a weekend vacation!
Relax at the spa. If you want to include a relaxing spa moment in your vacation, you’ve come to the right place. Riga’s spa culture dates back to the 16th century, and the price level is significantly more affordable than in Finland. A little outside the city is the Jurmala area, which has several nursing homes and also a white-sand beach.
Food and drink. In Riga, you should especially enjoy the country’s famous food culture, which has been influenced by both Germany and Russia. The country also has a strong beer tradition, and almost every city has its own brewery. You can find your favorite just by tasting. The price level in the city is quite affordable.
Sights in Riga. Riga is full of historical sights, and the Old Town alone is an attraction in itself. Old churches and cathedrals and Riga Castle create the setting for a memorable city holiday. The city’s shopping opportunities are good thanks to many shopping centers. If you’re in the mood for a beach vacation, you should head out to the beach resort of Jurmala, where you can spend your beach vacation on a long, fine sandy beach.
There are good shopping opportunities in the city. Near the main train station is the central market, which has Europe’s largest market. Here you can find everything from a large fish department to fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as clothes to shoes and electronics. If you travel to Riga at Christmas time, you will probably also come across the city’s Christmas markets, of which there are several in the city.
Mežaparks is a green garden area in Riga, where you can sit down with a cup of coffee or take a walk in the green surroundings.
Ask for unique insights, insider tips and hints for off-the-beaten gems here.
