Day Trips to and From Kuusalu Parish

Kuusalu parish works well as a day out from Tallinn, and it also works as a base for short drives along the coast. Everything below is approximate road distance and drive time, so check your route on the day.

From Tallinn to Kuusalu parish

The parish sits on the Gulf of Finland, roughly 40 to 55 km east of Tallinn, depending on the stop. Expect a drive of about 45 to 60 minutes. The Viru bog car park is about 52 km from the capital on the E20, then a turn onto the Loksa tee road. Buses on the E20 stop at the Loksa tee exit, and from there it is about 1.3 km through forest to the trailhead. Plan the connection on peatus.ee , the official timetable planner. Kuusalu village, Viinistu, Hara and Kolga are much easier by car or on a tour.

A sample day by car

  1. Start at Viru bog. The boardwalk is free and the tower is about 1.3 km from the car park. The full loop is about 5.5 km, so allow a few hours with the tower.
  2. Drive on to Kolga Bay and the 0.5 km tree trail at Tsitre, with its beach and observation tower.
  3. Continue to Hara on the Juminda peninsula for the submarine base and the climbable Majakivi boulder.
  4. Finish at Viinistu, where the art museum and harbour make a good last stop.

That is a full day. Pick two or three stops rather than all four, particularly in the short days of late autumn and winter.

Opening times to check first

The Hara base opens on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 to 19:00 from June to September, and visits outside the season are by reservation. The Viinistu Art Museum lists Wednesday to Sunday, 11:00 to 18:00, and hours change with the season. Kolga manor and the Kiiu tower take visitors by advance booking only. Check each site before you drive out.

Jägala waterfall

Jägala waterfall is a separate stop at Jägala-Joa in Jõelähtme parish, about 25 km east of Tallinn and outside Lahemaa. It is roughly 8 m high and 50 m wide, and it is free to visit. It is a short stop on a drive east from Tallinn. Wikipedia has the basic figures.

Eastern Lahemaa

Käsmu, Palmse, Sagadi and Altja are in Vihula parish, in Lääne-Viru County, further east along the coast. They fit best as a second day or a longer extension. Palmse manor costs about EUR 5 and the Sagadi forest museum about EUR 3, so check current prices. The park itself has no entry fee. See the Lahemaa guide on Wikivoyage for an overview.

Tips

  • Carry water and snacks from Tallinn.
  • Wear waterproof boots for the bog.
  • Check for thunderstorms: the Viru tower is closed to climbing during them.
  • Day tours from Tallinn can be compared on Viator .

Read more: Multi-day trips around Kuusalu covers longer stays.