Dagö in Estonia - among lighthouses and Swedish history

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | Dagö in Estonia is a green and peaceful island with lighthouses, beaches, small harbors and plenty of space. For us Swedes, there is also a very special reason to come here: the long history of the Estonian Swedes, who lived on the island for several hundred years. We traveled around Dagö in a camper van and found both exciting history, strange sights and some fantastic places by the sea.

Dagö – Hiiumaa in Estonian

Dago, or Hiiumaa in Estonian, is located off the western coast of Estonia and is the country's second largest island. The main town is called Kärrdal, or Kärdla in Estonian.

This is primarily an island for those who like nature, peace and small-scale living. There are forests, beaches, hiking trails, small villages and several historic lighthouses. Hiiumaa is also part of the UNESCO-listed West Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve.

We quickly fell in love with the island. Not because there are tons of big sights to check out, but rather because of the feeling of being able to take it easy and discover things along the way.

To Dagö by ferry

Dagö is accessible by ferry both from the Estonian mainland and from Ösel, Saaremaa. From the mainland, the ferry runs between Rohuküla and Heltermaa, while from Ösel the connection runs between Triigi and Sõru. We came from Saaremaa and thus chose the latter path.

And here we learned something: it might be wise to book in advance or at least be there well in advance. We arrived just over an hour before departure – and still couldn’t get a seat. We just had to wait three hours for the next ferry. In the end, both we and the camper van made it over to Dagö.

Swedish history lives on at Dagö

For Swedish visitors, Dagö has another dimension. Swedish-speaking people lived on the island for several hundred years and even today there are clear traces of the Estonian Swedes.

Even the place names bear witness to the history. One village is called Sweden, which simply means Sweden or Swedish in Estonian. But the Estonian-Swedish history on Dagö came to a dramatic end in the 18th century.

Röicks was the center for the Swedes on Dagö

The village Röick's, Reigi in Estonian, was an important center for the Swedish-speaking population. Here there were Swedish farms and a church where Swedish was spoken long after the large group of Estonian Swedes had left the island.

The Estonian Swedes had had special rights since the Middle Ages, but over time conflicts arose over, among other things, the position of the peasants and their obligations towards the landlords. Ultimately, the conflicts led to a dramatic event that still characterizes the story of the Swedes of Dagö.

Around a thousand Swedes were forced to leave Dagö in 1781

In 1781, a large part of Dagö's Swedish-speaking population was forced to leave their homes by decision of the Russian Empress Catherine II.

About a thousand people set out on the long journey south through the Russian Empire. The destination was in present-day Ukraine, where they eventually founded Gammalsvenskby. The journey was extremely difficult and many died along the way or in the first few days after arrival.

Korsberget is reminiscent of the Estonian Swedes

One of the most special places on Dagö is Cross Mountain, Ristimägi. The place is associated with the Reigi Swedes who were forced to leave the island in August 1781. Today, there are many small crosses here, made of branches, sticks and other natural materials. Visitors have continued the tradition by making crosses themselves at the site. It is a peaceful place, but when you know the history, the visit becomes all the more powerful.

Kärrdal (Kärdla)

Kärrdal, Kärdla in Estonian, is Dagö's administrative center and largest town. Here too, there are connections to the island's Swedish history – the place is mentioned as a Swedish settlement as early as the 16th century.

Kärdla is not a big city, but rather a quiet small town with wooden houses, greenery and proximity to the sea. When we were here, the tourist information was conveniently located in an old fire station.

Hiiumaa Museum tells the story of life on the island

Anyone who wants to learn more about Dagö's history can visit Hiiumaa Museum, whose main building, the Long House, is located in Kärdla. An important part of the town's history is the large clothing factory that was established here in the 19th century. The factory changed Kärdla and created both jobs and a community around the industry.

Café in Kärdla

Next to the museum is a cosy little summer café, where we stopped by for a refreshing lingonberry or rhubarb soda.

Three lighthouses on Dagö in Estonia

One of the things that Dagö is really famous for is its historic lighthouses. The three most famous are Kõpu, Ristna and Tahkuna, and since they have completely different characters, it's actually fun to see all three. And yes – of course we did just that.

Kõpu Lighthouse is one of the world's oldest still active lighthouses

The most famous lighthouse on Dagö is Kõpu Lighthouse, which began construction in the 16th century to help sailors navigate the dangerous waters around the island. The lighthouse has been in operation for around 500 years and is considered one of the world's oldest still active lighthouses. It also stands on one of the highest points on Dagö, rising above the forest on

Ristna lighthouse was built in the 19th century.

At the far end of the Kõpu peninsula stands Carved lighthouse, a much younger construction. The lighthouse was built in the 19th century and, like Tahkuna, is an iron structure. Out here by the sea, the landscape is open and exposed to the weather – a completely different environment than around Kõpu.

Tahkuna Lighthouse stands in the far north

The third classic lighthouse, Tahkuna, is located at the top of the northern tip of Dagö. It was built in the second half of the 19th century from parts manufactured in France and is today the tallest cast iron lighthouse on the Estonian coast. We sent the drone up to take a closer look at the structure – while we ourselves could stay safely on the ground.

A memorial at Tahkuna honors the victims of Estonia

Near Tahkuna Lighthouse there is a memorial to the children who died when the passenger ship Estonia sunk in the Baltic Sea in 1994. The monument consists of a clock and is located beautifully but sadly by the sea.

More attractions on Dagö

After our experiences among Swedish history and lighthouses, we had time to see a few more smaller attractions on the island.

Carved sculptures attract surfers

Near the Ristna lighthouse we found a spot that we immediately fell in love with. Out here, the open sea meets the island and the conditions can be good for surfing – Ristna is actually often described as one of Estonia's top surfing areas.

When we were here, there was a lovely holiday atmosphere with a beach, a relaxed beach bar and music. We both felt the same thing: We could have stayed here for a week. But as usual, we had way too much else we wanted to see…

The Eiffel Tower on Dagö in Estonia

Not too far from Tahkuna Lighthouse is another tall and very special attraction, namely Dagö's "Eiffel Tower", Hiiumaa Eiffel Tower. Jaan Alliksoo is known on the island for building tall wooden towers, but also for creating other fascinating buildings and furniture.

While we were here, we visited his large garden, which can be described as a home-made, imaginative and crazy theme park. As soon as we arrived at the parking lot and saw the toilet, we knew that this was a special place.

We paid the entrance fee, and then went into the garden which is filled with castles and fortresses, lighthouses, pirate ships, spaceships and labyrinths. One house is more imaginative and crazy than the other, but of course nothing beats ”Dagö’s Eiffel Tower”. The 31-meter high tower is a copy of the real model in Paris and is built entirely of wood.

One thing has happened since our visit. Jaan Alliksoo passed away in September 2025. His wooden Eiffel Tower had become one of Dagö's most unique and well-known attractions. After his death, his sister Aet Alliksoo said that the family park and her brother's life's work will continue.

Suuremõisa mansion

Suuremõisa Manor, located on the eastern part of the island, was built in 1755-1760 by Countess Ebba-Margaretha von Stenbock (née De la Gardie). There is a small museum room, but we arrived when it was closed, so we could only see the mansion from the outside.

Kassari and Orjaku

In the far southeast of Dagö in Estonia, there is a small green part of the island that almost stands out as its own little island. This is where the villages of Kassari and Orjaku are located, and where you can enjoy beautiful scenery.

Käina and Vaemla

There are also more places to discover nearby. In Kaina you can see the ruins of the old church, which was destroyed during World War II. It's precisely these small stops that are so well suited to Dagö. You don't have to chase after big sights – there's always something to discover along the way.

I Vaemla There is an old wool factory where you can see traditional crafts and buy wool products.

By motorhome on Dagö

We traveled around Dagö in a camper van and found several wonderful places close to nature. We were most delighted with the area around Kassari and the road towards Sääretirp. Here we found small places between the bushes with the sea right next to it – exactly the kind of environment we love when traveling in a camper van.

We fell in love with Dagö and wished we had time to stay here longer. This is a green and beautiful island, and it's easy to feel the calm when you arrive here. In addition, it is very easy and pleasant to travel with a motorhome here.

Video from Dagö

Here you can also see a film from Dagö that Peter edited together.

More to see in the neighbourhood

Want to continue your trip around Estonia? Here you will find more tips and reports:

• Saaremaa
• Pärnu
• Haapsalu
• Kynö

Programme "Promoting Estonia as a Tourism Destination" is supported by European Union Regional Development Fund.