Saaremaa in Estonia – what to see and do in beautiful Saaremaa

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | Saaremaa, or Saaremaa, is Estonia's largest island and an exciting destination for those who enjoy nature, history and unusual sights. Here you will find windmills, dramatic limestone cliffs, a well-preserved medieval castle and even a meteorite crater. We took our camper van over to the island and set out to discover some of Saaremaa's main attractions.

Saaremaa – Estonia's largest island

Saaremaa is called Saaremaa in Estonian and is Estonia's largest island. It is located in the Baltic Sea, west of the Estonian mainland, and offers a landscape with forests, coast, small villages and plenty of traces of a long and varied history.

We didn't have unlimited time on the island, so we focused on some of the most famous sights. It included everything from windmills and a meteorite crater to the impressive Kuressaare Castle.

By ferry to Saaremaa

To get to Saaremaa we took the ferry from Virtsu on the Estonian mainland to Kuivastu on the island. Moon, or Muhu. From there the road continues over Muhu and further over a road embankment to Saaremaa itself. The ferry crossing is short and smooth and it is fine to take a car or camper.

Oldest manor house on Muhu

Before continuing to Saaremaa, we stopped at Pädaste Manor on Muhu. The historic manor has been transformed into an exclusive hotel and is beautifully situated near the sea. We arrived outside opening hours and therefore had to make do with seeing the manor from the outside. But the setting alone made the stop worth the detour.

Kuressaare Castle

The mighty building is surrounded by bastions and a water-filled moat and is impressive even from the outside.

When we got here, Peter also took the opportunity to try archery outside the castle. I (Helena) was convinced that I would be the worst and therefore took on the important task of taking photographs instead...

Museum in Kuressaare Bishop's Castle

Inside the castle is the Saaremaa Museum, with exhibitions about the island's nature and history. The building itself is just as exciting to explore, with old halls, staircases and viewpoints.

As usual, I stayed at a safe distance from the worst heights while Peter was responsible for photographing where it got too airy.

The legend of the walled knight

The castle also has a much darker history. According to an old legend, a hidden room with a human skeleton was discovered in the 18th century. The skeleton came to be associated with the story of a knight who allegedly broke his vow of celibacy by falling in love with a young woman – and was bricked up alive as punishment.

Kaali meteorite crater

One of Saaremaa's most unusual attractions is Kaali meteorite crater. A meteorite struck here several thousand years ago and created a number of craters, the largest of which today is an almost circular depression with a small lake in the middle.

Angla windmill hill

Windmills are among the classic images of Saaremaa, and one of the best places to see them is Angla windmill hill.

Here are five windmills together. Four are traditional Estonian stump mills, while the fifth is a larger Dutch-style cap mill. There used to be significantly more windmills on Saaremaa than there are today, and Angla provides a fine example of the old mill tradition.

Panga Pank – Saaremaa's highest coastal cliff

On the northern coast of Saaremaa lies Panga Pank, a mighty limestone cliff that stretches along the sea. The highest part reaches just over 20 meters above the water and the view of the Baltic Sea is fantastic.

Unless you're afraid of heights, that is. I am, and I can't say I love the combination of steep cliffs and warning signs. Despite that, I managed to pose for a selfie with something that at least almost resembles a smile.

Saaremaa with a campervan

Saaremaa is very well suited to exploring by car or camper. The distances are relatively short and the sights are spread out across the island, so it is easy to combine Kuressaare, Kaali, Angla and Panga during the same trip.

We stayed one night at a campsite by Lõunaranna harbour on Muhu. After a lot of free camping on our trip through Estonia, it was nice to be able to fill and empty our tanks and, above all, have a proper shower.

Our favorites on Saaremaa

If we had to choose just a few highlights from our trip to Saaremaa, it would be Kuressaare Bishop's Castle, Angla Windmills and Panga Pank. Together they show quite well how varied the island is – history, culture, nature and some really unusual sights in a relatively small area. We would have liked to have had more time, because there is of course even more to discover.

More to see in the neighbourhood

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

• Pärnu
• Haapsalu
• Dagö
• Kynö

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