Late spring and summer are the best times to visit Estonia, when there’s usually enough fine weather to allow you to stroll around cities and make significant forays into the countryside. One the whole though, the only thing that’s predictable about the Estonian climate is the deep dark winters - in all other seasons the weather can be changeable in the extreme.

At least in Tallinn the city’s year-round cultural attractions and vibrant nightlife ensure that it’s a rewarding weekend destination whatever time of year you choose to visit.

Summer

Summers are relatively short (roughly mid-June to late August), and although you may well experience a string of hot, dry days, showers and chilly nights are equally likely. Remember to pack a waterproof jacket and warm sweater alongside your T-shirts.

Autumn

Temperatures cool rapidly from mid-September onwards, although autumn can be an extremely beautiful season, with the golden-brown hues of deciduous trees mingling with the dark green pines.

Winter

Winter can be a bracing but magical time to visit, with temperatures dropping below zero for long periods, cities attractively decked out in snow, and coastal waters under a layer of ice. Rural areas might be difficult to access without a 4WD vehicle, and you’ll need to be well-togged up to endure anything but the shortest of walks.

Spring

Even when the spring thaw sets in, the countryside can remain grey and barren until well into April (or even May in northern Estonia), when a sudden explosion of colour ransforms the landscape. The countryside takes on a verdant lushness, drawing cattle and horses out from their winter barns, while city-dwellers partake in a frenzied stampede for the pavement cafés.