Harju County is Estonia's most populous county, wrapped around the capital Tallinn on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland. Visitors find a UNESCO-listed medieval old town, Baroque Kadriorg, the flooded Rummu Quarry, Padise Abbey, Keila-Joa Waterfall, the Pakri peninsula and island day trips to Aegna and Prangli, all within about an hour of the capital.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Keila-Joa Waterfall and Schloss Fall Park
Highlights: Keila waterfall dropping over a limestone edge into a wooded gorge · Neo-Gothic Schloss Fall manor and its landscaped park · Free park access with riverside footpaths and viewing platforms · Lunch or coffee at the manor restaurant · Easy combination with Paldiski and Padise on the same day
Paldiski and the Pakri Peninsula Cliffs
Highlights: Former Soviet naval-base town with harbour and military architecture · Pakri lighthouse and the limestone North Cliff above the Baltic · Direct Elron train from Tallinn Balti jaam in about an hour · Coastal walking paths with wide sea views · Dramatic stormy scenery in the colder months
Rummu Quarry Lake (Vasalemma)
Highlights: Turquoise flooded limestone quarry in Murru near Vasalemma · Sunken Soviet prison buildings visible above and below water · Swimming, SUP and diving in summer · Photography from the quarry rim · About 45 minutes by car from Tallinn
Padise Abbey
Highlights: Medieval Cistercian abbey ruins with surviving walls and tower · Setting beside Padise Manor in the village centre · Information panels on the abbey's history · Low-cost or free visit depending on season · Easy pairing with Keila-Joa and Paldiski
Prangli Island
Highlights: Ferry crossing from Leppneeme to Kelnase harbour · Cycling or walking between fishing villages and beaches · Juniper heaths and low coastal landscape · Village cafe lunch and small farm shops · Quiet roads suited to unhurried exploring
Aegna Island
Highlights: Short boat ride across Tallinn Bay from Pirita · Coastal loop of about 5 km through pine forest · Ruins of old coastal-artillery positions · Stony beaches suited to swimming and picnics · Quiet car-free island close to the city
Naissaar Island
Highlights: Pine forests with Soviet-era mine depots and bunkers · Remains of the narrow-gauge railway · Long sandy beaches along the shore · Cycling on quiet forest roads · About an hour by sea from Tallinn
Jägala Waterfall
Highlights: Wide limestone waterfall on the Jägala River · Short path to the viewing area over the cliff · Free entry and free parking · Ice curtain effect in cold winters · Easy pairing with Lahemaa coast stops
Viinistu and the Lahemaa Coast (Harju County)
Highlights: Viinistu Art Museum in a former fish-processing building · Quiet harbour and boulder-strewn coastline · Western Harju section of Lahemaa National Park · Lunch by the harbour · Free access to Lahemaa coastal areas
Kõrvemaa and Aegviidu Nature Trails
Highlights: Marked RMK hiking trails through pine forest and bog · Direct Elron train from Tallinn to Aegviidu station · Free trails with routes of different lengths · Cross-country skiing in winter when snow lies · Boardwalks, lakes and esker ridges
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organised Harju coast and Lahemaa tours from Tallinn start around EUR 50-80 (approx USD 54-86) per person for a half or full day; book through visittallinn.ee or GetYourGuide
- Private
- Private driver for a half-day around EUR 90-150 (approx USD 97-162); agree a fixed price in advance
- Public
- Elron trains (elron.ee) serve Paldiski, Keila and Aegviidu; regional buses leave from Tallinn Bus Station (Lastekodu 46); plan on peatus.ee
- Rental
- Car rental in Tallinn from EUR 30-60 (approx USD 32-65) a day through Hertz, Sixt, Avis or local firms; a car is the easiest option for Keila-Joa, Rummu and Padise
Multi-day tours from Harju County
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from Harju CountyWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Peatus.ee is Estonia's national journey planner for buses and trains; enter Tallinn Bus Station (Tallinna bussijaam, Lastekodu 46) or Balti jaam and the destination village to see every current option.
Elron (elron.ee) trains depart from Balti jaam (Toompuiestee 37) for Paldiski, Keila and Aegviidu; the Elron app and the Ühiskaart both work for ticketing.
For island day trips (Prangli, Aegna, Naissaar) book ferry tickets early for July and August, and check the last return sailing before leaving the harbour.
Many Harju County villages have no restaurants or shops after about 18:00; carry water, snacks, a charged phone and a saved offline map.
Check for ticks after woodland and bog walks; tick-borne encephalitis vaccination is recommended for frequent forest hikers.
Most Lahemaa headline sights (Palmse, Sagadi, Altja, Käsmu, Võsu) lie in Lääne-Viru County, not Harju; day trips in this guide cover the Harju (Kuusalu) side of Lahemaa.