If you want to capture something cool with a drone this summer, you can get it right here in Estonia. You don’t need to travel far – we’ve got swamps, coastlines, historic towns and wild places that look very different from above than they do on the ground. Here are ten places that offer a real summer drone experience. Each place is also marked to see if you can just fly there ✅ or if you should check ⚠️ for restrictions.
1. ✅ Lahemaa National Park and the coastline
Lahemaa is an Estonian nature classic, but from a drone you can see just how varied it all is. Peninsulas, bays, forests and small harbour villages form a pattern above that looks like a green jigsaw puzzle. You can fly drones freely on the edges and on the beach in the summer, but it’s only in the central part of the national park that you need to check the rules and maps.
2. ✅ Viru marsh boardwalk and small lakes
The Viru marsh is the real superstar of Estonian drone photography. In summer, the colours are bright: dark water, bright green moss and a winding boardwalk that cuts a trajectory across the landscape like a ruler. Fly a drone, catch reflections and let the boardwalk draw its own pattern for you.
3. ✅ Kõpu lighthouse and beaches in Hiiumaa
In Hiiumaa, time moves slowly. Kõpu lighthouse is a legend, one of the oldest working lighthouses in Europe, surrounded by forests and beaches. From the drone, you can get shots here that look like something out of a distant Scandinavian calendar – yet you’re just an hour’s ferry ride from the mainland.
4. ✅ Kuressaare castle and town
Kuressaare is a mix of history and summer urban fun. A medieval fortress, green ramparts and a seaside backdrop create a drone shot where stone walls meet living streets. In the summer, people move around the castle, boats sail in the harbour – bringing life to the image.
5. ✅ Lake Peipsi and Kallaste Red Bank
If you’re looking for a quieter drone spot, go to the shores of Lake Peipsi. The sandstone bank of the shores is unique in Estonia, and especially enjoyable in the evening light when the shores turn red. Fishing villages and the quiet surface of the lake create a summer idyll, perfectly shown from above by drone.
6. ✅ Lake Viljandi and suspension bridge
In Viljandi, the suspension bridge, the castle hill and the lake combine to create a picture of a classic Estonian small town, but even more exciting from above. In summer, when the parks are full of greenery and boats are paddling on the lake, you can use a drone to capture the moving patterns and colours that bring a video or photo to life.
7. ✅ Pärnu beach and city view
Pärnu is the summer capital of Estonia. The wide sandy beach, shallow sea and piers form a visual landscape that can be seen from a drone in both breadth and detail. Morning flights are quieter, but if you want a buzz go for the evening – the promenade and beach are bustling with people, giving the video movement.
8. ✅ Haapsalu promenade and castle walls
Haapsalu is a little nostalgic, but that’s its charm. The long promenades by the sea, the ruins of the bishop’s castle and the small boats plying the bay create a tranquil but enchanting drone scene.
9. ✅ Hiking trails and forests of Kõrvemaa
Kõrvemaa is more of a hidden gem – not as populated as Lahemaa, but with large forests, small lakes and wide expanses of moorland. In summer, it’s a maze of green where you can fly freely with a drone and search for new patterns.
10. ⚠️ Tallinn Old Town
Tallinn’s red rooftops, church spires and harbour are a sight even those who have never been to Estonia will recognise. But as this is a restricted area, you’ll need to apply for official permission. If you get it, you’ll get shots that are well worth the effort.
Rules and guidelines (Transport Agency):
👉 https://www.transpordiamet.ee/droonid
It tells you what the general requirements are, height limits, categories and also the contact details if you want a special permit.
Map of no-fly zones and restrictions (Dronechart.ee):
👉 https://app.dronechart.ee
Here you can interactively see where there are no-fly zones, temporary restrictions or, for example, around airports in Estonia.
Look also at your neighbours
If you want to go further afield, take a drone and head to Turaida Castle in Latvia’s Gauja National Park – where the river winds through a green valley just like in the film. Or travel to Kuršių Nerija in Lithuania, where sand dunes and forests form a pattern you won’t find anywhere else.
Share your drone photos or videos
If you’ve already flown to any of these places, post your picture or video on Instagram or Facebook and tag us @droon.ee. That way we can share your flight experience with others.
Picture: Madis Reimund