Introduction
Hiiu County is Hiiumaa, Estonia's second-largest island — quieter and less visited than neighbouring Saaremaa, known for dense juniper-and-pine forests and some of the Baltic's most historic lighthouses.
Overview
Hiiumaa is often described, even by Estonians, as the quiet island — smaller in population than Saaremaa, with a landscape of dense forest and juniper heathland rather than open farmland, and a pace of life that visitors specifically travelling from Saaremaa often notice as an additional step down. The island's defining landmarks are its lighthouses: Kõpu Lighthouse, at the island's western tip, is one of the oldest continuously operating lighthouses in the world, dating to the early 16th century, and its unusual pyramid-like stone tower makes it as much an architectural landmark as a functioning aid to navigation. The island's forests, largely undeveloped, support a genuinely different ecosystem from Saaremaa's more open countryside, and Hiiumaa's beaches and coastline, less commercially developed than the mainland's resort towns, draw visitors specifically seeking that undeveloped quality.
Discover Hiiu
Kõpu Lighthouse, construction of which began in 1500 and completed in 1531, is among the oldest continuously operating lighthouses anywhere in the world — its squat, tapering stone pyramid shape, unusual for a lighthouse, reflects both its age (predating the tall, slender cast-iron towers that became standard later) and the practical need to build something sturdy enough to survive five centuries of Baltic storms on an exposed headland. The tower's elevated position on Hiiumaa's highest natural ground meant its light was historically visible for a genuinely long distance out to sea, making it strategically vital for shipping navigating the entrance to the Gulf of Finland long before modern navigation technology existed.
Ways to Experience This Destination
One of the oldest continuously operating lighthouses in the world, its unusual pyramid shape dating to the early 16th century.
Dense juniper-and-pine forest and undeveloped beaches — Hiiumaa's genuinely quieter, wilder character relative to Saaremaa.
Hiiu County Travel Information
- Hiiumaa is reached by ferry from Rohuküla on the mainland, or via a connecting ferry from Saaremaa — check current schedules, since service is less frequent than the Saaremaa mainland crossing.
- Tourist infrastructure is genuinely sparser than Saaremaa's — plan accommodation and dining in advance rather than expecting to find options on arrival, especially outside summer.
- A car is the practical way to see Hiiumaa's spread-out landmarks, given the island's low population density and limited public transport.
Frequently asked questions
This overview comes from Visaja's worldwide missions database (visaja.com), checked against official government sources; for binding answers, the mission itself always has the final word.