Hiiumaa Essentials

Hiiumaa’s landscape is defined by its maritime heritage and diverse coastline. This selection features the 16th-century Kõpu Lighthouse, one of the world's oldest, alongside the cast-iron towers of Tahkuna and Ristna. Cultural sites include the Vaemla wool factory, which operates vintage machinery, and the Hill of Crosses, a site of historical Swedish emigration. Natural landmarks like the Sääretirp gravel spit complement architectural ruins and military museums that document the island's strategic Baltic position.

Kõpu tuletorn

Completed in 1531, this is one of the oldest continuously operating lighthouses in the world. Its massive square stone base stands atop the island's highest point, the 67-meter-high Tornimägi hill.

Sääretirp

A narrow, 3-kilometer-long gravel spit extending from the Kassari peninsula into the Baltic Sea. The ridge is flanked by shallow waters and coastal vegetation, terminating in a scenic tip.

Hiiumaa Museum

Housed in the 'Long House' in Kärdla—the former residence of a broadcloth factory's directors—this museum documents the island’s social history, industrial development, and maritime traditions.

Vaemla wool factory

A working family-run factory where wool is processed using 19th-century machinery. Visitors can observe the traditional production process and purchase knitwear made from local Estonian wool.

Reigi Jeesuse kirik

This 19th-century stone church was built by Baron Ungern-Sternberg. It houses a significant collection of wooden sculptures and paintings and is historically linked to the tragic 'Pastor of Reigi' legends.

Tahkuna tuletorn

Estonia's tallest cast-iron lighthouse, standing 43 meters high. Prefabricated in France and assembled in 1875, it also features a memorial to the victims of the 1994 MS Estonia ferry disaster.

Ristna tuletorn

A red cast-iron lighthouse ordered from Paris in 1874. It was originally built to warn ships of sea ice and features a distinctive metal frame added later to improve stability.

Hiiumaa Military Museum

Located in Tahkuna, this museum showcases Hiiumaa's 20th-century military history, featuring coastal batteries, Soviet-era bunkers, uniforms, and restored weaponry from the World Wars.

Mihkli Museum

A traditional 19th-century North Hiiumaa farmstead in Malvaste village. The complex includes a smoke sauna, storehouses, and a dwelling house illustrating rural island life.

Ristimägi

A historical site where departing Estonian-Swedes placed crosses in 1781. Today, visitors maintain the tradition by creating crosses from local natural materials like twigs and grass.

Käina kiriku varemed

The 15th-century stone ruins of Hiiumaa's largest church, destroyed by fire during a 1941 air raid. The site is known for its acoustic properties and gothic architecture.