Kuressaare is the capital of Saaremaa, the largest of Estonia's islands.
Understand
The earliest records of Kuressaare is a document written in 1381 that mentions that the town housed the fortified residency of a local Catholic bishop and that it was the main center for the islands of western Estonia. Kuressaare was previously known as Arensburg, and it received city status in 1563. Currently, the town has a population of around 15,000.
- Tourist Information Centre, Tallinna 2, ☏ +372 45 33 766, fax: +372 453 31 20, kuressaare@visitestonia.com.
Get in
By plane
- Kuressaare Airport (URE IATA) is situated 3 km from the town of Kuressaare and offers regular flights to Ruhnu island, Stockholm and Tallinn.
By bus
Several buses run daily between Kuressaare and Tallinn's main bus station. The trip takes 4 hours and traverses the strait between the mainland and the islands by means of a 30-minute ferry.
Get around
See
- Saaremaa Museum (Kuressaare Castle). May–Aug daily 10:00–19:00, Sep–Apr W–Su 11:00–18:00. The fortress is well preserved and located in the city center. 5 euro.
Do
- Health spas. The city has a large number of spas.
Buy
Eat
- Restaurant La Perla, Lossi 3, ☏ +372 453 6910. M-F 12-23, Sa-Su 13-23. Italian restaurant
- Cafe Kessu, Tallinna 16, kohvik@kessu.ee. M-F 8-19, Sa 9-19, Su 10-18.
- Hesburger, Tallinna 88, Kudjape, Lääne-Saaremaa vald, saaremaa@hesburger.fi. Mon–Sun 10–21. Finnish fast food chain
Drink
- Bar Kodulinna, Tallinna 11.
- Club Diva, Raekoja 8.
- Nightclub Privilege, Tallinna 10a.
Sleep
- Arensburg Boutique Hotel & Spa, Lossi 15, ☏ +372 452 4700, arensburg@arensburg.ee.
- Georg Ots Spa, Tori 2, ☏ +372 45 50 000, +372 45 50 101, info@gospa.ee.
- Grand Rose Spa, Tallinna 15, ☏ +372 666 7000, info@grandrose.ee.
- Johan Spa, Kauba 13, ☏ +372 45 40000, fax: +372 45 40012, info@johan.ee.
- Linnahotell, Lasteaia 7, ☏ +372 45 31 888, fax: +372 45 33 688, kuressaare@linnahotell.ee.
- Saaremaa Spa Hotels: Meri, Ruutli & Saaremaa Valss. Three Spa hotels in the town.
Go next
- Pärnu, the summer capital of Estonia.