Making the most of Kudema Bay Saaremaa Island
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
A newly constructed harbour can handle vessels measuring up to 200 metres long. Its naturally deep setting can receive the largest cruise ships sailing the Baltic Sea, although the port lies 45km north of Kuressaare, the island's only town.
Some smaller ships may instead anchor off Kuressaare and carry passengers ashore by tender.
Find the cruise schedule at the bottom of the page.
Estonia's 1,502 islands and islets account for 9% of its land mass. Although Saare County covers only 6.5% of Estonia's area, Saaremaa and neighbouring Muhumaa count as large islands by Estonian standards.
Foreign visitors are often genuinely surprised by Saaremaa's varied natural landscape, absorbing history and agreeably unhurried atmosphere. Residents and travellers alike value the island as an appealing recreational destination, rich in natural attractions and places to see.
Saaremaa owes much of its distinctive character to its isolated location. Traditional villages retain thatched-roof buildings and stone walls, while residents still wear beautiful national costumes and continue to speak the local dialect.
In 1990, UNESCO designated the islands of western Estonia as a biosphere conservation area.
Kuressaare's magnificent castle is the main attraction and ranks among the Baltic's finest; allow a couple of hours to explore it. A small market provides another stop, while the remainder of the town is attractive but quiet.
Getting around
Taxis are readily available and inexpensive.
Money
The euro is the currency.
ATMs and currency-exchange offices, known as valuutavahetus, are available widely.
Most major hotels, restaurants and shops accept Visa, Mastercard/Eurocard, Diner's Club, American Express and similar cards, but check before paying.
Staying connected
Estonian is the official language. Younger residents in particular often speak English well, while German is taught in Estonian schools and many people have some knowledge of it.
Free WiFi is plentiful. Switch on your WiFi device and connect to the network whose name, or SSID, is "tt-wifi".
Dial 110 for the police, or call 112 for fires and other emergencies.
Opening Hours and
Most shops trade Monday to Friday from 9/10am-6/7pm and on Saturday from 10am-2/3pm. Some food shops remain open until 10pm or later and also trade on Sundays.