The best places to go ice skating in Estonia
Ice skating in Estonia is never boring. Glide over frozen rivers and bog lakes, twirl on urban ice rinks, skate over the sea — options are endless!
Estonia is a paradise for ice skating enthusiasts, regardless of your skill level.
You can skate inside in ice halls or, when the weather permits, there are loads of places outside to test your skates. That includes more than just prepared ice parks, though! You can also go ice skating on frozen lakes and bog pools.
To help you pick where to cut the ice next, here's a selection of some of the most beautiful places to go ice skating in Estonia.
Ice skating in the middle of a frozen wonderland
Skip the artificial ice rinks this winter and opt for the real deal.
Frozen bays, lakes, and ponds across Estonia make fantastic natural ice rinks to skate on. What better way to explore Estonia during this beautiful time of the year?
Wetlands and bogs are worth a visit throughout the year, but during the coldest time of the year, you can even explore national parks by skating on the waterways. If you're unsure where to start your trip to a national park, consider booking a skating tour. Try one of these tours this winter: skating trips in Kõrvemaa, tour skating in Soomaa National Park or on sea ice, or ice skating on Lake Peipsi.
Tours will include all the gear you need to spend a few hours on the ice. For an extra special experience, find a tour that can add on an outdoor snack or even a sauna to help you relax those muscles after a day of skating.
Photo author: Elen Juurma
Bog landscapes are magical in all seasons.
Take a guided tour through a frozen landscape
Tour skates are special ice skates that can be strapped over your boots.
Another way to fit an hour of skating into your busy itinerary is to look for frozen lakes near your route.
If you happen to be driving in southern Estonia, look for skating tours of Estonia's largest lake, Peipsi, also known as Lake Peipus, or consider a skating trip on the ice of Lake Pühajärv.
It might take a bit longer for the sea to freeze over, but once it does, you can easily replace that walk on the beach with skating on a frozen bay. One of the best places to do that is in the Bay of Pärnu where you'll feel transported to a glittering frozen wonderland. If the sea hasn't frozen yet, you can still skate at Pärnu Ice Rink. Going north, a skating trip in Haapsalu is a great way to explore the quaint historical town adored by Tchaikovsky.
If you venture out to ice skate in nature, exercise caution, especially as the temperature creeps toward zero, and don't forget to check ice conditions before you head out!
Ice skating rinks in Tallinn and Tartu
Photo author: Visit Estonia
Outdoor seasonal ice rinks
Once the weather gets colder, ice rinks open all over Estonia. Ice skating is one of Estonia's most popular winter pastimes, so you'll find seasonal ice rinks in most cities.
Tallinn
Tallinn's Harju Ice Rink is a short walk from Old Town's Christmas market; like most seasonal rinks, it remains open until late February or early March. You'll also find an ice rink in the heart of Telliskivi with skate rentals on site. Tallinn also has seasonal ice rinks in three of its biggest neighborhoods: Mustamäe, Nõmme, and Lasnamäe.
Tartu and Viljandi
Tartu's ice rink on its Town Hall Square is delightful during Christmas. You might feel like a character in a Netflix movie as you take a spin on the ice and then wander through the Christmas City while sipping mulled wine and nibbling on gingerbread cookies.
The largest open-air ice rink in Tartu is the skating rink in Tähtvere Park. Viljandi has two natural outdoor rinks, one on Lake Viljandi and the other on Lake Paala. Add in the Viljandi Ice Rink, then you can see why Viljandi is the unofficial ice skating capital of Estonia.
Most of the outdoor ice rinks in Estonia rent ice skates at the ticket office — no need to worry about bringing your own. Sizes usually start small, so grab an ice skating aid for the little ones and take the whole family out for an afternoon on the ice.
Photo author: Mikk Mihkel Vaabel, Visit Viljandi
Year-round ice skating options
By now, you can probably tell that Estonians love to ice skate.
Amateur and professional athletes head to the indoor rinks for ice skating all year. If ice skating is a must during your visit to Estonia, and you happen to get here after the outdoor rinks have closed, head indoors.
You can go to the Astri Arena ice rink in Tartu any time of year; it's in the middle of a shopping center! Tallinn's Tondiraba Ice Hall is more than just an ice rink. Besides the main hall, three practice fields are used for other indoor sports. You might also have a chance to take in an ice hockey game or an ice skating performance if you don't want to strap on skates yourself.
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Last updated
03.11.2025