01
What Naissaar is
A long, wooded island of sand, pine and silence, closed to the public as a Soviet military zone from 1944 to 1994. Today it's a nature park you can explore freely — with fewer than a thousand visitors on most summer days.
02
⛵ Our service
Naissaar by Yacht or Speedboat
Public ferries run only May–October, mostly at weekends, two or three times a day — which is exactly why arriving under your own sail is so appealing. Our yacht reaches Naissaar in about two hours, making the crossing part of the day; our speedboat does it in thirty minutes for almost a full day ashore.
Either way you anchor in a sheltered cove and step ashore on your schedule, not the timetable's.
- Yacht ~2 hours · speedboat ~30 minutes · full day
- We anchor in a calm cove — swim straight off the boat
- Bring lunch, or pre-order catering aboard
03
By public ferry
If you'd rather take the scheduled boat, check timetables and book ahead in summer — sailings are limited and sell out. See Visit Naissaar for current departures.
04
The Soviet mine depot
The island's eeriest sight: the vast, graffiti-scrawled hall where the Soviet navy assembled sea mines, now slowly returning to the forest. It's a haunting, photogenic reminder of the island's closed past.
05
The narrow-gauge railway
A narrow-gauge railway once hauled mines and materiel across the island; sections of track still thread through the trees, and in summer a heritage train sometimes runs.
06
The lighthouse & beaches
Walk to the lighthouse on the island's tip, then swim from the wide, near-empty southern beaches — some of the quietest sand you'll find this close to a capital city.
07
Hiking & cycling
Three marked trails run 8–11 km through pine forest, heath and shore. Rent a bike at the harbour to cover more ground and reach the military ruins (about 4 km from the pier).
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What to bring
There are no proper shops, so pack water, food, sunscreen and good shoes. Facilities are minimal — that's the point.
09
⛵ Our service
Skippered Yacht Charter on Tallinn Bay
You don't need a ferry timetable to taste island Estonia. A private sail from Tallinn Bay points you straight at Naissaar on the horizon — and we can take you all the way there, at your own pace, with the crossing part of the pleasure.
Book a private sail10
⛵ Our service
A Picnic on the Sea — Naissaar or Aboard
Since there's nowhere to buy lunch, make the meal part of the experience: we bring a hamper aboard, drop anchor off a Naissaar beach, and lay out a picnic on deck or on the sand — local food, a chilled bottle and the island to yourselves.
Plan a sea picnicFrequently asked questions
How do you get to Naissaar?+
By public ferry from Tallinn (roughly 30 minutes to an hour, May–October and mostly at weekends), or by private sailing yacht (about two hours) or speedboat (about 30 minutes) that leaves on your schedule.
What is there to do on Naissaar?+
Explore the Soviet sea-mine depot and narrow-gauge railway, walk to the lighthouse, hike the forest trails (8–11 km), swim from empty beaches and picnic — it's about nature and history, not amenities.
Is there anything to buy on Naissaar?+
Very little — there are no proper shops, so bring your own water, food and everything you need for the day.
When is the best time to visit Naissaar?+
Summer, roughly June to September, when the weather is warm and the boats run. Spring brings wildflowers, late summer brings berries and autumn brings mushrooms.
How big is Naissaar?+
About 19 km² — 11 km long and up to 4 km wide, large enough for a full day of walking, cycling and swimming with hardly anyone else around.
Keep exploring
Reach the island the old way
Naissaar is best reached by boat.
Skip the weekend-only ferry — we'll sail you to Naissaar by yacht or speedboat, on your schedule, with a swim and a picnic along the way. Tell us your dates and we'll plan the day.