Estonia hosted 1.66 million tourists in first half

Estonian accommodation establishments hosted 1.66 million tourists in the first half of 2026, 4 percent more than during the same period last year, ERR reports, citing Statistics Estonia. The number of foreign tourists rose by 5 percent and the number of domestic tourists by 3 percent.

More than 874,900 foreign tourists and nearly 789,400 domestic tourists stayed in accommodation establishments between January and June.

The number of overnight stays also increased. There were 3.04 million overnight stays, 5 percent more than in the first half of 2025, according to Piret Pukk, a leading analyst at Statistics Estonia.

Foreign tourists accounted for more than 1.72 million overnight stays, while domestic tourists accounted for more than 1.32 million. Foreign tourists recorded 7 percent more overnight stays than a year earlier, while domestic tourists recorded 3 percent more.

Compared with the first six months of 2019, the number of tourists and overnight stays combined was 1 percent higher. The number of Estonian residents staying at accommodation establishments was 16 percent higher, while the number of foreign visitors was 10 percent lower. Overnight stays by Estonian residents increased by 18 percent, while those by foreign visitors fell by 9 percent.

Among foreign tourists staying in Estonia during the first half of 2026, 78 percent were on holiday and 18 percent were on business trips. Among domestic tourists, 70 percent were on holiday and 21 percent stayed overnight because of work duties. A small share stayed for other reasons.

Fewer visitors came from Finland

Foreign tourists came mainly from Finland, Latvia and Germany. Finnish tourists accounted for 34 percent of all foreign visitors, Latvian tourists for 15 percent and German tourists for 6 percent.

More than 298,400 tourists came from Finland, 1 percent fewer than a year earlier. Nearly 135,200 tourists came from Latvia, an increase of 6 percent, while nearly 51,200 came from Germany, 1 percent more than a year earlier.

Estonia also accommodated 38,300 tourists from Lithuania, 7 percent more than a year earlier, and 39,000 from the United Kingdom, an increase of 19 percent.

More than 24,000 visitors were accommodated from each of the following: Asian countries, the United States, Poland and Sweden.

Some 78 percent, or more than 684,200, of the foreign tourists staying in accommodation establishments came from European Union countries. Their number increased by 3 percent compared with the previous year.

More than half of all tourists, or 54 percent, stayed in accommodation establishments in Harju County, including 51 percent in Tallinn. Parnu County accounted for 12 percent of tourists, with 11 percent staying in Parnu, while Tartu County accounted for 9 percent, with 8 percent staying in Tartu.

Six percent of tourists stayed in Ida-Viru County, while Saare County and Valga County each accounted for 4 percent. The number of tourists increased most in Valga County, by 13 percent.

Among foreign tourists, nearly three-quarters, or 74 percent, stayed in Harju County, including 72 percent in Tallinn. Parnu and Tartu counties accounted for 11 percent and 7 percent respectively. Ida-Viru and Saare counties each hosted 2 percent of foreign tourists.

Among Estonian residents, the most popular counties were Harju County, which accounted for 33 percent of domestic tourists, Parnu County with 14 percent, and Tartu County.