Seaside resort on northeast Estonia’s cliffs, centred on Toila-Oru Park and the North Estonian Klint.
Toila is a small seaside resort on the cliffs of northeast Estonia, about 40 kilometres west of Narva and 10 kilometres from Jõhvi. It is a popular weekend escape for Estonians — a quiet, green place set above a dramatic stretch of coastline where the North Estonian Klint drops sharply to the sea.
The main draw is Toila-Oru Park, a landscaped cliff-top park that once surrounded a grand manor house destroyed in the Second World War. The park's terraced gardens, winding paths, and views down to the rocky beach are worth the visit on their own. Nearby, the Valaste waterfall — at over 30 metres, the tallest in Estonia — cascades over the limestone cliff edge, most impressively during spring snowmelt. A good coastal path connects the two.
Guide
Getting There
Toila is about 40 kilometres west of Narva and 170 kilometres east of Tallinn. The nearest town with public transport connections is Jõhvi, 10 kilometres south, which has bus and train links to both Tallinn and Narva. From Jõhvi, a local bus runs to Toila — check the current schedule, as services are infrequent.
Driving is the most practical option if you are combining Toila with other stops in northeastern Estonia. The E20 highway runs along the coast and Toila is well signposted.
Guide
When to Go
Toila is busiest in summer (June–August), when Estonian holiday-makers fill the small resort hotels and the beach below the klint gets actual use. The Toila-Oru Park is beautiful in late spring (May) when the ornamental plantings are in flower, and the Valaste waterfall runs most powerfully in April and early May after snowmelt.
The coastal landscape is stark but atmospheric in winter — the cliff and the grey sea in December are not the same place as July, and the park is almost empty. If you want scenery without people, autumn works well and the forest colours are good.