Kaina

Käina is a small settlement on the southern coast of Hiiumaa, situated on the northern edge of Käina Bay (Käina laht) — a shallow, reed-fringed coastal wetland that is one of Estonia's most important bird areas. With a population of around 700, it is the second-largest settlement on the island after Kärdla, though it feels considerably smaller and more tranquil. The name Käina is thought to derive from an old Estonian word for a type of coastal meadow.

Like much of Hiiumaa, Käina was historically home to a mixed population of ethnic Estonians and Estonian Swedes, who lived by fishing, farming, and seal hunting. The Swedish influence is visible in the architecture of some of the older buildings and in local place names. The bay was the site of a major Swedish naval battle in 1714 during the Great Northern War, when the Russian galley fleet destroyed a Swedish squadron, enabling Peter the Great's forces to occupy Hiiumaa.

Today, Käina is primarily a destination for nature lovers: birdwatchers come for the Käina Bay conservation area, and hikers use it as a base for exploring the southern Hiiumaa coastline. The landscape is characteristically gentle — shallow bays, juniper heaths, and pastoral farmland. Summer is the best time to visit, when the viewing platforms over the bay are in constant use by twitchers and the path to the old Käina windmill is lined with wildflowers.

By Plane

Kärdla Airport (KDL) is 15 km north — a 15-minute taxi ride (€15–20).

By Car / Road

From Kärdla, take road 81 south for 12 km (15 minutes). From the Heltermaa ferry terminal, Käina is 22 km south-west (25 minutes). The roads are paved and well maintained. Parking in the village centre is free.

Buses from Kärdla bus station serve Käina 3–5 times daily (€2, 20 minutes). There is no direct bus from the Heltermaa ferry.

Käina village is small and walkable. The Käina Bay viewing platforms are a 15-minute walk south of the village centre. A bicycle is useful for exploring the bay's perimeter and the coast.

• Käina Bay Conservation Area — A 2,000-hectare coastal wetland that is one of Estonia's most important bird habitats, especially for migrating waterfowl. A 2 km boardwalk leads from the village to two wooden viewing platforms overlooking the reedy shallows. The best times for birdwatching are May and September.

• Käina windmill (Käina tuulik) — A restored 19th-century wooden windmill on a low hill north of the village. It is one of the few surviving traditional windmills on Hiiumaa. The area around it has benches and a view across the bay.

• Käina Church ruins — The stone walls of a medieval church (13th–14th century) that was destroyed in the Soviet era. The ruins stand in a quiet meadow on the edge of the bay, creating a melancholic and picturesque scene.

• Käina Manor Park — The remains of a 19th-century Baltic German manor estate, with a pond, old oaks, and a small park associated with the manor house (now a private residence).

• Birdwatching at Käina Bay — Bring binoculars and a field guide. The best viewing is from the two platforms at the end of the boardwalk. Look for greylag geese, mute swans, wading birds, and in spring and autumn, large flocks of migrating whooper swans and barnacle geese.

• Coastal cycling — The flat roads around Käina Bay are ideal for cycling. A 15 km loop goes from Käina south to the coast at Orjaku and back through the pastoral countryside.

• Hiking the Käina–Emmaste trail — A 7 km hiking path follows the coast from Käina south-west to Emmaste, passing through juniper heath, coastal meadows, and small coves.

• Cafe Kaja (village centre) — A cosy café serving simple Estonian home cooking: soups, pancakes, and salads (mains €4–7). Good coffee and homemade cakes.
• Orjaku sadam café (3 km south at the harbour) — A seasonal summer café at the small Orjaku harbour, serving fish soup, grilled sausages, and soft drinks (open June–August).

Cafe Kaja has beer, wine, and coffee. The Orjaku café also sells drinks in summer. There is no dedicated bar in Käina.

• Käina Bay Guesthouse — A small guesthouse with 3 rooms near the conservation area entrance (doubles from €45, shared bathroom).
• Orjaku holiday homes — Self-catering wooden cottages at the Orjaku harbour (from €60/night, 2-night minimum in summer). Book through local tourism websites.
• Käina Camping — A small field with basic facilities (tent pitches €8 per person, cold shower).

Käina has a small Coop grocery store. For a wider selection, shop in Kärdla (15 km north).

• Kärdla (15 km north, 15 min by car) — The capital of Hiiumaa, with the Hiiumaa Museum, Kärdla Beach, and the meteorite crater.
• Orjaku (3 km south, 5 min by car) — A small fishing harbour with a summer café and views across Käina Bay.
• Emmaste (7 km south-west, 10 min by car) — A village with a church museum and access to the southern Hiiumaa coastal trail.
• Kõpu Lighthouse (35 km west, 40 min by car) — One of the world's oldest lighthouses, standing on the western tip of Hiiumaa.