Maal elamise päev 2026: try rural life – on 19 September, schools, businesses and communities will open their doors
What would it really feel like to move from the city to the countryside? Not to a holiday home for the weekend, but in a way that means the children attend the local school or kindergarten, the daily commute changes, services are located elsewhere, and the local community becomes part of the family's everyday life.
Laupäeval, 19. septembril 2026 toimub üle Eesti Maal elamise päev. Juba kaheksandat korda avavad omavalitsused ja kogukonnad külalistele oma piirkondi ning näitavad, millised on võimalused seal päriselt elada, töötada, õppida ja ettevõtlusega tegeleda.
According to the latest official information, in 2026 24 municipalities and rural areas from 12 counties are participating. Visitors will be introduced to kindergartens, schools, village halls, health, cultural and sports centres, local businesses and potential places to live, among other things. Information about employment and business opportunities will also be available.
Official information:
Maal elamise päev 2026 – official website
Maal elamise päev is not just another family event
The most interesting aspect of Maal elamise päev is that areas are not presented solely through tourism or attractions.
The aim is to present a complete living environment: where children study, what services are available, where people can exercise, what businesses operate in the area, what kinds of homes can be found, and how the local community functions.
According to the organisers, one of the day's aims is to help people assess whether moving to a rural area would genuinely suit them.
Therefore, 19 September can be used as a kind of trial day before making a possible decision to move.
Where will Maal elamise päev 2026 take place?
According to information published by Eesti Linnade ja Valdade Liit on 21 August, 24 municipalities and rural areas are participating this year.
- Harju County: Lääne-Harju Municipality and Jõelähtme Municipality;
- Ida-Viru County: Lüganuse Municipality and the Illuka area of Alutaguse Municipality;
- Jõgeva County: Jõgeva Municipality and Mustvee Municipality;
- Järva County: Järva Municipality;
- Lääne County: the rural area of Haapsalu and Lääne-Nigula Municipality;
- Lääne-Viru County: Rakvere Municipality, Tapa valla Linnape küla selts and Võle village in Haljala Municipality;
- Pärnu County: Häädemeeste Municipality, Lääneranna Municipality, Põhja-Pärnumaa Municipality, Saarde Municipality and the Audru borough of the city of Pärnu;
- Rapla County: Kehtna Municipality, Kohila Municipality and Rapla Municipality;
- Tartu County: Nõo Municipality and Peipsiääre Municipality;
- Viljandi County: Põhja-Sakala Municipality;
- Võru County: the villages of Saabolda and Kundruse in Setomaa Municipality.
Important: the official visitor map is updated continuously. Therefore, you should not plan your route based solely on this list. Before 19 September, be sure to check the official visitor map, which shows specific open locations and local programmes.
How do you choose the right area for your family?
There is no point in driving through 24 areas in a single day. If you are seriously considering moving out of the city, it is much more useful to choose one municipality or one area and explore it thoroughly.
Before choosing a route, it is worth discussing with your family which question is most important to you.
- Does one of the parents need to continue working in Tallinn or Tartu?
- How important is a good school or kindergarten close to home?
- Does the family need regular public transport?
- Would you like to buy a house or a plot of land?
- Does at least one family member work from home?
- Are you planning to find work locally?
- Would you like to start your own business?
- How important are an active community and extracurricular activities for children?
Based on these answers, you can decide quite quickly which areas are worth visiting.
1. View the school and kindergarten as a prospective parent, not as a visitor
If the family has children, educational opportunities may be the most important factor in the decision to move.
Do not limit yourself to asking whether there is a school in the area. Find out:
- which school the child would attend based on a specific address;
- how long the journey to school is;
- whether there is a school bus or other transport;
- which extracurricular activities are available locally;
- what children do after the school day;
- whether extracurricular activities require regular travel to another town.
A smaller school may be a major advantage for some families, but not for others. There is no right answer—the important thing is how well the particular system suits your child.
2. Check the actual commute
One of the most common mistakes is to look only at the distance on the map.
“45 kilometres from Tallinn” does not tell you much. The more important question is how long the journey takes at 8 on a Monday morning and during rush hour on a Friday evening.
If you plan to continue working in the city after moving, if possible, drive the same route you would actually use every day.
Also bear in mind that living in the countryside may mean that the family needs a second car. Cheaper real estate does not automatically mean lower monthly expenses if transport costs increase significantly.
3. Look beyond the price of the house
Rural property can be considerably more affordable than property in a large city, but when buying a house, you need to assess much more than the sale price.
Among other things, it is worth checking:
- heating system and its actual costs;
- water supply and sewerage solution;
- electricity supply;
- access roads and their maintenance;
- the technical condition of the building;
- internet availability;
- renovation needs;
- distance from everyday services.
If you particularly like an area during Maal elamise päev and start looking at real estate there, it is worth checking both the property documents and the technical condition of the house before buying.
4. Internet can be as important as roads or electricity
Remote work has made moving to the countryside much more realistic for many families, but a good internet connection cannot be assumed simply because high-speed connectivity is available in the nearest town.
Connection quality may vary even between different properties in the same village.
If you become interested in a particular house, you should check the availability of a fixed internet connection and mobile coverage for that exact address.
5. Where are the family doctor, shop and other everyday services?
In the city, people quickly become accustomed to most essential services being located within a few kilometres.
In a rural area, it is worth checking the following separately:
- family doctor;
- pharmacy;
- grocery store;
- petrol station;
- parcel locker or postal service;
- dentist;
- sports facilities;
- children's extracurricular activities;
- the nearest major centre.
A one-off 20-kilometre drive may not seem like a problem. If the same journey has to be made several times a week, the assessment may be entirely different.
6. Ask locals what it is really like to live there
One of the greatest advantages of Maal elamise päev is the opportunity to talk to people who already live in the area.
Don't just ask what is good about the place.
Also ask:
- what is the biggest drawback of living here;
- what people miss the most;
- how easy it is for a new family to settle into the community;
- what a local would do differently if they had to move here again today;
- what life is like in winter;
- whether there are enough activities for young people and children;
- which services have disappeared or been added in recent years.
Such answers can provide a much more realistic picture of the area than any real estate listing.
7. If you want to work in the countryside, look at local businesses
Maal elamise päev does not focus solely on housing. The official programme also aims to introduce local businesses and employment opportunities.
If you plan to find a job in the new area after moving, it is worth finding out:
- which major employers operate nearby;
- what kinds of employees are needed in the area;
- how far away the nearest major workplaces are;
- whether there is an active network of entrepreneurs in the region;
- what opportunities there are for seasonal or part-time work.
If one family member can work remotely and the other finds work locally, moving to a rural area may become much easier financially.
8. Having your own business can be an opportunity rather than an obstacle in the countryside
In a smaller area, there may be less competition for some services than in a city. At the same time, there are also fewer potential customers, so the market must be properly assessed before starting a business.
During Maal elamise päev, it is worth talking to local entrepreneurs about matters such as:
- which services are lacking in the area;
- how easy it is to find employees;
- how local entrepreneurs cooperate with one another;
- whether suitable premises for a business are available;
- what kind of business advice the local government provides;
- whether LEADER action groups or other business networks operate in the area.
For some people, a smaller area may offer an opportunity to establish a service that is currently lacking locally.
9. The most important check may take place after Maal elamise päev
On 19 September, participating regions deliberately showcase themselves to visitors. Doors are open, people are present, and more activities than usual are taking place.
This is a great way to get to know the area for the first time, but you should not make a final decision about moving based solely on that day.
If you start to really like a place, come back later on a completely ordinary day.
Drive around the area:
- on a weekday morning;
- after the school day;
- in the evening;
- in bad weather;
- in winter too, if possible.
Visit the local shop, check the bus timetable, test the mobile signal, and drive your potential daily commute.
Only then will it become clearer whether you like the area merely as a visitor or whether it could truly become your home.
Maal elamise päev can also help you decide not to move
That is also a useful outcome.
It may turn out that a city school, frequent public transport, a wide range of extracurricular activities, the ability to get around without a car, or quick access to specific services is still very important to the family.
Moving to the countryside is not automatically a better or worse way of life. It is a different way of organising everyday life, and whether it is suitable depends on the family's work, children, habits, financial means and chosen region.
How can you make the best use of Maal elamise päev?
If you are simply going to spend an interesting day on 19 September, you can choose places you like from the visitor map.
However, if you are seriously considering moving, take a different approach.
- Choose one specific region.
- Before setting off, review the official programme and visitor map.
- Write down the five most important questions for your family.
- Visit at least one school or place related to children.
- Talk to a local resident or community representative.
- Talk to at least one local entrepreneur.
- Drive through the areas where you could realistically live.
- Review the commute and everyday services.
This turns Maal elamise päev from an ordinary day trip into a genuine test of the place as a home.
Frequently asked questions
When will Maal elamise päev 2026 take place?
Maal elamise päev takes place on Saturday, 19 September 2026.
How many regions are participating?
According to official information published by 2026 on 21 August, 24 municipalities and rural areas from 12 counties are participating.
Where can you find the programme for 2026?
The latest information is available on the official Maal elamise päev website. To find specific places, use the official visitor map, which the organisers update continuously.
What can you see during Maal elamise päev?
Programmes vary by region, but according to the official description, municipalities showcase, among other things, kindergartens, schools, village halls, health, cultural and sports centres, businesses, residences, and employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Is the event suitable for a family that is only considering moving to the countryside?
Yes. The day is particularly useful for this type of visitor because a single trip allows you to compare housing, education, employment, services and community opportunities and speak with local people.
Are all activities free and available without registration?
It is not reasonable to expect a single set of rules for all local activities. Programmes are organised by region, and individual activities may have their own conditions or registration requirements. Before travelling, check the specific information on the official visitor map or the organiser's website.
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Sources and information checked on 11 September 2026:
Maal elamise päev – official website
Maal elamise päev – official visitor map
Eesti Linnade ja Valdade Liit – Maal elamise päev brings visitors to 24 rural areas across Estonia in September
Local programmes and places to visit may be added or changed before the event. Before travelling, always check the latest information for 19 September on the official visitor map.
Artificial intelligence was used to prepare the article. Although the information has been verified using public sources, the text may contain inaccuracies or information that has become outdated due to subsequent changes.