Sonda: Forest Settlement, Bogs and Railway History
Accommodation in Sonda
When looking for hotels in Sonda, you can choose where to stay based on two interests: the forest and bog landscape, or the railway and local history. Sonda is considered a forest settlement and is surrounded by the four large bogs of Sirtsi, Kuresoo, Muraka and Uljaste. There is also a hiking trail and a sandy beach in the Uljaste area, as well as a 156-kilometre section of a long-distance hiking trail that passes through Sonda.
Forest and bog near Sonda
In the village of Uljaste, near Sonda, the Uljaste hiking trail offers views of Lake Uljaste, its bog pools and the natural forest. For nature enthusiasts, this is a concrete point of interest if the landscape is to be a priority when choosing a destination.
There is a recreation area and a sandy beach at Lake Uljaste, where swimming is possible. This gives you two nature-focused options when planning your trip: the trail, with views of the lake, bog pools and forest, and the beach for spending time by the water.
The 156 km Roela–Mummassaare section of the Penijõe–Aegviidu–Kauksi hiking trail passes through Sonda. It offers a different hiking experience from the trail near Uljaste: the Uljaste hiking trail offers views of the lake, bog pools and natural forest, while the longer route passes through Sonda. If you want to combine your trip with a longer hike, you can include Sonda as part of this route.
Railway history and local development
The settlement’s origins are linked to the opening of the Baltic Railway in 1870. Sonda railway station was built at its current location in 1897. Reference works consider the construction of the station to mark the beginning of the settlement’s development.
The Sonda–Mustvee railway was also closed in stages: in the summer of 1968, the Mustvee–Avinurme section was closed first; the Sonda–Avinurme section followed on 1 May 1972. A monument to the narrow-gauge Sonda–Avinurme railway stands beside the station. The names overlap, but the monument commemorates the narrow-gauge Sonda–Avinurme railway, while the closure dates given refer to the Sonda–Mustvee railway.
Freight transport served various purposes. Sonda had a railway connection to Aseri, from where products from the cement factory were transported onward to the main line. One of the main functions of the Sonda–Mustvee railway was to transport timber from the large forests of Alutaguse.
Culture throughout the year
A cultural programme published in March 2026 lists clubs, concerts, exhibitions and community events at Sonda Folk House throughout the year for people of all ages. If you want to plan your trip around a particular concert or exhibition, check the dates of the relevant events.
Sonda Kõrts has a dance floor. If evening entertainment is important to your trip, check in advance what is currently on offer; entertainment packages may change.
For the broader travel overview: Sonda.
