külastustel

Külastustel is an Estonian term used in institutional or formal communication to indicate visiting hours or the period when visitors are allowed. The phrase is commonly found on notices, doors, and bulletins in places such as hospitals, prisons, shelters, and other facilities that regulate access.

Etymology and meaning: Külastustel combines the noun külastus, meaning a visit, with the locative suffix -tel, producing a temporal expression roughly translating to “during visits” or “on visiting times.” It functions as a general label for the time window when visitor access is permitted, often preceding a specific schedule.

Usage: The term appears on signs and notices to alert staff, patients, residents, or visitors about when visits may take place. It is typically followed by concrete hours or conditions, for example a range of times, day-specific rules, or limits on the number of visitors. In some contexts, additional requirements such as identification, visiting days, or appointment procedures may be listed alongside külastustel.

Context and significance: By marking visiting periods, külastustel helps manage access, protect privacy and safety, and organize daily routines within facilities. It is used in official communications and is understood across Estonian-speaking institutions as a standard indicator of when external visits are allowed.

See also: külastus, külastusajad, visiting hours.