Question about Tallinin and Riga.
Mar 24th, 2015, 04:22 PM
#1
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Question about Tallinin and Riga.
I've allotted three days each for seeing Tallinin, Estonia, and Riga, Latvia. However, as I read my Lonely Planet, it appears that there's a lot more to see in Riga than in Tallinin. I'm interested in history--WWII and the Cold War, architecture, and culture. I like those open air museums and museums that show how people lived in past times. I'm not crazy about art museums. Riga, of course, has the wonderful art nouveau facades, which I love.
Those of you who've been to both cities, what do you think? Should I add another day to Riga? Or are three days enough? I'm a very relaxed tourist--I'm not running from one sight to another. I'll probably keep Tallinin to three nights because I'll be taking a train from St. Petersburg, which will cut down my time in Tallinin to 2 and 1/2 days anyway.
Those of you who've been to both cities, what do you think? Should I add another day to Riga? Or are three days enough? I'm a very relaxed tourist--I'm not running from one sight to another. I'll probably keep Tallinin to three nights because I'll be taking a train from St. Petersburg, which will cut down my time in Tallinin to 2 and 1/2 days anyway.
Mar 24th, 2015, 04:47 PM
#2
I think that the 2 and 1/2 days in Tallinn will be enough.
The old town can be done in a full day.
There are 2 nice lookouts in upper town that you should see as it is from here that all those aerial red roof top pictures are taken from.
Know before hand how to get to these lookouts if you do not have a guide. ( or I can tell you
)
You can also visit the Kadriorg Palace, walk through the gardens and visit the Russalka Monument and the Song Festival Grounds where the "Singing Revolution" took place.
..then there is the Open Air Museum.
Three days in Riga will be ample. It is a lovely place.
The old town can be done in a full day.
There are 2 nice lookouts in upper town that you should see as it is from here that all those aerial red roof top pictures are taken from.
Know before hand how to get to these lookouts if you do not have a guide. ( or I can tell you
)You can also visit the Kadriorg Palace, walk through the gardens and visit the Russalka Monument and the Song Festival Grounds where the "Singing Revolution" took place.
..then there is the Open Air Museum.
Three days in Riga will be ample. It is a lovely place.
Mar 24th, 2015, 05:18 PM
#3
Two days is plenty for Tallin, and that could include a trip out of town. Allow plenty of time for Riga, especially if you an AN fan.
You might find my Baltics TR helpful. Click on my name, or start here for text with pix: https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...round-tallinn/
You might find my Baltics TR helpful. Click on my name, or start here for text with pix: https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...round-tallinn/
Mar 25th, 2015, 05:43 AM
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Tallinn has a very nice museum called KUMU.
If you e-mail them they can arrange a tour.
In Riga the flea market should not be missed. It's
by the bus station. Also a tour can be found to
help you navigate the food marts.
Also at night the bars playing American rock
and/or country western are great.
If you e-mail them they can arrange a tour.
In Riga the flea market should not be missed. It's
by the bus station. Also a tour can be found to
help you navigate the food marts.
Also at night the bars playing American rock
and/or country western are great.
Mar 25th, 2015, 07:24 AM
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A short taxi ride outside of Tallinn is the giant Teletorn TV tower: http://www.teletorn.ee/en/history
The back story involves the 1980 Moscow Olympics and the the 1991 fall of Soviet control. For a Cold War history buff, this is a must see, not to mention the incredible views from the top.
The back story involves the 1980 Moscow Olympics and the the 1991 fall of Soviet control. For a Cold War history buff, this is a must see, not to mention the incredible views from the top.
Mar 25th, 2015, 07:45 PM
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Agree with the other posters 2 1/2 days is more than enough for Tallinn.
Percy has listed all the best sightseeing places. You will love Tallinn.
Last year we were able to attend the famous Song and Dance Festival at the festival grounds. It was an amazing experience. Do read about it and when you are there I hope some of the locals will tell you about it.
Have not been to Riga so cannot say any thing about it.
Have a wonderful trip and enjoy learning as much as you can about Estonia.
Percy has listed all the best sightseeing places. You will love Tallinn.
Last year we were able to attend the famous Song and Dance Festival at the festival grounds. It was an amazing experience. Do read about it and when you are there I hope some of the locals will tell you about it.
Have not been to Riga so cannot say any thing about it.
Have a wonderful trip and enjoy learning as much as you can about Estonia.
Mar 26th, 2015, 09:36 AM
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Thursdays: Thanks for the link to the trip report. I enjoyed it. The pictures of the art nouveau are stunning!
I was in Helsinki in 1967 and wasn't impressed. We had been to Moscow just before Helsinki, and the thing I remember most was the sense of freedom I felt being out of that oppressive atmosphere.
I'm interested in 20th century history, so I've marked WWII and Cold War sites in my guidebooks.
I was in Helsinki in 1967 and wasn't impressed. We had been to Moscow just before Helsinki, and the thing I remember most was the sense of freedom I felt being out of that oppressive atmosphere.
I'm interested in 20th century history, so I've marked WWII and Cold War sites in my guidebooks.
Mar 27th, 2015, 07:09 AM
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Thursdaysd: There are art nouveau facades in Leipzig but nothing like the facades your pictures showed.
Someone (I don't recall where) made a negative comment about Warsaw, but I was reading my guidebook, and I saw lots of memorials and monuments to the Cold War, WWII and various Jewish sites, all of which I find interesting. At first I was thinking of cutting back my time there, but it appears to me that there's plenty to see.
Someone (I don't recall where) made a negative comment about Warsaw, but I was reading my guidebook, and I saw lots of memorials and monuments to the Cold War, WWII and various Jewish sites, all of which I find interesting. At first I was thinking of cutting back my time there, but it appears to me that there's plenty to see.
