We will be traveling to Stockholm, Helsinki and St Petersburg this summer and are considering a side trip across the Baltic. Which city is more interesting? BTW, our 10 and 13 year old sons will be coming along (and they are great travelers).

Thanks,
Larisa

Hi Seattlite,

Of the 2 cities you name, I've only been to Tallin, and can tell you it's a beautiful old town, easily walkable (but hilly), lots to see. At least for me. I feel that about 2 days would allow you to see everything you'd want to see.

There are ferries that can easily take you from Helsinki to Tallin, one of which is Tallink. http://www.tallink.fi/en/

Once you're there by ferry, you can easily either walk to town (about a 10 minute walk) or hop on one of those Hop On/Hop Off busses. http://tinyurl.com/y2dbuv

Tallink would also have some hotel deals to go with your ferry ride.

There's also a Tallin city card available. I didn't find it useful for me, but depending on what you want to see, etc, it could be a deal for you. http://tinyurl.com/mwfko

I was just keen on walking through the city on my own. While you're on the Tallink, you'll get maps of Tallin. As well, at the dock, you should be able to get all the maps you want of Tallin, the free ones provide you as much info, if not more, than the ones you purchase, so save yourself a few bucks in that department.

You'll find that Tallin is inundated with amber stores all over town, but it's life there. They cater to cruisers for the most part who are there with one thing in mind. Good thing as this leaves you with the town to yourself.

While the Estonian Kroon is currently the official currency, they do freely accept the American Dollar and the European Euro (they're part of the EU and, last I read, will accept €s by 2008).

It is the most well preserved medieval town in the world, and I long to go back again soon. Some must sees: the Viru city gates and its medieval walls, City Hall in the center of town, Fat Margaret, Tall Herman, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, St. Olav's Church (the tallest building in Old Tallin)

ACK! It posted before I was ready. Anyway, it was a charming town to walk and get lost in. There are some charming restaurants hidden away in alleyways, whose names I do not have. If the kids want a McDonalds...well, there's one right by the Viru Gates...

Enjoy, and hope someone can give you some insights into Riga.

DH & I were in both cities this summer. Overall I would recommend Tallinn - especially with young children - the Old Town is especially well-preserved and very interesting to walk around (bring comfortable shoes - the cobblestones and hills are tiring). I'd recommend the bus/walking tour given by the tourist office to get your bearings, then wander around at your ease. If you do the tour you also get all sorts of vouchers to use in the town - we got free swims at a sports centre - plus unlimited travel on public transport.

Travelling to and from Helsinki couldn't be easier on the high-speed Tallink ships. In Tallinn we liked eating in "Old Hansa" near the town square - touristy and a bit hokey but lots of fun - your boys would enjoy it. We also liked the microbrewery bar "Hell Hunt" which served good value food - no problem bringing kids in during the day.

Travelling to Riga from Tallinn (and vice versa) is difficult. There is only one road - the Via Baltica - and even though the distance is shortish - about 250K - the road is in such terrible condition that the journey by bus takes about 7-8 hours. Much of the Via Baltica had only one lane open (not one each way - just one lane) when we travelled on it in June so there were huge traffic delays.

I would have only two slight caveats about Tallinn. The first is that the Old Town is very "disneyfied". There was no sense of it being a working, living part of the city - it almost felt like it was like a theme park. The other caveat is that we found Estonians quite rude and surly.

The Old Town in Riga is not as pretty as Tallinn but it has a much more lived-in feel. I found the people much friendlier and overall I liked it better but given your other ports of call I think you'd find Tallinn a better choice.

Two final things - if you're there at weekends you will find both cities overrun by English stag parties - horrible, horrible people.

Also, even though we were there in early June, a lot of the time the weather was cold. Bring layers and prepare for all seasons!

Takllink also operate overnight ships from Stockholm to both riga and Tallinn. They do "cruise" fares with two nights' accommodation on the ship if you just want to spend a day ashore.

In 1996 we flew to Helsinki, took the train to St. Petersburg, then the overnight train to Tallin and the ferry back to Helsinki. The overnight train was an experience, but it may have been upgraded since then. At any rate, if you look at a map, you'll see that this is a logical itinerary.

Thanks for the replies! Very helpful.

Tallinn will be so much easier to get to. And by the way, you can take a bus from Tallinn to St. Petersburg very cheaply.

Michael's itinerary looks real interesting. It is a logical itinerary now that I think of it... Helsinki and Tallin are right across the water from each other...50 miles if I remember correctly from this summer. Thus a short ride on Tallink.

But now hearing of the bus ride from Tallin to Riga, I'm thinking maybe that's what I want to do this coming summer, instead of going to school for a week in Geneva... I don't know why being on a bus for approximately 8 hours suddenly appeals to me...but it does!

Ter2000 is correct in that Tallin is quite Disneyfied. But like the people of Helsinki, they are kind of gruff until you get to know them, so it's not rudeness. It's just the way they are as a people.

Still doesn't detract from the charm of the city IMHO.