Bradt’s Baltic Capitals Guide

Bradt Travel Guides’ 2006 edition of its guide to Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius and Kaliningrad is thorough and practical.

Nov 3, 2006

If you're planning a city tour of the Baltic States, and a quick stop in neighboring Kaliningrad, Bradt's Baltic Capitals guide could be an ideal companion.

The three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are opening up rapidly to increasing numbers of tourists. Bradt travel guides usually focus on destinations that are less well-known, and the writers of this guide are truly Baltic experts. That doesn’t mean this is the guide for you – but if you like your practical information combined with in-depth historical and cultural background, it could be perfect.

The book is organized with an overview chapter giving practical information on areas including banking and getting there and around, plus a timeline overview of the history of the Baltic region. The remainder of the book consists of individual chapters for each Baltic capital city – Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius – plus the city of Kaliningrad (formerly Königsberg), the main city of a lonely coastal wedge of Russia, now cut off from the rest of its nation by the independent Baltic states.

Within each individual chapter, you’ll find four or five pages describing the history of the city, suggested itineraries for stays of varying lengths, practical information on attractions, accommodation, eating, nightlife and shopping, plus detailed walking tour suggestions and ideas for a couple of day trips outside the cities.

This guide is definitely suitable for city-based trips, but you’d need a country guide if you want to get out into the countryside. The history sections are interesting and relevant – although they give the guide a somewhat text-heavy feeling – and the walking tours are detailed but could be improved if illustrated on the maps. It also provides more information on Kaliningrad than I’ve ever found elsewhere.

If you’re a traveler heading to one or more of Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius and you’re interested in having a historical and cultural understanding of what makes your destination tick, this is the guidebook for you.

Further information: Check the Bradt website or look for the Baltic Capitals 2006 3rd edition, written by Neil Taylor, Stephen Baister, Howard Jarvis and Chris Patrick.

The copyright of the article Bradt’s Baltic Capitals Guide in E Europe Travel is owned by Amanda Kendle. Permission to republish Bradt’s Baltic Capitals Guide in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.