Riga and Tallinn are the two northmost Baltic capital cities. For being in neighboring countries, both cities have their own vibe and atmosphere. If you are wondering whether you should visit Riga or Tallinn, here is the ultimate comparison between these two Baltic cities.
Table of Contents
Quick Overview
Riga
Riga is the largest city in the Baltic states with 633,000 people in the city and over 1 million in the metro area. It is the capital of Latvia and is home to 1/3 of the people in the country. The center of Riga is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Riga’s Central Market is one of the largest in Europe, made up of four giant zeppelin hangers from WW1. In 2014, it was named the European Capital of Culture.
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia with 435,000 residents. It is only 80km south of Helsinki, making it is the furthest north of the Baltic capital cities. There are 46 kilometers of shoreline winding around the city. Tallinn’s Old Town is one of the best-preserved medieval cities on the continent and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Old Town looks like it was taken straight from a fairytale.
Geographic Setting
Riga
Riga sits where the Daugava River and the Gulf of Riga meet. Most of the city sits on the eastern bank of the river. There are many miles of coastline along the Gulf of Riga and many beaches close to the city. People also kayak on the Daugava River in the summer months.
Tallinn
Tallinn is at the far northern tip of Estonia. It is on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland. Lake Ulimiste is a large lake that borders the southern edge of the city and is the main source of the city’s drinking water. Tallinn is unique to most European cities because it does not lie directly on a river. There are at least five public beaches that people flock to in the summer months.
Things to See
Riga
- House of Black Heads was originally a guild for unmarried merchants but was destroyed in WW2. Once it was rebuilt in 1999, it was turned into a museum.
- Freedom Monument is a giant monument remembering those who fought for Latvia’s independence.
- St. Peter’s Church is a beautiful Lutheran church located in the heart of the Old Town.
- Central Market is one of Europe’s largest markets. It is made up of four massive zeppelin hangars from WW1.
- Riga Castle is now the official residence of the Latvian president.
- Riga Old Town most of the famous landmarks in Riga can be found within the Old Town. The Old Town itself is a treasure that you must see when you are here.
- Art Nouveau is a style of architecture that famously makes up 1/3 of the buildings in the center of the city. Riga is home to the largest collection of Art Nouveau architecture in the world.
Tallinn
- Tallinn Town Hall is a beautiful Gothic-style build located next to the Old Town Square.
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a large Eastern Orthodox Cathedral found in the Old Town. It has beautiful domes and a white and orange exterior.
- Kadriog Art Museum is a palace originally built for Catherine I of Russia by Peter the Great. It now serves a museum.
- Toompea Castle is a castle located on Toompea Hill in the middle of Tallinn. It has been in use since the 9th century and it now holds the Parliament of Estonia.
- Tallinn Town Wall was originally built to defend the city (obviously) but today reminds of the long history of Tallinn. Many parts of the wall are World Heritage Sites.
- St. Olaf’s Church was built in the 12th century. It is claimed that from 1549 to 1625 it was the tallest building in the world. You can go to the top of the steeple and see the incredible vistas of the Tallinn.
Food
Riga
Rye bread is one of the staple cuisines in Riga. It is commonly served as a side to your main entrée. Pickled and smoked fish are also staples here. The most common fish in Riga is Salmon, cod, pollock, and trout. One of the traditional desserts here is the Alexandertorte which is named after Alexander I. It is a pastry consisting of jam sandwiched between sweet bread.
Tallinn
Most traditional cuisines in Tallinn seem to revolve around meat, potatoes, and fish. Rye bread is also a staple in Tallinn. Soup is often served before the main meal is eaten. For desserts, a couple of the most popular foods is the curd snack and rhubarb pie. Curd snacks are sugary curd mixtures covered in chocolate.
Getting Around
Riga
With flat terrain and many parks covering the city, Riga is an excellent city to explore on foot. You use the public transportation system as well if you want to see some of the sights outside of the city center. If you do use public transportation, you might want to consider getting the Riga Card which gives visitors free use of the trolleys, buses, and trams.
Tallinn
Tallinn is a rather compact city, especially in the Old Town making it great to explore while walking. Biking is also a popular option to get around if you want to explore the seaside and the outskirts of the city. Public bikes are available using mobile apps. Bikes can be found outside of the tourist information office in the city center. The public transportation network runs on the honor system where they do random checks to see if people have tickets.
Nightlife
Riga
There are many bars to explore in Riga. The Briana Iela nightlife district is one of the best places to explore Riga’s nightlife. In recent years there have been many scammers in the bars of Riga. Karaoke clubs have been the most notorious for scamming tourists with massively over-priced drinks. One of the most notorious ways they scam tourists is by having women sit down with you and order many over-priced drinks then leaving you with a large bill. This being said, there are still many bars you can go to that are honest and offer a good time, just be mindful of your surroundings.
Tallinn
For many years, Tallinn has been known for attracting stag parties. Today, there are many options to fit every taste of nightlife. Most of the bars are found in the Old Town. Studio and Hollywood are two of the best clubs to hit when you’re here. Like any nightclub, be aware of your belongings in your pockets when you are in the clubs. Hollywood has been deemed the “Bermuda Triangle” because of pickpockets.
Day Trips
Riga
- Jurmala is a beach city only sitting on the Gulf of Riga. It is only a half-hour for Riga making it the perfect destination for a day on the beach.
- Sigulda is a town to the northeast of Riga. It is home to castle ruins and one of the largest caves in Latvia.
- Jelgava is a small town to the southwest of the Riga. You can explore the Old Town and go to the historic Jelgava Palace.
- Rundale Palace is a large baroque palace to the south of Riga. It has beautiful gardens and often hosts foreign leaders when they are visiting Latvia.
Tallinn
- Lahemaa National Park is one of Estonia’s largest and most beautiful national parks.
- Haapsalu is a small beach town known for its beautiful beaches.
- Helsinki is only 80km away from Tallinn. There are many ferries that cross the strait every day which makes it an incredible excursion from Tallinn.
- Tartu is home to Estonia’s oldest university and a KGB museum.
- Narva is known for having original Soviet architecture. The Narva River runs through the middle of the town. It also has two large fortresses worth giving a visit.
Overall
The two northernmost Baltic capital cities are incredible cities to visit. If you want a larger city to explore then Riga is the obvious choice. If you want a smaller city straight out of a fairytale, then you should choose Tallinn. As always, if you have time you should definitely consider visiting both cities.
