7 Days in Tallinn and Riga: Baltic Old Towns, Legendary Markets, and Modern Nordic Flavors
Important note up front: we can’t assist with illegal activity (including anything related to “carding”). Instead, here’s a safe, culture-first week through two spectacular Baltic capitals—Tallinn and Riga—focusing on markets, history, food, and design. You’ll still get the thrill of discovery, just the legal and memorable kind.
Straddling the Gulf of Finland and the Daugava River, Tallinn and Riga have traded stories and spices since Hanseatic days. Today their Old Towns glow with preserved medieval streets and art nouveau façades, and their markets hum with smoked fish, rye breads, mushrooms, pickles, and artisan cheeses. It’s a perfect 7-day itinerary for travelers who love architecture, markets, coffee culture, and accessible day trips.
Practical notes: both countries use the euro, contactless payments are ubiquitous, and English is widely spoken in tourist areas (Estonian and Latvian are the official languages; Russian is also understood in many places). Dress in layers year-round, book popular restaurants ahead on weekends, and check your government’s latest travel advisories. Buses between cities are comfortable, inexpensive, and frequent.
Tallinn
Once a key Hanseatic port, Tallinn pairs storybook towers with cutting-edge creative districts. Within the fortified Old Town, guild halls and merchants’ houses sit steps from indie coffee bars. A short tram ride away, the seaside Noblessner and Kalamaja quarters showcase repurposed shipyards, galleries, and standout restaurants.
Top highlights include Toompea Hill’s viewpoints, the city wall and towers, Balti Jaama Turg market, Kadriorg Palace and KUMU art museum, and the Seaplane Harbour maritime museum. Food-wise, think hearty Estonian fare—smoked fish, black bread, mushrooms, game—reimagined with Nordic finesse.
Where to stay (Tallinn): Search centrally in Old Town, Kalamaja, or Noblessner for easy walks and dining.
How to get to Tallinn: From major European hubs, nonstop flights are typically 2–3 hours; from North America or Asia, expect one connection (11–15 hours total). Typical intra‑Europe fares run ~€80–€250 round-trip outside peak holidays.
- Search flights to/from Europe on Omio
- Search global flights on Kiwi.com
- Search global flights on Trip.com
From Tallinn Airport to Old Town, take Tram 4 (~15 minutes; ~€2), or a taxi/ride‑hail (~10–20 minutes depending on traffic).
Day 1: Arrival and Old Town glow
Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake out your legs with an orientation walk: Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats), St. Catherine’s Passage, and the city wall near Hellemann Tower. For an easy caffeine-and-pastry fix, stop at Røst Bakery in the Rotermann quarter for cardamom buns and house-roasted coffee.
Evening: Dinner at Rataskaevu 16—beloved for warmly updated Estonian classics like elk roast, beet salads, and black bread with herb butter; reserve ahead. Cap the night with a gin flight at Junimperium Bar in Telliskivi, showcasing local botanicals in a cozy, brick-lined space.
Day 2: Toompea views, churches, and classic taverns
Morning: Coffee and light breakfast at Kohvik August (Old Town)—try the bircher muesli or syrniki (cottage cheese pancakes). Climb Toompea Hill for photo‑worthy viewpoints (Kohtuotsa and Patkuli), then visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral’s onion domes and the nearby Dome Church.
Afternoon: Lunch at III Draakon, a candlelit tavern tucked into Town Hall—rustic elk soup, pickles, and hand pies served in clay mugs for a bit of medieval theater. Continue along the city walls and duck into courtyards and artisan shops along Vene and Pikk streets.
Evening: Treat yourself at 180° by Matthias Diether in Noblessner (advance booking recommended) for a tasting menu that marries Nordic precision with Baltic produce. Prefer something more casual? Pegasus offers contemporary plates and Estonian wines in a mid‑century landmark. Nightcap at Põhjala Tap Room for Baltic porters and sea-breeze views.
Day 3: Kalamaja, Telliskivi, Balti Jaama Turg, and the Seaplane Harbour
Morning: Head to Kalamaja’s wooden-house streets. Brunch at F‑Hoone—an industrial‑chic pioneer with generous shakshuka, buckwheat pancakes, and cozy coffee corner. Wander Telliskivi Creative City’s murals and design shops.
Afternoon: Browse Balti Jaama Turg: grab smoked fish, farmhouse cheeses, and fresh pastries; upstairs, hunt for vintage vinyl and Soviet‑era curios. Walk or bus to the Seaplane Harbour (Lennusadam) for submarine Lembit and interactive maritime exhibits in a soaring hangar.
Evening: Dinner at Lore Bistroo in Noblessner—family‑style plates (slow-cooked beef rib, seasonal fish, charred cabbage) and a stellar wine list. Unwind at historic Kalma Saun with a classic Estonian sauna session; bring flip‑flops and water.
Day 4: Kadriorg arts and a seaside stroll
Morning: Coffee and breakfast at NOP in leafy Kadriorg—excellent smoothies, porridges, and pastries. Explore Kadriorg Palace’s baroque gardens and the adjacent KUMU museum’s Estonian art collection spanning classical to contemporary.
Afternoon: Tram to Pirita for a seafront walk and views back toward Old Town’s spires. If weather turns, pop into design shops in Rotermann and grab a light bite at a café.
Evening: Casual dinner at Väike Rataskaevu or Farm Restaurant for modern Baltic comfort food. If you like live music, check pub listings around Old Town and Telliskivi—many venues host jazz or acoustic sets mid‑week.
Riga
Riga, the “Paris of the Baltics,” dazzles with Europe’s richest concentration of art nouveau façades and a medieval core along the Daugava. The city’s soul is in its markets and cafés: smoky sprats, bacon‑filled pīrāgi, dill‑bright salads, and earthy rye breads pair with a booming specialty coffee scene.
Don’t miss Riga Central Market—five vast zeppelin hangars converted into food halls—plus Alberta iela’s art nouveau showcase, the House of the Blackheads, and the poignant Corner House (former KGB building) for guided insights into 20th‑century history. Evenings are made for folk taverns, wine bars, and a glass of Riga Black Balsam.
Where to stay (Riga): Base in the Old Town (Vecrīga) or the quiet Art Nouveau quarter for easy walking.
Getting from Tallinn to Riga (Day 5 morning): Comfortable buses run ~4.5–5 hours, €15–€35, with Wi‑Fi and power outlets; departures are frequent throughout the day. Direct trains are limited/long; buses are the go‑to.
Day 5: Travel to Riga, Old Town orientation, and a folk cellar
Morning: Bus from Tallinn to Riga (aim for a 8:00–9:00 departure). Snack on a pastry before boarding and request a window seat for glimpses of forests and farmsteads.
Afternoon: Check in, then take an Old Town loop: Dom Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church area, the Three Brothers houses, and the riverside promenade. Coffee stop at MiiT Coffee (Dzirnavu iela) for single‑origin espresso and vegan cakes.
Evening: Dinner at Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs, a vaulted cellar pouring local beers and serving Latvian staples—grey peas with bacon, pork ribs with lingonberries, and rye bread desserts—often with live folk music. Night views from Skyline Bar (Radisson Blu) offer a bird’s‑eye panorama of Old Town’s spires.
Day 6: Central Market, Art Nouveau, and the Corner House
Morning: Breakfast graze at Riga Central Market: pīrāgi (bacon buns), smoked sprats, curd cheeses, pickled veg, and honey. Explore each hangar (fish, meat, produce, dairy, mixed goods) and pick up picnic items.
Afternoon: Walk Alberta iela and Elizabetes iela to admire art nouveau masterpieces by Michail Eisenstein—floral motifs, mythic faces, and sinuous balconies. Lunch at Garage Wine Bar & Kitchen (Berga Bazārs) for seasonal small plates and Baltic wines. Join a guided visit at the Corner House (former KGB HQ) for powerful context on Latvia’s 20th‑century trials.
Evening: Dinner at Milda, a modern Latvian kitchen known for dumplings, venison, and seasonal veg. For cocktails, try Gimlet Nordic Cocktail Bar—clean flavors, foraged elements, and a short, elegant menu that lets regional spirits shine.
Day 7: Jurmala seaside morning and departure
Morning: If skies are fair, take the suburban train to Jūrmala (Dzintari/Majori stops)—25–35 minutes, ~€2–€3 one way—for pine forests, long sandy beaches, and wooden summer villas. Alternatively, stay in town for one last market run or a slow coffee at Rocket Bean Roastery on Miera iela.
Afternoon (departure): Head to Riga International Airport (RIX). European flights are typically 2–3 hours; intercontinental trips connect via hubs. Compare fares and times below.
- Search flights to/from Europe on Omio
- Search European trains on Omio (useful for onward rail connections)
- Search global flights on Kiwi.com
- Search global flights on Trip.com
Extra dining and coffee picks (current as of 2025):
- Tallinn: Rataskaevu 16 (Old Town favorite); Pegasus (contemporary Estonian); F‑Hoone (Telliskivi brunch); Lore Bistroo (Noblessner sharing plates); Põhjala Tap Room (craft beer and BBQ); Røst Bakery (cardamom buns, specialty coffee); NOP (Kadriorg healthy eats).
- Riga: Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs (Latvian tavern); Milda (seasonal Latvian); Garage Wine Bar & Kitchen (small plates, great wines); MiiT Coffee (third‑wave); Rocket Bean Roastery (house‑roasted beans); LIDO (cafeteria‑style Latvian classics, fast and affordable).
Throughout this itinerary, you’ll experience the Baltics through markets, museums, and neighborhoods where history and creativity meet every day. It’s a legal, low‑stress, flavor‑packed week—rich in stories, full of friendly faces, and easy on logistics.