Baltic adventures?

[blackfly]

Anyone have any experience travelling in Latvia, Lithuania, & Estonia?

Wife and I want to take a trip next autumn, somewhere I've never been, so that rules out a few countries, but she's never been overseas at all. Looking for somewhere interesting, fun, a little weird, not a run-of-the-mill trip. Not that there is nothing wrong with going somewhere other people go, popular places are popular for a reason, sure, but its kind of fun to go somewhere to discover for yourself and not hear from every person you tell you're travelling 'oh well you HAVE to go here'.. the been-there-done-that attitude gets tiresome to me sometime. See: Americans going to Dublin, for example.

Anyway, she doesn't want to do the middle east or central asia on her first trip, which is where my primary interests lie, but I think I've got her interested in somewhere european, but neither of us have a ton of interest in what I consider to be the popular top tier destinations (from american point of view, note), like Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, London etc.

So I started thinking, Balkan, Slavic, or Baltic might be a good way to get some more out-of-our-comfort/experience zone adventures, but without having to go to Tuva or something to do it. She's thinking Prague/BudaPest right now, and I'm getting interested in heading north, the more I look at Riga, Talinn, Kaliningrad, Curonian Spit, etc.

Seems like we might be able to get a neat taste of several cultures that are re-emerging into their own in the post soviet era, but still have some exciting somewhat insular histories. Cool modern culture/art/museums etc, as well as old history, and plenty of outdoorsy hikes, natural exploration to be done.

Anyway, I figured I might as well take advantage of the fact that there is a whole group of folks here who have far more likely travelled in some of these areas than any of my social groups state side.

So... any thoughts? Anyone been there?

thanks!

[Roger Theloger]

Not since the wall came down.

[dhauser]

I've not been to the Baltics; however I have been to Budapest and can highly recommend it. The food is awesome. The tours and museums are first rate especially the Military Museum on Castle Hill in Buda.

If you do find yourself in Budapest get the Budapest Metro Card from the hotel. You pay once and then travel any and all public transportation with as many stops and transfers as you want for the period of the card. We used public transport exclusively and it was well worth the price.

[Ace From Outer Space]

Haven't done the Baltic States but I did go to Budapest with the Mrs in 2010 for the world triathlon champs as she was competing. I loved Budapest, it's a beautiful, and very very friendly city. Lovely hospitable people. As Dhauser says, it's public transport system is fab and the trams go everywhere. Food is dirt cheap, as is the booze!

We travelled from Budapest to Prague by train, taking a sleeper. The journey was lovely, but we both hated the destination. Prague in comparison to Budapest was cold and unfriendly. The locals really didn't seem to like British tourists. Not a huge surprise if most of the Brits they see coming to their city are stag and hen party revellers... Prague was certainly pretty, but exceedingly charmless for us.

From Prague we went to Berlin, again, by rail. Berlin is a fucking fantastic place....

[Duff]

Prague is a great destination, but it is a tourist hot spot these days. Well worth a visit anyway though. I really fancy visiting the SE European cities myself: Budapest, Sofia, Zagreb.... but Istanbul would always be my first choice. It's been nearly 20 years since I went there and I really want to go back. Amazing place, there is nowhere else on Earth like it.

[blackfly]

Istanbul would always be my first choice. It's been nearly 20 years since I went there and I really want to go back. Amazing place, there is nowhere else on Earth like it.

Trying to get the wife to go someday, but I lived there for ~7months, and then went back for a few weeks several years later, so it fails the 'I want to go somewhere new for both of us' test. Which I concede, is a fair requirement. It'll be cool to experience everything new at the same time, and not accidentally only drag her around to my favorite spots on the Bogazaci.

[wait, what?]

Well Tallinn comes highly recommended by those i know who've been...

[Etranger2]

I haven't done the Baltics but my 70 yo parents have. If you are heading that way it would be neglectful not to go to St Petersburg & Helsinki too.

Budapest is a great place to visit though!

[Bugeyed]

Did a whistlestop through the Baltics about 5 years ago, for some reason can only remember Riga with any clarity. Pretty neat place, compact, interesting, plenty to see over 2 days, decent food, beer was so-so, and not too expensive/full of English twats on stag weekends unlike Prauge. I did fancy Sweden but would have needed a mortgage...

If you do go to Czech Republic, Brno was fucking ace, best brewery/restaurant I have ever been to, so good I can walk there in my mind now but have no idea what is called.

[Clayface]

I have been to Lithuania and found it a bit hard work. I really Like Hungary and Romania, but Prague left me cold. I could have been in Newcastle.