The Baltic capitals of Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn get no respect. Two decades after the fall of communism, these three cities are still misunderstood by American travelers. You can read all about famous sites like the Latvian National Opera House, the 12th-century St. Olaf’s Church in Tallinn and Vilnius’ Old Town in guidebooks. But today, we’re looking at some of the quirkier places that make these cities so charming.
Vilnius
Vilnius at dusk.
Learning a new language is tough, in no small part because attaining fluency requires constant practice. Lithuania is part of the European Union, and the EU has made bilingual proficiency a goal for all its citizens. So, the people of Vilnius worked with Soros International House to create an innovative program. Known locally as the “language buses,” Vilnius equipped some of its public buses with repeat-after-me language instruction and signs listing common phrases in English, Polish and Lithuanian. The program was only funded for one year, but the people of Vilnius loved it. Regular public transit riders said it was a great way to break the ice and to make friends across linguistic lines in the city. “It’s a fun way to learn,” said one frequent bus rider. “It’s nice to have a bit of company when you’re traveling late at night coming back from a party.”
Riga
Riga's eclectic skyline.
Latvia suffered fifty-one years of occupation from 1940 to 1991, and the city of Riga has not forgotten. At the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, visitors can learn about Riga’s struggles and eventual independence from Nazi and Soviet rule. Go Ahead Tour Consultant Cara Bisceglia recently visited the museum during her tour of St. Petersburg & the Baltics, and she said she was struck by the way people were “hardened” by so many years of occupation. “These people who experienced communism, they’re still alive. They’re sort of detached from their past, which I think lets them talk about it without getting too emotional. But Soviet history feels close enough to touch inside the museum.”
Tallinn
Tallinn's Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
Like Riga (and Vilnius, for that matter), Tallinn found itself behind the Iron Curtain after World War II. Throughout the Cold War, Tallinn crawled with spies, thanks to the city’s strategic position at the mouth of the Gulf of Finland and its proximity to Helsinki and St. Petersburg. Today, visitors can peer into the world of Cold War spies at Tallinn’s KGB Museum. All you need to do is travel to the 23rd floor of the Sokos Hotel Viru. Of course, the 23rd floor isn’t listed in the hotel’s elevators—not exactly clandestine, is it?—so you’ll ride to the top and then ascend a secret staircase. This is a small museum, and we recommend that visitors plan their trip well in advance.
What are your favorite under-the-radar travel destinations? Leave a comment and let us know!
