Estland, Lettland & Litauen: Baltic Trails-Wanderung, Spaziergang durch Tallin, Essen wie die Locals

by Anna Kaminski, Hugh McNaughtan, Ryan Ver Berkmoes

Mit dem Lonely Planet Estland, Lettland & Litauen auf eigene Faust durch das Baltikum!

Etliche Monate Recherche stecken im Kultreiseführer für Individualreisende. Die Autoren geben sachkundige Hintergrundinfos zum Reiseland, liefern Tipps und Infos für die Planung der Reise, beschreiben alle interessanten Sehenswürdigkeiten und präsentieren ihre persönlichen Entdeckungen und Tipps. Auch Globetrotter, die abseits der ausgetretenen Touristenpfade unterwegs sein möchten, kommen auf ihre Kosten. Wie wäre es beispielsweise mit einem Ausflug in ein uriges Dorf? Wem der Sinn nach reizenden Bauernhöfen und stillen Flecken steht, ist im Baltikum genau richtig. Oder lieber auf den Spuren feudaler Prunkbauten wandeln? Als Knotenpunkt von Handelsrouten zwischen Westeuropa und Russland war das Baltikum einst ein wahrer Flickenteppich feudaler Territorien Zahlreiche Burg- und Schlossruinen zeugen von der historischen Bedeutung der Region. Der Lonely-Planet-Reiseführer Estland, Lettland & Litauen ist ehrlich, praktisch, witzig geschrieben und liefert inspirierende Eindrücke und Erfahrungen.

• Reiseplanung: Erkunde die tollsten Ecken deines Reiseziels und plane deine perfekte Reise mithilfe unserer Reiserouten und detaillierten Karten.
• Reiseziele: Entdecke einzigartige Erlebnisse, Tipps unserer Autor:innen und Expert:innen, Hintergründe und Empfehlungen.
• Praktisches: Die wichtigsten Informationen für deine Reise im Überblick. Kurz und übersichtlich zusammengefasst.
• Storybook: Tauche mit unseren Reportagen tief in den Alltag ein und erfahre mehr über die Seele deines Reiseziels.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Reference

360 pages, Paperback

First published January 13, 1998

Reviews

[Coffee & books · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written, only the chapter on Lithuania was good, the other 2 were badly researched, biased against the people who they were trying to present. The maps are not clear, there isn't enough info on restaurants that cater for people with dietary requirements, there isn't a lot on public transport.

Luckily I didn't buy the book, just borrowed it from the library.

[Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a very helpful guide. It showed me the way to little villas in far flung places that I would probably never have been to otherwise. Actually, it was this guide that suggested that I travel to Tartu in Estonia, where I met the Dalai Lama on a side street where he was going for a walk, I kid you not!

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super helpful for my trip to Estonia.

[Graham Seibert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great help in visiting Vilnius and Riga.

We took a short family vacation this summer, traveling from Kyiv via Belarus to these two Baltic cities. We brought along a Kindle copy of the Lonely Planet guide.

It was an excellent reference as far as telling us what to do in the cities. We climbed to the top of the hill with three crosses and overlooked the city of Vilnius. We learned a bit of the history, crossing the Vila River – a big stream, actually – after which the city is named. The city maps were really useful.

The utility of such books changes over time. Restaurants come and go, and more and more of us look for lodgings via the Internet. But the attractions of the cities remain.

I especially appreciated two recommendations in Riga. The first was the beach at Jurmala, with instructions of how to get there by train. The second was the recommendation that we ride the retro tramway. It is a beautifully restored car, probably a century old, that runs on the same tracks and timetable as the number eleven trolley. Well worth the experience.

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book that I ultimately chose to buy on the Kindle in order to take on my trip. I thought the maps were good, the organization was logical, and it also helped me to solidify that the impression that I needed to slightly alter my upcoming trip (entailing a bunch of rebooking of hotel rooms about a week before I needed them, which thankfully worked out). This is the first trip where I have read the guidebooks cover to cover rather than flipping through them, or xeroxing the appropriate sections of several books to read while there. This is definitely a better preparation--whether it actually changes things, times will tell. In any case, of the four books on this region that I read, this is the one I wanted to go with me.

[Ietrio · Rating 2 out of 5]

A tourist guide just like any other. A perishable list of phones and addresses and not much more.

[Ameya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I left it midway and instead relied on the numerous blogs and websites to get information before my trip.
The read wasnt exciting and information not most up to date

[Ambika Devi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Fodor books and always use them when I travel!

[Dee Renee Chesnut · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more information than I will need for my short visit on a cruise.

[Liz C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good guide

This seems like a good guide for the area. Just checking out places to see on the coast and Tallinn.

[Terence Gilheany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Useful, as all Lonely Planets.

[Linus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview of the often overlooked Baltic countries: recommended to anyone traveling there, or just want to get to know more without investing too much time.

[A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely organized, with pleasing page design. Not convinced it's as good or thorough as a Bradt guide, but Bradt doesn't have a current Latvia guide. Appreciated the Helsinki bonus.

[Nathan Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

As part of my reading for the upcoming Feast of Tabernacles in Estonia [1], I requested this book from one of the local library systems I frequent on a regular basis, only to find that the book was on order. It was worth the wait. As it happens, the book was on order because the newest edition of the book just came out this year, and was likely on back order from the publisher. In reading this book I was reminded why I find the Lonely Planet traveling guides such a comfort when looking forward to international visits, as this is the third time that I have read a guide in advance of traveling, having previously done so for trips to Ghana and Thailand. The virtues of the book, and the others in the series I am familiar with, are many--the material is well-organized, benefits from crowdsourcing information, and contains a healthy amount of irony, wit, and sarcasm. For example, of one of Estonia's small islands the authors have the following to say: "Vormsi, Estonia's fourth-biggest island (93 sq km), rose from the sea around 3000 years ago and continues to rise at a rate of 3mm per year (its highest point is a modest 13m above sea level and is said to be a hiding place for trolls). Except for its voracious mosquitoes, the island has only ever been sparsely inhabited and as a consequence its forests, coastal pastures and wooded meadows have remained relatively undisturbed (163)." This is the sort of book that reports on local customs and superstitions in a deadpan and understated way, at times giving warning to readers about conditions and giving handy tips on how travelers can save money and get the most bang for their buck. It is hard to imagine a more pleasant read for the witty traveler.

In terms of its contents, this book has much in common with other traveler's guides to the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. It gives a few useful words and phrases in the three national languages, it comments on culture, history, and politics, it gives recommendations on lodging, food, travel, and shopping, and it comments on visa requirements and the rapidly growing e-infrastructure and the somewhat lacking transportation infrastructure of the region. Like most guides, it goes in order from north to south, starting with Estonia, progressing to Latvia, and then finishing with Lithuania. Unlike the other guides I have read, it also includes excursions to Helsinki (the capital of Finland), placed after the section on Estonia, as well as to Kalingrad (ruled over by Russia since WWII) after the section on Lithuania. What the book lacks for in glossy pictures it more than makes up for in useful information and a robust sense of both humanity and snark, directed where appropriate, usually at either Russian or Nazi behavior or problems with mosquitoes, which are mentioned often.

The target market for a book like this one is fairly obvious--it is aimed at people traveling to either Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania. The book is updated frequently, encourages readers to send their comments and remarks, which helps the book stay current and improve in quality and usefulness to travelers. The authors are honest in their appraisals and encourage readers to be wise about social customs so as to be wise and understanding travelers in foreign countries. For those of us who do enjoy the occasional trip to foreign lands, the guide are useful in providing worthwhile information for planning trips. Included are insets for walking tours of the region's capital cities, advice on whether or not to get museum or city passes in various cities, and even include information on how to room with residents of cities, and which areas have English-speaking tourist guides. For those looking for useful and specific details and recommendations about cost and quality, this book is a useful guide that, at about 430 pages including its closing "survival guide" apart from its lengthy index, is not too taxing on the reader while also providing a wealth of worthwhile information. For those traveling to the Baltic states, this book is a must-read.

[1] See, for example:

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[Barron · Rating 4 out of 5]

The content is very good, but watch out: in some cases the physical map locations are completely inaccurate. Read the address of an attraction you're trying to find and cross check it yourself instead of trying to find the spot marked on a map.

[Bryan Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

It does what it needs to do. I've been using LP for nearly 30 years, and I think that it appeals to people who are still backpacking when others their age are doing package tours (or not travelling at all), and people who are old enough to still need/appreciate a paper book to help them plan a trip. In an era where all information is available online, you don't need this book for recommendations on lodging/food/entertainment (I found restaurants in this edition, published in May 2022, which no longer exist, and I wasn't even using it much for restaurants). However, they map out a good walking tour, and they give you just enough cultural/historical info so that you know what you're getting into and looking at as you roam around the world. If you're still using the Lonely Planet, you aren't reading reviews of the Lonely Planet, so just pick it up and choose your own adventure.

[Jackie Tilks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the entire Latvia section and parts of Lithuania and Estonia. I really love the Lonely Planet series and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone going to the Baltic States. My husband is from Latvia and I found it comforting to see some of the same places that my husband and his friends and family recommend seeing in this book. I will definitely pick up this book again the next time we go to Latvia when we can hopefully see Lithuania and Estonia too.

[Nisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Info, but Not enough

While still helpful, this book did not break down the information by country and I was only interested in the information on Tallinn. It also would have been helpful to include walking distances from the ferries to old town or the costs of taxis, etc. as has been done in other lonely planet guides. Not every traveler is coming in by plane. Ferries from Helsinki are another viable option.

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, this book will get you very excited for the area...but may not be necessary. I would check it out from the library. If you plan on leaving the main cities, ask the locals...get a ride with them..more fun.

[Theut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guida utilissima per un viaggio fai da te.

[Lamadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only used the Estonia portion...so far.