Estonia and Latvia Beer Festival and Brewery Trip
Our signature trip, visit one of the best beer festivals in the world, the Tallinn craft beer festival, in the already lovely city of Tallinn, where you can also visit several breweries (including one of our favorite, Pohjala) and taprooms. There is plenty to do in Tallinn, of course the beautiful historic city center, but don't forget the trendy Telivski district, where you will find an abundance of hipster cafes, galleries and restaurants between old industrial buildings and shunting yards.
From Tallinn we drive into the Estonian countryside and spend the night somewhere in or near a nature reserve. From there on to the pleasant student city of Tartu, where the (also highly recommended) Puhaste brewery is visited.
We then cross the border into Latvia, where we can visit the Valmiermuza brewery along the way, located on a classic estate. We will spend the night here near the Gauja nature park, where you can go hiking and/or canoeing and then it's on to Riga. Here we visit the Arpus brewery, perhaps our favorite with its delicious smoothie sours and dipas, tripas and neidipas. And in the hip district of Riga is the Labietis Taproom, where beers are brewed according to a medieval recipe. And of course Riga, with its historic city center and art nouveau architecture, also has plenty to offer, even for non-beer lovers (if such a person exists...)
Programm Estonia and Latvia Trip
Day 1 arrival Tallinn
Depending on the flight times, you can take a city walk through the old town and the trendy Telliskivi district in the afternoon. We visit the trendy harbor area where the first brewery we visit is located and one of the best; Pohjala, where they have many of their famous barreled aged beers on tap. Who knows, we may end up in the Paterei, the old KGB prison, but we will try to behave and have a nice meal somewhere and taste some other beers. Pohjala also has a cozy cafe in Telliskivi where there are also several good restaurants, including in old trams dating from the Soviet period.
Optional to go to Tallin's Craft Beer weekend already this day.
Day 2 Tallinn / beer festival
Explore the city by yourself in the morning. The rest of the day is dedicated to the Tallinn Craft Beer weekend, so you can enjoy the heavenly liquid endlessly. Every year dozens of the best breweries come to this festival, often with exclusive beers.
Day 3 Tallinn - Somaa National park
Wake up fresh (more or less) and then set off (not too early) to the Somaa nature park, one of the most beautiful national parks in Estonia. A typical raised moor area where we can stretch our legs.
Day 4 Somaa - Tartu
We continue our journey to the pleasant student city of Tartu. Here we visit the Puhaste brewery, an independent brewery, known for its silver series, unsurpassed barrel aged stouts, but they brew many more delicious things. Rest of the day to explore the cozy city center, where there is also a Puhaste taproom.
Day 5 Tartu - Gauja nature park via Valmiera
We leave Estonia and slowly drive into Latvia. A first stop is the Valmiermuza brewery, located on a beautiful estate in Valmiera. This is one of the larger breweries and they brew more traditional beers. Of course with a nice tasting session included. Then we drive to the Gauja nature park, many forests around the Gauja river. We can also go hiking or canoeing if necessary.
Day 6 Gauja nature park - Riga
On to the last stop, the beautiful and vibrant city of Riga where there is plenty to see and do (and drink). But first we visit the Arpus brewery, responsible for some of the best beers of the moment. Hopefully we will then walk sober into the city and enjoy the Art Nouveau buildings of Riga, the old town with its many historic buildings, the market in old zeppelin hangars, or we will end up directly in the small but very cozy Labietis brewery (where a tasting is planned in the evening), in the trendy Fonstrik building. Near the trendy Miera Iela with many food trucks and some bars with local beer.
Day 7 departure Riga
This is an example program and can be completely customized. It is also possible to make this trip at other times than during the Tallinn Beer Festival. The trip can be made in groups, but also on an individual basis.
The Tallinn Beer Festival falls on June 13 and 14 in 2025. The trip can also be combined with one of the beer festivals in Riga, for example Riga Pours on September 20 or Nurme springs on April 25.