Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about how to build a travel itinerary to the Baltics region, which includes Latvia Lithuania, and Estonia. Sometimes the most difficult part of travel is deciding where to go and building out a travel itinerary. There are so many cool places to visit in the Baltics that it can be hard to narrow them down. This tour includes the Baltic capitals of each country, but don’t be afraid to venture out to smaller towns as there are many things to see in the Baltic region.
Tallinn, Estonia
Tallinn is a great place to start your Baltics itinerary. It’s one of the largest cities in the Baltic states, it has a good-sized airport, and is also one of the most visited cities in the region. There’s a ferry from Helsinki that arrives several times a day, and the ride only takes two hours. So, if you are spending several days in Tallinn, you can also make a day trip to Finland! There’s also an overnight ferry from Stockholm and a bus from St. Petersburg. In short, there are many ways to arrive in Tallinn.
What to Know Before You Visit Estonia
Once you reach Tallinn, some of my recommendations for things to do include:
- Tallinn Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking around Old Town is really my favorite thing to do in Tallinn.
- Visit the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, a beautiful Russian Orthodox Cathedral on a hill in Old Town.
- Tallinn’s Town Hall Square is one of the prettiest squares in Europe and a great place to start your day of exploration in Tallinn.
- Check out several Tallinn museums, including the Estonian History Museum, the Tallinn City Museum, and The Museum of Occupations.
Tip: Try to avoid visiting Tallinn on the weekends; they get a lot of weekend tourists from nearby countries, and it drives the prices way up!
Riga, Latvia
A four-hour bus ride from Tallinn will bring you to Riga, the capital of Latvia. Riga is known regionally as a party city. A lot of Europeans grab a quick flight here on the weekends to enjoy the affordable food and drink. Bars and restaurants are a major attraction in Riga. However, some other things to do in Riga include:
- Riga’s Old Town, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is full of amazing Art Nouveau buildings.
- Visit the Occupation of Latvia Museum, where you can learn about Nazi and Soviet occupations of Latvia.
- There are several parks and canals in Riga, and a summer boat ride is a great way to spend an afternoon here.
- Go to LIDO for some tasty Latvian food
- Visit The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia just outside of town.
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Vilnius, Lithuania
Another four-hour bus ride takes you from Riga to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. I used to work in Lithuania, and have many fond memories of Vilnius. Of the three cities in our Baltics itinerary, Vilnius is the most affordable for accommodation and dining. My recommendations for your visit to Vilnius are:
- Vilnius Old Town, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are several cool churches and squares to explore as you walk around Old Town.
- The Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania has a lot of cool historic information
- Climb Gediminas Hill and the castle tower for views out over Vilnius
- Take a day trip to Trakai, to see the castle, and enjoy some outdoor recreation on the lake.
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While I do recommend spending as much time in each of these cities as you can, realistically most of us have limited vacation time. This Baltics itinerary is meant to help you enjoy a 10-day trip to the region, getting to know the three capital cities. Looking for more tips on travel in Eastern Europe? Check out these other blog posts:
- Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Visiting Eastern Europe
- What to Know Before You Visit Lithuania
- Ten Things That Will Shock You in Russia
