The Baltic countries are often forgotten by most travelers who are traveling in Europe, but if you are looking for off-the-beaten paths in a pretty well-traveled continent like Europe, the Baltic countries are the way to go.
The Baltic countries offer a more authentic experience of the forgotten history of Eastern Europe, from their medieval roots to the bloody fights for independence against the Soviet Union, while also providing a fairy-tale-like experience in their small towns and forests.
Within this guide, we will travel through the Baltic countries with a one-week itinerary that I used for traveling through Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
From the raw, authentic experience of Vilnius to the magical, medieval town of Tallinn, here is all the information you need for a great time in the Baltic countries.
- Baltic Itinerary Map
- One week itinerary to the Baltic Countries
- Baltic Countries Travel Video
- Why Visit the Baltic Countries?
- When to Visit the Baltic Countries?
- How to Get to the Baltic Countries?
- How to Get Around the Baltic Countries?
- What to Pack for Baltics?
- Further Reading for the Baltic Countries and its Neighbors
Baltic Itinerary Map
| โ๏ธ Day 1: | Vilnius, Lithuania |
| โ๏ธ Day 2-4: | Riga, Latvia |
| โ๏ธ Day 5: | Tartu, Estonia |
| โ๏ธ Day 6-7: | Tallinn, Estonia |
One week itinerary to the Baltic Countries
Day 1: Vilnius, Lithuania (2 nights)
First off, if you are coming from Central Europe, the closest big city to our first destination, Vilnius, Lithuania, is Warsaw, Poland. So, you can fly there and from Warsaw, you can take a train to Biaลystok and get a direct bus to Vilnius. This can be done in a day easily, but do check for the bus schedule through Busbud.com.
Vilnius is unlike most European cities, with its tourist attractions scattered all over instead of concentrated around the main square. This allows you to explore the city on foot and see the city and how the people live firsthand.
Its Baroque-style architecture in the old town, Orthodox and Catholic churches, and the independent republic of Uzupis, full of artists and creatives, are among the best things to see in this city.
- Historic Baltic Republics (15 days)
- Baltic Capital Cities (8 days)
- Baltic Capital Cities (Christmas) (8 days)
First up, make sure to visit the Vilnius Cathedral and take a short climb up the Gediminas Castle tower for a morning view of the city.
Another great climb, which will take a little longer, and I would recommend going in the evening before sunset, is the climb to the Three Crosses. There, you will be rewarded with a view of the Old Town and the entire city. Definitely worth the climb!
Once you are done with the hills, make your way to St. Peter and St. Paul's church and check out the stunning Roman Catholic church, a masterpiece of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Baroque. The inside is even more impressive, with its all-white interior contrasting with the wooden decor. It is really worth walking all the way up to the church.
From the church, make your way back to Vilnius Cathedral and head south towards the independent Republic of Uzupis. Be sure to check out the stunning red brick Church of St. Anne's on your way to the neighborhood.
Uzupis is a unique neighborhood where, in 1997, the district declared itself the independent republic of Uzupis. This declaration attracted many creatives due to its bohemian and laissez-faire atmosphere. The district consists of cool cafes, old cobbled alleys, and crumbling walls full of stunning graffiti. The district is definitely worth a visit if you are interested in the modern take on Vilnius.
Be sure to also walk the old square (more like a long oval) and check out the town hall square (Vilniaus rotuลกฤ), the Church of St. John's, and the Saint Parasceve Orthodox Church, all on the same street leading up to the Gates of Dawn (Auลกros vartai).
Trakai, Lithuania (half day)
It won't take you long to see Vilnius city, so if you started the day early and have half a day left, I would suggest taking a bus from Vilnius bus station to Trakai town. From there, you can walk for 30 minutes to the famous castle on an island and learn about the medieval history of Lithuania. Discover how Trakai became the center of a wide range of communities, including Karaims, Tatars, Lithuanians, Russians, Jews, and Poles.
Day 2 - 4: Riga, Latvia (3 nights)
Riga, a stunning medieval capital city of Latvia, is our next destination as we make our way across the Baltic countries. Now, we are getting into a more familiar territory with the medieval old town, with a large cathedral and tall towers surrounding it.
Riga is easily navigable and quite rewarding to explore on foot. First, visit the spacious square surrounding one of the most notable landmarks in the city: the Riga Cathedral. The cathedral is considered to be the biggest of its kind in the Baltic. From the cathedral, you can make your way towards the Swedish gate and walk around the old walls of the city.
If you wake up early, you can head over to Freedom Square and witness the routine guard-changing ceremony. You will also get to go people-watching and see the lively locals exercising and socializing out by the square.
One thing I like to do in a European city is to go up a tower and check out a view of the city from the top, and one of the best places to go up in Riga is the tower of St. Peter's Church. Here, you can get an entrance ticket with tower access, allowing you to see the beautiful Baroque-style interior and take the elevator up to the platform. From there, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the city from above.
If you are interested in the bloody history of Latvia during its multiple occupations by foreign lands, be sure to drop by the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, located nearby the Daugava River.
If you are not interested in that, located right on the opposite side of the museum is the House of the Blackheads, another famous landmark of the city. It is a Gothic-style property that was recently rebuilt in 1999 and is home to the president. The stunning facade of the building is quite a sight to behold.
One of the best views you can get of the city is from the opposite side of the Daugava river, and the best time is in the early morning when the sun is still not too strong.
A little morning stroll across the Akmens Tilts stone bridge will reward you with a view of the Old Town from afar, where you can see the stunning architecture of Riga Castle and the high steeples of churches piercing the sky.
If you are looking for a nice, cheap place to eat traditional food, be sure to check out Lido restaurant located near the Riga Cathedral. The restaurant has a medieval style, with live acoustic music and wooden furniture. It serves homemade food, allowing you to select whatever you want to eat and pay for the items on your plate. All of the food provided is reasonably priced and delicious.
Cesis, Latvia (half day)
After spending a day exploring the city, it is time to go out and explore smaller towns. Cesis makes a great day trip from the capital, as it is only a 2-hour bus ride away. Cesis is a beautiful old town known for its medieval castle.
The castle features wall paintings, dungeons, towers, a romantic castle park, and the old, crumbling Lutheran church of Saint John the Baptist located nearby. You can also go up the Lademaher tower to get a view of Cesis from above. Unfortunately, it was winter when I was there, and the access to the tower was closed.
Day 5: Tartu, Estonia (1 night)
Following a brief but rewarding time in Latvia, we continue on to Estonia and introduce ourselves to the final country in the Baltic with a visit to Tartu, a university town considered to be the intellectual center of the country.
Tartu is located on the way between Riga and Tallinn and makes quite a good one-night stop before we head towards Tallinn. Due to its young and creative population, the city is filled with stunning art installations like the accidental National Geographic prop seen above, as well as cool cafes and restaurants that are cheap and delicious.
One of the things worth checking out is the Tartu Dome Church, located on top of the hill. The beauty of this church lies not only in its stunning renovation.
On the contrary, the church is mostly left in ruins, which was a good change from all the renovated churches you find all over Europe. You can also go up one of the towers, but unfortunately, it was closed during winter when I was there.
Also, do drop by the Old Observatory on the hill nearby the church ruin if you are interested in traditional ways of stargazing. St. John church and the Tartu Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral are also worth a visit.
A cafe I would recommend you try is the Khovik-restoran Werner. They serve Lunch of the Day, where you can get high-quality, delicious food for 5 EUR. The cafe is located between the Town Hall and the University of Tartu building.
Also, if you are looking for a nice, cozy, and hip restaurant for a pleasant evening of beer and dinner, be sure to check out Restoran Aparaat. It is a little further from the city, but it's worth the walk. The restaurant itself is located inside a building courtyard filled with cool and hip shops and restaurants. They also serve local beers, so if you are interested in that, this is the place to be.
If you are looking to catch a lively vibe of Tartu's night, GenClub is a place you should check out, with plenty of events to attend and delicious food and drinks to go with it.
Day 6 - 7: Tallinn, Estonia (2 nights)
Last but not least, Tallinn is one of the most fairy-tale-like medieval cities of all. Every tourist attraction is located in the center, so the city can be easily covered on foot in a day. First off, drop by the Old Town Square and visit the Tallinn Town Hall.
There are plenty of cafes, restaurants, and beautiful architecture surrounding the square, so be sure to spend an hour or two exploring the square.
The square is nice and all, but the highlight of the city is the medieval castle on top of the hill and its surroundings. Before we make our way up there, be sure to drop by St. Nicholas church on your way towards the hill.
From the church, you can go west and continue up the hill to the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, one of the most beautiful Orthodox churches I have seen in the Baltic. A truly stunning piece of architecture towering over the city, it is also the most renowned landmark in Tallinn.
There are plenty of places to see on the hill, such as the Toompea Castle and St. Mary's Cathedral. However, two of the most photogenic places to visit on the hill are the Kohtuotsa and Patkuli viewing platforms.
From both of these points, you can see the city from a different perspective: towards the sea and into the heart of the city, respectively. I would recommend visiting these viewing platforms in the early morning when the sun is not too bright and the areas are not too crowded.
If you have some time to spare, places further away, such as Freedom Square and St. Olaf's Church, are worth visiting as well. From Tallinn, you have the option to either leave the country for Russia or Finland.
Why Visit the Baltic Countries?
Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are among the best places to travel to if you are looking to escape from the crowdedness of other European countries. From Trakia in Lithuania, Cesis in Latvia, and Tallinn in Estonia, the Baltic countries prove that fairy tales really do come true with a perfect mix of untouched nature, fascinating culture, and crumbling castles.
When to Visit the Baltic Countries?
Late June to August is the best time to visit the Baltic states in order to maximize the number of clear sunny days, as the weather in this part of Europe can change extremely quickly. I was there in April, and it was still cold and snowy.
How to Get to the Baltic Countries?
You can fly into one of the capital cities of the Baltic states: Vilnius, Riga, or Tallinn. You can also fly into Warsaw, Poland, and take a train or bus from there. For the best possible deal, I always browse the airfare comparison website, Skyscanner or Expedia, to find a cheap flight for the trip.
If you are already in Europe and on a budget, you can also take a bus from anywhere with Flixbus for only a few EUR. Additionally, if you are in Helsinki, you can take a cruise to Tallinn via Tallink.
How to Get Around the Baltic Countries?
The cities in the Baltic are pretty small, so most of the tourist attractions can be easily covered on foot.
The local intercity buses are also a great option when you want to go out of the city for a day trip to places like Cesis and Trakai. Buses to these two places, in particular, run very often (every one to two hours) every day, so all you need to do is pick a time, go to the bus station, and get the ticket 30 minutes prior to the time you want to leave.
For international buses, I would recommend Lux Express, an Estonian top-of-the-class bus service that operates throughout the region. The buses are extremely new and comfortable, with semi-sofa seats, drinks, and electric sockets on all seats.
Daily Budget
This location is less expensive than most countries, but it's not exceedingly cheap. Expect to spend around $30 - $50 USD per day per person, which includes both accommodation and meals.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
What to Pack for Baltics?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Baltic:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Down Jacket: In freezing temperatures, a down jacket is essential. The Columbia Men's Lone Fir Hooded Jacket (for women) is my choice. They are warm, lightweight, and available in various colors.
- Wool Beanie: A wool beanie is perfect for keeping your head and ears warm.
- Wool Gloves: I always have wool gloves handy to keep my hands warm in cold weather.
- Wool Socks: Don't forget to keep your feet warm with wool socks.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for the Baltic Countries and its Neighbors
I hope you found this Baltic travel guide useful. If you want to read more about the Baltic Countries and their neighbors, here are a selection of articles you might like:
- Planning a trip to Vilnius, Lithuania and looking for awesome things to do? Check out: 10 Best Things to Do in Vilnius, Lithuania.
- You can't travel to the Baltics without visiting Riga, the capital city of Latvia. Here is a complete travel guide and the 10 Best Things to Do in Riga, Latvia.
- Helsinki is a great place to travel to from Estonia. If you are heading that way, be sure to visit our 9 Best Things To Do In Helsinki as well.
- Stockholm is a beautiful city with a ton of things to do and places to see that can be quite overwhelming. Here's a travel guide and a 3-day itinerary on things to do in Stockholm, Sweden.
- Poland is also a great country to visit after Lithuania. If you are heading south, be sure to check out our 2-week backpacking itinerary for Poland.
- Are you traveling to Sweden as part of a bigger Europe trip? Be sure to check out my 3-month itinerary for Europe from Portugal all the way to Sweden.
- Packing for a trip to visit a region as big as Europe is extremely daunting. Here's a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe - The Essential Packing List.
- Want to visit Europe in winter? Better prepare for the cold. Here's a winter packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe in Winter - The Essential Packing List.
- Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
- You can also watch my Baltic Countries travel video here: "Go with the Baltic Flow" travel video.
- To see all the articles about Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, visit the Lithuania Travel Guide page, Latvia Travel Guide page, and Estonia Travel Guide page.
- Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
- Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
- Or, if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Eastern Europe Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
23 Comments
Thank you for a wonderful itinerary. It helps. How's the weather in May. Does it rain frequently in May?
Hi Akshaya, I have not had personal experience traveling to the Baltic countries in May but from what I heard, the chance of rain is still quite moderate to high and the temperature around 10 - 15 ยฐC as you approch mid spring. It won't be ice cold, but some light rain jacket is recommended for this period.
I hope this helps!
Thankyou; lots of these travel blogs about but yours is so succinct and time saving. I found it has helped me decide to visit these places. More power to you.
Thank you Richard! :)
The blog on the Balticโs is so interesting and easy to read. We hope to go there next year. Thank you
Hey Carol,
Thank you for the comments! I'm glad you find it useful! Good luck with your journey!
Hi Pete
What are the recommended transport from Helsinki to these 3 countries and back to Helsinki?
Which route should I take?
Thank you!
Hey Jas, You can do that quite easily with the daily cruise from Helsinki to Tallinn, Estonia and then make your way down to Vilnius from there. Or you can travel by bus straight to Vilnius from Tallinn and make your way back up to Helsinki. I recommend the latter option as there is a direct bus from Tallinn to Vilnius operated by Lux Express and they are great carrier.
It takes 9 hours though from Tallinn to Vilnius so you will lose a day traveling the length but coming back up should be a little easier with all the beautiful places you can visit along the way. Here's a link to the bus schedule: https://www.luxexpress.eu/en/routes/tallinn-vilnius/
I hope this helps!
Thanks Pete!
No problem!