Baltic Capitals: Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn & Helsinki - 10 Days

Highlights

• Take a day trip to Trakai Island Castle in Lithuania
• Appreciate Riga's notorious Art Nouveau buildings
• Strap on bog shoes and explore Estonia's bogs on an adventure tour
• Cross the Gulf of Finland by ferry

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Vilnius (Lithuania)

Welcome to Vilnius, the lively Lithuanian capital. Upon arrival at the airport, a driver will pick you up and take you to your accommodation. After resting, take some time to walk the city's cobbled streets, appreciating the mix of Lithuanian, Jewish, Polish, and Russian influences. As the day comes to a close, make your way to the Bell Tower of St. John's Church or to the Gediminas Castle Tower to admire the panorama.

Day 2: Vilnius Walking Tour, Free Afternoon 

Today you'll discover the old and new sides of Vilnius with a local guide. Wander the UNESCO-listed Old Town, one of the largest surviving medieval centers on the continent. Check out the Vilnius Cathedral and its square, as well as the 16th-century Vilnius University. In between, enjoy a local craft beer, and try Lithuanian specialties like its famed cheese.

In the afternoon, explore Vilnius in more depth at your own pace. Head out to the quirky Republic of Užupis, one of the world's smallest republics with its own constitution, president, and currency. Visit the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, originally the KGB headquarters and prison, where countless crimes were planned and executed. Then, walk to the Hill of Three Crosses to check out its monument and venture to the Antakalnis neighborhood to peek inside the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul.

Day 3: Day Trip to Trakai Castle

Spend the day exploring the Lithuanian countryside. The tour begins with a hands-on workshop outside Vilnius, where you'll learn to make traditional Lithuanian crafts. Continue your cultural immersion with a local lunch before heading to the town of Trakai for a tour of Trakai Castle.

This former royal home is located on a small island in Lake Galvė. A local guide will entertain you with stories about the Grand Dukes of Lithuania who resided there. Enjoy a boat ride around the lake and gaze at the castle from the water.

Day 4: Transfer to Riga (Latvia)

It's time to change one Baltic capital for another. A driver will pick you up this morning and take you to Riga by car. Along the way, stop at a UNESCO-listed pilgrimage site known as the Hill of Crosses, where people have been leaving symbols of their faith since the 1800s.

Day 5: Guided Tour of Riga & Leisure Time

Today you'll explore Latvia's capital with a local guide. Walk through the cobbled alleys of the Old Town, learning about its history, dating to 1201. See landmarks like the famed House of the Black Heads and the Riga Central Market, one of Europe's biggest markets built from five World War I zeppelin hangers.

You'll then have time to explore Riga on your own. Visit its Art Nouveau district, where you'll find the Art Nouveau Museum. Then, take a boat ride around the canals. Catch a show at the Latvian National Opera and Ballet or attend an organ concert at the Dome Cathedral. If possible, go to the Riga Nativity of Christ Orthodox Cathedral, the largest Orthodox church in the Baltics.

Day 6: Bus to Tallinn (Estonia)

Leave Riga behind and travel to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Catch glimpses of the countryside on the four to five-hour journey on a comfortable (and modern) bus. Once you arrive, a driver will pick you up at the bus station to take you to your hotel in the city's center.

Use the afternoon to wander around the capital, appreciating how it combines the modern world with ancient churches, medieval streetscapes, and noble merchant houses. Head to its Old Town, one of the best-preserved Hanseatic centers in the world. As the day comes to a close, climb up St. Olaf's Church, Europe's tallest building, for 76 years from the 16th to the 17th centuries.

Day 7: Tour Tallinn & Self-Guided Exploration 

Enjoy a fun, history-packed walking tour of Tallinn's Old Town with a local guide. Cover the most important sights of this medieval city, from the bustling main streets to lesser-known side alleys. Highlights of the tour include the Town Hall, the 19th-century Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and Toompea Castle. The latter is an imposing stone structure now serving as the country's parliament.

In your free time, head out of the Old Town and visit the tranquil Kadriorg Palace, built more than 300 years ago on the orders of Russian Tsar Peter the Great. Alternatively, explore the city's modern side by heading to Telliskivi Creative City or Noblessner seafront quarter. At both, you'll find galleries and boutiques, though Noblessner gets cool points for being a former submarine factory.

Day 8: Estonian Bog Hiking Tour

Get ready for one of the most unique and exciting experiences on this tour as you head out into the countryside for a bog hike. These peat-filled wetlands have existed in Estonia for over 10 thousand years and are an essential part of the country's legends, myths, and history.

Put on a pair of bog shoes (which can also work as snowshoes) to explore the bog properly, accessing otherwise off-limits locales. Hike around the bog pools, admiring the landscape and its wildlife. Then, climb a watch tower and listen to your guide share mysterious lore about the marshlands.

Day 9: Ferry to Helsinki (Finland), Walking Tour

Transfer from Tallinn to the Finnish capital of Helsinki via the sea on the Tallink Silja ferry. The two-hour crossing is comfortable and provides views of Tallinn Bay and the Gulf of Finland.

Discover Helsinki's city center on a walking tour and learn about Finnish culture, history, and lifestyle. Visit main sites like the Helsinki Cathedral, whose white walls and emerald green domes symbolize the city. Other stops include Market Square, the Parliament House, and the Temppeliaukion Church, a unique underground structure carved directly into rock.

Day 10: Depart Helsinki

Have your last breakfast in the Baltics before meeting your driver at your accommodation, and take you to the airport for your departing flight.

More Great Baltic Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to the Baltics? Check out these other Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, and Latvia itineraries.