Travelling to the Baltics

how to get

to the baltics

Travelling to the Baltics is easy thanks to an ever-growing number of flight connections, ferry, bus and rail links. Within the Baltics, a bus and train network makes travel from point to point smooth.

However, to dive deeper into the Baltics and get a true taste of what life is like outside major cities, we recommend travelling by car or minibus. Travelling by car in the Baltics gives you the freedom to stop for an invigorating lake swim, dine local at a traditional roadside tavern, roam through historical sites, take a foraging break in the woods or visit rural craftsmen for a guided workshop. Baltic Nature Travel are specialists at creating bespoke itineraries for self drive holidays.

Travelling to the Baltics

by airplane - quick and easy

Major European hubs are just a short skip away from airports in the Baltics. Here are some flight times to give you an idea.

Amsterdam – Riga in 2 h 15 mins
Frankfurt – Tallinn in 2 h 20 mins
London – Vilnius in 2 h 40 mins

Riga International Airport is the largest airport in the Baltics and boasts over 80 direct flight connections to destinations in Europe, Asia and North America. Tallinn Airport offers over 40 direct connections, and Vilnius International Airport serves over 50 destinations.

You can also reach the cities of Kaunas (Lithuania), Palanga (Lithuania), Liepaja (Latvia) and Tartu (Estonia) by air.

Getting to the Baltics

by ferry

Should you wish to bring your own car or camper van to the Baltics, ferry connections can make the journey shorter. Consider the following route options:

Stockholm (Sweden) – Riga (Latvia)
Stockholm (Sweden) – Tallinn (Estonia)
Helsinki – Tallinn (Estonia)
Kiel (Germany) – Klaipeda (Lithuania)
Karslhamn (Sweden) – Klaipeda (Lithuania)
Trelleborg (Sweden) – Klaipeda (Lithuania)
Nynashamn (Sweden) – Ventspils (Latvia)
Travemunde (Germany) – Liepaja (Latvia)

Bus travel in the Baltics

hop from one country to the other

Regular bus services connect the Baltic capitals of Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius. The modern buses are equipped with individual entertainment systems, wifi, hot drinks machines and lavatories, so journeys are not only quick, but also very comfortable. Journey times between the Baltic capitals are:

Riga – Tallinn ~ 4 h
Riga – Vilnius ~ 4 h
Tallinn – Vilnius ~ 9 h

Buses are also an affordable option for reaching smaller cities and towns in the Baltics. For up-to-date information on local bus services, you can always turn to the nearest tourism information centre or bus station. We’re also happy to make the best recommendation for you.

Those who prefer bus travel over air travel can reach the Baltics by bus from countries including Germany, Belgium and Poland.

Train travel in the Baltics

best for intercity journeys

Trains are a popular choice for local journeys in the Baltics. Routes often snake through picturesque rural and forested areas, so you can get an initial glimpse of Baltic nature.

Note, there are no regular train connections between the Baltic capitals. Overnight services connect the Baltic capitals to St Petersburg, Moscow and Minsk.

At Baltic Nature Travel we can help you select the best option for travelling to the Baltics, between and within Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. We’re specialists in putting together tailor-made itineraries for exploring this gorgeous region.

closer to the core of the Baltic States

What travelers say about us

EXCELLENT

36 reviews on

SisterBliss66

2024-11-02

Great day out - lovely walk in Gauja - Līgatne trail - in the crisp autumn air followed by the paper mill. Then on to Sigulda Castle and Gutman Cave. Valdis was very knowledgeable and we had some interesting conversations about the places visited, history, culture and lots more besides. Friendly guy, fluent in English. It was awesome getting out of Riga to see more of the country.

Jane Bower

2024-09-30

My partner and I (69 and 75) are just back from a 17 day self-drive tour put together with the help of Valdis from Baltic Nature Travel. It was an absolutely delightful and fascinating experience. We asked for quirky or unusual accommodation and a mix of hotels and self-catering - great fun. We went at our own pace and chose what to see. Everything was beautifully organised - a couple of small hitches were dealt with straight away on the phone. We are well-travelled but didn't know these stunning countries at all. Our overall impression is CLEAN and GREEN. Thank you, thank you for such a unique and special holiday.

Andrew Golding

2024-09-16

First Class Personal Tour of the Baltic Republics organised by Valdis: a bespoke, friendly, intelligent, safe and varied introduction to this wonderful part of the world. Wholly recommended.

David Morris

2024-09-10

Excellent booking experience - very easy and all the information we needed. Hire car arrived at the hotel as arranged and the handover was excellent. All the hotels that were booked for us were great and the itinerary was really wide-ranging and interesting. Estonia people were almost always friendly and helpful, and the restaurant food was great. Would definitely recommend Baltic Nature Travel and Estonia as a destination

Karen Green

2024-07-23

Valdis, the owner of Baltic Nature Travel, is a terrific tour organizer. His advance communication and arrangements were unfailingly responsive, prompt and helpful. On the trip, we had different guides as well as drivers in the different cities (Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn.) In each case, they were well-informed and on time at the meeting point. We never needed to worry or contact the guide (though we were provided with their information.) Every hotel Valdis chose for us was of a very good standard, well-run, clean, exceptionally well located, and with wonderful breakfasts. The restaurants he recommended were also excellent – we learned to just go where he suggested! The tour was an exceptionally good value. In sum, we couldn’t have been more pleased. Our trip was wonderful and we left wanting to see more of the Baltics' beauty. If we do go again, we would unquestionably work with Valdis. In the meantime, we will recommend him to all of our friends.

Lucía Gómez

2024-07-17

Fantastic Self-Guided Hiking Experience! We recently completed a self-guided hike in Gauja National Park, which was wonderful. The trails were serene, and we rarely encountered other hikers. The provided materials and app were excellent and highly accurate. The hotels, luggage transfer, and overall transportation arrangements were flawless. Highly recommend this experience!

Paul Green

2024-07-12

Anna Brish was a fantastic tour guide for understanding Jewish history and culture in Vilnius. She was friendly, deeply knowledgeable, eager to answer our questions and accommodate our specific interests. Anna does other tours and we would take any of them, she’s amazing!

James Cornez

2024-07-11

Myself and my best friend came across this company whilst researching options to travel in Latvia and we are very pleased we did. Valdis was very amenable during the planning process by arranging video calls with both of us so we could better understand what was on offer for us to do. He compiled an 8 day itinerary for us that did not disappoint starting in Riga for 2 days. We paid for an optional 3hr walking tour which was very worthwhile to see the main sites of the city. Janis took us on the tour who is a great guy that gives you plenty of interesting information, ready to answer any questions regarding Latvian history/culture. We chose the self driving option to see as much of Latvia as possible which I would definitely recommend if you want to have more than just a city break. It took us to varied places ranging from the heavily forested and pretty areas of Sigulda (where we did a fun kayaking tour on the Gauja river) and Cesis to the pleasant coastal cities of Liepaja and Ventspills. Overall, definitely the company to approach if you want to authentically explore Latvia!

Esther A

2024-06-21

Valdis and his team helped us to organise a guided 16 day trip across Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Helsinki. We had a very enjoyable experience! Coming from Singapore and not knowing Valdis beforehand, we were initially worried about language and logistical challenges. All these were unfounded as Valdis and his guides were not only knowledgeable but also responsive, helpful and flexible. We had some minor hiccups during the trip but Valdis was able to resolve them very promptly. I would highly recommend engaging Valdis for your next trip!