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) – 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

claire wallick moy

2025-06-19

Our small family group 2 seniors and 2 adult children all agree our 10 day “best of” Lithuania was excellent. We were very happy we went with a private tour and driver. (same person, Tomas) This way we could include all (or most) of the destinations within the country in this short time. Valdis arranged our itinerary, suggested museums, parks and researched accomodations including local guest house and vacation rentals when there were no hotels (or not available) close to our destinations. We loved visiting the national parks and UNESCO heritage sites. Our travels with Tomas was excellent. He is very knowledgeable about the history and geography of Lithuania and happy to share this with us. He was very helpful with all the arrangements the tickets for entry at various attractions and accomodations (all of which was included and arranged by Baltic Nature Travel). Tomas was also helpful in guiding us for food and drink choices. And suggesting restaurants in Vilnius, Siauliai and kaunas. He is also an excellent driver and the van was very comfortable. We feel really lucky to have had this opportunity. The 4 of us agreed that where we visited and having Tomas as our tour guide made our Lithuania holiday very special. Although most people speak some English it is not enough to have the in depth conversations that Tomas was able to translate for us. The 2 days we had to tour the Curonian Spit were lovely even though we had some rain. And though thunderstorms interfered with our planned kayaking Aukstaitija NP, we were able to do a short kayak ride in Dzukija NP. Also our pottery visit in Merkine was a highlight. If you are planning a trip to Lithuania I suggest contacting Baltic Nature Travel and let them handle arrangements for you.

Laura Lopez Vinasco

2025-06-19

Fue un viaje que llenó nuestras expectativas por mucho, una gran sorpresa cada lugar que visitamos

Michael Neilson

2025-05-26

We toured the Curonian Spit with Kristina who provided a great mix of nature, history and personal experiences to give us a very entertaining and enjoyable day.

michelle leow

2025-05-20

Kuldiga: charming streets, and wides waterfall in Europe on 7th May 2025 We joined a private tour of 6 people to this exotic location. Our vacation was made an even better experience by a knowledgeable and friendly tour guide Valdis, who provides us with all the information about the place and enlightens us on the history and culture of the region. Despite the chilly weather, Celsius 5 degree. It was a few hours walking tour around the newly built tower that oversees the magnificent view, waterfalls, and the old town. Valdis waited for us patiently taking photos. Because we saw so many beautiful places of interest, our vacation was well worth the time and money we spent on it. Apart from showing us the various places of interest, Valdis also managed our transportation and meals recommendation, all of which he did very efficiently. Please accept our heartfelt thanks, Valdis.

Priya Bhatt

2025-05-12

Loved the trip, every day was truly amazing Estonia is worthy and so I would recommend people to visit Estonia through Baltic travels, Mr Valdis did a terrific planning, every details were given and made my journey memory very happy 😃

Samuel Lister

2025-02-08

We had a fantastic tour with Tomas around Vilnius. He was informative, friendly and helpful and despite there being no snow for snowshoes it was a brilliant experience. I would highly recommend it for anyone wanting to experience Vilnius.

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.