The Baltics

Have you ever considered visiting the Baltic countries?

I’ve  often visited the Baltic countries 

 Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, all of them are worth to visit.

There are great people, nice cities, beautiful beaches and breathtaking landscapes in the Baltic countries.

If you are visiting the Baltic countries in summer, it will be crowded but you will find an amazing nightlife.

Also, every country is full of history, new food to try

 a lot of interesting things to do.

By plane

To get to Estonia, one must take a plan to Tallinn, the nation’s capital. There are daily direct flights to the city from major Scandinavian and Baltic cities, as well as London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Prague and Moscow. There are flights available in those countries from airlines like easyJet, Lufthansa, KLM, Finnair and more. A roundtrip flight between London and Tallinn may cost as low as 120 EUR (or 18 GBP).

The Riga International Airport in Latvia accepts flights through carriers like airBaltic and Wizz Air. If you’re coming from New York, expect to pay no more than $250 USD for the cheapest flights to Riga. You can always check SkyScanner.com for available flights.

Those making their way to Lithuania will most probably book flights to Vilnius Airport. However, there is also the option to land at Kaunas International Airport as budget airlines like Ryanair choose to land here. From NYC, you can get a ticket to Kaunas for as low as $330 USD.

By bus

It’s very easy to travel from one Baltic country to another via bus. There are also plenty of cheap connections (especially from Estonia) to and from other European cities like Moscow, Kiev, Warsaw through Ecolines, Eurolines Simple Express and Eurolines Lux Express. Trips from Tallinn to Moscow on the Lux Express costs 55 EUR and comes with free Wi-Fi, power supplies and touch screen media systems.

By train

Like riding the bus, you also have many options when it comes to traveling on a train around the Baltic countries. From Kaunas you can connect to Minsk, there are trips from Riga to Saint Petersburg, and Moscow is accessible from Tallinn.

By boat

Riding a boat is another excellent way to go around Europe. You can travel to the Baltic countries from their European neighbors like Sweden, Finland, Poland, Germany and Denmark.

BEST TIME TO VISIT THE BALTIC COUNTRIES

The weather in all Baltic countries is greatly influenced by the Baltic Sea, especially cities on the coast like Riga, Tallinn and Klaipeda. These areas have maritime climates. On the other hand, continental climates are experienced in the Eastern and Western parts of the Baltic countries, like in Vilnius and Tartu. Summer and spring are generally the best time to visit the Baltic countries. May and June are the sunniest months of the year while the summer months of July and August are quite mild. October is the best time to visit the Baltic countries for bird watchers to admire migratory birds.

Going in winter has its advantages too. For one thing, hotel prices are much cheaper during this low season. There’s also the opportunity for cross country skiing in the hills of Southern Estonia. Nights are long and there’s plenty of snow from December to March, but there are nice ice skating rinks and saunas to keep you warm.

TRANSPORTATION AROUND THE BALTIC COUNTRIES

BY TRAIN

Train networks in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are easy to use and very accessible. Many locals rely on the train for their commutes as these lines travel all around the country. Aside from commuter lines, long distance travels can also be undertaken through the train. In Estonia, you can go from Tallinn to other cities like Narva and Valga. From Riga in Latvia, it is more convenient to go to the towns of Daugavpils, Jelgava, Rezekne and many others through the train. Litrail is used in Lithuania to travel major cities or go to remote towns that are inaccessible with other modes of transport. A train ride from Vilnius to Kaunas only costs 5.20 EUR.

BY BUS

There won’t be any trouble traveling around the major cities of the Baltic countries as bus networks here are very reliable. You can buy tickets at the station, as you board or online. In Lithuania, it is especially easier to go around by bus as the system reaches all the destinations you’d want to visit. There are intercity, suburban and cross-country buses all around these territories.

BY BIKE

In Lithuania, cycling is pretty popular. Many of the major cities have pathways and there are two international cycling routes in the country. In Estonia and Latvia, caution must be exercised when biking around major cities, especially when there’s plenty of traffic on the road. Heavy traffic starts at around 5 PM to 8 PM, and its always best to just go cycling early in the morning.

Other ways to go around Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania include riding a tax, renting a car and even hitchhiking. 

In fact, the Baltic countries have a strong hitchhiking culture and are some of the friendliest places to try it. 

DAILY BUDGET TO VISIT THE BALTIC COUNTRIES

The Euro is used in all Baltic nations, yet daily expenses here are much cheaper than those in Spain, France or Germany. You can enjoy many things to do in the Baltic countries with their low cost of living. Your daily budget will cover the food, accommodation, transportation and entrance fees. A bed in a dorm typically costs around 10 EUR, while budget rooms can go for 25 EUR. AirBnB is also available in the Baltic countries. 

Domestic buses in the Baltic countries are often used and can be afforded at 15 EUR. If you’re traveling cross-country, expect to pay 20 EUR for a 5-hour trip. Baltic cuisine is unique in itself but is heavily influenced by Eastern Europe and Nordic countries. A hearty meal costs around 6-8 EUR while mid-range restaurants charge around 15 EUR. For the budget-conscious, street food and fast food are available for less than 3 EUR. A bottle of beer can go for as low as 1-3.50 EUR, depending on where you plan to drink one.

Great news: there are plenty of free walking tours in Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius! If you’re planning to visit museums, expect to pay not much more than 5 EUR. All in all, you won’t have to spend more than 5-10 EUR daily to experience all the enjoyable things to do in the Baltic countries.