Ultimate Itinerary - One Week in the Baltic States

The Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are amazing destinations, despite being overlooked by many travelers. The region is filled with medieval castles and fortresses, fascinating remnants of the Soviet era, and charming cobblestone streets. It's also one of the most affordable areas in Europe, making it a haven for budget travelers. The food is cheap and delicious and everyday necessities are available at an affordable price.

We spent a week traveling across the Baltic States, starting in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, and making our way north towards Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. If you're looking to get off the beaten path and check out the highlights of the Baltic States, below is the perfect one week itinerary!

Day 1 - Vilnius, Lithuania

Check-in to Novotel Vilnius Center for one night. This hotel is located in the city center, offers free wifi and breakfast, costs approximately 100 euros/night.
Take a self-guided walking tour of Old Town.
- Visit the Vilnius Cathedral and then head up Gediminias Hill for sweeping 360 degree views of the city. There's also a cable car to the top of the hill for 1.50 euro.
- Explore the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, a baroque palace built in the 17th century and a historical site dating back to 4th century AD. The entrance fee is 2.90 euro.
- Wander around the rest of Old Town, peeking into boutique shops and souvenir stalls.
Grab some locally brewed beers and traditional Lithuanian drinking snacks at Busi Trecias.
Experience traditional Lithuanian cuisine at Restaurant Lokys, one of the oldest restaurants in the country.

Panoramic views from Gediminias Castle

Vilnius Cathedral

Locally brewed beer at Busi Trecias

Day 2 - Riga, Latvia

Take a 4-hour bus ride from Vilnius to Riga.
- You can book a one-way ticket through Lux Express. I recommend purchasing the "Luxury Express Lounge" tickets for 28 euros. The seats are extremely comfortable with plenty of leg room in a private section of the bus. The bus is also equipped with wifi and personal TVs offering a wide range of movies.
Check into the Radisson Blue Latvija for 3 nights - it's close to the city center and costs about 110 euros/night.
Take a self-guided walking tour around the city center and visit the following landmarks:
- Freedom Monument - This memorial, which honors soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence (1918-1920), remains an important symbol of freedom and sovereignty. The three gold stars at the top represent national unity and the three historic provinces of Latvia.
- Cat House - This art-nouveau inspired building has two black cats sitting on top of the tower. An old folktale states that the building's original owner was not accepted into the guild across the street, so in anger, he pointed the cats' butts towards the guild. After a lengthy negotiation process, the members finally admitted him into the guild in exchange for him turning the cats in the opposite direction.
- The Three Brothers - These three old stone houses showcase Old Riga's unique architectural styles.
- The House of Blackheads - Built in the mid-14th century, this ornate structure was basically a party venue for unmarried German merchants. The original building was destroyed in 1941, but a replica was completed in 2001 for Riga's 800th birthday.

Gorgeous cobblestone streets

Cat House

The House of Blackheads

Freedom Monument

The Three Brothers

Day 3 - Riga, Latvia

Continue your self-guided walking tour by searching for Art Nouveau architecture in the "Quiet Center."
- Riga has over 750 art nouveau buildings - the most of any European city! Most of these buildings can be found in the Alberta Iela street and were designed by architect Mikhail Eisenstein for Riga's 700th birthday.
Take a guided tour of the KGB Building File No. 1914/2014 Museum, also known as the "Corner House."
- As the former local headquarters of the KGB, this building was used to interrogate and torture hundreds of Latvians during the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940-1941. Entrance is free, but guided tours are available most days at 10:30am for five euros. I highly recommend taking the tour, as the guide narrates every day life for the prisoners and provides fascinating historical context as you visit the dungeons, interrogation rooms, main yard, and execution site. Without a tour, you're unable to view most of the museum.
Explore the city through an evening bar crawl.
- Start at Riga Black Magic and try Riga Black Balsam, the traditional Latvian herbal liqueur. Then head to Cuba Cafe and finish off at the Skyline Bar in the Radisson Blu Latvija, which offers panoramic views of the city.

I loved the gargoyles

Art Nouveau architecture

Day 4 - Riga, Latvia

Grab a taxi and head to the nearby seaside resort town of Jurmala.
- Jurmala is a popular resort town on the Gulf of Riga. In addition to the beach, there are plenty of shops, restaurants, spas, and outdoor activities like biking and kayaking.
Spend some time souvenir shopping in the city center.
- Check out the homemade Latvian garments and souvenirs at Hobbywool, a cute boutique shop, and grab some traditional Laima chocolates offered at most local shops.
Grab dinner and drinks at Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs, an underground beer hall, restaurant, and live music venue.
- This was my favorite restaurant during my entire trip through the Baltics, as it offers an impressive array of Latvian beers, moonshine, folk music, and delicious food!

Seaside resort town of Jurmala

Day 5 - Tallinn, Estonia

Take a 4-hour bus ride from Riga to Tallinn and check into the Radisson Blu Sky Hotel for two nights.
- The hotel is about a 15 minute walk to Town Hall Square, for about 110 euros/night. The rooms are equipped with free wifi and many offer impressive views of the city landscape or the Gulf of Finland.
Explore Tallinn's Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Visit the Town Hall Square, the site where the Brotherhood of the Blackheads are believed to have put up the world's first Christmas Tree. Continue wandering along the medieval streets, passing through St. Catherine's Passage and stopping by the Town Wall, one of Europe's best preserved medieval walls. There are several viewing platforms where you can walk along the top of the Town Wall for a minimal fee.
Grab dinner at Rataskaevu 16. The restaurant offers great comfort food and is very reasonably priced considering it's the top rated restaurant in Tallinn on Trip Advisor. Together, an appetizer and entree will set you back about 25 to 30 euros. Reservations are highly recommended.
Finish off the evening with a drink at Labor Baar, a whimsical cocktail bar that offers innovative concoctions in glass vials and tubes, usually used by chemists.

Town Hall Square

View from the Radisson Blu Sky Hotel

Town Hall Square

Labor Baar, a fun bar with mixed drinks in chemistry glassware

Day 6 - Tallinn, Estonia

Continue exploring Tallinn's Old Town by making your way up to Toompea Hill, one of the best viewpoints of the city. Before you head back down the hill, stop by the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, an orthodox cathedral designed in the Russian Revival Style between 1894 -1900.
Head over to St. Olaf's Church and climb the steep and narrow steps to the top of the tower for another great viewpoint of the city. The viewing platform at the top is extremely narrow, with about 2 feet of walking room, so it's not a great option if you're afraid of heights!
Experience Estonian cuisine for dinner at Von Krahli Aed, grabbing one of the seats outside. The vegan restaurant next door, Vegan Restoran V, is also highly recommended by many.

St. Olaf's Church

Panoramic views from Toompea Hill

St. Olaf's Church

Delicious vegetarian food at Von Krahli Aed

Day 7 - Tallinn, Estonia

Check out of the Radisson Blu Sky Hotel and fly home - or continue your travel adventure by taking the ferry over to Helsinki, Finland!
- The ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki leaves about 12 times a day and the journey is less than 2 hours. For a 19 euro one way ticket, it's easy and very affordable to head over to Helsinki for even a day trip! There are several ferry companies that offer the passage, one of them being the Linda Line Express.
- Check out some of my favorite attractions in Helsinki!