7 days in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius without a car

The seven-day route at a glance

Coach times are approximate and cover the ride itself. Allow time to get to the coach station, especially in Tallinn, where it sits outside the Old Town.

The route day by day

Day 1: arrive in Tallinn and walk up to Toompea

From Tallinn Airport, take tram T2 or T4 towards the centre. A. Laikmaa is a useful stop for the eastern side of the Old Town. If you're coming by ferry from Helsinki, the passenger terminals are also within walking distance of the Old Town.

Head to Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats), then follow the lanes uphill to Toompea. At Kohtuotsa, you can look back over the rooftops and church towers of the lower town. Start with the square if you arrive late and save the climb for the following morning.

Day 2: from Tallinn's market to the Seaplane Harbour

Walk to Balti Jaam Market, beside the railway station, and pick up something to eat before heading to Telliskivi. The former industrial buildings now house cafés, shops and galleries. Take the quieter residential streets through Kalamaja on the way to the waterfront. The painted wooden houses give this part of Tallinn a very different feel from the Old Town.

At the Seaplane Harbour (Lennusadam), you can see a submarine inside the former seaplane hangar. The museum is usually closed on Mondays from October to April. On a wet Monday, stay in Telliskivi for the photography exhibitions at Fotografiska. In good weather, carry on from the harbour towards Noblessner.

Day 3: take the coach to Riga and explore the Old Town

Use Tallinn Bus Station, at Lastekodu 46, as your departure point. Bussijaam is the nearby tram stop. In Riga, the central coach station at Prāgas iela 1 sits next to the market and a short walk from the Old Town. Choose the central stations when booking and check the stop names on your ticket.

Once you've dropped off your bags, start in Town Hall Square by the House of the Blackheads. The ornate façade is a reconstruction. The original building was damaged in the Second World War and later demolished. From the square, walk past St Peter's Church to Dome Square. If the afternoon is running short, that stretch is enough for a first look.

Day 4: eat at Riga Central Market and look up on Alberta iela

Start at Riga Central Market, whose arched pavilions incorporate parts of former airship hangars. Look for rye bread and smoked fish if you're putting together lunch. The pavilions close on the first Monday of each month. If that falls on day 4, you can stop at the market on your way in from the coach station on day 3, time permitting.

Walk past the Freedom Monument and through Bastejkalns Park by the city canal to Alberta iela. Give yourself time to look up at the faces and figures on the façades. For a look inside an Art Nouveau apartment, visit the Riga Art Nouveau Centre at number 12. The entrance is on Strēlnieku iela, and the museum is closed on Mondays.

Day 5: arrive in Vilnius and enter through the Gates of Dawn

Book the morning coach from Riga to Vilnius Bus Station at Sodų g. 22. The coach and railway stations sit beside each other, just south of the Old Town. On your first walk, pass Halės Market and go through the Gates of Dawn towards Town Hall Square. If the market is open when you arrive, stop there for lunch.

Day 6: Cathedral Square, castle views and Užupis

Start at Cathedral Square. On a clear day, walk up to Gediminas Castle Tower for a view across Vilnius. The path uphill is steep. For a gentler walk, head into the Bernardine Garden and continue towards Užupis. Cross the Vilnia and look for the plaques on Paupio Street, where the self-declared republic has put its constitution on the wall in several languages.

If it's raining, swap the hill and garden for MO Museum, which shows modern and contemporary art. Check your dates before planning around it, as the museum closes on Tuesdays.

Day 7: leave Vilnius

A late departure leaves time for breakfast near the market or a final walk in the Old Town. For Vilnius Airport, buses 1 and 2 serve the station area. The airport train takes up to eight minutes from Vilnius Railway Station. Compare the next bus and train departure if you're leaving early.

Where to stay without a car

Can you visit all three Baltic capitals by train?

Yes. Elron runs a direct Tallinn–Riga train, and LTG Link runs a direct Riga–Vilnius train. On this southbound route the direct trains arrive in the evening. If you want to see something after checking in on both travel days, the coach timetable gives you more useful morning options.

If you're starting in Tallinn and want to travel by rail during the day, there's also a morning departure with a change at Valga that reaches Riga in the late afternoon. If your arrival and departure points are flexible, consider running the whole week in reverse. Vilnius → Riga and Riga → Tallinn both have direct morning trains on the timetable checked for this guide. Book separate tickets for each leg so you can stay two nights in Riga.

If you're flying, search for a multi-city ticket into Tallinn and out of Vilnius, then compare with booking the two flights separately. For the itinerary above, book coaches on days 3 and 5 with Lux Express or FlixBus. Check the central stop and your luggage allowance before choosing a departure. Timetables change, so check them with the operator before you travel.

Marnival

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