In the Baltic states by car from Estonia to Latvia to Lithuania. How to travel cheaply around the Baltic countries

I want to tell you how my friend and I visited the Baltic states ourselves, without agencies. I won’t talk about the sights, just about the business. How to go yourself. This is my first independent trip.

At the time of our trip, such a tour of the three capitals of the Baltic states cost 44,000 per person for a week, and it cost us 23,000. Almost two days in each city. There is a difference!!! TIP: I always buy books from the Orange Guide series. Wonderful series. I take it with me on all my trips when I go on my own.

VISA. I’ll say right away that we decided to submit our documents to the visa center. A little more expensive, but simpler: if something goes wrong, they still reprint the documents on their own forms. For money. Documents are submitted to the embassy or visa center of the country where you will spend the most time, namely nights, regardless of the sequence of visiting countries. We started from Lithuania, but we submitted visa documents to the Latvian visa center, because... in Vilnius there were two days, but one overnight stay, and in Riga and Tallinn two nights each. You will find a list of documents on the websites. Along with your documents, be sure to bring copies of hotel reservations and copies of all tickets, and insurance is required. Read carefully. For example, at the time of our registration, they did not accept hotel reservations from booking in Lithuania. Maybe something has changed. We booked on Hotels.com. There weren't many people in the center, it took about an hour and a half. We waited longer for the documents to be reprinted. After 10 days, my husband arrived and took our passports with visas. When submitting documents, you indicate who will pick them up. Very convenient.

TRAVEL BETWEEN COUNTRIES: we chose the bus. Tickets were booked on the website.

Very convenient site. Buses take an average of 4 hours. There is not much to see on the road. The buses were empty. Maybe it’s not the tourist season, or maybe I’m just lucky. We chose the second half of the day, left at 5 pm, arrived at 9 pm, slept, and in the morning walked around the city with fresh energy. We chose hotels closer to the center and bus stations so as not to spend extra money on travel.

HOTELS. We chose inexpensive ones with the intention of only spending the night. Breakfast.

VILNIUS. We arrived on an airBaltic plane. The plane is tiny: 15 rows with two seats per aisle.

We flew perfectly. From the airport we took a bus to the Comfort Vilnius 3* hotel. There are two hotels in Vilnius with a similar name and we were a little misinformed by the locals, but from one hotel

It's an extra 15 minutes walk to ours. Found. The hotel is small but nice. For a night or two, no more. There wasn't even a closet in our room.

We took only breakfast in all hotels. The food was decent, the linen was clean. All attractions are within walking distance. We didn’t spend any money on travel anywhere.

We arrived in Vilnius at 10 am, the bus to Riga was the next day at 16.30. From the hotel to the bus station it's a 10 minute walk. Almost two days were enough to see the main attractions and just walk around the city. But that's not what this review is about. Travel on your own, don't be afraid of anything.

RIGA. From the bus station to the 4* hotel it’s a 10 minute walk. The hotel is very good. When you booked, you got a discount. The breakfast was amazing, there was even champagne. There is no such breakfast in Turkish fives. Clean, quiet, 5-7 minutes to the center. The room even had an ironing board and iron, a kettle, tea and coffee. At 17.00 bus to Tallinn. We walked everywhere and didn’t spend money on transport.

TALLINN. In Tallinn from the bus station to the hotel 3* by tram 10 min and on foot 5 min. The hotel is not bad, but there is no tray in the shower, and the water almost did not go through the hole in the floor and flooded the entire floor in the bathroom. But as a joke, there was a mop, you know, with a rubber band to collect water. But across the road is the Old Town and all the attractions. Return to Moscow on an airBaltic plane. By taxi 15 euros and in 20 minutes on the spot.

CONCLUSION: It’s half the price yourself, you are your own boss, travel by yourself and everything will be fine. We walked in all cities; I can’t say anything about the prices for transport.

Soon, very soon already New Year holidays. Where to go for the holidays? The A-Renta company is ready not only to provide you with truly inexpensive prices for renting a car from Moscow, but also to provide ideas for holidays. For example, Why don't you arrange a romantic car trip around the Baltics?

Many people treat the Baltic states with disdain: they say, the countries of the former USSR, which eagerly rushed to Europe, although there is no smell of European there. There is nothing to see there, zero service, and the attitude of the Balts towards us Russians... to put it mildly, is disappointing. However, those who think so are completely wrong. Let's try to destroy the existing stereotypes by driving around the Baltics.

Trip to the Baltics by car

Taking care of documents in advance is a must:

1. For those traveling by car, it is necessary to obtain a so-called Green Card, which will need to be presented when crossing the border.
2. And don’t forget that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are part of the European Union, so passports must have valid visas.

How to get there?

You can get to the Baltic states in two ways: through Belarus and through the Leningrad region. Residents of central Russia, as a rule, travel via Belarus. Therefore, if you need to travel by car to the Baltics from Moscow, then you can at the same time take a look at some of our former ones, as they say.

Tests at customs

The first and, perhaps, only thing that overshadows traveling by car is the incredible queues at the border with Lithuania. You can stand for 6, 8, 12 hours. It depends on your luck. You need to be prepared for the fact that arrogant drivers driving cool cars with thieves' license plates pass without waiting in line. And for some reason they are missed.

Before your trip, it’s better to “scour” auto traveler forums, where people share observations and thoughts about what time is best to cross the border.

The procedure for inspecting a car and passports takes a little time.

Traveling around the Baltics...

Lithuania

And now the treasured border crossing stamps are in your passports: you are in Lithuania.

The most famous Lithuanian city, Vilnius, is a must-see. Don't be confused by the old five-story buildings of the Khrushchev era. Yes, yes, they are the ones who will meet you at the entrance to the city. But the so-called Old Town in Vilnius is incredible:

• cozy atmosphere,
• small streets,
• beautiful architecture of ancient buildings,
• paved paths,
• Hospitable cafes - that's what it's worth visiting Vilnius for!

In addition to visiting the sights in Lithuania, you should definitely take a ride along the coast. Both Klaipeda and little-known Palanga are great places to relax by the sea. Palanga, by the way, is the largest resort city on the Lithuanian coast. And the prices for housing, as well as for food, are very high there.

Latvia

To get to neighboring Latvia you do not need to cross any borders. It takes about four hours to drive from Lithuania to Latvia.

Naturally, the first city you need to see is stunning Riga. The old town in Riga is one of the most beautiful in all of Europe. At every step there are incredible ancient buildings, cathedrals, squares. An ideal place for romantic walks for two or for visiting with the whole family.

There are cozy cafes here and there on small streets. Prices are truly European. A fairly modest lunch for three will cost at least 50-60 euros.

The most important thing you need to know about Riga when traveling by car is paid parking in the Old Town itself. You can leave your car for free only in specially designated areas and only for a few hours. Usually at night.

When booking a hotel, it is important to check whether there are free parking spaces, which most likely will not be included in the price of your stay. In addition to Riga, auto travelers are advised to look into Jurmala, Cesis and Liepaja.

Estonia

Last in line, but not the least beautiful, is Estonia.

According to tradition, start your acquaintance with the country from the Old Town in Tallinn. There are a lot of incredibly beautiful towers, town halls, fortresses and cathedrals here. The center of the Old Town is the famous Town Hall Square. The place is truly amazing: once you find yourself there, it’s as if you’re transported back to the Middle Ages. It seems that in just a little while a knight will gallop into the square on horseback from a neighboring street.
By the way, many cafes that are located at every turn in the Old Town are decorated in the medieval style. The prices are quite high. The closer to Town Hall Square, the more expensive it is.

Another must-see place in Estonia is Tartu. Very beautiful city, which is home to one of the oldest universities in Northern Europe. Don’t be too lazy to get to Haapsalu - “ Northern Venice» Estonia. Haapsalu will amaze you with its small streets and cute wooden houses.

Share your impressions

So, the general impression of the Baltic states:

1. Incredible, beautiful, atmospheric.
2. The tracks and roads are ideal, everything is very clean and comfortable.
3. The ancient buildings and churches are amazing.
4. They treat our compatriots very well, they are always ready to help with directions or any other question.
5. Cafes and restaurants have menus in Russian. The waiters are very welcoming and friendly. They constantly ask if everything is okay and if you liked the dishes you ordered.
6. Almost everyone speaks Russian perfectly. The only exception is young people. She speaks almost no Russian.
7. Hotels for every taste and budget, and there are almost always free places. (It is better to book the room you like for the night; if desired, you can always extend it).
8. Be sure to take warm clothes with you. Even in summer it can be very cold in the Baltics. Nature in Estonia is especially capricious: it often rains there, the temperature in July-August can only reach +16-17 degrees.
9. Of the minuses: it takes a long time to cross the border from Russia and back. And also the prices in the cafe: they are quite high, designed for wealthy Germans and French, of whom, by the way, there are a lot there.

How to travel to the Baltics on your own, without the services of travel agencies. It’s easy and simple, because almost everyone there speaks Russian, so you won’t have any problems with communication. It is enough to make a foreign passport and open a Schengen visa to one of the three Baltic countries. We also recommend creating your own itinerary around the Baltics, making sure to include Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. If someone convinces you that any of the three countries is the most beautiful, then do not take their word for it, because each country is unique and has its own zest.

What to take with you when planning an independent trip to the Baltics. Of course, you need to take your passport with a valid Schengen visa. Car insurance, technical passport and green card. Several credit cards from different banks and a supply of cash, by the way, will be in case of unforeseen circumstances. When going on a trip in a personal car, it is better to take 2 navigators with different maps, because... one navigator may get lost or have outdated maps.

Route for an independent trip to the Baltics

A trip to the Baltics independently begins from Lithuania. Crossing the Lithuanian border, we immediately head to the city of Vilnius. It’s just a stone’s throw from the border, so you can have time to see a lot of things almost immediately after crossing the border. The city is quite small, but very interesting. In the architecture of the city you will find the Baroque style, in which as many as 9 churches were built. The wall in the city and the church are made in the Renaissance style. As many as three Catholic churches made in Gothic style. Must visit old town, which has retained its charm over the centuries. The narrow winding streets of the old city are paved with paving stones and are considered pedestrian, but some are allowed to drive. However, we do not recommend driving to the old city in your own car; a taxi will be cheaper and faster, because you still need to park your car somewhere.

Trakai

Next stop in Trakai, former capital Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Anyone who knows the history will understand how unique this place is. It’s only thirty kilometers away, so you can safely plan a visit to it for one day along with Vilnius. The city is famous for Trakai Castle, which is surrounded by water, because... is located on the island. You won't find any other castles like this in Europe. The castle alone is worth coming to Trakai.

Kaunas

After seeing the castle and the city of Trakai, we go to Kaunas. It's quite compact and very well torn ancient city, in which you will find large number monuments and attractions. You can easily spend a whole day in Kaunas exploring and admiring the city's attractions.

Klaipeda

Traveling to the Baltics on your own is not difficult, especially when there is a ready-made route. Next, our route takes us to Klaipeda. By the way, the city has a very interesting maritime museum. If you are in the city with children, then go to the dolphinarium. For those who love sailing, there are two yacht clubs where you can rent a boat, motorboat or yacht for any time.

Palanga

Palanga is a resort that does not need to be advertised, because... All tourists in the world know it. The resort is located not far from Klaipeda, so we are heading there. In recent years, Palanga has changed a lot thanks to new comfortable hotels and guest houses. The most beautiful place in Palanga, this is a botanical garden in which the Tyszkiewicz Palace is located. On the territory of the palace there is an amber museum and a souvenir shop.

Liepaja

We cross the border and find ourselves in a Latvian town called Liepaja. The royal family loved to vacation in this city, and today it is a favorite vacation spot for musicians. Every year regular concerts and musical performances attract more and more more tourists. The city has a zoo that is open all year round. We recommend that after exploring the city of Liepia, you will go to Rudel Castle. From the castle it’s a stone’s throw to our next destination, so it fits perfectly into our itinerary.

Saldus

The city of Saldus is not particularly remarkable, but its suburbs will be very interesting. Here In the suburbs of Saldus you will find Kalnsetas Park. In the park you will find ancient estates and monuments from the reign of the German barons, which is very interesting and educational. The Tsietsere River flows through the park and offers a variety of water activities and excellent fishing.

Jurmala

Of course, after Riga we go to Jurmala, fortunately it’s just a stone’s throw away, one might say, a suburb of Riga, only 25 km. Here we recommend staying for a few days to relax in a truly legendary resort that has a lot to offer to local tourists.

Sigulda

Having rested and gained strength, we set off for Estonia, and on the way we will stop at last city Latvia called Sigulda. The city has quite a few ancient castles and the largest cave in all of Latvia. From Sigulda it will take us an hour and a half to reach our next stop in Estonia.

Tartu

The hospitable youth city of Tartu. It has the largest number of universities in Estonia, and therefore the largest number of young people, so it is a city in which life is constantly in full swing. The history of the city goes back more than a thousand years. The combination of modern student traditions and the medieval flavor of the city is unique and will not be repeated.

Tallinn

Just 185 kilometers from Tartu is Tallinn, where we are going. Tallinn, like Riga, offers us a lot of interesting things, so it’s worth staying in this city for a few days to get to know it at least a little better. We recommend that you prepare a separate route for the sights of Tallinn in advance, since there are quite a lot of them.

Rakveri

On the way home, it’s worth stopping by the city of Rakveri, where the ruins of the order’s castle have been preserved. The city has a museum and a concert venue under open air. You will have the opportunity to see a real old mill that is still working.

Kuremäe

Next we go to Kuremäe. Here is the Orthodox Holy Dormition Pyukhtinsky convent. Quite interesting and famous place. It is here that the oak tree grows, on which the image of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary appeared. By the way, this is the only monastery in Estonia that is subordinate to the Moscow diocese.

Toila and Narva-Yesu

Our final stop before crossing the border is Toila and Narva-Yesu. Toila is very beautiful resort, although it is not very advertised. Narva-Yesu beautiful city, which has private beach, several kilometers long.

See also

Vilnius - Kaunas - Trakai

Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Kaunas (100km)

Excursion around Kaunas.
Kaunas- the second largest city in Lithuania, located at the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris rivers. Kaunas was founded in 1362 and is the second capital of Lithuania. The city is famous for its medieval square. Here you will see the Town Hall, which is called the “white swan”, and admire all European architectural styles.
You will see the house of Perkunus (Thunder) - one of the most original late Gothic buildings in Lithuania. You will admire the Church of St. Vytautas and see the Cathedral Church of St. Peter and Paul.
The modern street of Kaunas, Laisves Alley, is a boulevard that is called “little Paris” with its cozy shops and cafes. The length of this street is about 2 km, and the panorama is completed by a magnificent church built at the beginning of the 20th century according to the design of Benoit (now the Church of St. Michael the Archangel).
Kaunas is famous for its K.M. Museum. Ciurlionis. Many tourists from the east and west come here to admire the paintings of this great artist and composer. Also here is the famous Devils Museum, which the whole world knows about.

Transfer to Trakai (86 km).

Lunch at a Karaite restaurant. The menu includes a famous Karaite dish - kibinai, which is a crescent-shaped pastry made from dough filled with sliced ​​meat with lots of onions and spices. Lithuania should be grateful to Grand Duke Vytautas for this extremely popular dish. It was he who brought the Karaites to Lithuania 600 years ago, and they brought the “kibinai”. The surprising thing is that no more than two or three thousand Karaites lived in Lithuania, and their “kibinai” peacefully conquered the entire country.

Excursion around Trakai.
Trakai, ancient capital Principality of Lithuania, located just 30 km from Vilnius. Trakai is the ancient capital of Lithuania, a city between three lakes. The main attraction of the city is the famous Trakai Castle, standing on an island in the middle of Lake Galve. It should be noted that this is the only island castle in Eastern Europe, one of the largest medieval defensive structures in Lithuania, it occupies an area of ​​1.8 hectares. To enter the fortress, visitors must pass through two wooden bridges. Center architectural ensemble The castle is a princely palace, surrounded by a thick fortress wall with defensive towers. Now it houses a museum, the exhibition of which covers the period from ancient times to the mid-20th century. The exhibition features authentic furniture, dishes, glass and bone items, seals, hunting trophies and archaeological finds discovered during excavations. By the way, this is where the film “The Adventures of Electronics” was filmed.

Return to Vilnius.
Free time.

We had been planning a trip to Latvia for a very long time. And then somehow all the cards fell in line. I wanted a change of scenery, but it wasn’t far to go and there was the sea.

I'll start with the pleasant thing - a visa. I heard that Latvians are harmful in this regard, and you shouldn’t really count on a long-term visa. But here the brothers did not let us down: they opened a six-month “cartoon” to all members of our journey. I won’t write about the whole process, documents, etc. I’ll just say that the Pony express delivery service surprised me. This service is provided free of charge in visa center and passports are delivered straight to your home.

We went on the trip by car. It turned out to be more budget-friendly and our hands, that is, our legs, were freed on the spot. The entire journey took 13 hours, including the border. There were no problems at border control. Everything is fast and clear. But the main thing here is to calculate the time and not get caught in the shift changes of the border guards. Usually this is from 8 to 9 and from 20 to 21.

1

Riga welcomed us with beautiful weather. Despite the fact that it was August, in the Baltics we were lucky to find +30 degrees. I can confidently add Latvia to the list of cities where I want to return. Therefore, I will describe point by point how and what and answer the main questions.

What to see?

Of course, the most important asset and charm of Riga is the old city. You can safely park your car on the outskirts and go sightseeing on foot.

• The Dome Cathedral is the country's main cathedral and a must-see. Enough ancient building. The first stone was solemnly laid in 1211. Since then, it has been rebuilt many times, but it has not lost its grandeur.

Unfortunately, when we were there, the spire and tower were completely in the scaffolding, so especially beautiful photos No. But we went to historical museum. The ticket cost 3 euros.

The main asset of anyone Catholic Cathedral- organ. We were unlucky and it was restored, but now not only services, but also concerts are regularly held in the Dome Cathedral. The poster can be viewed on the official website. If you have the opportunity to hear the music of this particular organ, you should not miss it. It’s not for nothing that it was recognized as wonderful-sounding in the world.

The interior decoration is not particularly luxurious, but how calm it is...

Stained glass windows are an integral part of all Catholic cathedrals.

At an altitude of 72 m there is an observation deck where an elevator will take you. From a bird's eye view there is an excellent view of the city on the banks of the Dvina. Observation deck open every day except Monday.

• Main Dome Square. She seemed a little typical to me. Very similar to squares where they prefer the Gothic style, as in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. The same neat gingerbread houses.

• Cat's house. I used to think that Egypt is a country of cats, but it turns out to be Latvia. They are everywhere here and all black! Superstitious people would go crazy. But as a desperate cat lover, I wanted to see this particular house.

1

2

The story goes: the house belonged to Mr. Blumer, who really dreamed of joining the guild, which was located opposite his house, but he was not accepted at all. As a sign of protest, he installed black cats on the roof and turned their butts straight towards the guild. As a result, Comrade Blumer was nevertheless accepted into the coveted state, and the cats were turned in the opposite direction. But since then they have been symbols of Riga.

• Narrow streets of Riga. Back in the days of the USSR, if you needed to film a movie “abroad,” you went to Riga, because even then it resembled Europe as much as possible. Such film masterpieces as Sherlock Holmes and 17 Moments of Spring were filmed here.

2

2

• Monument to the Bremen Town Musicians.

1

The monument was cast by Bremen sculptor Christa Baumgartel. The moment is depicted when the musicians look into the window of the robbers, and judging by their worn noses, everyone believes in the magical power of these guys. But they look creepy.

Within walking distance from Old Riga, or as it is affectionately called local residents- old lady, there are also several attractions.

• Powder Tower.

1

1

• Lime watch. Latvia has Laima not only in Vaikule, but also in watches and even candies. By the way, Laima is translated into Russian as “happiness.” A constant meeting place for all citizens. Located opposite the Freedom Monument.

1

2

Riga National Opera. Quite a significant place in the city.

1

This is a fast food cafe. The specialty of this establishment is its spicy dishes. Every day the menu changes and opposite each dish there are hot chili peppers, which determine the severity of the sensation. Maximum 10. On the day we were there, the hottest was with 3 peppers. I’ll say right away that a dish with 2 peppers will make you cry, but with 3 you’ll breathe fire. It’s scary to imagine the extreme level with 10 points.

The prices are very reasonable. You can take the whole dish or half a portion. This establishment is closed on weekends! And on weekdays it is open from 11 am to 20:30 pm.

Address: Gertrudes iela, 6

2nd place. Restaurant Lido. Quite a famous restaurant with unusually beautiful decorations! I advise you to first walk around the territory and take a couple of pictures, and then go inside. On the 1st floor there is a buffet restaurant with buffet. Take a tray and fill it with whatever your heart desires. Let me tell you right away, everything is delicious! Especially desserts. There is a bar on the -1st floor. They also have their own mini-brewery there, where they brew beer and immediately serve it to guests. And on the 2nd floor there is a restaurant and a banquet hall. There's already a dinner menu there. The choice is yours. But the interior is incredible! I can’t even imagine how beautiful it is here at Christmas.