Self-drive trip in the Baltics

Tallinn

Day 1: Welcome to Tallinn

Welcome to Tallinn! Pick up your rental car at the Tallinn airport and check into the hotel. Get ready for a fantastic adventure! 

Tallinn

Day 2: Discover Tallinn on Foot

On a guided walking tour of Tallinn, you will explore a well-preserved medieval center known as the Old Town. You will visit many historic sites including Toompea Castle, a stately baroque castle that today houses the Parliament of Estonia.

You'll also see the 13th century Dome Church, the Russian Revival Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and many more.

Lahemaa National Park

Day 3: Stunning Lahemaa National Park

After breakfast, drive to a scenic coastline northeast of Tallinn. Lahemaa National Park is considered one of the last unspoiled regions of the Baltic coastline.

You will go on a 7 km guided hiking tour starting from Sagadi to Kasmu Peninsula and back. On the Kasmu Peninsula, you will find the biggest natural accumulation of rocks in Estonia. You will see the Kasmu village, one of the most beautiful seaside villages in Estonia.

Mustvee - Tartu

Day 4: Along the Lake Peipus

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, and afterward drive along the shore of Lake Peipus, which is the fifth-largest lake in Europe. It is also the largest transboundary lake on the continent, as it shares borders with both, Estonia and Russia.

The old traditions are still alive and honored by the Old Believers living on the shore of Lake Peipus. At the Old Believers Museum, a tea ceremony is waiting for you. The ceremony will be led by an instructor wearing a headscarf required by local customs.

After, continue to Tartu, the second-largest city in Estonia. Go on a Tartu Old Town walking tour. Enjoy the historic streets, Town Hall Square with the statue of Kissing Students, St. John's Church with its many terracotta sculptures, and Tartu University, which was founded in 1632.

Cesis

Day 5: Welcome to Cesis, Latvia

In the morning, cross the Estonian-Latvian border and stop in Cesis, a medieval gemstone and the third oldest town in Latvia. During the guided walking tour visit the charming ruins of the Medieval Castle, explore the history, and feel the medieval spirit in candlelight. Despite the wars, the Old Town has remained almost unchanged.

On the tour, you will see such highlights as the Roze Square, Princess’ House, and St. John’s Church. Eight hundred years of history in Cesis is visible not only on the streets but also in Cesis' castle complex

Riga

Day 6: Kayaking on the River Gauja

The morning begins with a drive to the River Gauja where you have to start a self-guided kayaking tour. On the 4 km long paddling distance, you will see magnificent sandstone outcrops.

In the afternoon, continue driving south to Riga. Make a stop at the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum, located in a lovely pine tree forest next to Juglas Lake. A meditative musical experience is waiting for you: ancient sounds of Latvian traditional string instrument “kokle”. Latvians have a saying that “kokle” is given to them by God. Relax and enjoy the ethno-music concert!

Riga

Day 7: Discover Bustling Riga

Riga is the largest city in the Baltics. Take a guided walking tour to see the most famous Art Nouveau buildings on the streets of Alberta and Elizabeth, as well as the Old Town with Riga’s Castle and the Three Brothers houses, the oldest dwellings in the city.

Make a visit to the Riga Central Market, one of the largest covered markets in Europe. Taste smoked meat, pickled vegetables, Latvian bread, seasonal treats, and more. The market opened in 1930, and it consists of five former Zeppelin airship hangars.

Jurmala

Day 8: Biking Adventure along Latvia's Coast

Nearby Riga, Latvia’s most famous resort town Jurmala stretches 30 km along the seaside. Take a break from the city on the sandy Jurmala beach. Enjoy a peaceful walk along the pine forest dunes without any rush.

Do a self-guided bike tour and explore Jurmala. In the mid-19th-century, holidaymakers began escaping the city to relax in Jurmala, and it developed as a resort, often called the ‘’Northern Riviera”.

You will cycle along a pine-covered dune, see the expressive wooden architecture, modern villas, and endless sandy beaches. Stop for a swim at one of the eleven established swimming places.

Kuldiga

Day 9: The Most Romantic Town in Latvia

In the morning, embark on a picturesque drive on the rolling hills of Courland and stop in Kuldiga.

Have a guided walking tour in Kuldiga to see the romantic blend of architecture, small winding streets, and channels. The heart of the town is the Venta River and the Ventas Rumba, the widest waterfall in Europe.

Discover this charming place at a slow pace. Enjoy free time in the afternoon.

Klaipeda - Nida

Day 10: To the Baltic Sea

In the morning, you will cross the Latvian and Lithuanian border and continue to Klaipeda.

Join the guided walking tour in the port city. It begins in Klaipeda's Old Town, known for its old cobblestone streets lined with medieval guild houses. You will visit such landmarks as the Theatre Square and the Ann from Tharau Fountain, a sculpture of a muse of the famous German poet Simon Dach who was born in Klaipeda.

Afterward, take a ferry to the Curonian Spit, a long, thin sand spit that runs 100 km between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. On this narrow strip of land, you can find sleepy fishing villages, isolated pine forests, and endless sand dunes.

Nida

Day 11: Bike Tour from Nida to Joudkrante

In the morning, you will do a self-guided bike tour from Nida to Joudkrante and back. On this route, you will see several dunes and visit the Hill of Witches, located at the lagoon-side village of Juodkrante. Despite the spooky name, this landmark is actually a collection of wooden sculptures atop a forested sand dune. There are over 80 sculptures made by local artists that depict themes of paganism and Lithuanian folklore.

After that, you will return back to Nida to stroll around the town, enjoy local fish restaurants, and try different kinds of smoked fish.

Kaunas

Day 12: Visit Kaunas, Lithuania's Second Capital

In the morning, you will continue to Kaunas, the second-largest city in Lithuania.

Upon arrival, a guided walking tour will take you around the Old Town and show you such landmarks as the Town Hall Square and the House of Perkunas, a gothic merchant house that dates back to the 15th century.

You will also visit Kaunas Castle, a gothic fortress built on a hill overlooking the Nemunas River, dating back to the middle of the 14th century.

Trakai - Vilnius

Day 13: Kayak Around a Medieval Castle

After breakfast, drive from Kaunas to Trakai. Join a guided kayak tour on Lake Galve. The tour will bring you around the medieval Trakai Castle, the landmark of the area.

Afterward, you will visit this impressive gothic fortification, built in the second half of the 14th century out of red brick and stone. Next, continue to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.

Vilnius

Day 14: Exciting City tour of Vilnius

Spend the morning on a guided walking tour of the Old Town, the medieval heart of Vilnius. The highlight of Vilnius is Cathedral Square. The Cathedral was consecrated in 1783. It is Lithuania's premier Roman-Catholic church. Moreover, its mausoleum is the final resting place for some notable figures throughout history, including grand dukes of Lithuania and even King Alexander of Poland.

On the tour, you will see the Gediminas Tower, the 15th-century St. Anne's Church, Vilnius University which is the oldest university in the Baltics, the Gate of Dawn, and the city's medieval defensive fortification, built around a chapel that remains a major catholic pilgrimage site in Lithuania.

Later, enjoy free time in the evening.

Vilnius

Day 15: Departure Day

Today, you'll drop off the rental car at Vilnius Airport and catch your flight home.

We hope you had an unforgettable adventure in the Baltics!