The Baltics are highly underrated! From colorful old towns to their Soviet days there is a lot to see and do in the Baltics. Also, Finland is just a 2 hour ferry ride from Estonia and is a wonderful addition to your Baltics itinerary if you have the time. This post covers how to spend 12 days in the Baltics and Finland.
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Table of Contents
Notes About 12 Days in the Baltics
- Some people tend to go to Helsinki as a day trip from Tallinn. While this is okay if you are pressed for time, I recommend that you spend more than one day in Finland if you can.
- You should do this 12 days in the Baltics itinerary from either south to north (Lithuania to Finland) or vice versa. Starting in the middle (Latvia or Estonia) will be a waste of time.
- Feel free to mix up the order within each country
- You can adjust the itinerary as needed and I have shown how to below.
- I have written detailed posts about every single one of these 12 days in the Baltics, which I will link at the end of each day. I want to keep this post high-level but please click on the links and read these detailed posts as there’s a lot of information in each of them including things to do, how to get around, where to eat and where to stay.
12 Days in the Baltics Overview
Below is how to breakdown your 12 days in the Baltics and Finland. You could definitely adjust as needed. See the 2 sections just below.
- Lithuania – 3 days
- Latvia – 3 days
- Estonia – 2 days
- Finland – 4 days
How to Adjust this 12 Days in Baltics + Finland Itinerary
You could spend 3 days in Estonia and cut down your time in Finland from 4 days to 3 days or cut out Finland altogether.
Itinerary for Only the Baltics
If you don’t want to visit Finland on your trip to the Baltics, you could then add a day to Latvia (from 3 to 4) and add another day to Estonia (from 2 to 3) making it a 10 days in the Baltics trip. For 8 days in the Baltics, you can follow this itinerary and just remove the Finland leg.
How to Get Around in the Baltics
Getting around in the Baltics is relatively easy. I used a bus called Lux Express to go from Vilnius to Riga and from Riga to Tallinn and used a ferry to go from Tallinn to Helsinki.
I was really impressed by Lux Express! They were punctual, extremely clean and the process was so easy. The seats are like an airplane seat! You can recline it and it comes with an in-seat entertainment screen and free Wi-Fi! I would 100% go with them again when I visit the Baltics next time.
For day trips, I simply used public transport or booked a tour using GetYourGuide or Viator.
You could also rent a car but I think this will be very expensive since you will pick it up in one country and drop it off in another. You will also have to pay extra for the ferry to transport a vehicle and also factor in parking fees in the cities. Overall, don’t waste your money renting a car.
When to Visit the Baltics
You can visit the Baltics any time of the year but for better weather and longer days consider visiting from Late April to September. Late April, May, June and September have the benefit of good temperatures, longer days AND fewer crowds. I visited in late April and early May and found very few crowds which made for a very pleasant experience.
You will need a jacket with you even in the summer months as the temperatures are quite mild in the Baltics and Finland.
Itinerary for 12 Days in the Baltics + Finland
Day 1 – Vilnius, Lithuania
Start your 12 days in the Baltics in the capital of Lithuania. Vilnius is the largest capital city in the Baltic States.
Things to See and Do in Vilnius
- Old Town
- Churches including the Gothic Corner
- Explore food markets
- View Vilnius from above
- Walk through historic and colorful streets
- Explore the castle complex
- Visit the Republic of Užupis
See my detailed post on how to spend one day in Vilnius HERE!
Day 2 – Kaunas, Lithuania
Kaunas is Lithuania’s second most populous city and was once the country’s temporary capital. Kaunas is known for its Art Deco architecture, street art and numerous churches and museums as well as its beautiful Old Town. It’s about 100 km from Vilnius and is an easy train ride away.
Things to See and Do in Kaunas
- Stroll down Liberty Avenue and Vilniaus gatvė
- Visit important churches
- Explore the Old Town and the Town Square
- Visit the Castle
- Visit Kiemo Galerija
- See the view from Aleksotas Hill
- Admire the House of Perkūnas
- Visit Sugihara House
- Spot the street art and sculptures all over the city
See HERE for a detailed guide and itinerary on Kaunas.
Day 3 – Trakai, Lithuania
Trakai was the medieval capital city of Lithuania and is an easy day trip from Vilnius. Trakai is just a 30 minute car ride from Vilnius but is also easily accessed via public transport. Buses and trains run quite frequently to Trakai.
Things to See and Do in Trakai
- Trakai Island castle
- Walk along the trails
- Take a boat trip
- Have a Trakai kibinai
- Explore the Karaite neighborhood
- Visit historic churches
HERE is a complete Trakai guide with more things to do, how to get there, where to eat etc.
Leave for Trakai a bit early if you can so that you can get back to Vilnius at a decent time to take an evening bus to Riga, Latvia. I got back to Vilnius in the afternoon and had time to have dinner leisurely prior to heading to the Vilnius bus station to catch the bus to Riga. Taking the bus in the evening ensures you have a full day in Riga the next day.
Day 4 – Riga, Latvia
Explore the Old Town of Riga on day 4 of your 12 days in the Baltics. The Old Town is compact and very colorful. Explore its beautiful squares, narrow but colorful streets, grand architecture and stunning views.
HERE is a complete itinerary on how to spend 2 days in Riga. It’s broken down by the 2 days and is mapped out sequentially. I have also included where to eat and where I stayed!
Day 5 – Riga, Latvia
Today, explore the sites and sounds of Riga outside of Old Town. These include the Central market, Agenskalns market, Academy of Science buildings for panoramic views, Art Nouveau buildings, Riga Nativity of Christ Orthodox Cathedral, the Freedom monument and Corner House. Corner House was the former KGB building where people were falsely imprisoned and executed. This is s a must do in Riga. You should reserve these tickets in advance.
More on all of these in the detailed 2 days in Riga post!
Day 6 – Day Trip, Latvia
Today, take a day trip from Riga and explore more of Latvia. You have quite a few options ranging from history to nature and you can choose any of these based on your interests.
You can also combine some of the places above on a day trip from Riga. Here are a couple of suggestions. The first combination is very popular!
See the full post HERE!
Get back to Riga in the evening and spend the night in Riga. Alternatively, you could also catch the last bus out of Riga to Tallinn.
Day 7 – Tallinn, Estonia
On day 7 of your 12 days in the Baltics, catch the earliest bus you can from Riga to Tallinn. The journey takes just under 4.5 hours. If you caught the bus to Tallinn last evening, then you can take things a bit slow today and explore Tallinn’s medieval Old Town at leisure. However, if you caught the bus this morning, then you should drop off your bags and get right to it.
Tallinn is hands down my favorite city that I visited during my 12 days in the Baltics and Finland. Tallinn’s Old Tow is somewhat compact and offers some incredible views from its many old church towers. The cobblestoned streets are very colorful and cute too!
Focus this day on Old Town. My 2 days in Tallinn post shows you how to spend your first day in Old Town and has been mapped out sequentially, so check it out below!
See my 2 days in Tallinn post HERE!
Day 8 – Tallinn, Estonia
Tallinn has some really great history museums and art museums that you should check out on your 2nd day here. One particular museum that needs to be booked in advance is the KGB Museum at Hotel Viru. This museum is fascinating and is a must see if you are a history buff.
More details of other places to see on day 2 is covered in my Tallinn blog post.
Day 9 – Suomenlinna, Finland
Get an early start on day 9 of your 12 days in the Baltics. Today, you should aim to take the first ferry out of Tallinn to Helsinki. MS Finlandia run by Eckerö Line is the first ship that departs from Tallinn to Helsinki early in the morning at 6 a.m. (not on Sundays) and arrives in Helsinki at 8.15. a.m. The MyStar run by Tallink Silja departs at 7:30 a.m. and gets to Helsinki at 9:30 a.m. You can take either ferry. The Tallink Silja ferry is fancy! Getting to Helsinki at 9:30 a.m. still gives you plenty of time in the day.
After heading to your hotel and leaving your bags, head to Market Square and hop on a boat to Suomenlinna.
Suomenlinna
The Suomenlinna sea fortress is only a 15 minute ferry ride from Helsinki, making it an easy day trip. This fortress was built by the Swedes in the late 18th century to as a defense against Russia but was later taken over by Russia when it occupied Finland. I cover things to do in Suomenlinna, including where to eat and how to get there in-depth (see link below). Take things slow in Suomenlinna. The island has plenty of places to grab a drink and lots of places where you can have a slow picnic lunch. Enjoy the views and the history of the island.
Check out my detailed Suomenlinna post HERE!
Lonna Sauna
If you get done with Suomenlinna early, you can head back to Helsinki or check out a sauna called Lonna. To do this, you need to take the Lonna ferry that also comes to Suomenlinna This ferry or water bus is operated by JT-Line. Your HSL (Helsinki’s public transport) card will not work. You need a separate JT-Line ticket which you can buy from the JT-Line ticket kiosk at Market Square, online, or via mobile app. Note however, that you can only do this from early May to late September. Also note that you will have to bring your swimsuit when you set out for the day, so maybe pack one before getting to Suomenlinna.
Day 10 – Porvoo, Finland
Porvoo was founded in the 14th century and is Finland’s second oldest city. The city is well known for its well-preserved Old Town and colorful riverside wooden houses. It’s really easy to get to Porvoo from Finland making it a popular day trip from Helsinki.
The easiest and most straight forward way to get to Porvoo from Helsinki is via bus. Download the Onnibus app or the Matkahuolto app and buy your ticket online. The journey takes around 55 minutes one direction.
Things to See and Do in Porvoo
- Old Town
- Riverfront houses
- Museums – there are several!
- Shop for locally made goods
- Taste chocolates and local cuisine
- Porvoo cathedral
Read my detailed guide on Porvoo HERE!
Day 11 – Helsinki, Finland
There is quite a lot of interesting things that you can see and do in Helsinki and you will need about 2 days for these. Therefore, dedicate days 11 and 12 of your 12 days in the Baltics for Helsinki. The best way to tackle these 2 days is to map out all the things you want to do and then divide them up into 2 days based on each location.
I’ve included a very high-level summary of the things to see and do in Helsinki but please do read my detailed guide for more information!
Things to See and Do in Helsinki
- Fun museums
- Saunas
- Historic cafes
- Churches that are architectural marvels
- Colorful neighborhoods
- Historic squares
- Libraries
- Parks
- Food and goods markets
Read my complete guide to Helsinki including what to see and do, where to stay and eat HERE!
Day 12 – Helsinki, Finland
On day 12 and your last day, see the places you didn’t get to go to on day 11.
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