Visit to Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. These nations had been on my bucket list for a long time. In this post, I’ll share my perspective on this region.

About the Baltic Countries

The Baltic region is a geopolitical term representing Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. These countries were part of the Soviet Union and were the first to break away in 1990. Since gaining independence, the Baltic countries have experienced tremendous development. They have joined the European Union, NATO, and are part of the Schengen Agreement.

While I noticed significant Russian influence during my visit to Central Asia, that wasn’t the case in the Baltics. The Soviet legacy is scarcely visible, as these countries have worked hard to shed that past.

My Visit

I had a short visit, traveling to the capital cities and spending a day or two in each place.

Travel Between Cities

Warsaw to Vilnius
I first traveled to Vilnius from Warsaw on a Lux Express bus. It was an eight-hour journey. There’s also a day train from Krakow that passes through Warsaw to reach Vilnius.

Vilnius to Riga
I took the 6:30 AM LTG Link train. It was easy to book and convenient.

Riga to Tallinn
There is no train between Riga and Tallinn, so I travelled on a Lux Express bus, which took about 4 hours and 45 minutes.

Travel Within City

In Vilnius and Riga, I walked everywhere and did not use public transport. I did take a bus to visit Trakai, a small town near Vilnius. In Tallinn, Estonia, I used public transport. All I had to do was tap my credit card on the ticket reader on the bus or tram, which intelligently deducted the fare based on my travel for that day.

Unlike other former Soviet republics, there is no concept of Marshrutka (shared taxis that depart only when all seats are filled). The public transport is similar to that in Western Europe.

Currency

All three countries use the Euro, and digital payments are the norm. The only exception was on the bus between Vilnius and Trakai, where I had to pay the driver in cash.

Food

There are many vegetarian restaurants, and it wasn’t hard to find vegetarian options. Overall, I had no problems with food, and I even found Indian restaurants in the cities.

Language

Each country has its own language, but English is generally understood, and I had no issues communicating. Locals were friendly.

Type of tourist places

These countries boast forests, seashores, and lakes, each adding to their natural beauty. I only visited the capital cities, with their picturesque old towns rich in historical monuments and museums. The cities featured stunning Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical architecture, with charming riverfronts.

Tourism in the Baltic Countries

I visited during the peak season in June and saw many tourists, but it never felt crowded. I did not encounter any Indian tourists during my trip, which isn’t surprising as these destinations aren’t typically on the Indian tourist checklist. However, Indian students had a noticeable presence, particularly in Bolt/Wolt delivery services (similar to Zomato and Swiggy) in all the cities.