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Baltic Capitals by Rail: the Day-by-Day Itinerary
Three storybook capitals, one easy rail line. Tallinn brings medieval turrets, Riga its art nouveau facades, and Vilnius a baroque old town — with the Soviet past still close enough to touch in each. Warsaw's rebuilt old city closes the journey.
Baltic Capitals by Rail is a 1060 km one-way journey (by rail). It works best as 4–8 days; the plan below is the 6-day version for June, built from 463 verified places, with timetable-estimated transit times, opening hours and daylight checked.
Customize this plan → 4-day plan · 6-day plan · 8-day plan · best time to go
6
days
1122 km
distance
15.0 h
on trains
35
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- White nights around midsummer — old towns buzz till midnight and Jāņi bonfires take over Latvia on June 23–24.
Day 1 Tallinn → Riga
🌡 4.8–25.8°C · 🌧 ~10 rain days · ☀ 18.2h light
09:00
St. Nicholas churchmuseums & heritagehistory & sagaschurches & landmarks
Discover the restored beauty of St. Nicholas church, now an art museum.
50 min · Tallinn · adults €3.50, concessions €2
open: W-S 10:00-17:00
09:50
Estonian History Museummuseums & heritagehistory & sagas
Explore Estonia's rich past in the exhibits of the Estonian History Museum.
50 min · Tallinn · €14; discounted €9
open: Daily 10:00-18:00 (1 May - 30 Sep); Th-Tu 10:00-18:00 (1 Oct - 30 Apr)
10:40
Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia (EKKM)museums & heritagecoffee & bakes
Discover innovative art in repurposed industrial spaces, blending old and new.
50 min · Tallinn · Free admission, donations very welcome
open: April to December: Tu–Su 12:00–19:00 (you may want to double-check onl
15:38
Rīga City Daylocal & traditional
Celebrate the city with street performances and festivities.
90 min · Riga
open: Takes place the whole of August
18:30
Kohvik Narvahistory & sagaslocal & traditionalcoffee & bakes
Savour traditional dishes in a chic, Soviet-era inspired interior.
75 min · Tallinn · Cake per kg €8.50-12, pastry pieces €0.7
open: M-F 08:30-20:00, Sa 10:00-20:00, Su 10:00-18:00
Overnight: Tallinn
e.g. Knight House · Old House Hostel
Day 2 Around Tallinn
🌡 4.8–25.8°C · 🌧 ~10 rain days · ☀ 18.2h light
09:00
St. Olaf's churchhistory & sagaschurches & landmarks
Spot the towering spire of St. Olaf's church dominating the skyline.
50 min · Tallinn · Tower €3
09:50
KGB Prison cells museummuseums & heritagehistory & sagas
Feel a chill walking through the stark cells of the KGB Prison museum.
50 min · Tallinn · Ticket 10 €, concession 8 €
10:40
Seaplane Harbourmuseums & heritage
Explore preserved ships and aircraft in a grand concrete seaplane hangar.
50 min · Tallinn · €20, combined ticket with Fat Margaret €
open: May-Sep: daily 10:00 to 19:00; Oct – Apr: Tu-Su 10:00 to 18:00
11:30
The Estonian Song Celebrationmuseums & heritage
Be moved by thousands of voices swelling in unified song.
90 min · Tallinn
open: early July
13:00
Tourist Information Centre in Old Townmuseums & heritagehistory & sagas
50 min · Tallinn
13:50
Freedom Squarechurches & landmarks
Admire St. John's Church and the towering Victory Column under clear skies.
50 min · Tallinn
14:40
Cinnamonhistory & sagaslocal & traditionalcoffee & bakes
Taste a blend of Indian and European cuisine in Old Town.
60 min · Tallinn · Main courses 10 to 20 €
Overnight: Tallinn
e.g. Knight House · Old House Hostel
Day 3 Vilnius
🌡 1.5–30.9°C · 🌧 ~11 rain days · ☀ 17.0h light
12:52
Bastion of Vilnius Defensive Wallmuseums & heritagehistory & sagaschurches & landmarks
Walk through a museum of the city's military past.
50 min · Vilnius · Adult €6, child €3
open: Tu-Su 10:00-18:00
13:42
Markučiai Parkmuseums & heritagehistory & sagaslocal & traditional
Stroll through lush walks and ancient burial tumuli in this tranquil greenbelt.
50 min · Vilnius
14:32
Gediminas Castlehistory & sagaschurches & landmarks
Explore ancient stone walls with panoramic city views.
50 min · Vilnius · Tower adult €8, conc or child €4
open: Daily 10:00-20:00
15:22
Old Arsenalmuseums & heritagehistory & sagas
Discover centuries of history in a grand museum setting.
50 min · Vilnius · Adult €5, child €2.50
open: Tu-Su 10:00-18:00
16:12
Museum of Applied Arts & Designmuseums & heritagehistory & sagas
Admire beautiful craftsmanship and historic designs.
50 min · Vilnius
open: Tu We & F 10:00-18:00, Th 10:00-20:00, Su 11:00-16:00
17:02
New Arsenalmuseums & heritagehistory & sagas
Learn about Lithuania's heritage in this historic site.
50 min · Vilnius · Adult €5, child €2.50
open: Tu-Su 10:00-18:00
18:30
Dėvėticraft beer & pubscoffee & bakes
Enjoy pizza and pita sandwiches in a casual bar atmosphere.
75 min · Vilnius
open: Su-W 16:00-00:00, Th-Sa 16:00-01:00
Overnight: Vilnius
e.g. Ibis Vilnius Centre · Mabre Residence Hotel
See the remaining 3 days of the 6-day plan →
Route map
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