Jūrmala or Pärnu? Choosing a Baltic coastal stop

A coastal stop can be a day out from a city or a new overnight base. Those choices have different costs in time, even before the weather is considered.

Jūrmala: keep Riga as your base

Jūrmala works as a coastal excursion while keeping your accommodation in Riga. That makes it a useful option on the ten-day route if you want sea air without another check-in and transfer of luggage. Choose the part of Jūrmala you want to visit before selecting a train stop. Read the Jūrmala guide on LatviaLinks.

Pärnu: make the coast a separate stay

Our fourteen-day route gives Pärnu two nights between Riga and Tallinn. The route uses coach connections, or a car, rather than assuming the Riga to Tallinn train goes through Pärnu. A full day between arrival and departure leaves time for the town as well as the seafront. Read the Pärnu guide on EstoniaLink.

A longer Lithuanian coast extension

For more time on Lithuania’s coast, compare the Klaipėda guide, Palanga guide and Curonian Spit guide. The Nida guide covers one of the towns on the spit. Add the extra overnight bases and their journeys before deciding that they fit. These places are not already included in the capital-to-capital starters. Browse LithuaniaLinks’ destination guides for other extensions.

Plan for the season

A coastal town is not a promise of swimming weather. In colder months, decide whether you want coastal walks and town time, or whether you would prefer those nights in a city. Allow for shorter daylight when choosing excursions.