Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn: how many nights?
Decide how many nights to spend in each capital by the sights and day trips you want to include. An excursion uses time you would otherwise have in the city.
If the comparison table is wider than your screen, scroll it sideways.
| Base | Allow time for | Useful extension |
|---|---|---|
| Vilnius | Old town walks, museums and an introduction to Lithuania. | Trakai for its castle and lakes; Kaunas for another city day. |
| Riga | Central Market, Art Nouveau streets and time beyond the old town. | Jūrmala for the coast or Sigulda for the Gauja valley. |
| Tallinn | Historic streets, museums and neighbourhoods outside the old town. | Tartu as a separate overnight base on a longer trip. |
Two nights or three?
Our seven-day starter gives each capital two nights. The journeys take part of two days, while arrival and departure can reduce the time further. It suits travellers who want a first look at all three capitals and are comfortable leaving excursions for another trip.
The ten-day route gives each city three nights. That leaves more time to choose between a city day and an excursion. These are planning suggestions, not minimum stays or a ranking of the cities.
Make the choice in the full guide
Use LithuaniaLinks’ Vilnius guide, LatviaLinks’ Riga guide and EstoniaLink’s Tallinn guide to choose sights and areas to stay in. Keep one or two priorities for each day rather than treating every listed place as a requirement.