BEST TIME TO GO TO THE BALTICS
Bird watchers are bound to get in a flap on the East Atlantic Flyway in spring and autumn.![]()
As you can imagine, winters in this part of the world are blimmin’ Baltic, and you'd be much better off visiting in Jul and Aug when beaches, bogs and boulevards are bathed in 24-hour daylight. However, if you're able to visit either side of summer, in May or Sept, conditions are still relatively favourable and the crowds will have disappeared – just pack waterproofs and plenty of layers to be on the safe side. In general, the best time to go to the Baltics is any time outside of Oct to Apr.
WHEN TO VISIT THE BALTICS, & WHEN NOT TO
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania vacation
Journey through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in 12 days
From
US $2380 to US $2660
12 days
ex flights
The Baltic experience tour
Experience the diverse delights of the Baltic states
From
US $2703 to US $3340
12 days
ex flights
Baltic highlights vacation, tailor made
Historical and cultural journey exploring the Baltic States
From
£1475
8 days
ex flights
Baltic Republics small group vacation
Explore Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
From
US $2680 to US $2820
15 days
ex flights
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania small group tour
Explore the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
From
£3165
14 days
ex flights
Baltics cycling tour, Vilnius to Tallinn
11 days guided cycle tour of the Baltics: Vilnius to Tallinn
From
€1599 to €1645
11 days
ex flights
BALTICS HOLIDAY ADVICE
Meet your guide to the Baltics
Meet your guide to the Baltics
Bob Matthews, from our supplier Exodus, shares top tips for small group vacations in the Baltics:
“On a tour of the Baltics you'll have one guide who covers the whole trip. The guide we had was Lithuanian, she was really good and had a great command of English and knew the details and the history of everywhere we visited. In some cases you might also have local guides who get deeper into the history of certain places, for instance – visits to the Cold War Museum, the Art Nouveau architecture tour in Riga and trips to Rundāle Palace.”
“On a tour of the Baltics you'll have one guide who covers the whole trip. The guide we had was Lithuanian, she was really good and had a great command of English and knew the details and the history of everywhere we visited. In some cases you might also have local guides who get deeper into the history of certain places, for instance – visits to the Cold War Museum, the Art Nouveau architecture tour in Riga and trips to Rundāle Palace.”
Traveling conditions
Traveling conditions
“Distances between locations are usually quite short. You can get the occasional long trip but this is usually due to road works or low speed limits increasing journey time. Roads are in good condition overall, maybe a few potholes here and there. On our trip we travelled in a good standard 28-seater bus which comfortably accommodated a group of 20 passengers.”
Food & souvenir advice
Food & souvenir advice
“Food is really good across all three states and there’s more choice than one would expect. There is a lot of influence from the European countries nearest to the borders of each nation. The Baltics are not cheap, which may come as a surprise. As for souvenirs, Russian dolls are everywhere although artwork and paintings are common too.”
Simon Clifford, also from Exodus, shares a key Estonian ingredient:
“The main square in Tallinn is a great place to sit with a verivorsti (blood sausage) hot dog covered in lingonberry jam and a glass of Saku, the local Estonian beer.”
“The main square in Tallinn is a great place to sit with a verivorsti (blood sausage) hot dog covered in lingonberry jam and a glass of Saku, the local Estonian beer.”
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Baltics or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
1-866-821-6866
Call toll free
Calling from outside the USA
What to expect in Estonia
What to expect in Estonia
Simon Clifford:
“The production of peat in Estonia used to be a big industry. However, these days, it is peat bog walking that's better known. Basically, you walk over peat bogs in footwear akin to snow shoes. It's a great activity if you're looking for a unique way to explore Estonia's beautiful national parks.”
“The production of peat in Estonia used to be a big industry. However, these days, it is peat bog walking that's better known. Basically, you walk over peat bogs in footwear akin to snow shoes. It's a great activity if you're looking for a unique way to explore Estonia's beautiful national parks.”
Where to go in Latvia
Where to go in Latvia
Bob Mathews:
“Jurmala has a nice beach area (left is active; right side, non-active) and an excellent open air concert hall – check who’s playing before you visit. The gardens at Rundāle Palace are exceptional, as are the palace rooms which were featured in the BBC’s adaptation of War and Peace. The Old Town district of Cesis is small but quaint, and the castle grounds have re-enactments during the summer with traditional medieval food, music and dressing up.”
“Jurmala has a nice beach area (left is active; right side, non-active) and an excellent open air concert hall – check who’s playing before you visit. The gardens at Rundāle Palace are exceptional, as are the palace rooms which were featured in the BBC’s adaptation of War and Peace. The Old Town district of Cesis is small but quaint, and the castle grounds have re-enactments during the summer with traditional medieval food, music and dressing up.”
Languages in Lithuania
Languages in Lithuania
Simon Clifford, from our supplier Exodus, shares his Lithuania travel advice:
“If you get lost or you need assistance in Lithuania, ask a younger person for help. The majority speak English as a second language, whereas older Lithuanians tend to favour Russian.”
“If you get lost or you need assistance in Lithuania, ask a younger person for help. The majority speak English as a second language, whereas older Lithuanians tend to favour Russian.”
Tips from our vacation reviews
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do – and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Baltics vacation tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation – and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful Baltics vacation tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation – and the space inside your suitcase.
Remember to take rain gear with you!![]()
- Nel Pickette
“Expect a few long days but also a well managed and very interesting historical and sociological overview of the countries visited. Remember to take rain gear wherever you go!” – Nel Pickette
“Everything was memorable but the Cold War Museum in an abandoned Soviet missile launch site and the Occupation Museum in Riga are two things that made the biggest impression on me. Just do a bit of research on how to use free time in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius – there is a lot to see. The tour made good use of the available time and took us to places that we never would have seen on our own. Our tour guide Lolita was excellent and our fellow travelers all interesting and pleasant people from three other nations. The total number on the tour was 11, an ideal size for a group tour.” - James Fairbanks
“Everything was memorable but the Cold War Museum in an abandoned Soviet missile launch site and the Occupation Museum in Riga are two things that made the biggest impression on me. Just do a bit of research on how to use free time in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius – there is a lot to see. The tour made good use of the available time and took us to places that we never would have seen on our own. Our tour guide Lolita was excellent and our fellow travelers all interesting and pleasant people from three other nations. The total number on the tour was 11, an ideal size for a group tour.” - James Fairbanks
I learned so much about these Baltic countries and their people.![]()
- Fiona Bell
“Be prepared for a fascinating time, and take good walking shoes as you may cover a lot of ground. Really fantastic. I learned so much about these Baltic countries and their people and environment.” – Fiona Bell
“An average of about 50kms a day, on mainly flat routes, made for easy cycling and should appeal to almost any cyclist who likes a potter, but might frustrate those looking for something more challenging. We found the Baltics, in general, easy countries to enjoy on vacation and things essentially worked really well. Do take mosquito repellent though as although most places are fine, occasionally you really need it.” - Edward Milford
“What made our vacation really memorable was the excellence of our tour guide, Vaida, as well as the standard and quality of the hotels and bikes. The overall organization of the whole trip was terrific.” - Margaret Sheridan
“An average of about 50kms a day, on mainly flat routes, made for easy cycling and should appeal to almost any cyclist who likes a potter, but might frustrate those looking for something more challenging. We found the Baltics, in general, easy countries to enjoy on vacation and things essentially worked really well. Do take mosquito repellent though as although most places are fine, occasionally you really need it.” - Edward Milford
“What made our vacation really memorable was the excellence of our tour guide, Vaida, as well as the standard and quality of the hotels and bikes. The overall organization of the whole trip was terrific.” - Margaret Sheridan
More Baltics articles
Experience all three of the Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as part of the same vacation.
The first thing to know about cycling across these states is that it's very, very flat - brilliant for lazy pedals.
Wide expanses of untouched wilderness, forests full of beavers and bears – discover Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia on foot.
Larger than Tallinn and Vilnius, Riga is home to a UNESCO-listed Old Town.
Tallinn is astoundingly photogenic – but with a history that makes it fascinating, too.
A UNESCO-listed medieval Old Town and a wealth of Second World War and Soviet history.
