Whether you are an experienced traveler or your first time in Europe, you are quite capable of organizing your trip to Riga on your own. Without dwelling on the merits of the city, which we have written about many times, here are five stages of planning a trip on your own.
Planning time for a trip to Riga
Riga is a very popular city among tourists, with more than a million visitors a year, and the mayor's office plans to bring this figure up to 1.5 million tourists a year. And this is with a population of 700 thousand inhabitants, that is, there are 1.5 tourists per inhabitant of Riga.
But still, we hasten to reassure you, even during the peak periods, tourists spread around Riga and Jurmala in such a way that the city may seem deserted to Muscovites.
The best period to visit Riga is from May to August, and also during Christmas and New Year holidays. If you are planning a trip at this time, take care of booking a hotel and transport tickets 2-3 months in advance.
In the event that you prefer a calm atmosphere, then we advise you to come in the second half of April, or from September to mid-October.
The tourist flow subsides, but the weather often gives warm sunny days. Plus, hotels at this time reduce accommodation prices, so you can save up to 30-50% of the summer room rate. Below we will share the secret of how to book a hotel in Riga in the most profitable way.
Registration of an entry visa to Latvia
Latvia is part of the Schengen zone, which means that if you have a Schengen visa in your passport, then you can skip this item - the road to Riga is open to you.
If you don't have a visa, you will need to apply for one.
We have described this process in sufficient detail on our website in the section "", here you can read about required documents, the procedure for completing the questionnaire and .
Booking a hotel in Riga
Yes, we start with the hotel.
There are several reasons for this - you can get to Riga various types transport, the number of only flights per day reaches five (Aeroflot, Transaero, Utair and Airbaltic). But there is still a train, a bus, a private car, finally. There are also a lot of hotels in Riga (about 200), however, in the high season, occupancy reaches 100%. Finally, you can refuse to book a hotel, but plane tickets are problematic.
With booking, everything is very simple, without further ado, just go to one of the on-line hotel booking services.
The risk at this stage is minimal, because no one forbids later.
We plan how we will get to Riga
We have already reviewed the most economical ways to travel, which you can read by clicking on this link ().
In our understanding, the best solution is an airplane. When completely reasonable prices You do not waste the night on the train (with a mandatory rise at three in the morning for customs control), do not waste your nerves on crossing the border by car and do not shake the bus for fifteen hours.
Getting ready and dreaming about the trip
The chores are left behind, it's time to plan your trip. To begin with, we are looking for guidebooks around Riga on the Internet.
It is not possible, there are sites, as well as to download to the phone? And you don’t want to buy books - carry them with you around the city later?
Well, it’s quite a reasonable desire, which we meet - on our website you can download (moreover, freely) four parts of the guide to Riga -
No copyright infringement - the guide was prepared by the site and we give you all the rights to use and distribute it! (just don't change anything in the text) The fourth part is coming out soon - "Riga - the pearl of Art Nouveau". We can promise that it will not be the last.
Finally, we have available, advice on where and how to pay for parking .. oh, it’s not good to praise yourself, so we’ll stop there and want to wish you a unforgettable vacation in the most beautiful city in the Baltics!
I want to tell you how my friend and I ourselves, without agencies, visited the Baltic States. I won’t talk about the sights, only about the case. How to go yourself. This is my first solo trip.
At the time of our trip, such a tour of the three capitals of the Baltic States cost 44,000 per person for a week, and we got 23,000 each. Almost two days in each city. There is a difference!!! TIP: I always buy books from the Orange Guide series. Wonderful series. I take it with me on all trips when I travel by myself.
VISA. I must say right away that we decided to submit documents to Visa Center. A little more expensive, but easier: if something goes wrong, they fix it, but the documents are still reprinted on their letterheads. For money. Documents are submitted to the embassy or visa center of the country where you will spend more time, namely nights, regardless of the sequence of visiting countries. We started from Lithuania, but we applied for a visa at the Latvian visa center, because in Vilnius it was two days, but one night, and in Riga and Tallinn two nights each. You can find a list of documents on the websites. Along with the documents, be sure to bring copies of your hotel reservation and copies of all tickets, insurance is a must. Read carefully. For example, at the time of our registration, they did not accept reservations for hotels from booking in Lithuania. Maybe something has changed. We booked on Hotels.com. There were few people in the center, they passed an hour and a half. We waited longer for documents to be reprinted. After 10 days, my husband arrived and took the passports with visas. When submitting documents, you note who will pick up. Very comfortably.
MOVEMENTS INTERNATIONAL: we chose the bus. Tickets were booked on the website.
Very handy site. Buses take an average of 4 hours. There is not much to see on the road. The buses were empty. Maybe not the tourist season, but maybe so lucky. We chose the second half of the day, left at 5 pm, arrived at 9 pm, slept, and in the morning with fresh energy to walk around the city. Hotels were chosen closer to the center and to bus stations, so as not to spend extra money on the road..
HOTELS. Chose inexpensive with the expectation of only spending the night. Breakfast.
VILNIUS. Arrived on an airBaltic plane. The plane is tiny: 15 rows of two seats across the aisle.
They flew great. From the airport we took a bus to the Comfort Vilnius 3* hotel. There are two hotels in Vilnius with a similar name and we were a little misinformed by the locals, but from one hotel
to our extra 15 minutes on foot. Found. The hotel is small but cute. For a night or two, no more. Our room didn't even have a closet.
We took only breakfast in all hotels. Good food, clean linens. All attractions within walking distance. They didn't spend money on the road.
We arrived in Vilnius at 10 am, the bus to Riga was the next day at 16.30. 10 minutes walk from the hotel to the bus station. Almost two days were enough to see the main sights and just walk around the city. But the review is not about that. Travel on your own, don't be afraid.
RIGA. From the bus station to the 4 * hotel on foot min 10. The hotel is very good. Got a discount when booking. Breakfast to slaughter, there was even champagne. In Turkish fives there is no such breakfast. Clean, quiet, to the center 5-7 min. The room even had an ironing board, kettle, tea and coffee. At 17.00 bus to Tallinn. Everywhere we went on foot, we did not spend money on transport.
TALLINN. In Tallinn from the bus station to the hotel 3* by tram 10 min and walk 5 min. The hotel is not bad, but there is no tray in the shower, and the water almost did not go into the hole in the floor and flooded the entire floor in the bathroom. But in mockery there was a mop, you know, with such an elastic band to collect water. But across the road is the Old Town and all the sights. Back to Moscow on an airBaltic plane. By taxi 15 euros and in 20 minutes on the spot.
CONCLUSION: It's twice cheaper by yourself, you are your own masters, travel by yourself and everything will be fine. In all cities we walked, I can’t say anything about transport prices.
Soon, very soon already new year holidays. Where would you like to go for the holidays? The A-Renta company is ready not only to provide you with really inexpensive prices for renting a car from Moscow, but also to provide ideas for public holidays. For example, why don't you arrange a romantic car trip around the Baltics?
Many treat the Baltics with disdain: they say, the countries of the former USSR, which zealously rushed to Europe, although there is no smell of Europe there. There is nothing to see there, zero service, and the attitude of the Balts towards us, Russians ... to put it mildly, leaves. However, those who think so are fundamentally wrong. Let's try to destroy the prevailing stereotypes by driving around the Baltic States in a car.
Traveling to the Baltic States by car
Taking care of the documents in advance is a must:
- For those who go on a trip by car, it is necessary to issue a so-called Green Card, which will need to be presented when crossing the border.
- And do not forget that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are part of the European Union, so passports must have valid visas.
How to get there?
There are two ways to get to the Baltic States: through Belarus and through Leningrad region. Residents of central Russia, as a rule, get just through Belarus. Therefore, if you need a car to the Baltic states from Moscow, then you can also take a look at one of our former ones from the corner of your eye, as they say.
Customs testing
The first and, perhaps, the only thing that overshadows the journey by car is the incredible queues at the border with Lithuania. You can stand 6, 8, 12 hours. It's for anyone's luck. You need to be prepared for the fact that impudent drivers in cool cars with thieves numbers pass without a queue. And for some reason they are missed.
Before the trip, it is better to “scour through” the forums of auto travelers, where people share their observations and thoughts about the best time to cross the border.
The procedure for screening a car and passports takes a little time.
Traveling in the Baltics...
Lithuania
And here are the treasured stamps about crossing the border in the passports: you are in Lithuania.
The most famous Lithuanian city of Vilnius is a must to visit. Don't let the old five-story buildings of the Khrushchev era fool you. Yes, yes, they will meet you at the entrance to the city. But the so-called Old Town in Vilnius is incredible:
- cozy atmosphere,
- little streets,
- beautiful architecture of ancient buildings,
- paved paths,
- hospitable cafes - that's why you should visit Vilnius!
In addition to visiting the sights in Lithuania, you should definitely take a ride along the coast. Both Klaipeda and the little-known Palanga are wonderful for relaxing on the sea. Palanga, by the way, is the largest resort city on the Lithuanian coast. And the prices for housing, as well as for food, bite very much there.
Latvia
You don't have to cross any borders to get to neighboring Latvia. It takes about four hours to travel from Lithuania to Latvia.
Naturally, the first city to see is the stunning Riga. The Old Town in Riga is one of the most beautiful in all of Europe. Incredible ancient buildings, cathedrals, squares are at every step. The perfect place both for romantic walks for two, and for visiting with the whole family.
There are cozy cafes here and there in small streets. The prices are truly European. A fairly modest dinner for three will cost at least 50-60 euros.
The most important thing that you need to know about Riga traveling by own car is paid parking in the Old Town itself. You can leave the car for free only in specially designated places and only for a few hours. Usually at night.
When booking a hotel, it is important to clarify whether there are free parking spaces, which, most likely, will not be included in the price. In addition to Riga, auto travelers are advised to look into Jurmala, Cesis and Liepaja.
Estonia
Last in line, but not the last in beauty, Estonia.
By tradition, start your acquaintance with the country from the Old Town in Tallinn. There are a lot of incredibly beautiful towers, town halls, fortresses and cathedrals. The center of the Old Town is the famous Town Hall Square. The place is truly amazing: once you find yourself there, it is as if you are transported to the Middle Ages. It seems that a little bit more and a knight will ride on horseback from the neighboring street to the square.
By the way, many cafes, which are located in the Old Town at every step, are decorated exactly in medieval style. Prices are quite high. The closer to the Town Hall Square, the more expensive.
Another must-see place in Estonia is Tartu. Very beautiful city, which houses one of the oldest universities Northern Europe. Do not be too lazy to get to Haapsalu - the "Venice of the North" of Estonia. Haapsalu will amaze you with small streets and cute wooden houses.
We share our impressions
So, general impression from the Baltics:
- Incredible, beautiful, atmospheric.
- The trails and roads are perfect, everywhere is very clean and comfortable.
- The old buildings and churches are amazing.
- Our compatriots are treated very well, they are always ready to help suggest a route or any other question.
- Cafes and restaurants have menus in Russian. The waiters are very welcoming and friendly. They are constantly interested in whether everything is fine and whether the ordered dishes were pleasant.
- Almost everyone speaks excellent Russian. The only exception is youth. She hardly speaks Russian.
- Hotels for every taste and budget, and there are almost always free places. (It is better to book the room you like for the night, if you wish, you can always extend it).
- Be sure to bring warm clothes with you. Even in summer it can be very cold in the Baltics. Nature is especially capricious in Estonia: it often rains there, the temperature in July-August can reach only +16-17 degrees.
- Of the minuses: a long passage of the border from Russia and back. And also the prices in the cafe: they are quite high, designed for wealthy Germans and French, who, by the way, are very numerous there.
How to travel to the Baltic States on your own, without the services of travel agencies. Easy and simple, because almost everyone there speaks Russian, so you will not have any problems with communication. It is enough to make a passport and open a Schengen visa to one of the three Baltic countries. We also recommend that you make your own route around the Baltics, be sure to include Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in it. If someone will convince you that any of the three countries is the most beautiful, then do not take my word for it, because each country is unique and has its own zest.
What to take with you when planning an independent trip to the Baltic States. Of course, you need to bring your passport with a valid Schengen visa. Car insurance, technical passport and green card. Several credit cards from different banks and a supply of cash, by the way, will be in case of unforeseen circumstances. Going on a trip by private car, it is better to take 2 navigators with different maps, because. one navigator may get lost or have outdated maps.
Itinerary for an independent trip to the Baltic States
A trip to the Baltic states independently begins with Lithuania. Crossing the Lithuanian border, we immediately head to the city of Vilnius. It is within easy reach from the border to it, so you can have time to see a lot of things almost immediately after crossing the border. The city is quite small, but very interesting. In the architecture of the city you will find the Baroque style, in which as many as 9 churches were built. The wall in the city and the church are made in the Renaissance style. As many as three Catholic churches are made in the Gothic style. Must visit Old city that has retained its charm over the centuries. The narrow winding streets of the old town are paved with paving stones and are considered pedestrian, but some are allowed to drive a car. True, we do not recommend going to the old city in your own car, a taxi will cost cheaper and faster, because you still need to park your car somewhere.
Trakai
Next stop in the city of Trakai, former capital Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Those who know the history will understand how unique this place is. It is only thirty kilometers to go to it, so you can safely plan a visit to it for one day together with Vilnius. The city is famous for Trakai Castle, which is surrounded by water, because located on the island. You will not find more such castles in Europe. For the sake of one castle, it is already worth coming to Trakai.
Kaunas
After seeing the castle and the city of Trakai, we go to Kaunas. It's quite compact and very well ripped off old City, where you will find a large number of monuments and attractions. In Kaunas, you can easily spend a whole day exploring and admiring the city's sights.
Klaipeda
Traveling to the Baltics on your own is not difficult, especially when there is ready route. Further, our route leads us to Klaipeda. By the way, the city has a very interesting maritime museum. If you are in the city with children, then go to the dolphinarium. For those who love sailing, there are two yacht clubs where you can rent a boat, boat or yacht for any time.
Palanga
Palanga is a resort that does not need to be advertised, because. it is known to all the tourists of the world. The resort is located near Klaipeda, so we are heading there. In recent years, Palanga has changed a lot thanks to new comfortable hotels and guest houses. Most a nice place in Palanga, it Botanical Garden, which houses the Tyszkiewicz Palace. On the territory of the palace there is an amber museum and a souvenir shop.
Liepaja
We cross the border and find ourselves in a Latvian town called Liepaja. The royal family loved to relax in this city, and today it is a favorite place for musicians to relax. Regular concerts and musical performances attract more and more people every year. more tourists. The city has a zoo that is open all year round. We recommend that after exploring the city of Liepija, we will go to the Rudel Castle. From the castle to the next destination is within easy reach, so it fits perfectly into our itinerary.
Saldus
The city of Saldus is not particularly remarkable, but its suburbs will be very interesting. Here In the suburbs of Saldus you will find Kalnsetas park. In the park you will find old manors and monuments from the reign of the German barons, which is very interesting and informative. The river Ciecere, which flows through the park, offers many water activities and excellent fishing.
Jurmala
Of course, after Riga we go to Jurmala, since it is within easy reach, one might say, a suburb of Riga, only 25 km away. Here we recommend staying for a few days to relax in a truly legendary resort that has a lot to offer the local tourists.
Sigulda
After resting and gaining strength, we will go to Estonia, and on the way we will stop by the last city of Latvia called Sigulda. There are quite a lot of ancient castles in the city and the largest cave in all of Latvia. From Sigulda we will reach the next stop in Estonia in an hour and a half.
Tartu
Hospitable youth city of Tartu. It has the largest number of universities in Estonia, which means the most young people, so this is a city in which life is constantly in full swing. The history of the city goes back over a thousand years. The combination of modern student traditions and the medieval flavor of the city is unique and cannot be repeated.
Tallinn
Just 185 kilometers from Tartu is Tallinn, where we are going. Tallinn, like Riga, offers us a lot of interesting things, so it’s worth staying in this city for a few days to get to know it a little closer. We recommend that you make a separate route to the sights of Tallinn in advance, since there are quite a lot of them.
Rakveri
On the way home, it is worth stopping by the town of Rakveri, where the ruins of the order castle have been preserved. The city has a museum and a concert venue under open sky. You will have the opportunity to see the real old mill, which is still working.
Kuremäe
Next we go to Kuremäe. Here is the Orthodox Holy Dormition Pyukhtinsky Convent. Quite interesting and famous place. It is here that the oak grows, on which the image of the Assumption of the Virgin appeared. By the way, this is the only monastery in Estonia that is subordinate to the Moscow diocese.
Toila and Narva-Yesu
Our final stop before crossing the border is Toila and Narva-Yesu. Toila is very beautiful resort, although it is not very advertised. Narva-Yesu is a beautiful city with private beach, several kilometers long.
see also
Don't let the rising exchange rate scare you. If you plan your trip well, the trip will cost you several times cheaper. I was once again convinced of this during my last trip to the Baltic countries, now I am sharing my advice with you.
1. Buses between Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn for 3 euros
The capitals of the Baltic countries are connected by a bunch of bus routes with cool service (toilet, heating, Wi-Fi and even free monitors).
The SimpleExpress carrier releases 5 promotional tickets for each flight exactly six months before departure. To travel Vilnius-Tallinn, Vilnius-Riga, Riga Tallinn and back for only 3 euros.
There are also permanent promotions in the bus companies LuxExpress, Ecolines, and Eurolines.
Discounts can reach 70% and a ticket for international route costs around 5 euros.
2. Discounts on railway and buses.
in Lithuanian railways there is a -15% discount when buying a round-trip ticket. Remind the cashier about this. In Latvia, travel by trains on weekdays during working hours is a quarter cheaper. It is better to travel between Estonian cities by SuperBus buses. A ticket costs 2 euros (cunning people indicate the price in Eureka, but you can’t get away from paying for reservations).
3. Do not overpay for travel in cities.
The fare in public transport for our money is crazy. For example, in Riga, a ticket when buying from a driver costs as much as 2 euros! However, the same ticket in the machine will cost you 1.15 euros. If you will use the transport more than 4 times in 24 hours (from the date of passing the coupon), then it is more advisable to buy a travel card for 5 euros.
In Tallinn and Vilnius, for multiple trips, you should buy a special plastic card. They cost 2 and 1.5 euros respectively. In the capital of Estonia, it can be returned (but only at the customer service center), Lithuanians do not return the money.
4. Take free cards in tourist centers.
At each tourist information center you can get a free paper map of the city, region or the whole country. As a rule, they are located on the main squares of cities, railway stations and airports. Feel free to ask the travel center staff about events taking place in the city, free museums and where to eat inexpensively but tasty.
5. Business lunches, canteens and fast food.
On weekdays at lunchtime (usually from 11 am to 3 pm), many restaurants offer set meals (or business lunches) at a significant discount. For example, in the center of Tallinn in the Karja Kelder restaurant, minced meat soup (that's how it was presented to us) and the main course (pictured) cost us only 3.7 euros.
Soviet canteens are still preserved in Vilnius. Lithuanian they will be Valgykla.
If the goal is to satisfy hunger, then in Riga fast foods you can buy a complex: a burger, french fries and cola for 2.65 euros.
6. Where is the best place to refuel?
The cheapest gasoline among the three Baltic countries is in Estonia. A liter of 95 costs a little more than a euro. Most of all you have to pay in Latvia. The difference in fuel prices between states is within 10 cents.
7. No money for the museum and parliament.
There are a number of interesting museums, where the entrance is absolutely free or the fee is purely symbolic. For example, these are money museums at the banks of Estonia and Lithuania. It's not boring here - very modern and interactive. You can even print your own money or treat yourself to a candy with bank symbols.
Also in the Baltic States there is a great opportunity to visit local parliaments. You can sign up for an excursion to the Lithuanian Seimas or the Estonian Parliament in advance.
IN art museums Tallinn has so-called "Europe environments". Quarterly admission on Wednesdays only 1 euro. Check the museum website before your trip!
In some museums free entry with press credentials. And it doesn't matter if it's Zhmerinsky Rabochiy or Forbes Ukraine. For example, in an interesting maritime museum Tallinn. Employees of other museums (including ours) also have a similar benefit.
8. Shopping from catalogs in supermarkets.
The lowest supermarkets in Lithuania. We are just crazy about their chocolate curds! Price from 0.2 euro cents. Citrus fruits - like ours. Before entering the supermarket, take a brochure with promotional prices with you. Sometimes the discount can reach 50%. Of course, everything that is cheaper is not worth taking, but in this way we bought delicious Riga sprats or a double Snickers with coffee in the IKI supermarket for 1 euro.
9. We book accommodation earlier.
We booked a hotel in Riga a couple of months in advance. In addition to the discount for early booking used the promo code on the hotel website. Won more than 10 euros. My friend used Airbnb service. Had a private room in Tallinn for 9 euros.
