Best of Baltics: Self-Launched Edition — Tallinn to Vilnius in 8 Days

Arrive in Tallinn and check into a central hostel or budget hotel within walking distance of the Old Town. Spend the afternoon doing a self-guided walk through the UNESCO-listed medieval old town — wander through Viru Gate, explore Toompea Hill for panoramic views, and visit the striking Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (free entry). Head to the Kiek in de Kök medieval tower museum if you want to dig into the city's history (entry ~£8). In the evening, make your way to the hip Telliskivi Creative City neighbourhood — F Hoone, the restaurant Contiki uses for its welcome dinner, is open to independent visitors and worth a meal (budget ~£12-15 for a hearty Estonian dinner).

🚌Arrive by plane into Tallinn Airport (TLL) — bus 2 or 4 to city centre, ~£1. Tallinn Old Town is fully walkable.

🛏Vana Tom Hostel or Red Emperor Hostel (dorm ~£18-22/night) or budget option: Euphoria Boutique Hostel

• →Self-guided walk through Tallinn's UNESCO medieval Old Town
• →Visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (free entry)
• →Explore Toompea Hill for Old Town panoramic views
• →Kiek in de Kök tower museum (~£8, bookable on-site)
• →Dinner at F Hoone in Telliskivi Creative City (~£12-15)

Use your second day in Tallinn to explore beyond the Old Town. Head out to the Estonian Open-Air Museum (entry ~£10, easily reached by bus 21 from the city centre) to see traditional farmsteads and wooden architecture from across Estonia. In the afternoon, consider booking a 3-hour city bike tour through GetYourGuide or directly with CityBike Tallinn (~£20-25) — the same experience offered as an optional on the Contiki tour. Alternatively, take a free walking tour of the Old Town (tip-based, ~£5-10 tip recommended) to go deeper on the history.

🚌Bus 21 to Open-Air Museum (~£1 each way). City fully walkable/cyclable.

🛏Vana Tom Hostel or Red Emperor Hostel (dorm ~£18-22/night)

• →Estonian Open-Air Museum visit (~£10, bus 21 from city centre)
• →Self-booked 3-hour city bike tour via GetYourGuide or CityBike Tallinn (~£20-25)
• →Alternative: Free walking tour of Old Town (tip ~£5-10)
• →Explore Kalamaja neighbourhood and Balti Jaam market

Take the morning Lux Express or Tpilet.ee bus from Tallinn to Tartu (~2.5 hours, book online in advance for ~£8-12). Tartu is Estonia's intellectual heartbeat — explore Tartu Town Square, the grand University of Tartu main building, and stroll along the Emajõgi River. In the afternoon, book a Tartu Soup Town Street Art guided walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£15) to explore the colourful Supilinn neighbourhood, or simply self-guide with a free map from the tourist office. For dinner, head to a local craft beer restaurant — Tartu has a thriving beer scene; try Põhjala Tap Room or a local equivalent (budget ~£12-15 for food and a couple of beers).

🚌Lux Express or Tpilet bus Tallinn → Tartu, ~2.5 hrs, ~£8-12. Book at luxexpress.eu or tpilet.ee.

🛏Tartu Backpackers Hostel (dorm ~£16-20/night) or Domus Dorpatensis guesthouse

• →Lux Express bus from Tallinn to Tartu (~£8-12, book at luxexpress.eu)
• →Self-guided walk: Tartu Town Square and University of Tartu
• →Tartu Soup Town Street Art walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£15)
• →Riverside walk along the Emajõgi
• →Dinner at a local craft beer restaurant (~£12-15)

This is the most transport-heavy day, crossing from Estonia into Latvia with two worthwhile stops. Catch an early bus from Tartu to Valmiera (~3 hours, change in Valga/Valka border town, ~£10-14 via Lux Express or SEBE bus). From Valmiera, a short taxi or local bus takes you to the Valmiermuiza Brewery (~5km), which offers public brewery tours and tastings with lunch — book directly at valmiermuiza.lv (~£15-20 including tasting). Afterwards, take a local bus or taxi to Cēsis (~20km, ~£5) and visit the impressive Cēsis Castle ruins with an audio guide or entry ticket (~£6). Then catch a bus from Cēsis to Riga (~1.5 hours, ~£5-7). Arrive Riga in the evening and check in.

🚌Bus Tartu → Valmiera (~£10-14); taxi/bus to brewery (~£3-5); taxi/bus to Cēsis (~£5); bus Cēsis → Riga (~£5-7). Book buses at luxexpress.eu or 1a.lv.

🛏Cinnamon Sally Backpackers Hostel, Riga (dorm ~£18-24/night) or Naughty Squirrel Hostel

• →Bus from Tartu to Valmiera (~£10-14 via Lux Express/SEBE)
• →Valmiermuiza Brewery tour, tasting, and lunch (~£15-20, book at valmiermuiza.lv)
• →Cēsis Castle visit with audio guide (~£6, taxi/bus from Valmiera ~£5)
• →Bus from Cēsis to Riga (~£5-7, ~1.5 hrs)
• →Evening orientation walk in Riga Old Town

Riga is the largest of the three Baltic capitals and deserves a full free day. Start with a self-guided walk through Riga Old Town — visit the House of the Black Heads (exterior free, interior ~£7), stroll through the Central Market in the old Zeppelin hangars, and admire the UNESCO-listed Art Nouveau architecture along Alberta iela. Consider a free walking tour of the Old Town (tip-based). For adventurers, book an optional bogshoe hike in the Kemeri National Park via GetYourGuide or Riga operators (~£30-40 including transport and gear) — the same experience listed as optional on the Contiki tour. Otherwise, explore Riga's thriving food and craft beer scene.

🚌Riga Old Town and Art Nouveau district are walkable. Tram/bus for market (~£1). Kemeri bog tour includes transport from Riga.

🛏Cinnamon Sally Backpackers Hostel, Riga (dorm ~£18-24/night)

• →Self-guided Art Nouveau architecture walk along Alberta iela (free)
• →House of the Black Heads visit (~£7 entry)
• →Riga Central Market explore (free, budget ~£5 for snacks)
• →Free tip-based Old Town walking tour
• →Optional: Bogshoe hike in Kemeri National Park via GetYourGuide (~£30-40)

Catch an early Lux Express bus from Riga to Šiauliai (~2.5 hours, ~£12-15). From Šiauliai bus station, take local bus 7b or a cheap taxi (~£5-8 return) to the legendary Hill of Crosses at Jurgaičiai — one of the most atmospheric and spiritual sites in the Baltics, with hundreds of thousands of crosses left by pilgrims. Entry is free. Return to Šiauliai and continue by bus to Kaunas (~1.5 hours, ~£6-8). Check into your hostel and spend the evening exploring Kaunas Old Town, Laisvės Alėja (Freedom Avenue), and the vibrant bar scene.

🚌Lux Express Riga → Šiauliai (~£12-15); local bus 7b or taxi to Hill of Crosses (~£5-8 return); bus Šiauliai → Kaunas (~£6-8). Book at luxexpress.eu.

🛏Apple Economy Hostel Kaunas (dorm ~£14-18/night) or Kaunas Hostel

• →Bus from Riga to Šiauliai (~£12-15, Lux Express)
• →Bus 7b or taxi to Hill of Crosses at Jurgaičiai (free entry, ~£5-8 return taxi)
• →Bus from Šiauliai to Kaunas (~£6-8)
• →Optional: Kaunas Castle visit (~£4 entry)
• →Optional: 9th Fort Museum (~£5 entry — a sobering WWII memorial site)
• →Evening wander along Laisvės Alėja

Take a morning bus or train from Kaunas to Vilnius (~1.5 hours, ~£5-8 via Lithuanian Railways or Lux Express). En route, stop at Trakai — take a local bus from Vilnius bus station to Trakai (~30 min, ~£1.50) and visit the stunning red-brick Trakai Island Castle set on Lake Galvė (entry ~£8, included kayak/rowing boat hire from the shore is ~£8/hour — a highlight). Sample kibinai (traditional Karaim pastries) from a lakeside stall (~£2-3). Return to Vilnius and check into your hostel. Spend the evening exploring Vilnius' baroque Old Town, and visit Pirmas Blynhas café for dinner (a social enterprise providing employment for people with disabilities — cash-friendly and very affordable at ~£8-10).

🚌Bus/train Kaunas → Vilnius (~£5-8, Lux Express or Lithuanian Railways at litrail.lt); local bus Vilnius → Trakai (~£1.50 each way, every 30 mins from Vilnius bus station).

🛏Jimmy Jumps House Hostel, Vilnius (dorm ~£16-20/night) or Hostel B&B Vilnius

• →Bus/train from Kaunas to Vilnius (~£5-8)
• →Day trip to Trakai: local bus from Vilnius (~£1.50 each way)
• →Trakai Island Castle entry (~£8)
• →Rowing boat or kayak hire on Lake Galvė (~£8/hour)
• →Sample kibinai pastries at a lakeside stall (~£2-3)
• →Vilnius baroque Old Town evening walk (free)
• →Dinner at Pirmas Blynhas café — social enterprise (~£8-10)

Your last morning in the Baltics — make the most of Vilnius before heading to the airport. Grab breakfast at a local bakery (try Sweet Root or a local duona bakery, ~£4-6). Explore Užupis, Vilnius' quirky self-declared independent republic neighbourhood, home to artists, cafés, and a famous constitution written in 41 languages. Cathedral Square and Gediminas Tower are worth a final stroll. Vilnius Airport is just 7km from the city centre — take bus 1 or 2 (~£1) or a Bolt taxi (~£5-7). Check out and safe travels!

🚌Bus 1 or 2 to Vilnius Airport (~£1) or Bolt taxi (~£5-7).

🛏Check out — no accommodation needed

• →Breakfast at a local bakery (~£4-6)
• →Morning walk through Užupis — Vilnius' bohemian artist republic (free)
• →Cathedral Square and Gediminas Tower (tower entry ~£5)
• →Depart from Vilnius Airport (VNO) — bus 1/2 (~£1) or Bolt taxi (~£5-7)