Self-Launched Winter in the Baltics, Helsinki & Stockholm

Fly into Vilnius Airport (VNO) — Ryanair, Wizz Air and Lufthansa connect from most European hubs from around £60–120 return. Take bus 88 or 3G from the airport to the city centre (£1). Check into your accommodation, then wander Vilnius's baroque Old Town — said to be the largest in Eastern Europe — at your own pace. Grab dinner at Etno Dvaras or any of the excellent traditional Lithuanian restaurants around Pilies Street. Try cepelinai (potato dumplings stuffed with meat) for a hearty winter warmer.

🚌Bus 88 from Vilnius Airport to city centre (~£1)

🛏Jimmy Jumps House Hostel or Hostelgate Vilnius — well-rated central hostels with private rooms from ~£30–40/night or dorms from ~£14/night

• →Self-guided wander of Vilnius Old Town (free)
• →Dinner on Pilies Street — try cepelinai and local beer (~£12–15)

Take the local bus or minibus (marshrutka) from Vilnius bus station to Trakai — departures every 30–60 minutes, journey ~35 minutes, cost ~£2 each way. Visit Trakai Island Castle (entry ~£8), a beautifully preserved medieval fortress on Lake Galvė, especially atmospheric in winter. Return to Vilnius and join a self-bookable walking tour of the UNESCO-listed Old Town via GetYourGuide (~£12–15), covering the Cathedral, Presidential Palace and the Aurora Gate. If visiting late November to early January, Cathedral Square hosts the enchanting Vilnius Christmas Market — entry is free.

🚌Local bus/marshrutka Vilnius–Trakai return (~£4 total)

🛏Jimmy Jumps House Hostel or Hostelgate Vilnius

• →Trakai Island Castle visit (~£8 entry)
• →Vilnius Old Town walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£12–15)
• →Vilnius Christmas Market at Cathedral Square (free, seasonal)

Take the early Lux Express or Ecolines coach from Vilnius to Riga (~4.5 hours, ~£15–20). Ask to alight near Šiauliai or book a seat on a bus that stops there en route — from Šiauliai, take a local taxi or minibus (~£8) to the Hill of Crosses, one of the most extraordinary pilgrimage sites in Europe with over 100,000 crosses. Allow an hour, then continue to Riga by onward coach. On arrival, check in and head to the Laima Chocolate Museum in the evening (entry ~£10) to learn about Latvia's famous chocolate heritage from bean to bar. Book direct at laimamuseum.lv.

🚌Lux Express coach Vilnius–Riga (~£15–20); local taxi to Hill of Crosses (~£8)

🛏Naughty Squirrel Backpackers or Friendly Fun Franks — central Riga hostels with private rooms from ~£28–38/night or dorms from ~£12/night

• →Hill of Crosses visit near Šiauliai (free entry, taxi from town ~£8)
• →Laima Chocolate Museum, Riga (~£10 entry)

Riga is one of Europe's most walkable winter cities. Book a self-bookable Old Town walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£12), covering Riga Castle, the Dome Cathedral, St Peter's Church and the Swedish Gate. Spend the afternoon exploring the magnificent Central Market — five former zeppelin hangars filled with local cheeses, smoked fish, black bread and the famous Riga Black Balsam herbal liqueur. If visiting December, stroll to Dome Square for the Christmas market. For art lovers, the Art Nouveau Museum (~£6) and the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia (donation) are unmissable.

🚌Walking / tram within Riga (~£2)

🛏Naughty Squirrel Backpackers or Friendly Fun Franks

• →Self-bookable Riga Old Town walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£12)
• →Riga Central Market — lunch on local produce (~£8–10)
• →Riga Art Nouveau Museum (~£6) or Museum of the Occupation of Latvia (donation)
• →Riga Christmas Market at Dome Square (free, seasonal)

Take the Lux Express coach from Riga to Tallinn (~4.5 hours, ~£18–22) — book in advance online for best prices. On arrival, check in and head to Maiasmokk café on Pikk Street, Estonia's oldest coffee shop (established 1864), for coffee and marzipan treats. The café is famous for its marzipan-painting tradition — you can join a short workshop at the nearby Kalev marzipan shop (~£8–12). If arriving in December, the Tallinn Christmas Market in Town Hall Square is atmospheric and free to wander.

🚌Lux Express coach Riga–Tallinn (~£18–22)

🛏Euphoria Hostel or Old Town Hostel Alur — both in the heart of Tallinn's medieval old town, from ~£15/night dorm or ~£35/night private

• →Maiasmokk Café — coffee and marzipan (~£6)
• →Kalev Marzipan painting workshop (~£8–12)
• →Tallinn Christmas Market, Town Hall Square (free, seasonal)

Tallinn's Old Town is one of the best preserved medieval city centres in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site — exploring it is largely free. Highlights include Toompea Palace (the Estonian Parliament), Toompea Fortress, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (free entry), the Church of St Mary, Town Hall Square and the 15th-century Town Hall Pharmacy. Book a self-bookable guided walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£12) for deeper context, or follow a free self-guided route. In the afternoon, explore the bohemian Kalamaja district, the Balti Jaama flea market or the Fotografiska Tallinn photography museum (~£12).

🚌Walking within Tallinn (free)

🛏Euphoria Hostel or Old Town Hostel Alur

• →Tallinn Old Town self-guided walk — Toompea, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Town Hall Square (largely free)
• →Optional GetYourGuide walking tour (~£12)
• →Fotografiska Tallinn photography museum (~£12)
• →Kalamaja district & Balti Jaama market (free)

Take the Tallink Silja or Eckerö Line ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki (~2.5 hours, from ~£20–30 booked in advance at tallinksilja.com). On arrival at Helsinki's South Harbour, take tram 2 or walk into the centre (~free/£2). Book a self-guided audio tour or a GetYourGuide walking tour (~£12–15) covering the harbours, Mannerheim Street, Parliament Building, Finlandia Hall and the Market Square. Don't miss Vanha Kauppahalli (Old Market Hall) — a 19th-century covered market famous for salmon soup, fish sandwiches and Finnish pastries (~£8–12 for lunch). Explore freely in the afternoon.

🚌Ferry Tallinn–Helsinki (~£20–30); tram in Helsinki (~£2)

🛏Generator Helsinki or Hostel Suomenlinna — central budget options, private rooms from ~£45/night, dorms from ~£22/night (Helsinki is pricier than the Baltics)

• →Tallink or Eckerö Line ferry Tallinn–Helsinki (~£20–30)
• →Helsinki walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£12–15)
• →Vanha Kauppahalli (Old Market Hall) — salmon soup lunch (~£8–12)

Check out of your accommodation and store luggage at the hotel or at Helsinki Central Station (lockers ~£5). Spend the morning exploring Helsinki's beautiful winter parks — Esplanadi or Kaivopuisto are especially beautiful under snow. Try a Finnish public sauna: Löyly or Allas Sea Pool offer authentic Finnish sauna experiences (~£15–20). In the evening, board the Tallink Silja Line overnight ferry to Stockholm at around 17:00 (from ~£35–50 including a cabin berth — book at tallinksilja.com). The crossing takes approximately 16 hours with restaurants and bars on board.

🚌Tallink Silja overnight ferry Helsinki–Stockholm (~£35–50 with cabin)

🛏Overnight ferry (cabin berth included in ferry fare)

• →Esplanadi or Kaivopuisto park walk (free)
• →Finnish public sauna at Löyly or Allas Sea Pool (~£15–20)
• →Overnight ferry Helsinki–Stockholm (Tallink Silja Line, ~£35–50 with cabin)

Enjoy breakfast on the ferry before docking at Stockholm's Stadsgården terminal at ~09:30. Take the shuttle bus or walk into the city centre. Store luggage at Stockholm Central Station if needed (lockers ~£5). Book a self-bookable bus and walking tour of Stockholm via GetYourGuide (~£15–20), visiting Riddarholmen, Södermalm and Gamla Stan (the Old Town). Spend the afternoon practising fika — Sweden's beloved coffee-and-pastry social ritual — at a traditional konditori. If visiting in December, the Gamla Stan Christmas market is one of Scandinavia's oldest and most atmospheric. For an evening treat, try pea soup with pancakes or warm cinnamon buns (kanelbullar).

🚌Shuttle bus from Stadsgården ferry terminal to city centre (~£4); metro/tram within Stockholm (~£3)

🛏Generator Stockholm or City Backpackers Inn — well-rated central hostels, private rooms from ~£40–55/night, dorms from ~£20/night

• →Stockholm city tour via GetYourGuide (~£15–20)
• →Gamla Stan (Old Town) self-guided walk (free)
• →Fika at a traditional konditori (~£6–8)
• →Gamla Stan Christmas Market (free, seasonal)

After a final Swedish breakfast, check out and spend any remaining time in Stockholm before heading to Arlanda Airport. Take the Arlanda Express train from Stockholm Central (~20 min, ~£22) or the cheaper Flygbussarna airport coach (~£12, 45 min). Alternatively, extend your stay — Stockholm rewards slow exploration, with the Vasa Museum (the world's best-preserved 17th-century warship, ~£15), ABBA The Museum (~£22) and the Djurgården island parks all worth extra time.

🚌Arlanda Express train to airport (~£22) or Flygbussarna coach (~£12)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final fika and Gamla Stan wander (free)
• →Optional: Vasa Museum (~£15) or ABBA The Museum (~£22)
• →Transfer to Arlanda Airport — Arlanda Express (~£22) or Flygbussarna coach (~£12)