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On the way to the Baltics
A long travel day with no fixed programme in Riga.
Book long-distance coach tickets for the Berlin–Riga route early.
A long leg — plan in some breaks.
This is where your trip begins. From Hamburg Hauptbahnhof, you'll head east by train. There's no direct rail connection to Riga, so the quickest environmentally friendly route is a combination of train to Berlin and then long-distance coach into the Baltics.
A stylish hotel in an Art Nouveau building right in Riga's old town, just a few steps from the cathedral. An ideal base for exploring the city on foot over the coming days. The location is quiet yet central.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
Hanseatic town and history
Everything within walking distance in the old town, at a relaxed pace.
Another night at Neiburgs Hotel.
The magnificently rebuilt guild house with its richly decorated façade on Town Hall Square is one of Riga's most famous buildings. Inside await historic halls and an exhibition on the history of the Brotherhood of Blackheads. A good starting point for your first stroll through the old town.
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The 13th-century brick cathedral defines the heart of the old town and houses a famous organ. Cafés around the cathedral square invite you to linger. The cloister and adjoining museum tell the long history of Riga.
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A walk through the cobbled lanes takes you past the Three Brothers building ensemble, the Cat House with its famous copper cats, and the Powder Tower. The compact old town is easy to explore on foot, and there are plenty of opportunities for a coffee break along the way.
Art Nouveau and everyday life
Your third and final night in Riga, giving you time to explore the city at leisure.
Around Alberta iela and Elizabetes iela you'll find some of Europe's most spectacular Art Nouveau façades, many designed by Mikhail Eisenstein. Lions, masks, and sweeping ornaments decorate the rows of houses. At the Art Nouveau Museum at Alberta iela 12, you can see an original period-furnished flat.
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Riga Central Market is one of the largest markets in Europe, housed in five former zeppelin hangars. Here you'll find fish, cheese, berries, smoked meat, and Latvian specialities to sample. A lively place to get a taste of everyday life in the city and eat cheaply.
This striking museum documents the Soviet and Nazi occupations of Latvia during the 20th century. It helps you understand the recent history of the Baltics and the long road to independence. Admission is free, though a donation is appreciated.
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Into the Gauja Valley
Arrival in the morning, first castle and cave in the afternoon.
Two nights in Sigulda, keeping the hiking day in the Gauja Valley relaxed.
Regional trains run regularly from the central station into the Gauja Valley to Sigulda. The journey takes just over an hour and passes through wooded landscape. The station is within walking distance of the old town.
The glowing red brick castle from the 13th century sits above the Gauja Valley and is the landmark of the region. From the tower you get sweeping views over the forests and the river. The surrounding museum reserve, with its sculpture park and church, invites a longer wander.
Gutmanis Cave is the largest and oldest cave in the Baltics, its sandstone walls carved with inscriptions for centuries. A spring rises at the foot of the cave, around which the legend of Maija, the Rose of Turaida, is woven. It lies on the path between Turaida and Sigulda and is freely accessible.
A cosy hotel in the centre of Sigulda, just a few minutes' walk from the station and bus stop. A good starting point for hikes in Gauja National Park. From here you can walk to restaurants and the cable car down into the valley.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
Nature and old castles
A whole day for hiking, no change of location.
Bring sturdy shoes and water — there's little in the way of food and drink along the route.
The ruins of the 13th-century Livonian Order castle stand right next to the neo-Gothic New Castle and offer a viewing tower over the valley. From here, a lovely trail leads down to the Gauja. The castle park is freely accessible and perfect for a stroll.
The marked trails link Sigulda, Krimulda, and Turaida across wooded slopes, sandstone cliffs, and scenic viewing platforms. You can combine the cable car with walking trails, discovering small caves and springs along the way. This is Latvia's largest national park and is especially lush in early summer.
Medieval small town
A day trip from Sigulda, returning to Hotel Sigulda in the evening.
Check train times in advance; plan the return journey for the early evening.
The mighty ruins of Cēsis's medieval castle can be explored with a lantern through the dark towers, making the visit especially atmospheric. Next door stands the New Castle with a history exhibition and an expansive park. Cēsis is considered one of Latvia's most beautiful and oldest towns.
The small old town, with its wooden houses, St John's Church, and a cosy rose garden, invites a relaxed stroll. In the cafés you'll find coffee and Latvian pastries. The view from the church tower stretches far across the region.
Crossing into the northern Baltics
A deliberate stopover in Pärnu, so the leg into Estonia doesn't get too long.
Long-distance coach tickets are cheaper when booked early, and the border is crossed without checks (Schengen).
Long-distance coaches run from Sigulda's central bus station towards Estonia. The connection to Tallinn usually goes via Riga or Valmiera. Expect a relaxed journey through flat, wooded countryside.
The Estonian seaside resort of Pärnu offers a long sandy beach, a peaceful town centre with Art Nouveau and spa buildings, and plenty of greenery. As a stopover on the way to Tallinn, it breaks up the coach journey nicely. A walk along the beach promenade or through the spa park is a welcome change after the ride.
A hotel with a long tradition, right in Pärnu's pedestrian zone, within walking distance of the beach, spa park, and bus stop. A good place to break up the coach journey and relax by the sea for a while. In the morning, the bus takes you onward to Tallinn.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
Into the Heart of Estonia
Coach journey in the morning, first stroll through the old town in the afternoon.
Four nights in Tallinn for a relaxed end to the trip.
A long leg — plan in some breaks.
Tallinn's central bus station is well connected to the old town by tram. From here you'll head into the final days of your trip. You can buy a ticket for local transport at the machine.
The medieval Town Hall Square with its Gothic town hall forms the lively heart of Tallinn's old town. Narrow lanes, guild houses, and church towers characterise this UNESCO World Heritage site. A first stroll will give you a feel for this remarkably well-preserved Hanseatic town.
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An elegant hotel in a historic building right in Tallinn's old town, just a few steps from Town Hall Square. From here you can reach all the sights of the upper and lower town on foot. A quiet courtyard location despite the central address.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
History above the rooftops
Entirely on foot in the upper and lower town, no local transport needed.
Another night at Hotel Telegraaf.
On the limestone hill of Toompea rises the upper town, with the castle, the parliament, and the splendid Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. From the Kohtuotsa and Patkuli viewing platforms you get the finest views over the old town's red rooftops all the way to the sea. This is where Tallinn's history began.
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The Lutheran cathedral is Tallinn's oldest church and holds numerous noble graves and coats of arms. Climbing the tower rewards you with a sweeping panoramic view. Around it lie the quietest lanes of the upper town.
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Large sections of the medieval city wall, with its sturdy towers, have survived and can be walked. From the ramparts you look out over the lower town and its red-tiled roofs. The section at the Nunne and Sauna bastions is among the most photogenic in the city.
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Park, art, and maritime history
Park in the morning, museum in the afternoon, with a short local transport journey in between.
Two to three hours are enough for the Seaplane Harbour Museum.
Tsar Peter the Great had this sprawling Baroque park laid out in the 18th century, with the pink Kadriorg Palace and its art collection at its centre. Flower gardens, ponds, and shady avenues invite a stroll. At the edge of the park is also the modern Kumu Art Museum.
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The Lennusadam Museum, housed in an impressive concrete seaplane hangar, features a walk-through submarine, historic boats and aircraft, and many interactive exhibits. Outside, real ships are moored at the quay for you to explore. One of the most modern and lively museums in the Baltics.
Booking ahead is often cheaper here
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Lower town, cafés, and a relaxed finish
A relaxed final full day with no fixed programme.
Last night at Hotel Telegraaf.
The atmospheric Katariina käik lane with its craft shops, and the surrounding courtyards, reveal medieval Tallinn away from the main routes. Craftspeople work here in open workshops. A good place to pick up small souvenirs.
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The Gothic Church of the Holy Spirit bears Tallinn's oldest public clock on its façade and holds an intricately carved altarpiece inside. It's one of the oldest churches in the lower town and was the site of the first sermons delivered in Estonian. A peaceful retreat amid the bustle.
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The creative Telliskivi district, set in a former factory complex, is now full of cafés, galleries, street art, and shops. Here you'll see modern, young Estonia in contrast to the medieval old town. The nearby Balti Jaam Market is great for a late snack.
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Farewell to the Baltics
An open-ended finish to your trip in Tallinn: onward travel by ferry to Helsinki or by long-distance coach is possible.
Since there's no need to return to the starting point, the trip ends here flexibly.
The two round towers of the Viru Gate form the best-known entrance to the old town and the perfect place to conclude your trip. In front is a small flower market, and behind it begins the pedestrian zone. From here you can reach the station, ferry terminal, and airport for onward travel.
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From the modern ferry terminal, connections run to Helsinki, from where you can continue your climate-friendly journey home by ferry and train. Alternatively, you can travel on from Tallinn by long-distance coach towards Riga and beyond. A good endpoint for the trip with open onward connections.
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