Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn in one trip: the Baltic capitals by plane and bus
A 7-night budget itinerary across Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia: fly into Vilnius, take the bus on to Riga and Tallinn, then head back to Vilnius. Nights, travel times and tips.
Updated on 17 September 2026
At a glance
- One return flight to Vilnius, three capitals in three countries: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. All three use the euro.
- 7 nights: 2 in Vilnius when you arrive, 2 in Riga, 2 in Tallinn, and the last one back in Vilnius before your flight.
- The first two bus legs take about 4 hours each; the ride back from Tallinn to Vilnius is a long one, 8-9 hours, which is why the loop ends with a night in Vilnius.
- Alternatively, you can fly into Riga, which sits in the middle: the legs get shorter and the loop becomes Riga → Tallinn → Riga → Vilnius → Riga.
Travel times are approximate: check timetables and stops on the operator's website before you book.
The route
| Leg | Transport | Approx. time |
|---|---|---|
| Your airport → Vilnius | Flight | depends on where you fly from |
| Vilnius → Riga | Bus | about 4 hours |
| Riga → Tallinn | Bus | about 4.5 hours |
| Tallinn → Vilnius | Bus | about 8-9 hours |
| Vilnius → your airport | Flight | depends on where you fly from |
Vilnius · 2 nights on arrival
Vilnius's baroque old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you can cover all of it on foot: Cathedral Square, Gediminas Hill with its view over the rooftops, the Gate of Dawn and the bohemian district of Užupis, the self-declared "republic" of artists.
From the airport: Vilnius Airport is just a few kilometres from the centre, linked by city buses and a train to the railway station.
Riga · 2 nights
The biggest of the three capitals. The old town with the House of the Blackheads and the Cathedral, the Art Nouveau district with dozens of ornate façades, and the Central Market, housed in old Zeppelin hangars.
From Vilnius: about four hours by bus, with several departures a day and a stop close to Riga's old town.
Tallinn · 2 nights
Tallinn's old town is one of the best preserved in Northern Europe: towered city walls, Town Hall Square and the viewing platforms of Toompea. Beyond the centre, there's the creative Telliskivi district and the Kadriorg seafront.
From Riga: about four and a half hours by bus, along the coast.
Back to Vilnius · 1 night
Tallinn to Vilnius takes 8-9 hours by bus: it's best to leave early in the morning and reach Vilnius in the afternoon, with a night in the city before your flight. It's also a chance to take a slower look at what you rushed through on day one.
The bus and the flight are separate tickets: on a route this long, never plan to arrive by bus on the same day as your flight.
When to go
- May to September: very long days, mild weather, everything open. July and August are the priciest months.
- December: Christmas markets in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius, but it's very cold and dark by 4 pm.
- May and September are often the best compromise between weather and prices.
Let FlyDown work it out
When you create a watch you can switch on More cities in one trip: for every flight it finds, FlyDown checks which cities you can reach by bus from your destination, splits the nights between your arrival city and the others, and shows you the full loop with bus times and costs, within the budget you've set. You can also cap the maximum bus hours per leg.