Traveling to the Baltics on your own. To the Baltic states by car - full route
An article about traveling by car to the Baltic countries: what you need to know, what documents to prepare. At the end of the article - a video about what you need to know before traveling to the Baltic States by car.
The content of the article:
If you are going to see the Baltic countries, but find that ticket prices are, to put it mildly, not cheap, caravanning may be a great solution.
A trip by car to the Baltic countries has a large number of advantages. The main thing is to know some of the "pitfalls" and the peculiarities of paperwork and driving in these countries.
The Baltics are already Europe, the rules for entry and driving are approximately the same here, but there are still small differences. Let's talk about the main points that you should know in advance.
Pros of traveling by car
If you love car tourism, these advantages have long been known to you:
- If you drive a car not alone, but two or three, the cost of gasoline (even taking into account the depreciation of the car) will cost significantly less than purchasing tickets for transport, whether it be a bus, Railway tickets and especially air.
- The car will allow you not to worry about excess luggage and liquids prohibited for transportation by plane. Also, the problems of "overweight" are pushed to the limit of the weight of luggage, which is critical for a particular car, and are not limited to the weight agreed by the airline in the region of a modest 20 kg per person.
Looking out for the next purchase in the souvenir shop, you do not have to think about the question of whether you can bring it home.
- A private car is freedom. You are not limited by time frames, you do not have to move along a predetermined trajectory, as in the case of bus tour. Seeing the building you like on the horizon, locality, you can always turn off the highway and visit more interesting places. Tempting, right?
Required documents for entry
If you enter the Baltic country in your own car, you will need a standard set of documents.
For auto:
- registration certificate;
- international driving license;
- technical certificate;
- « green map».
If the car is older than three years and has a Russian registration, at the border they may be required to present a diagnostic card of the car, which indicates that the car is in good working order.
Those who have recently traveled to the Baltic states note that even for a fresher car, it is better to go through unscheduled maintenance in advance. A diagnostic card at the border is requested after tourists have received a stamp in their passport to enter the country.
If the car does not meet the serviceability requirements, they will immediately put an exit stamp at the border and send it home. If a one-time Schengen was purchased, the trip can be considered over.
A diagnostic card may be required not only at the border. According to the laws of the Baltic countries, any police officer can be asked to present this document.
If your car has tinted windows, you should take care of the question, what is their light transmission capacity. Tinted front side windows of the car must transmit light in a volume of at least 80%. In the case of side rear and rear windows, the light transmission of the coating may be less. As a rule, there are no problems with factory tinted windows at the border.
Studded tires are allowed in the Baltics from early October to late April. If the glass of the car has cracks or there is damage to the body, the car may not be allowed to pass at the border - according to the laws of Europe, such cars do not have the right to enter the country.
If a power of attorney is required for a car, it must be notarized without fail.
For adult passengers:
- application with a questionnaire;
- international passport with a Schengen visa;
- income statement from work;
- bank confirmation that there are funds in your account;
- medical insurance;
- confirmation of hotel reservation, rent of an apartment or guest house.
- birth certificate;
- up to 14 years of age, the child's data can be entered in the passport of one of the parents;
- when a child travels without parents - their own passport with a Schengen visa and a notarized consent of the parents to travel abroad.
Medical insurance for entry into the Baltic countries must be issued for a coverage amount of at least 30 thousand euros.
In order to make the trip comfortable, it would be useful to have a navigator. It is better if it is a program. Designed not only for cars, but also for pedestrians.
For example, Sugic navigator will perfectly cope both with “guiding” the driver to a given destination, and will tell about the sights of the country closest to the laid route.
On a long trip it is very convenient if you can change behind the wheel. The second driver in the company makes the trip very easy.
Restrictions on the import of goods and features of the border crossing
In the photo: a checkpoint on the border with Estonia
When crossing the border, autotourists will have to pay an environmental fee - about 20 euros per passenger, plus the amount for the car itself.
There are restrictions on the import of a number of goods into the Baltic States, which may differ from country to country. As a rule, this applies to cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, fuel and some products.
For example, more than 40 cigarettes (that is, two packs), one liter of alcohol with a strength above 6 degrees or two liters of weaker alcohol such as beer, 10 liters of gasoline, as well as meat and any meat products cannot be imported into Latvia.
The use of "anti-radar" in the Baltics is strictly prohibited. Upon entry, such devices are likely to be taken away, or simply not allowed into the country. If the fact of the presence of these devices is found out already on the territory of the country, the driver will face a fine of up to 1200 euros - the amount is more than the average wage!
The time spent at the border depends on the specific border checkpoint and type of queue. At the entrance to the Baltics, the electronic queue is more than fast way pass control. It will take at least forty minutes, but on average, tourists call the time up to one and a half to two hours.
Theoretically, you can call the border control point and inquire in advance about how long the queue is. But not the fact that you will be answered.
When leaving the country, it is better for autotourists to use pre-booking electronic queue. It should be borne in mind that in the Baltics, border guards specifically pay more attention to the electronic queue than the “live” queue, so it makes sense to spend one and a half euros to reserve a place in the electronic queue than to tell “horrors” about a seven-hour stay at the border checkpoint.
Driving features
There are no toll roads in the Baltic States, all roads for cars are free. Similar to most European countries, here in the roundabout, cars located at the very intersection have an advantage.
Similar to Russian rules, in the Baltic States, the included headlights are mandatory.
Parking in cities is usually paid. They will cost from two euros per hour, but in the capitals and central regions cities can be three times more expensive.
In Tallinn there is interesting feature parking lots: here you will need a parking clock, which can be purchased at the gas station. These watches are placed under the windshield. Payment for parking is made using SMS, if you have a country's SIM card, or through a specialized machine.
It is better to study the speed limits in the Baltic countries in advance. So, the “fairy tale” about the slowness of the same Estonians is by no means a fairy tale, if we talk about speed limits on the roads. The car is allowed a maximum of 110 km / h, and then only on specialized highways, marked with the sign "road on a blue field", and only in summer. And in the period from the beginning of November to the end of March outside the city, you can move at a speed of no more than 90 km / h, in the city - no more than 50 km / h.
In case of speeding, you will have to fork out: exceeding up to 10 km / h may go unnoticed, but if the speedometer needle has crawled 20 km / h above the norm - this is 400 euros or a six-month deprivation of rights, 40 km / h above the upper limit - 800 euros and a year's deprivation of rights, 60 km / h "bust" - 1200 euros and deprivation of rights for two years.
In the car, as well as according to Russian standards, there must be a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, a reflective vest and an emergency stop sign. However, the presence of a reflective vest is not strictly required, but without it it is impossible to be on the road outside the car.
As in any European country, in the Baltic countries there are many video cameras of the system for fixing traffic violations. In addition, here you can often find hidden police patrols along the roads, which will not slow down to fix the violation and issue fines. Pay attention to the fact that here police cars are often "disguised" as civilian vehicles in such a way that it is indistinguishable.
If you are stopped on the road, you cannot get out of the car: this can be interpreted as an attempt to escape. You just need to open the window on the driver's side, and put your hands on the steering wheel. The policeman will come to you.
Fuel cost
In the photo: gas station in Estonia
When entering the Baltics, it is better to have a full fuel tank. The distances here are short, but the price of fuel is not low:
- In Estonia: 95th gasoline - from 80 rubles, diesel fuel - from 76 rubles, gas - from 36 rubles, but there are very few gas stations here.
- In Lithuania: 95th gasoline - from 75 rubles, diesel fuel - from 66 rubles, gas - from 34 rubles, and gas stations in this country are quite common.
- In Latvia: 95th gasoline - from 78 rubles, diesel fuel - from 75 rubles, gas - from 35 rubles. In all the Baltic countries, roads are not overloaded, cars move in “gentle” traffic, so fuel consumption is quite economical.
Conclusion
In general, a trip to the Baltics for private car- the adventure is pleasant if you follow the rules of the road, are law-abiding and are ready to endure a little paperwork at the border. Happy trip!
Video about what you need to know before traveling to the Baltics by car:
Hello dear readers and guests of the site. In previous posts, I promised to tell you about my recent trip to the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), which I managed to go without planning at all.
After I managed to achieve my goal for 2012, namely to go to the Black Sea, which I described in the article "", it was decided that there was more than enough rest for the next year. However, it turned out differently...
A trip to the Baltic States (Talin - Sigulda - Riga - Jurmala - Vilnius)
At our work, the "trade union committee" organized tourist trip in the cities of the Baltic states, and only four of them were allocated for our site. Naturally, everyone wants to travel for a modest price, since half of the trip or even most of it is paid by the company. 
It is clear that I did not immediately get a ticket, because I occupy a modest position, but there are other people who are offered in the first place. But at the last moment, for unknown reasons, someone canceled the trip and then the turn came to me, of course, I did everything quickly, which was to hand over photos, money and a passport for a Schengen visa, also fill out a questionnaire and get insurance.
Since I understood that I would be gone for about a week, which means that the blog would not be updated for 10 days, since until you come to your senses after the rest, it also takes time to write an article. It was decided to write the article "" in advance, but I planned to publish it on April 13, thanks to the wordpress engine that it allows me to do this.
Estonia – sightseeing in Tallinn
Since we live in a small town called Luninets, and the bus departed from Baranovichi, we had to get to it on our favorite transport - the “diesel train”.
There we all got on the bus together and went to the city of Lida, because we had to pick up the remaining people there.
Further, as always, crossing the interstate border with Lithuania, where we had to stand for about one hour. It's good that there was not a long queue, and checking documents is always a problem certain time, especially since we entered the territory of the European Union.
Then, while I was sleeping for 9 hours, we drove through Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. At about 10 o'clock in the morning, the beauties of the city of Tallinn appeared before us.
After breakfast at the hotel, which was served as a buffet (the food is in full view and you can eat it as much as you want), we went on a tour of Tallinn.
To tell everything where we have been, I simply do not have the patience to write, since there were a lot of places, and I took even more pictures.
First, we drove along the coast of the Baltic Sea, namely the Gulf of Tallinn, where we could see several famous monuments(Mermaid, Singing stage). We looked at the Pirita area and the Olympic facilities.
But most of all I was impressed by the Baltic Sea, since it does not exist in our country at all, and we really like to contemplate unusual species outgoing water beyond the horizon.
Usually you go to the sea in the summer, but here it is quite another thing to see the sea in the winter, despite the fact that it was the middle of spring.
After it finally became cold for everyone, we went to warm ourselves on the bus and were taken to the Old Town, the most historical part of Tallinn.
On the way, we were greeted by Estonian youth, who walked the streets of the city and just "fooled around".
Estonians were the luckiest of all, as they had the most towers and the fortress wall that protected the city from enemies.
We visited Town Hall Square, which is very different from our Lenin squares. Almost all cultural and mass events take place here. We also visited the largest Orthodox church - Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
The old city is divided into Lower and Upper. If you want, you can climb observation deck and see the city from a bird's eye view.
There really is something to see in Tallinn, I was very impressed that everything was done for the convenience of the tourist. Although there is nothing to be surprised here, because tourism replenishes the city treasury.
Various souvenirs and trinkets are sold at every step. For a simple fridge magnet you will have to pay from 2 euros. In Estonia, only euros are in circulation.
Their standard of living is much better than in our Belarus, this can be seen even in the cars they drive, including law enforcement agencies.
Then, a little tired, we went to the hotel, where we still had to check in. Probably, I am very far behind civilization, but it was surprising to me that everything in the room works only from a plastic card: a door lock and a light.
If you compare their elevator with ours, it’s generally heaven and earth, after riding in ours it can definitely get sick.
After settling in, we went to look at Tallinn in the light of the moon. The town is small, but there is plenty to walk around.
A lot of bars, discos and restaurants. We sat in some bar and were even treated to homemade liquor. People are very kind and friendly, however, they speak Russian very poorly.
We did not have to resort to the services of a city type of transport, since you can get everywhere on your own two ... After an overnight stay, breakfast and check-out from the room, three hours later we were already in Latvia.
Latvia - Riga, Sigulda and Jurmala
First of all, in Latvia, we went to the city of Sigulda. It is also called the Latvian Switzerland - this is favorite place recreation for tourists and residents of Riga.
We started our tour from the Sigulda Castle, the passage to which lies through the New Castle, in other words, a palace or a manor. It is a pity that only a small part of the castle has survived to this day.
Then we went to Gutman's cave. This is one of the largest caves in Latvia, from the base of which flows a source of pure healing spring water.
Then we visited Turaida Castle. Only one tower has survived to this day, in which the bottom is made of stone, and then turns into red brick. After I overcame 5 floors of the tower, I opened a beautiful winter view of the castle in the heights.
Then we also visited the museum and walked around the landscapes of the estate. Beauty, and only if in such bad weather the landscapes were simply mesmerizing, I can imagine how everything looks there in the summer.
After the end of the tour, we went to Riga, where we had to check into a hotel and go for a walk around the night Riga.
Of course, Riga impressed me a lot, as I like big and beautiful cities. We decided to walk around the old part of it in the evening. Songs are pouring all around, music is playing, which fills and charges tourists with a good mood.
We continued our tour of the Baltic Riga in the morning. Although the weather was damp, it still did not spoil our holiday.
We visited many beautiful places and looked at all the main sights of the city. I cannot fail to mention the Church of St. John and the House of the Blackheads - one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings.
And also many other sights: Riga Castle, Dome Cathedral, Swedish Gates, Powder Tower and much more.
By the way, Latvians are very fond of pets, especially cats. Therefore, it is not surprising that they are even used as decorations for buildings and other structures.
They say that if you rub the monument "To the Bremen Town Musicians" and make a wish, then it must be fulfilled.
So I also decided to make it, and in order to find out whether it was fulfilled or not, I will tell you at the end of this year in the report on the work done for the whole year. So stay tuned and don't miss new blog posts.
Having seen enough of Riga, we went to Jurmala, a city that I often heard about from TV, as various festivals are held there " New wave", as well as the well-known" KVN-Voicing Kivin "and others.
Of course, I tried to look at concert hall DZINTARI, however, construction work was being carried out there and there was no good access to it.
But most of all I was impressed again by the Baltic Sea, or rather the Gulf of Riga. For the first time in my life I saw the sea, which was practically frozen. I threw a coin for luck to return there again.
After Jurmala, we boarded the bus together and went on the final tour of Lithuania.
Lithuania - a trip to Vilnius
Arriving in the capital of Lithuania, Vilnius, we stayed at the hotel for the night. If we compare this hotel with Tallinn or Riga, then I would give it 2 out of 5. It can be seen that it used to be very miserable, but some repairs have made some adjustments.
After an overnight stay, we went on a bus and walking tour of the city. Liked it very much Cathedral, which is of great value both for Lithuania and for the whole world.
The walls of the cathedral are decorated with paintings and frescoes of the 16th century, and the museum is located in the dungeon.
It was also fascinating to look at the monument to Gediminas, the church of St. Anna, three crosses, the church of St. Peter and Paul.
After sightseeing tour in the old city, everyone wanted to go to the shopping center Akropolis (Akropolis). This is the so-called entertainment center where you can buy absolutely everything, as well as have a great time.
You can really find anything here. Starting constructor Lego and ending with a cool car.
What is most interesting is the opportunity to buy some goods at good discounts, but I didn’t pick up anything for myself, since the prices were no different from ours in Belarus. But it's really worth a visit...
After shopping center we went to our homeland, and after 10 hours I was already sharing my impressions with my relatives and friends.
Summing up
To be honest, of the three countries I liked Estonia and Latvia the most. And if we consider cities, then Riga, perhaps, has no equal. Such historical and modern city In one place. However, Tallinn is more modern in terms of development.
There was a feeling that you were not in Estonia, but in some Czech Republic. In a word, Tallinn struck me with its modern way of life, which cannot be said about Lithuania (Vilnius), which reminded me more of my country.
As for prices, Estonia turned out to be the most expensive country, where prices are cheaper in Latvia, and Lithuania became the most affordable.
If you sum up my expenses, they turned out to be very modest.
1) Insurance + voucher (travel, accommodation, breakfast and guide) + visa cost me and my wife $400 for two.
2) Well, the rest of the expenses amounted to another $ 300 for two.
The result is 400 + 300 = 700 divided by 2 = $ 350 per person. I think that it is very cheap, so if you have the opportunity, be sure to go on an excursion to the Baltics.
I will be glad to listen to everyone in the comments who have already visited these countries, what impression do you have?
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How to travel to the Baltic States on your own, without services travel agencies. It’s easy and simple, because almost everyone there speaks Russian, so you won’t 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 Baltic States on your own is not difficult, especially when there is a 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 ancient estates and monuments from the reign of the German barons, which is very interesting and informative. The Ciecere River, 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 few in the city ancient castles 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 a beautiful city, which has private beach, several kilometers long.
see also
I think that 3 years of regular travel give me the right to summarize the "innermost knowledge" and write FAQ-style notes for those interested in this direction. All information provided here is based on personal experience and communication with like-minded people. Based on our 3-week trip to Latvia and Lithuania (12/19/2012 - 01/10/2013).
Visa. We became happy owners of a 2-year Latvian Schengen! The Consulate of Latvia willingly issues multiple-entry visas to those who have already traveled to them, and gives single-entry visas to “newcomers”. Last year, an electronic questionnaire was introduced, which can be filled out in Russian, but in Latin letters. The list of documents is on the official website.
The closer to the holidays, the more people wish to get a visa, so it is better to apply in advance (maximum 90 days before the trip). All helpful information in my article How to get a Schengen visa on your own
On the positive side: payment for accommodation is not required, they accept any reservations, including those from airbnb, the main thing is that they correctly indicate the dates and names of all tourists, preferably on letterhead with a signature and seal (usually sent by fax or e-mail in scanned form). This time we brought 5 bookings, and to make it clearer to the visa officer, we wrote everything step by step in the “travel itinerary” document, which is mandatory for those traveling by car.
At the moment, the Latvian visa is the most successful option. For comparison: you can make an appointment at the Estonian Consulate by phone (in high season very in advance), multiple entry visas are issued “by mood”; The Lithuanian Consulate requires confirmation of 100% payment for accommodation and issues single-entry visas.
P.S. In 2015, we again applied for a Schengen visa through Latvia and received multiple visas for 2 years according to the validity of our passports.
Accommodation. I plan this part as soon as the dates are determined. In principle, if there is an open visa and a trip in the off-season or on holidays, then there is no need to rush. Last years more and more people want to New Year in the Baltic States and here the earlier booked, the better. Hotels in Latvia are the cheapest in the European Union (meaning price per room, not quality). Read my recommendations on choosing a hotel in Riga and Vilnius, and it will be easier for you to decide on a place and prices:
Choosing a hotel in Riga
Overview of Vilnius hotels
Usually we go to Riga immediately after the New Year, having met him at home, which I advise everyone, so you will avoid overpaying for a hotel, air or railway tickets, and if by car, then queues at the border. This time we caught all the holidays, including both Christmas and New Year. Finding a room for Catholic Christmas in Riga is no problem - the excitement is created not by English, but by Russian tourists, arriving later, but with the New Year the problem is that there are no places and hotels raise prices, imposing a gala dinner.
Thanks to last year's contacts, this time I booked an apartment in Sigulda at a discount, a deluxe room at a standard price in Kėdainiai, and in Riga I managed to quickly solve the problem of changing the hotel.
The purpose of our 22-day trip was to change the situation, calmly and inexpensively rest. We lived in 4 places, alternating hotel and apartment, the average cost of a night for two turned out to be €37 (breakfasts were included in hotels).
While searching for accommodation, I came across and used the airbnb booking system. Unlike others, airbnb specializes only in private stays, the booking process allows you to communicate and negotiate terms with the host in advance. We really liked the apartment in Vilnius, the initial price was €45, we were rented for €35.
Road. We are traveling by car. In the Baltic States, you can drive on Russian rights and in winter on studded tires. Currently, the only good road to Latvia and Lithuania is along the M1 through Belarus. We used to stop halfway for an overnight stay, now we get there in one day, we have a rest on the other side in Daugavpils. Passing the border depends on many factors, and you never know how long it will take. On December 19, we passed the Grigorovschina-Paternieki checkpoint in 15 minutes, on January 10, Medininkai-Kamenny Log in 20 minutes. Prior to this, the border, on average, took 1-1.5 hours. More cars drive on weekends and in the summer, before the holidays the situation is such that it is better not to drive (on December 30, people stand in line for 5-11 hours).
The price of a train ticket, in my opinion, is overpriced in this direction, and besides, you can’t buy them on New Year’s Eve, although now they have begun to launch additional trains. For the price, the plane can even be cheaper than the train if you take it on a promotion or in advance. The bus is inexpensive but not comfortable.
Roads within the Baltic countries are different, the best and fastest in Lithuania. It is easy to navigate, there are signs, but it is desirable to have a printed map (you can use a tourist one) and a navigator. You should not break the rules, especially speeding, special signs warn about cameras, but there are also “ambushes”, the fines are high. Once in Riga, when leaving Mezhaparks, we were stopped and asked about drinking alcohol. Immediately fined for parking in the wrong place or non-payment. When booking accommodation, check about parking, in the old town of Riga the price of parking per day is very high. If you stop by somewhere for a few hours, then it makes no sense to look for free parking and then walk away from it for a long time. In Kaunas, on the Town Hall Square, the hourly wage was only 20 rubles. It is useful to have a parking watch.
Even if you are by car, not every day you want to go somewhere. Public transport goes often and well. It is better to buy an e-ticket at a kiosk (it is 2 times more expensive from the driver), and it is important to know that one ticket with two trips is not suitable for two, you need to have 2 separate ones. Do not throw away a card with unused trips - the validity period is a year (a reason to return). Stops are highlighted with a running line, if it is not clear, you can always ask passengers for help. And be careful: buses and trolleybuses in Riga are very similar.
Weather and clothing. The Baltic states do not guarantee 100% sunshine in July or snow in December. According to my impressions, there is a lot of "partly cloudy", wind and rain.
During the three December-January weeks in Latvia-Lithuania we found frosts, snow, rain, dry asphalt and several sunny days, the temperature range was from -20°С to +3°С.
Before a trip, I always look at the forecast on local websites, and, in principle, it comes true. In winter, you need to have several options for clothing for very cold-warmer with the possibility of combining. This New Year we walked in the rain on the ice, the shoes were protected from moisture, and we ourselves - with a large umbrella (the latter is required at any time of the year). Chilling winds often blow on the coast (a hood to help).
Money and shopping. I am surprised by the fact that Russian tourists still use currency exchange offices. Accepted everywhere credit cards, you can withdraw cash in local currency from an ATM to pay for the rest (parking, entry tickets, tips). The most advanced country is Estonia, you can buy a ticket for a bus at a kiosk with a card and pay almost everywhere for admission to the museum.
We do not go specifically for shopping, but we go to stores if we have time and desire. As elsewhere, the most profitable time is sales, in our case, January. Shoes in Vilnius, compared to Moscow, are 2 times cheaper and the choice is different, in addition, you can apply for tax free and get the amount of tax back. Hotels and info centers always have city maps with addresses of shops and shopping centers. I wrote about shopping in Vilnius.
Excursions. On New Year holidays good tour guides are in high demand, so it is worthwhile to arrange an excursion in advance. There are many offers: on foot and by car, combined, individual, for a group. Choose according to your taste:
Nutrition. You won't go hungry and don't go broke on food. IN major cities, especially in the capitals, there are many establishments for every taste, prices are lower than in Moscow, but again, if you have breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a restaurant on Domskaya Square, it will not be cheap.
The most popular option is national cuisine enterprises Lido, there are several of them in Riga, including a large entertainment complex on the street. Krasta. You walk around with a tray, choose what you like, everything is fresh, it doesn’t stale, the prices are very affordable. In Tallinn, Lido is in the Solaris shopping center.
Trying the national cuisine is a must, but eating all the time only gets boring quickly, especially since this is not Italy or France. For example, traditional gray peas with bacon - a hearty dish of Latvian peasants, which I would not have taken in a restaurant, once I ordered boiled pig ears - they were not appreciated. Lithuanians love potatoes very much, they even serve them with soup, zeppelins lay a “heavy load” on my stomach, I had to take one serving for two. Belgian beer is well represented in Lithuania, mostly local beer is popular in Latvia (large choice), in Estonia there are two main brands.
Drinking coffee with a bun is the most profitable for us in Kaunas, where there are pastry cafes on Laisves aleja with a huge selection of pastries and coffee. In winter, when you just want to go to warm up, use the Internet-toilet, you should pay attention to special offers such as coffee + croissant or the morning menu. Cafe in good location service is nowhere cheap. When traveling around cities and villages, while eating “at the exit”, one must keep in mind that in many places after 16:00-18:00 everything closes and people sit at home, especially in the off season.
In the apartments we cook our own breakfasts and dinners. It is very interesting to go to different supermarkets, enjoying the range of products and their quality. I always take local dairy products - yoghurts, cheese curds, cheeses, milk. Meat is represented mainly by pork and poultry, which are skillfully butchered. Fresh vegetables, fruits. Lots of wines, including Georgian ones.
In Latvia, delicious Sido blackcurrant juice is produced, which goes well with Riga balsam; under this brand, non-alcoholic mulled wine is produced, which is drunk hot. Latvian chocolate and candies from the Laima factory are very popular, bitter chocolate is good, sweets with balm, there are beautiful boxes with views of Riga as a gift. In Latvia they sell a lot of natural marmalade of different varieties, I buy sea buckthorn and cranberry. Estonian "Kalev" makes my favorite candies with liquor and marmalade fillings, marzipan bars.
Even in large supermarkets, you can profitably buy souvenirs and little things for the home.