Baltic states by train: a two-week itinerary across three countries

A two-week train trip gives plenty of time to discover some of the most fascinating cities in the Baltic states. I train hopped between the capitals, Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius, stopping by at Tartu and Kaunas, too. Read on to find out more about how to discover the Baltic states by train.

Why train

I have toured the Baltic states extensively by bus, as you can read from this One-week itinerary guide I have written. In December 2023, a train connection between Riga and Vilnius finally re-opened, making train travel between Latvia and Lithuania once again a more valid option. So, in early January, I jumped on a train in Tallinn and explored Tartu and Riga along my way to Vilnius, the end station of the journey through the Baltic states by train.

Booking

Operators: The Estonian train provider is Elron. In Latvia, Latvijas dzelzceļš and in Lithuania LTG Link.

Where to buy: All tickets can be bought online. Estonia has a very convenient purchasing system in place: step on the train you want to take, flash your bank card in the vending machine, and sit down. The machine will not give you a printed ticket, but the conductor will see if you have a valid ticket or not by checking your card on the system. In Latvia and Lithuania, you can also buy tickets at some stations but be careful with opening times in smaller stations. The train providers’ apps are handy to use.

Prices and durations

Tallinn–Tartu: A dozen departures per day. Prices start from 11 euros and the trip takes just under 2,5 hours.

Tartu–Riga, change in Valga: Journey time is around 4 hours + transfer in Valga (+3 hours). The price is 5 euros.

Riga–Vilnius: First class is 34 euros, second class 24 euros. One train per day leaves at 15.28 and the journey takes 4 hours and 23 minutes. 

Vilnius–Kaunas: Departures once or twice per hour, prices starting from 8 euros. The trip takes just under 1,5 hours.

Book ahead: The only train that has been booked to the rim while I’ve been travelling in the Baltic states by train has been the Tallinn–Tartu line. 

Baltic states by train

1. From Tallinn to Tartu

Taking the train from Tallinn to Tartu is very easy. The railway station is located right next to Tallinn’s medieval Old Town. On the other side of the station, you’ll find Balti Jaama market hall should you like to eat or have coffee before the departure. There are also food vendors and a little shop at the railway station to buy some snacks for the train.

There is a train almost every hour from 6 am to 9 pm. The prices start from around 11 euros and the travel time is about 2,5 hours. You cannot take bikes on the express train, which takes a little bit less time (c. 2 hours and 20 minutes) and stops at fewer stations in between Tallinn and Tartu.

Book at Elron.ee.

If you want to add Finland to your Baltic itinerary, see my guide on how to take the ferry between Tallinn and Helsinki!

2. From Tartu to Riga

Tartu makes an excellent pit stop on a train tour around the Baltic states – as you can see from this mini guide I wrote. 

Travelling by train from Tartu to Riga takes a bit of patience as you have to change trains in the border town of Valga. Take the 10.01 train which arrives at Valga 1 hour and 20 minutes later (5,19€). Stroll to the town centre and have lunch and coffee in Kohvik Johanna, a cosy restaurant by the roundabout. Then walk back to the station and hop aboard the train to Riga, leaving at 14.52.

When I took this train it didn’t show on the railway station notice board and I also couldn’t ask about it from anyone, as the tills were closed. But the train was there and arrived in time to Riga at 17.47. The journey takes almost 3 hours and costs 5,22€.

Book at pv.lv.

Wondering where to stay in Riga? See these hotels I’ve tested for you!

3. From Riga to Vilnius

I stayed in Riga for four nights, exploring the wintry city with my cousin. I highly recommend visiting the Baltic capitals in winter: the Old Towns are pretty in their snowy coating and there are fewer visitors about than in the busier summer months.

The newly reopened train connection between Riga and Vilnius has been a greatly anticipated feat in these corners of the world. The line opened again in late December and when I took it in early January, everything seemed to work perfectly – even in freezing cold temperatures! There is no restaurant car but you can order from the menu for example, curd donuts (2,50€), birch sap with freeze-dried sea buckthorn (2,50€), dried rhubarb (3€), tortilla wrap bowl (4,99€) or cup of tea (2,30€).

There is only one train from Riga to Vilnius and it departs at 15.28, arriving at Vilnius 19.51. I bought the second class ticket for 24€ but there is also a first-class for 34€. 

Book at LTG Link.

4. Day trip to Kaunas from Vilnius

My train tour around the Baltic states ended with a day trip to Kaunas. The trains start to operate at 5 am and continue till after 9 pm. There are about 20 departures daily and the journey takes just under 1,5 hours so it’s easy to decide on the day, if and what time you want to make the day trip.

A day is enough to see Kaunas’s pretty Old Town, enjoy local pancakes or other delicacies and maybe pop over to the Botanical Gardens with a Palm House.

As I wanted to spend a couple of days in Tallinn at the end of my train trip around the Baltic states, and as I was running a bit out of time, I took a night bus from Vilnius to Tallinn, arriving at the Estonian capital in the morning. The bus is also a convenient way to explore the region and you can find out more about my one-week bus itinerary around the Baltic states at this link.

Bon voyage!