Traveling to the Baltics on your own. Traveling in the Baltics: Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius, Sigulda and Jurmala
Finally, I got around to writing a text about our autotravel route in the Baltics.
The total length of the route is 2975 kilometers, but taking into account trips within cities and to nearby attractions, we drove much more - 3672 kilometers. I must say right away that it’s worth setting off only if you have a love for traveling by car, and if you are traveling with a child, it is desirable that he shares this passion.
Our daughter, fortunately, is growing up as a tireless traveler, and perceives long trips more than favorably - after all, during this time you can listen to a whole bunch of fairy tales!
So, the route broken down by day:
In the morning we leave Moscow along the M-1 highway and drive towards Smolensk (380 km). To save time and nerves, I highly recommend using the Odintsovo paid bypass.
We have lunch in Smolensk (I highly recommend the cafe "Peter Push" @restoran_peterpush on Lenina Street, 14) and move on towards Belarus. There is no border between countries, even the most formal one.
We didn’t like any hotel in Minsk, so we spent the night in the agroestate “Tikhiy Dvorik” in Lagoisk (306 km from Smolensk to it)
We have breakfast and drive to Minsk (distance from Lagoisk - 40 km).
There we went to the zoo @minsk_zoo_official (Tashkentskaya street, 40), had lunch and moved towards the border with Lithuania (to the Benyakoni crossing point - 191 km)
We cross the border and go to Vilnius (distance from the border - 53 km), where we settle down for the night
The third day takes place in Vilnius - we have already been here, so we did not repeat the inspection of the historical center. Instead we visited:
museum under open sky"Park of Europe" (village Yoneykiskiu, LT-15148)
Cafe with a huge game room "World of Gnomes" (Laisvės pr. 88)
Interactive "Toy Museum" (Shiltadarzho st., 2)
We start moving towards the sea. We leave Vilnius towards Trakai, but on the way we stop at a wonderful corn maze (Vilnius–Trakai 16 km)
Having got out of the labyrinth, we go to Trakai and walk around the castle there (only 11 km to go)
From there we leave for Kaunas for a walk and lunch (on the way - 87 km)
After Kaunas we continue to go to the sea. Our correspondent office on the coast was the town of Šventoja (250 km from Kaunas)
We come to ourselves after a busy day and explore the surroundings. We went to the beach in the morning, and then went to the entertainment complex HBH Palanga (Zibininkai, Lepu 23). You can easily hang out there for the whole day.
In the morning - the sea, and then we go to the DINO.LT dinosaur park (Radailiai, Klaipeda region). After the lizards, you can have lunch and take a walk in Klaipeda or Palanga, they are very close.
We have breakfast and go to old port Klaipeda, where we board the ferry to the Curonian Spit. In this part of the spit, you should definitely visit the Lithuanian Maritime Museum, it is beautiful.
We return by ferry back, get into the car and drive towards the border with Latvia. Again, there are no borders between countries.
We spend the night in a small but wonderful town of Liepaja (from Sventoji to Liepaja - 61 km)
We walk around Liepaja, swim if the weather permits, and go to Riga (drive 216 km to the capital)
There we went to the Latvian Museum of Nature (K. Barona st. 4), had dinner and went to bed
This day takes place in Riga - we devoted it to a walk along the huge Ethnographic Museum Latvia in the open air (Bonaventuras street 10).
Then I recommend stopping by for lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants of the Lido chain - it's delicious, cheap and very colorful
We have breakfast and go for a walk historical center Riga. To appreciate the beauty of the city, we climb the tower of St. Peter's Church (19 Skarnu Street).
Then we leave the capital and go to Cēsis to look at the local castle (88 km)
After we say goodbye to Latvia and leave for Tallinn (on the way - 300 km)
We walk around Tallinn, although one day here, of course, is criminally not enough.
We went to the Tallinn Zoo @tallinnzoo (Ehitajate tee 150 / Paldiski mnt 145), the medieval restaurant Olde Hansa @olde_hansa (Vene 1) and went to Pirita Beach 15 minutes from the city center.
In the morning we walk around Tallinn, and then move towards the border with Russia - it was more convenient for us to leave through Narva (211 km). Don't forget to sign up for the email queue!
Once at home, we go to rest and sleep in Veliky Novgorod (distance - 272 km)
We will have breakfast, walk along the Novgorod Kremlin and set off towards Moscow. I would use the paid Leningradka as much as possible, because it saves a lot of time.
We have lunch and stretch our legs in Tver (387 km from Novgorod)
Last push to Moscow (176 km)
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 no long queue, and checking documents always takes some 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 buffet(the food is in plain sight 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 Baltic Sea, namely the Tallinn Bay, where you 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 the unusual views of the water leaving 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 we were taken to the Old Town, the most historical part Tallinn.
On the way, we were greeted by Estonian youth, who walked the streets of the city and just "fooled around".
The Estonians were the luckiest of all, as they had the most towers and the fortress wall that protected the city from enemies.
We visited the Town Hall Square, which is very different from our Lenin Square. 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 go up to the observation deck and look at 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 a favorite vacation spot 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 have visited a lot 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 that keep for updates 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 New Wave festivals are held there, 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 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 a small renovation made some adjustments.
After an overnight stay, we went on a bus and walking tour of the city. I really liked the 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 for good discounts, however, 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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Don't let the rising exchange rate scare you. If you plan your trip well, the trip will cost you several times cheaper. I was once again convinced of this during my last trip to the Baltic countries, now I am sharing my advice with you.
1. Buses between Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn for 3 euros
The capitals of the Baltic countries are connected by a bunch of bus routes with cool service (toilet, heating, Wi-Fi and even free monitors).
The SimpleExpress carrier releases 5 promotional tickets for each flight exactly six months before departure. To travel Vilnius-Tallinn, Vilnius-Riga, Riga Tallinn and back for only 3 euros.
There are also permanent promotions in bus companies Lux Express, Ecolines, and Eurolines.
Discounts can reach 70% and a ticket for international route costs around 5 euros.
2. Discounts on rail and buses.
in Lithuanian railways there is a -15% discount when buying a round-trip ticket. Remind the cashier about this. In Latvia, travel by trains on weekdays during working hours is a quarter cheaper. It is better to travel between Estonian cities by SuperBus buses. A ticket costs 2 euros (cunning people indicate the price in Eureka, but you can’t get away from paying for reservations).
3. Do not overpay for travel in cities.
The fare in public transport for our money is crazy. For example, in Riga, a ticket when buying from a driver costs as much as 2 euros! However, the same ticket in the machine will cost you 1.15 euros. If you will use the transport more than 4 times in 24 hours (from the date of passing the coupon), then it is more advisable to buy a travel card for 5 euros.
In Tallinn and Vilnius, for multiple trips, you should buy a special plastic card. They cost 2 and 1.5 euros respectively. In the capital of Estonia, it can be returned (but only at the customer service center), Lithuanians do not return the money.
4. Get free maps from tourist centers.
In every center tourist information you can get a free paper map of the city, region or the whole country. As a rule, they are located on the main squares of cities, railway stations and airports. Feel free to ask the travel center staff about events taking place in the city, free museums and where to eat inexpensively but tasty.
5. Business lunches, canteens and fast food.
On weekdays at lunchtime (usually from 11 am to 3 pm), many restaurants offer set meals (or business lunches) at a significant discount. For example, in the center of Tallinn in the Karja Kelder restaurant, minced meat soup (that's how it was presented to us) and the main course (pictured) cost us only 3.7 euros.
Soviet canteens are still preserved in Vilnius. Lithuanian they will be Valgykla.
If the goal is to satisfy hunger, then in Riga fast foods you can buy a complex: a burger, french fries and cola for 2.65 euros.
6. Where is the best place to refuel?
The cheapest gasoline among the three Baltic countries is in Estonia. A liter of 95 costs a little more than a euro. Most of all you have to pay in Latvia. The difference in fuel prices between states is within 10 cents.
7. No money for the museum and parliament.
There are a number of interesting museums, where the entrance is absolutely free or the fee is purely symbolic. For example, these are money museums at the banks of Estonia and Lithuania. It's not boring here - very modern and interactive. You can even print your own money or treat yourself to a candy with bank symbols.
Also in the Baltic States there are great opportunity visit local parliaments. You can sign up for an excursion to the Lithuanian Seimas or the Estonian Parliament in advance.
AT art museums Tallinn has so-called "Europe environments". Quarterly entry on Wednesdays only 1 euro. Check the museum website before your trip!
Some museums have free admission with a press card. And it doesn't matter if it's Zhmerinsky Rabochiy or Forbes Ukraine. For example, in an interesting maritime museum Tallinn. Employees of other museums (including ours) also have a similar benefit.
8. Shopping from catalogs in supermarkets.
The lowest supermarkets in Lithuania. We are just crazy about their chocolate curds! Price from 0.2 euro cents. Citrus fruits - like ours. Before entering the supermarket, take a brochure with promotional prices with you. Sometimes the discount can reach 50%. Of course, everything that is cheaper is not worth taking, but in this way we bought delicious Riga sprats or a double Snickers with coffee in the IKI supermarket for 1 euro.
9. We book accommodation earlier.
We booked a hotel in Riga a couple of months in advance. In addition to the discount for early booking used the promo code on the hotel website. Won more than 10 euros. My friend used Airbnb service. Had a private room in Tallinn for 9 euros.
To get acquainted with the Baltics, you need to visit all three countries: Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Some of you will say that the Baltics are not only the above countries, but we will only deal with them. First of all, we will visit three capitals: Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn. It is advisable to visit them in the same weather and with the same mood, so that nothing prevents you from comparing these three cities. Do not listen to anyone who says that this or that is more beautiful or more interesting. They are all interesting, beautiful and in general everyone has their own opinion. I have been to the Baltic States several times, I liked something more, so I tried to include something in the route. The itinerary is designed in such a way that you can do it in a week. So: St. Petersburg - Tallinn - Cesis - Sigulda - Riga - Bauska - Siauliai - Kaunas - Vilnius - Daugavpils - Rezekne - St. Petersburg. These are the key points, now in more detail:
St. Petersburg – Tallinn
I will not dwell on the preparation of the machine, documents, etc. You can't predict everything. True, recently, I take at least two navigators on the road. I trust "booking.com" more and more and, if possible, I return to cash. Do not forget that it is difficult to cross the Estonian border back and you have to buy a queue, so we return through Latvia.
The distance from St. Petersburg to Tallinn is 362 kilometers and the estimated travel time is about 5 hours, not counting the time spent at customs. It is best to move around while everyone is sleeping, so we leave for an hour at 4 in the morning. We will be at the border around 6, and there we will be lucky. For a sufficient acquaintance with the Old Town of Tallinn, 4 hours are needed. For those who like to slow down, this time will not be enough.
Car parks near the Old City cost 3-4 euros per hour, there are cheaper ones nearby, but it’s not a fact that they will have free places. If we compare hotel prices in all three capitals, then Tallinn and Riga are approximately the same, but Vilnius is cheaper, but no worse.
For me, Tallinn is always different, in terms of impact. Sometimes I admire him, and sometimes he is boring to me, apparently it depends on the mood, mood and company. In the "Old City" in addition to the main attractions, such as:
City Hall
The Dome Cathedral
Church of Oleviste
Church of Niguliste
Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky
Fortress towers and walls
Church of Jaani
… there are many beautiful and back streets, nooks and yards. There are several viewing platforms from which open great views to the city. Lots of shops and interesting cafes. The architecture here is very different. different eras, styles and "nationalities".
I will never forget my first visit to Tallinn. It was on New Year's Eve 2007, when they started trying to ride tourists Helsinki-Stockholm-Tallinn. The first sign was the passenger ship Vana-Tallin, that is, " Old Tallinn”, not to be confused with the drink of the same name. And, by the way, it justified its name - it was built in 1974. That year there was no winter and no ice either. In Helsinki on January 1 it was +6, and in Stockholm +8. When we were going from Helsinki to Stockholm, we got into a terrible storm and people, remembering this night, already leaving Stockholm for Tallinn, “got hard” to fall asleep and not hang out on the decks, clinging to everything that is possible and to each other. We arrived in Tallinn all a little wrinkled, but in anticipation of new experiences. We were given buses, guides and some time to explore the city. We gathered for a whole hour and waited for latecomers, then rode all over Tallinn and listened to the guide, who did not really hide her hatred for everything Russian. Having dropped us off at the walls of the "Old City" and handed us to another guide, she left with the bus. The first words of the "new" tour guide were: "Forget everything she said", "now let's run, we don't have much time." We did not seem to be lagging behind, but at the next turn the guide disappeared. It's been 15 minutes since the tour started. There were half a group of us like that, we spat and each went his own way. It was dank, damp, cold and windy outside. Only in the evening, when the garlands were lit and the wind subsided, it became better, warmer and much more beautiful. Here they were - first impressions.
If you are not going to visit a pub in the evening or just look at night city, then you can stop for the night on the road towards Riga. I stayed at Ruunawere Hotel, not far from Tallinn, I really liked it. There is a small sketch about the hotel in the "Video" section. Generally interesting places Lots of accommodation for the night: farmsteads; guest houses; cottages, etc. If you're planning a trip 21 days in advance or earlier, you can get exclusive deals on hotel reservations, but you probably know that. If you plan to stay in the city, I advise Kalev Spa Hotel & Waterpark. Comfortable, cozy, close to the "Old City", good restaurant and after long walks, you can lie in the jacuzzi, relax your muscles or swim.
Cesis-Sigulda
From Tallinn to Cesis (Sigulda) about 300 kilometers. By the time of 4 hours. You can go in three ways, but the easiest way is through Pärnu. After Pärnu, the road goes along the coast, and if it's summer outside, you can turn to the sea and swim and sunbathe. Rest in one word. The main sights of Sigulda and Cesis cannot be seen in one day, even briefly, so expect to spend the night somewhere. Both of these cities are approximately the same distance from Riga, Sigulda is a little closer, where you stay does not play a special role.
In the area of these two cities, the real focus medieval castles, various attractions, there is something to see and do. The inhabitants of Riga also think so, so it can be crowded here on weekends. Draw your own conclusions.
Let's start with Cesis. Here is the largest in Latvia and well-preserved…
Cessian (Venden) Castle
A beautiful park at the foot of the castle, conducive to a leisurely stroll and relaxation. The castle itself is no different, it's just interesting to touch the history, take the likeness of an old lantern and walk along the dark stairs and nooks and crannies. Near the old castle is
New Cesian Castle
There are now ticket offices, as well as museums of history and art. Almost close to these castles is located
Church of Saint John
This majestic building is the largest church in Latvia built outside of Riga (XIII century). It belonged to the Livonian Order.
In addition to the main attractions, it is very pleasant to walk around the block of wooden buildings here. Nice houses that have seen a lot interesting stories, provide an opportunity to take a break from the "stone jungle" of big cities.
Not far from Cesis there is another attraction of the local region, the so-called
Araisi Lake Castle
Here, in the 19th-11th centuries, the Latgalians lived. A fairly large area for a walk, where you can get acquainted with the ancient way of life and buildings, the ruins of the Araisi order castle and the lake settlement.
Here are the must-sees in the area:
Turaida Castle
Old Sigulda Castle
New Sigulda Castle
Of course, besides the castles, there is much more to do here. Huge park, zoos, cable cars, caves, etc. Work in winter ski slopes. Here is one of the best bobsleigh tracks.
In these parts, I stayed in only one hotel - Hotel Atputa, it is located in Cesis. Quiet, comfortable hotel, good restaurant, friendly service.
Riga
It takes less than an hour to drive from Sigulda to Riga. As soon as I enter Riga, I cannot get rid of the feeling that I am driving along the outskirts of St. Petersburg. The building of the Latvian Academy completes the image of a large, Soviet city. Only in the "Old City" do you come to your senses and return to the tourist skin. It is better to park the car on the side of the embankment. Before I forget, the police in Latvia are the same as in Russia. They like to check for alcohol, set up an ambush, "pay off on the spot." If something is written in Latvian on the parking signs, it is better not to stop there, you will be fined. Alcohol: Estonia (0.2 pr), Latvia (0.5 pr), Lithuania (0.4 pr). I wish not to get caught.
Riga is different! Different than Tallinn. Firstly, there is no height difference here, and therefore everything is, as it were, on the same plane, along the Daugava embankment. By the way, be sure to visit the other side of the river, from where a beautiful panorama of the "Old City" opens up. All attractions are quite tightly arranged. In order to view the entire Old city» You will often go to places that you have already seen. This is not "running in a circle", but somewhere nearby. The architecture of Tallinn is diverse and multinational, and in Riga a certain style is sustained.
I have long noticed that tourists equally like both large, huge churches or castles, and very small, even tiny "mulks", such as the St. Petersburg "Chizhik-Pyzhik". And everywhere, in any city in the world, the reaction to them is the same. It is necessary to pat or toss a coin, and, of course, take a picture. One of these Riga “muleks” is the monument to the Bremen Town Musicians, almost a copy of the same one located in hometown. Here, the program of the attraction also includes bouncing. Everyone is trying to stroke the animal, which is higher. walking along Old Riga, you will see unusual figures and installations more than once.
The Bremen Town Musicians
Now, let's go over the main attractions of the "Old City"
House of the Blackheads
The Dome Cathedral
Church of St. Peter and panoramas from the observation deck.
Town Hall and Town Hall Square
Riga castle
Church of Our Lady of Sorrows
In Soviet times, as soon as it was necessary to show "abroad", all film studios went to Riga, here every house, every intersection was used as scenery. “Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson” lived here, the spy passions of “Seventeen Moments of Spring” were played out, they sang the songs “D" Artagnan and the Three Musketeers "
At the expense of having a bite to eat in Riga, the choice is huge and the price tags are already quite affordable. If you have heard about LIDO, then I would not recommend visiting it in the "Old Town", you can spoil the impression, it is better to go to the LIDO Recreation Center on Krasta Street 76. The food is excellent, tasty and not expensive.
LIDO
For tourists with children, I advise you to see the Riga Zoo and its guests. In general, Riga a beautiful city and I think you will want to come here more than once, to see not only it, but also the surroundings, such as, for example, Jurmala, Jaunmokas Castle, the Daugava Museum. Or spend midsummer night in the streets and pubs of the "Old City" that never sleeps.
Bauska Rundale Palace
If you have already looked at everything in Riga and are not going to stop for the night, you can go towards the town of Bauska. More precisely, our goal is the Rundāle Palace. It takes about an hour to drive, and I can recommend the Hotel Rundale. It is very advantageously located just 250 meters from the palace itself.
The town of Bauska is not at all big, but there are many interesting places here. There are churches, old quarters, Bauska Castle. Delicious Latvian beer is brewed here. On the Town Hall Square you can sit well and tasty in a cafe. But due to the fact that we visited this city only for the sake of the Rundale Palace, we will go there.
The palace belonged to Duke Ernst Johann Biron. It was built in 1740. In the same year, Biron, after a coup d'état, was arrested and exiled, returning only in 1763. Then, by 1768, Rastrelli completed the interior decoration of the premises.
The palace impresses with its sophistication of interiors and richness of decoration. Unfortunately I was there winter time, and I did not manage to see the splendor of the flowering French park, spread over an area of 10 hectares, closed on all sides by a canal, behind which, in turn, a hunting park extends.
I am constantly doing something in the palace, restoring, decorating, caring for, restoring, even clothes. Everything shines with cleanliness and you can feel the love with which local workers treat the exhibits. The palace and its decoration left an indelible impression in my memory. I will definitely come in the summer to take a walk in the garden and park.
Cross Mountain. Siauliai
Frenkel Palace
Now we are heading towards Lithuania, more precisely, towards the city of Siauliai. A little before reaching the city, we make an obligatory stop at the Cross Hill or the Hill of Crosses. This is one of the most unexpected sights of the entire route. Honestly, I did not know what to expect, but I had heard a lot and was ready to be surprised, but not so much. Crosses from all over the world are really brought here and this is really a Mountain of crosses.
The place is shrouded in legends. Under the Soviet regime, it was destroyed 4 times, but the Mountain has not gone away, and there are more and more crosses. Even the Pope "marked" himself here with a rather impressive cross. Our crosses, like droplets of water, melted in a sea of huge waves of crosses.
Even if this place initially did not carry any energy load, then the millions of prayers and aspirations that came here saturated this place with faith. There are no restrictions, orders, statutes, which are so loved in churches of various denominations, here a person is alone - on-one with his feelings, with God.
The next point of our trip will be the city of Siauliai. We were passing through there, stopped for a bite to eat, stroll along the pedestrian street, go to the Cathedral. The weather was disgusting, and we were in a hurry towards Kaunas, so I can’t say anything special about this town. There was an attempt to visit the museum of cats, but, only sticking their nose in there, they decided not to waste time.
Now let's go to one of the most beautiful cities The Baltic States - Kaunas, it is called so - "Beautiful". And there is no doubt that it is necessary to stay there for the night.
Kaunas
It often happens that people go to the capitals, and nearby cities, in which there is no less interesting, pass by. Kaunas does not complain about the lack of tourists, but unfairly fewer people go there than to Vilnius and Trakai. Kaunas is great. IMHO of course, but even the weather did not stop me from just falling in love with this city.
The "Old Town" of Vilnius is large, spacious, mostly pedestrian, under the protection of UNESCO. I really enjoyed walking slowly along the main streets and squares, but there are a lot of people there, but if you turn somewhere to the side, after a couple of minutes it becomes just deserted and you can get lost. I parked my car in one of the parking lots in the southern part of the "Old City", put a mark in the navigator, relying on technology, and went on a reckless study, instead of taking chalk and leaving marks on houses and sidewalks. Lost. And parking is paid and by the hour, the fines are large, unpleasant. The conclusion is that it is necessary to park the car in the northern part, where the Castle Hill and Gedemin's tower are. If this landmark falls out of your sight, people will help. And I couldn’t even explain to passers-by where my car was “next to a church or church.” Yes, they are here .... Now, with the advent of new gadgets and applications, it has become much easier.
What interesting things can be seen in the "Old City"?
Church of St. Casemir
Presidential palace
Cathedral of St. Nicholas
Church of St. Paraskeva (Pyatnitskaya Church)
Cathedral
sharp brama
Bernardine Church and Church of St. Anne
In addition, there is also: the tower of Gedemin, the church of St. Teresa, Church of the Holy Spirit, Church of the Holy Trinity, Bastion of the Vilnius defensive wall, Church of St. John, Church of St. Michael, Church of St. Anna, Church of St. Ignatius and the Jesuit Monastery, Alumnat, St. Catherine, Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin mary, church of st. Nicholas, etc., etc. This is not all, and this is only in the "Old City" itself. Now can you imagine how difficult it was to find the right church, church or temple?
One of the most pleasant impressions is the prices. In cafes, restaurants, hotels, etc. Even in the business center, even in the "Old City" there are many places where you can have a pleasant evening, night and the rest of the day. We ate, rested, ate some more and went on our way. Now in reverse side, home. The intermediate point will be Daugavpils and there you can spend the night or see the city and drive to the small town of Rezekne and stay there.
Daugavpils-Rezekne
Daugavpils is the very city in which I was once again convinced how much the weather affects the perception, the first impression, and, finally, the photograph. The first time I was there in terrible, vile, dirty weather, passing through, and the second - excellent weather, warm, in no hurry, a wonderful hotel, a leisurely promenade. Earth and sky. Great town, beautiful, interesting. The main attraction, or rather the "mountain of attractions" is the "church hill". Here, literally meters from each other, there are four temples of different faiths.
Cathedral of Martin Luther
Roman Catholic Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Daugavpils Orthodox Cathedral holy noble princes Boris and Gleb
Novosretensky Church of the Resurrection, the Nativity of the Virgin and St. Nicholas (Old Believer)
In the city itself there is a small pedestrianized street where you can just walk around and look around. There is a fortress here, it is a certain symbol of the city. In terms of accommodation, I can recommend the Park Hotel Latgola, it is located in the center, modern, not expensive, there are often special offers (double standard - 2000 rubles), a panorama of the city opens from the upper floors. If you are unlucky with the weather, then it is better to leave the inspection of this city for another time, and go towards the town of Rezekne yourself and stop to rest there.
To view information about Rezekne or Daugavpils (any other object), click on the name. We stopped in Rezekne just to rest before the last drive home. We walked, sat well in the restaurant of our hotel Kolonna Hotel Rezekne, and got up early (at 4 am), taking the “breakfast to go”, pre-ordered at the hotel, set off towards the border.
From Daugavpils to the border 2 hours, from Rezekne 40 minutes. Arriving at the border around 5 in the morning, we found a really sleeping customs, we had to wake up to let them through. A nightmare, they could “leak” unnoticed and take out the entire Baltic. That's basically it. The route, as you understand, is easily changed, for example, you can organize everything with a mirror opposite. And from Tallinn go to Helsinki. 2-3 hours by ferry and you are in the capital of Finland. And there is already the whole of Scandinavia in front of us.
I have a “Planner” on my website in the tourist section, where you can view the route and description, calculate mileage, fuel and estimate time. I wish you a good time in the Baltics. Get new impressions and just have a good rest.
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 pluses. 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 in 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 baggage and liquids prohibited for carriage by aircraft. 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 a 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.
AT long trip 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 the type of queue. When entering the Baltics, an electronic queue is a faster way to get through 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 point border control and ask in advance about how big the queue is. But not the fact that you will be answered.
When leaving the country, it is better for autotourists to use the advance booking of an 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. A car is allowed a maximum of 110 km/h, and then only on specialized highways marked with the “road on a blue field” sign, 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 one-year 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 to be on highway outside the car is not allowed.
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 traffic, law-abiding and 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:
