Regardless of whether you are traveling to Europe with kids or not, this epic itinerary across the Baltic states will have you bouncing like a kid in candy store.

Spanning over three Baltic countries of Latvia, Finland and Estonia, we’ll walk in the footsteps of czars while munching on Black balsam chocolates. We’ll wander in medieval castles before playing with Matryoshka dolls and spoil ourselves with a Baltic cruise before ending our awesome Baltic itinerary.

Most travelers (including us)  love exploring offbeat gems of Paris or photographing beautiful places in Iceland when they go to Europe. But just like I urged you to uncover scenic villages in Norway, I’ll whisk you across a lesser known yet gorgeous Baltic itinerary that only a few people know.

The Best of Baltic : 1 Week itinerary across Latvia , Estonia and Finland

While Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia make the true Baltic States, we included Finland in this itinerary. We had always wanted to visit this country clinging to Baltic Sea!

Day 1 – 2 of Baltic itinerary : Latvia

We start our journey in the Latvian capital of Riga. Although tiny, Latvia is a country full of delightful surprises. In 2 days you can explore the famous cultural and natural beauty of this cute country.

We stayed in Latvia’s capital – Riga and took short trips around. Riga alone is packed with amazing sights so we spent the whole day absorbing the amazing things to do in Riga. Given our keen interest in cultures around the globe, we had to try Latvia’s interesting Black Balsam chocolates just as we tried unique fried ginseng in Seoul.

On Day 2 you can easily explore the various sights outside Riga. Our top picks are Sigulda for beautiful castle amidst forests and Jurmala for it’s powder blue beaches. Both are really great day trips from Riga and are under 60 mins by road.

If you have more time in this Baltic itinerary then go on a cross-country trip to Lithuania and explore the hill of crosses- its a short day trip from Jurmala. We however left it for another time.

Day 3 – 5 of Baltic Itinerary :  Estonia

Estonia is a true gem of Europe. I cannot emphasise its beauty enough. Totally plucked out of some ancient fairytale, the castles, streets and even food in Estonia takes you back in time.

We spent all our time in Estonia exploring it’s capital city – Tallinn.

Juxtaposed with medieval castles and modern comforts, our 3 day itinerary in Tallinn was studded with amazing attractions and unforgettable experiences.

Spend your days exploring the medieval heart of old town and visiting Alexander Nevsky cathedral. Sample the local foods and indulge in indigenous crafts like handcrafted dolls and embroidered tapestries.

We stayed at Hilton Tallinn and it was one of the most amazing places we have stayed in the Baltic region. Tallinn is extremely affordable and is the best value for money in all of Europe.

Day 6 – 7 of Baltic Itinerary : Finland

Whether you are spending 1 day in Helsinki or 7, Finland’s capital is a must see. Only a fool will miss the delights of the Finnish capital. Tallinn and Helsinki being just two hours away, makes it even more irresistible.

One of the best ways to travel between Estonia and Finland is by Tallink Silja Cruise. Not only is this a great way to travel between the capitals, Tallinn and Helsinki, it is a gorgeous Baltic voyage in itself.

The luxury cruise across the Gulf of  Finland and Baltic Sea, is loaded with all the amenities you can think of – shopping, gourmet restaurants, kids play area, lounges, and tons of family fun. Enjoy this big floating mall in the Baltic waters as you approach the next destination in your itinerary.

Once you arrive in Helsinki, you can easily cover the iconic sights in 2 days. The Senate square, waterfront market and Uspenski cathedral are some of the major sights in Helsinki. In Finland, try their local Lapland cuisine and return inspired.

Finnair has fantastic connectivity to Europe and U.S. to get you back home. We had the most memorable Baltic holiday ever and would recommend this itinerary to anyone interested in enjoying the delights of Europe on a budget 🙂