The battle of the Baltic capitals pits Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius against each other. All offering slightly different things, these underrated cities are all worth a visit – but which one should you choose? Read this short guide to find out if you should visit Riga, Tallinn or Vilnius.

View of Riga, Latvia, from St Peter’s Church

Walking through Vilnius’ Old Town (Lithuania)

Where are these cities located? How do I get to these cities?

The capitals of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania are all closely located, and if you were to visit all of them in one trip, this would be quite easy. You would either take a short flight between each city, or you could hop on a bus and get from Vilnius, to Riga, to Tallinn – this would be the most economical route. Alternatively, you could also self-drive this route.

From Vilnius to Riga, it will take you about 4 hours to get there by bus or car. It’ll take you 50-minutes on a direct flight between the two cities.

From Riga to Tallinn, it’ll also take you about 4 hours to reach Tallinn by bus or car, and 45-minutes by direct flight.

From Tallinn to Vilnius, traveling by car or bus could take you from 7.5 to 8.5 hours, and a direct flight would take 1 hour and 10 minutes.

So as you can see, all these cities are very close to each other – if you have the time, you should definitely visit all of them.

If you're feeling adventurous, why not use this trip as an opportunity to learn Latvian? It's a beautiful language with a rich history, and immersing yourself in the culture could make your Baltic adventure even more memorable.

Riga

Visit Riga if…

You’re a big fan of Art Nouveau style architecture.
You only have a short amount of time on holiday.
You’re looking for somewhere understated, chill, and unpretentious.
You’re looking for a bigger city to explore.
You’re looking to base yourself for day trips to Lithuania and Estonia.

Example of Art Nouveau architecture in Riga

In a nutshell, Riga is…

Riga is a bit of an enigma to figure out, as at first instance, you might not find the Latvian capital to be overtly charming, pretty or all that interesting. However, stick around longer and Riga will slowly grow on you.

In this city, it’s not really the sheer amount of things to do that will pull you in, but a quiet, understated atmosphere that somehow makes it hard to leave. Don’t get me wrong, Riga is beautiful – but its attractiveness is subtler, and might require a little bit more time to find.

Riga’s House of Blackheads is one of the most recognisable architectural works in the Baltic region, and its Old Town is full of interesting Art-Nouveau style buildings. For prime examples of this, you only have to take a stroll down several residential streets – Elizabetes iela, Albert iela and Vilandes iela.

Art Nouveau Building found in Elizabetes iela

Latvia’s capital is also not lacking in religious sites, as St Peter’s Church, Riga Cathedral and Nativity Cathedral are all worth visiting. For an iconic piece of Latvian history, head down to the Freedom Monument, a tall monument erected in honour of soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence.

Another view from St Peter’s Church in Riga

With a population of well over 600,000, Riga is a slightly bigger city than both Vilnius and Tallinn, and you feel it too. It’s just marginally busier - there are more shopping malls, amenities, restaurants and people walking about - even at night.

Another great thing about Riga is that it’s firmly located in between Lithuania and Estonia, so you could easily go a day trip to visit those other countries. We would recommend checking out Tartu in Estonia, and either Vilnius, Klaipeda or Kaunas if you’re wishing to visit Lithuania.

For more, check out our Half Day Riga Itinerary.

Tallinn

Visit Tallinn if…

You love Medieval architecture.
You love Russian-influence architecture.
You love visiting elaborate, expansive old towns.
You have a bit more time to explore and wouldn’t mind slowing down.
You love panoramic vistas of the city.
You love exploring museums.
You want to take a day trip to Helsinki, Finland.

Walking around Old Town in Tallinn, Estonia

In a nutshell, Tallinn is…

Tallinn is by far the city that has made it the furthest in the tourism industry. Although it used to be a hidden gem, it seems that every year, Tallinn gains in fame. More and more visitors are flocking by – and with good reason.

Estonia’s capital is by far the most picturesque and visually striking of the three Baltic cities. With its orange-roofed tall Medieval towers and breathtaking views, Tallinn is a photographer’s dream. In fact, the Historic Centre (Old Town) is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in all of Europe.

There’s so much to see in Tallinn’s Old Town, that going around will take a whole day to explore. There’s Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, a beautiful Russian Orthodox Church built in 1900, and one of Estonia’s most recognisable religious sites. Because of Estonia’s location as Russia’s close neighbour, you’ll experience a lot of Russian influence just walking around. Kadriorg Palace is another example of this, as it was colourful palace specifically built for Catherine I of Russia.

Visit St Mary’s Church, the only building in Toompea to have survived the 17th century fire that ravaged through Tallinn. Then, you can also check out some of Tallinn’s famed viewpoints - Toompea Hill, Patkuli Viewing Platform and Kohutuotsa Viewing Platform. All of these observation points offer stunning bird’s-eye views of the Old Town, and are must-sees.

When visiting Tallinn, you should visit one of the famous viewing platforms

If you’re a fan of museums, then you must check out the Great Guild Hall, Estonian History Museum and Linnamuuseum (Tallinn City Museum). There’s seriously so many things to explore in Tallinn – you won’t get bored, even if you stick around for 3 days!

One unique aspect of visiting Tallinn, is that it’s easy to go on a day trip and visit the Finnish capital of Helsinki. You can follow our 1-Day Itinerary of Helsinki when you’re there to get the most out of your day trip. Helsinki is one of my all-time favourite cities, so this is a great opportunity to check it out when you’re in Tallinn. If you want, you could move onward from Helsinki and visit Levi, a place where we managed to witness the spellbinding northern lights. You can read all about our experience here. We would highly recommend doing this!

Tallinn is close to Helsinki, Finland – a perfect day trip opportunity

If there’s a downside to visiting Tallinn, is that it can get super, super crowded. Especially when you’re visiting during cruise ship season, a lot of day trippers unleash on Tallinn Old Town and completely overwhelm the city. This shouldn’t be too much of a problem, though, as 95% of them leave by 5pm anyways.

For more, check out our blog post on Tallinn’s Old Town.

Vilnius

Visit Vilnius if…

You love Medieval architecture.
You love Russian-influence architecture.
You love visiting elaborate, expansive old towns.
You have a bit more time to explore and wouldn’t mind slowing down.
You love panoramic vistas of the city.
You love exploring museums.
You want to take a day trip to Helsinki, Finland.

In a nutshell, Vilnius is…

Vilnius is totally underrated. We didn’t know what to expect when we visited the Lithuanian capital, but we were totally blown away. We absolutely loved the Old Town – it was extremely pedestrian-friendly, the architecture was beautiful, the people were kind, and the city had a real young, thriving vibe. The aesthetic of the Old Town is slightly more ‘muted’ than Tallinn’s Old Town, but that doesn’t make it any less beautiful. I really enjoyed the calming effect of the pastel-coloured buildings.

Church of Apostles St Philip and St Jacob, Vilnius

It’s difficult to explain the charm of Vilnius into words, as it’s just something you experience while walking around the city. You can just tell that the city is on the incline, and is continuing to improve, day by day. Vilnius is known as the quirky capital of Baltics, as it’s home to Užupis, a free-spirited, bohemian area of Vilnius that has declared themselves as a totally independent country from Lithuania. In the Old Town, you’ll also find Literatu Street, a famous wall highlighting local Lithuanian art.

Out of the three cities, I’d say that Vilnius has the most impressive religious monuments. The central Cathedral Square features the imposing Bell Tower and Vilnius Cathedral, which serve at Vilnius’ main religious icons. However, there are a plethora of other churches in walking distance worth visiting, these include St Johns Church, St Anne’s Church, Bernardine Church, Church of the Holy Mother of God, Holy Trinity Church, Orthodox Church of Our Lady of the Sign and Church of Apostles St. Philip and St. Jacob.

One thing I would highly recommend doing when visiting Vilnius is visiting the Three Crosses Monument, a panoramic viewing platform marked by three crosses at the top. It does require a short hike up, but the views are completely worth it, and you’re also surrounded by beautiful nature as you go up.

Just a 45-minute train or bus ride from Vilnius (or an even shorter car ride), the magnificent Trakai Island Castle stands proudly as one of the Baltic region’s most beautiful castles. This castle was definitely emanating ‘Game of Thrones’ vibes, and was nothing short of spectacular! A perfect day trip from Vilnius.

Trakai Island Castle – a short day trip away from Vilnius

For more, check out our 2-Day Itinerary of Vilnius.

Which One Should I Visit? - Final Verdict

While I loved all three cities on this list, I also have a very clear preference. As always, opinions are totally subjective, so please keep this in mind as you read on. Just because I love one city more than the others, it doesn’t mean that you will feel the same way – it totally depends on your preferences.

1. Vilnius

Vilnius is a clear runaway winner for me in this battle of the Baltic capitals. Underrated and understated, Vilnius is teeming with hidden charms. Not only did I love the energy of the city, I also fell in love with its array of cathedrals.

2. Tallinn

Tallinn is definitely popular for a reason. With a beautifully preserved colourful Medieval city like no other, Tallinn also presents itself as a great opportunity to see some Russian-inspired architecture, and to go on a day trip to Finland.

3. Riga

Riga captured my heart through its unique Art Nouveau architecture, unpretentious atmosphere and walkability. While I did love visiting, the city is a little more sombre and serious than Vilnius and Tallinn, and this factored into my overall rankings.

There you have it! Hopefully we would have answered your question of – Should I Visit Riga, Tallinn or Vilnius? Which city is your favourite? Have any questions for us? Let us know in the comments below!

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