Route summary
- Days 1-3Vilnius
- Day 4Trakai or Kaunas
- Day 5Šiauliai and the Hill of Crosses
- Day 6Continue from Lithuania to Riga
- Days 7-9Riga
- Day 10Jūrmala, Sigulda or departure
The route suits a first Baltic trip when you want city time, a few well-chosen day trips and only one international transition. It is less suitable if you want the Lithuanian coast, several national parks or a different hotel every night.
Before booking the route
- Fix your arrival and departure cities first. An open-jaw journey can avoid returning to the starting capital.
- Check the current international train and coach options for your exact date before committing to day six.
- Keep one flexible day in Riga or Vilnius if a transport change would otherwise affect a flight.
- Choose Trakai for a compact castle-and-lake day; choose Kaunas for a second city with modernist architecture and a fuller urban programme.
Day-by-day Lithuania-first plan
Days 1-3: Vilnius
Use the first day for the Old Town, Cathedral Square, Pilies Street and Užupis. Keep the second day for museums, neighbourhood walks or a food-focused route. Leave the third day loose enough for a local interest or an easy day trip. The Vilnius guide and Trakai guide help narrow the choices.
Day 4: Trakai or Kaunas
Choose Trakai if you want to remain based in Vilnius and avoid another hotel change. Choose Kaunas if you prefer a second city and can position yourself farther north for the following day. Do not force both into a single rushed transfer day.
Day 5: Šiauliai and the Hill of Crosses
Use Šiauliai as the practical northern stop. Decide whether to sleep there or continue only after checking the transport that operates on your date. The Hill of Crosses is outside the city, so plan the local connection rather than treating it as a station-side visit.
Day 6: Lithuania to Riga
Make this a travel day with one clear objective: reach Riga without stacking another major attraction onto the transfer. A direct rail option is published by the official operators, while coaches may suit other origins. Compare the current choices through the Lithuania transport guide and Latvia getting-around guide.
Days 7-9: Riga
Give Riga a full arrival evening and at least two usable days. Divide the time between the historic centre, the Central Market area, Art Nouveau streets and a neighbourhood or museum that matches your interests. Continue with the Riga guide once your dates are fixed.
Day 10: Jūrmala, Sigulda or departure
If departure is later, choose one final excursion rather than attempting both. Jūrmala works for coast and resort architecture; Sigulda suits landscapes, castles and walking. Keep the day in Riga when luggage or flight timing makes an excursion awkward.
Seven-day and fourteen-day variants
Seven days
Keep Vilnius, one Trakai or Kaunas day, the international transfer and three nights in Riga. Drop Šiauliai if it creates an awkward connection, and choose only one final Latvia excursion.
Fourteen days
Add Kaunas as an overnight stay, then continue west to Klaipėda or the Curonian Spit before turning north. In Latvia, add Cēsis, Gauja National Park or Liepāja. The longer version is strongest when it adds bases, not daily hotel changes.
Transport and booking approach
Trains and coaches cover the main city-to-city legs, while a car adds flexibility around the Hill of Crosses and rural stops. Do not assume that an international timetable matches a domestic connection. Check each leg for the same travel date and leave a sensible margin between separate tickets.
Book the international leg and any limited coast accommodation before filling the route with tours. Then confirm the final-night city, especially when the departure is early.