Pardish

Which would make a better itinerary from St Petersburg : 1) Helsinki -> Tallin -> Riga OR 2) Tallin -> Riga -> Vilinius ? I will have 7 days left after visiting St Petersburg in early August .I plan to stay in St Petersburg for 4 days. My return flights are not booked yet so seeking for suggestions.

I would be a first timer to the cities mentioned above ( Helsinki/Riga/Tallin/Vilinius).
I come from Asia and am interested more in architecture , history and culture.

I have read good things about all these cities but being a first timer, I am not sure which would make a better itinerary considering my background and interests.

Any suggestions are most welcomed !

iris1745

We had friends that came from St. Petersburg and met us in Tallinn. Then very easy by bus to Riga and on to Vilnius.

inyourpocket.com/tallinn

inyourpocket.com/riga

inyourpocket.com/Vilnius

isabel

How many days will you have for those 3 or 4 cities?

Percy

Tallinn...Riga.. Vilius !

Pardish

I would want to cover only three cities. And I would be there for a week. So would be 2-2-3 days.

Cindy_McGregor

Since you're interested in architecture, and while Tallin, Riga, Vilinius are all pretty much alike in this sense, I would vote for the 1st itinerary Helsinki is quite different from the above mentioned cities. And it's Temppeliaukio “Rock” Church is a pure marvel!
Riga's Old Town is charming... But I guess St Petersburg will remain beyond competition and will be the reason for most of your "wow"s

Odin

Tallinn, Riga & Vilnius. Helsinki just isn't in the same league if it is architecture you are after, IMO.

balticexpert

Hi,
actually in 7 days you can do all.
Helsinki is must if you are travelling from far, but to be honest, 1 full day in Helsinki is enough. So I suggest (as a local) make the schedule as follow:
Day 1: St.Petersburg - Helsinki by fast train 4 hrs
Discover Helsinki - 2hrs by city sightseeing on hop on/off bus or private tour will be enough to get main idea. Free time to wander around at evening at 19:30 take ferry Helsinki - Tallinn (takes 2 hours, prices starting from 19 EUR-54 EUR)
Overnight in Tallinn (1/3 cheaper than Helsinki)
Day 2: Enjoy lovely and beautiful medieval Tallinn
Day 3: Tallinn - Riga. If you have private transfer, can visit Sigulda on the way.
Day 4: Riga Old Town, Riga Art Nouveau are must see
Day 5: Wooden architecture and Jurmala
Day 6: Riga - Vilnius, discover Vilnius Old Town
Day 7: Trakai and departure

Enjoy Baltic states and share your experience after the trip!

kja

I admit that I haven't been to Tallin, Riga, or Vilnius, but I can say that I thought the architecture of Helsinki well worth seeing.

I trust you realize that 4 days is VERY little for St. Petersburg? Have you confirmed that you can see everything that YOU want to see and experience there in the time you have?

thursdaysd

Trying to see three cities is really short changing all of them.

It is completely untrue to suggest that Tallin, Riga and Vilnius have similar architecture. If you never make it out of Riga old town (inside the park that replaced the fomer city walls) that might be true, but anyone with the slighest interest in architecture would head straight for Riga's magnificent Art Nouveau quarter outside the former walls.

gpotvin

Topping.

jan47ete

Just did Tallinn and Helsinki at the beginning of June.

Loved Tallinn, old medieval city, intact, wonderful architecture.

Helsinki-subways are artistically interesting but found city a little boring and bland.

Andrew

I was there the week before you. I stayed three nights in Tallinn (loved it too) - probably one night too many but I did a day trip one day to the town of Haapsalu (which is lovely). Tallinn's old town is fairly small and might seem overly touristy to some, but I found it charming and fun.

I was only in Helsinki long enough to catch the ferry to St. Petersburg and back. I had about five hours the afternoon I got back before flying out. I thought Helsinki was not very exciting but a pleasant town for sure. I was not too disappointed not to have spent a night (I would have enjoyed taking night pictures there, though).

I also spent three nights in Riga and two in Vilnius (where I started the trip). The three Baltic capitals are very different - it's true. Trip report is in the works...

auntgrapes

I just spent 4 nights in Tallinn, 2 nights in Riga and 2 nights in Vilnius. Highly recommend all three cities. Have been to Helsinki on previous trip and felt 1 night and full day was good. We try to do the best we can with the time we have!

volvo80

I seems to have the same problem with this post.

Just booked Qatar flight which will arrive Helsinki on 14/03/2017 at 7 AM.
Actually I would like to visit Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius.
However, with my 6 days schedule. I will fly to Lulea from 20/03/2017

How can I manage?
Should I cut Vilnius?

Thanks in advance

Andrew

I have no idea what you are interested in. But you could visit any of these cities - you don't have to exclude Vilnius just because it's the furthest south. There are relatively cheap flights (usually airBaltic) between the four cities - the flight between cities would simply replace the long bus ride you'd take instead. But you could probably see three of them in six days at a very fast pace.

Look each city and see what you are interested in, and decide based on which cities have the most to offer you.

If you're asking my opinion, I'd spend only the first afternoon in Helsinki and take an evening ferry to Tallinn. (Take the train from Helsinki airport to the central train station and leave your bags in lockers for a few hours, then take a tram from the train station to the west ferry terminal in Helsinki and take one of the fast ferries to Tallinn) Spend two nights in Tallinn, two nights in Riga, and one in Vilnius. Or spend two in Tallinn, three in Riga, and skip Vilnius. I liked Riga probably the best of the three, but I loved Tallinn too for what it is. Tallinn feels more charming than substantial. Vilnius wasn't a favorite, but I would still have been disappointed to miss it, if that makes any sense.

volvo80

Thanks for your reply.

I am interested in walking around and taking photos.
Unlike most of people, I dont prefer visiting museum as this makes me feel bored, with honestly.
I will try to manage the trip by cutting Gothenburg so that I would have 7 days in Baltic Countries.
1 Night in Helsinki
2 Nights in Tallinn
2 Nights in Riga
1 Night in Vilnuis
Hope this is better

Andrew

Still rushed, but with your limited time, you don't really have much choice.

Personally, I doubt you will find enough to take pictures of by spending a whole day in Helsinki. I understand there are some museums there, but I too wasn't interested in museums. I would probably take the extra night for Vilinus and give half of a day to Riga (so you leave Riga mid-afternoon, maybe 2.5 days in Riga and 1.5 days in Vilnius). If you like castles, you'll want to take half a day to visit Trakai (a town 30 minutes by train or bus from Vilinus) to see the castle there.

volvo80

Andrew, thanks very much for your suggestion. I really appreciated this.

kja

I though Helsinki had some stunning places for just taking pictures, and was glad to spend close to two days there. To each his/her own!