We're working on plans for a trip to the Baltic states in August. We like to travel by public transit rather than driving. We're getting the vibe that the bus system is better than trains in these countries. Can anyone weigh in on that?
--Dav
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8319 posts
Are you talking about visiting the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia? Or, are you talking about Scandinavia too?
We traveled through the region a year ago on a cruise, and found it the easiest and most reasonably priced way to travel there. Scandinavia is especially expensive for ground travel and food. We spent two days in St. Petersburg, and it's an absolutely incredible city.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
There are no direct trains from Vilnius to Riga and I think no trains at all from Riga to Tallinn, so do expect to use more buses. What trains there are in this region are generally searchable through the DB link at How to Look Up Train Schedules and Routes Online.
Posted by
Dallas, United States
707 posts
We've been to Lithuania 3 times and also to Estonia. I agree with what you are hearing and would recommend buses. They are nicer, more modern, and faster. We used Eurolines to travel from Tallinn to Riga to Klaipeda, LT. They connect the 3 capitals also. See: www.eurolines.com. You might also check www.luxexpress.eu, another recommended coach line that may run the same routes.
Have a wonderful trip.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
A good source of information about these places is the In Your Pocket series. You can get information on their website, download PDF's, or get hard copies once you are there.
They have information about bus connections and which lines go where (they also are fans of Lux Express buses, which look quite nice, as well as cheap, on their website). Yes, the trains in these countries are limited.
Posted by
San Francisco
14980 posts
For the planning of a Baltic trip, I heartily recommend "The Rough Guide Baltics"
Posted by
OP
Alexandria, Virginia, USA
504 posts
Thank you for your replies. I mean the three Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. It appears that our impression is correct.
We have the living planet, eyewitness travel, and insight guides. I've just searched the Rough Guide site, and they don't list anything for the Baltics. I'll take a look at the in your pocket series.
--Dav