By car in the Baltics: Latvia and Lithuania. To the Baltics by car: personal experience Car route through the Baltics

Are you planning to go to Europe with your family or company, but ticket prices are skyrocketing? Don’t rush to get upset - consider auto tourism. It has many advantages.

Firstly, by car you can move along any trajectory and are not limited in time. Secondly, if there are at least two of you, gasoline will be much cheaper than tickets (accordingly, the more of you there are, the better the price!). And thirdly, you don't have to worry about overweight luggage.

And if you are still in doubt, read below the real story about how we went to travel around the Baltics.

For the first time, we decided to start small and go for a few days to the Baltic states - Latvia and Estonia. Here it must be said that we only had cars with studded tires, and not all EU countries allow you to drive on such tires - check this point when planning your route.

To travel to Europe by car you will need...

1. Reliable car.

2. Green card for a car (like our MTPL) - costs about 2,500 rubles, can be issued in advance, at any insurance company in your city, or immediately before leaving the Russian Federation. As you approach the border, you will now and then come across points with corresponding signs, and cards are also issued at some border gas stations.

3. Schengen visa. Here a surprise awaited us. It turns out that now almost all embassies are switching to working with intermediaries. That is, you, of course, can do without them, but then you will have to make an appointment at the consulate to submit documents two or three weeks in advance and plus 10 days to obtain a visa, but you will save 25 euros on Pony Express services.

4. Navigator. We downloaded Sygic, which took us from house to house, that is, to the rented apartments. In addition to its main functions, it can be used in pedestrian mode - it will show nearby attractions and give brief information about them.

5. Good company. After all, you will have to spend a lot of time nose to nose: if in the city you can still scatter to different places, and on the plane sit at different ends, then in the car you will not be able to get away from each other. And it’s even better if this company has a second driver whom you trust - the road is much easier if you change the wheel every two to three hours.

By the way, about the road. There are several options for traveling to Europe: the choice depends on the specific route. Our first destination was Riga, so we chose the Novorizhskoe highway with the border crossing at the point Burachki (Russia) - Terekhovo (Latvia). Judging by reviews from friends and Internet blogs, the highway was reconstructed just a couple of years ago. We did not have a single complaint: neither with the quality of the coating, nor with the markings, nor with the signs. There was only one imperfect, but short-lived site in the Pskov region; it did not cause any serious inconvenience.

Having left Moscow at 4 am, we were already at the checkpoint at 11. On the way there was a feeling that we were alone on the track. Only in the rearview mirror sometimes someone’s headlights could be seen, and every five minutes oncoming cars rushed by. We were third in the queue at the border, but ten minutes later there was already a decent tail of cars behind us - it’s not even clear where all these people came from. When going through control, it’s mainly the driver who has to fuss: he takes all the passports, shows the car, and fills out the documents. Passengers can at most be asked to get out of the car, and even then not always. Having settled the formalities in about an hour, we moved on.

On the other side of the border, the asphalt has become noticeably worse, but still of acceptable quality. By the way, fill your tank full before the border - a liter of 95 gasoline in Latvia costs approximately 1.8 euros. The next 300 km to the capital of Latvia took us about 5 hours - there are many settlements on the highway and the speed drops to 50, and sometimes to 30 km/h. That is, the entire journey, taking into account crossing the border, stops at gas stations and lunch, took about 13 hours. For comparison, the Moscow – Riga train takes 16.5 hours.

Parking in the centers of European cities is paid, so think in advance about where to store your car. We had an agreement with the owners of the rented apartment that they would give us the keys to the courtyard of the house, which helped us save a lot of money and not worry about the safety of our transport. By the way, the apartment itself with all amenities for four people, a 10-minute walk from the Old Town, cost about 50 euros per night.

Of course, we immediately went to the Old Town. Having reached St. Peter's Church and appreciating its scale, we realized that we were pretty hungry from the road. Having looked around, we went into a cafe with local cuisine - what a knuckle there was! I can honestly say that it was the most delicious dinner of the entire trip. I wanted to order mulled wine, but the waiter suggested trying a hot drink based on Riga balsam and blackcurrant juice - delicious! The bill for dinner at a restaurant in the center is about 20 euros per person - this is meat with a side dish and a drink. Some, but not all establishments automatically include a 10% service charge.

You can save a lot on food if you eat at home or in establishments similar to our “Mu-mu”, for example. In the latter case, a very hearty dinner will cost about 10 euros. But we figured that we would lose some of the flavor by not exploring the local cuisine.

After walking around the evening center a little more and thoroughly tasting mulled wine in the central square, we went to rest.

The next morning, we left the car and went to Jurmala by train. The fact is that the station is located right next to the Old Town, the train takes only 20 minutes, and we decided not to bother. And the price of gasoline again... Jurmala is a resort on the coast of the Gulf of Riga. In the very center is the Maiori station, where we got off. Previously, it was here that New Wave, KVN and other festivals took place. A very cozy town with beautiful architecture and pine trees. On the beach in winter, the wind, of course, knocks you off your feet, but the streets themselves are quiet and nothing interferes with your walk. I can imagine how great it is here in the summer! This place is especially suitable for a family holiday.

Returning to Riga and armed with a guidebook, we headed back to the Old Town. If you wish, then on the square near the House of the Blackheads you can hire a personal guide who will take you around the city and tell you everything in detail. Unfortunately, we were not able to go up to the observation deck of St. Peter's Church: due to the heavy snowfall it did not make sense. The next morning we wanted to go to a 20-minute organ concert in the Dome Cathedral. So we went in to buy tickets. As it turned out later, this was a very right decision - right before the concert there was a huge line at the box office. Having walked further and looked into the Cathedral of St. James, we found ourselves at the end of the service and the organ was just playing. “Oh, my 10 euros were wasted, I wasted my money,” I thought. True, it turned out that the organ of the Dome Cathedral sounds much cleaner, even in my amateurish opinion. But if you want to save money, this is quite an option.

The day after the concert we went to Tallinn. There are about 300 km between the cities, and this journey took about five hours. Crossing the border is purely formal: you drive through the checkpoint without stopping at a low speed, and that’s it – you’re in Estonia. The route immediately changes noticeably - the road surface becomes better, there are many more cameras, and gasoline is cheaper (about 1 euro per liter). In Tallinn, we also parked in a closed courtyard of a house with the prior permission of the owners. The price of the apartment is comparable to Riga housing - 50 euros for a spacious apartment within walking distance from the historical center.

On Town Hall Square, following a very tasty smell, we ended up in the medieval tavern “Three Dragons”. In all seriousness, no electricity or cutlery - you have to drink the soup from a cup-bowl! The choice of dishes is limited to one type of soup, boar ribs and sausages for main course; there are also pies with various fillings and drinks. Prices are reasonable for a tourist center: dinner with sausages - 12 euros, with ribs - 20 euros. Of course, I wanted to try something unusual, and I chose boar ribs. The portion is very large and quite enough for two young ladies. Objectively, the meat was cooked well - not tough, very juicy. But it has a very specific marinade, it gives off sweetness. And sweet meat is... not my thing in general. Although the surrounding men drank beer with pleasure.

In the morning we decided to catch up and went to the observation deck in the Fat Margaret Tower in the Old Town. To get to the top, you need to buy a ticket to the Maritime Museum for 6 euros. Good news - if you are traveling as a family, the ticket will cost you 12 euros for everyone. The prospect of walking through a boring specialized museum did not please us at all, but what a surprise it was when it turned out to be extremely fascinating. There are interactive exhibits, real masts with sails from sunken ships, and ship models. In general, it will be interesting for both big and small; for boys it’s a paradise. You can also go to Hydroharbour, the second part of the museum, and climb on a real submarine there!

In principle, a couple of days is enough to explore the historical part of both capitals. If you want to travel outside the city or delve into the study of museums in more detail, of course, it is better to allocate more time.

The return journey to Moscow took us approximately the same 13 hours through the Luhamaa (Estonia) – Shumilkino (Russia) checkpoint. A couple of differences from the Latvian border: it is better to book the border crossing time in advance - you will spend about an hour. It is unknown how long you will have to wait in line. And you also have to pay a service fee of about 5 euros per car.

Total:

In total, we spent about 12 thousand rubles on the road for gasoline for a sedan with a 1.6 engine and an automatic transmission. For three people it turned out to be much cheaper than tickets.

Green card (insurance) – 2500 rubles.

Service fee at the Estonian border is 5 euros.

The Baltic states are the three Baltic republics of the “Soviet border”: Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. These European countries are located in close proximity to Russia and thereby attract thousands of tourists from our country every year. A varied cultural and nightlife, many architectural monuments under UNESCO protection, a wonderful climate - all this makes the Baltic states a real tourist paradise. The hospitality and good nature of the local residents knows no bounds, and the second unofficial language here is, of course, Russian. Therefore, if you are still wondering where to spend your vacation, feel free to pack your bags and go on a trip to the Baltic countries. You will always be welcome here!

Visa regime

The close proximity to the Baltic countries, unfortunately, is overshadowed by the fact that Russian citizens need to obtain a visa to visit them. You can submit documents to receive it at the consulate, embassy and visa centers of the countries you visit in the cities of the Russian Federation. The requirements for the package of documents are standard “general Schengen”. The visa application form must be filled out online, and documents will be accepted by appointment. The visa will be issued quickly, in 6 working days, and you will have the opportunity to visit not only the Baltic countries, but also visit their European neighbors for a day or two.

How to get to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia by car

There are several inexpensive, fast and convenient ways to get to the Baltic countries. You can travel from Russia to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia by train, plane, bus and car.

Let's consider the most interesting and unforgettable way of traveling - a car rally.

Latvia

So, to get to Riga, you need to follow the Moscow-Riga highway E22*M9 (Novorizhskoe highway). You will cover the distance from Moscow to Riga - 918 km and if you are traveling from St. Petersburg - 641 km.

To travel by personal vehicle, you will need:

New registration plate;
New driver's license;
Car insurance policy “Green Card” (tourists apply for it themselves and present the original).

Estonia

To get to Estonia, you need to follow the route St. Petersburg - Talin along the European section of the E20 highway, also designated as the federal public road A-180. Distance from Tallinn by highway: Moscow - 995 kilometers, St. Petersburg - 362 kilometers (just under 8 hours) through the checkpoints of Narva, Pechora and Luhamaa. However, keep in mind that there may be a long queue at the border, so it is better to book your border crossing time online in advance. It will be useful for motorists to remember the following information about border checkpoints: Pärnu is located at an equidistant distance from Narva and Kunichnaya Gora (near Pskov), but, as a rule, the queue is much shorter at Kunichnaya Gora. When you get ready for your return trip, take your place in line on the GoSwift website in advance. Reservations can be made 90 days before travel for 1 euro. Then everything is simple: drive up to Narva, go to the “settlement station” (when entering the city, turn right immediately after the first gas station), look for a sign on the concrete fence on the left side and as soon as the reservation number is displayed, go to the window, go through all the necessary procedures, and then proceed directly to the checkpoint.

Lithuania

You can get to Lithuania through Belarus or Latvia. The most convenient way to get there is by route through Belarus, a trip along which will take only a day.

Attention to tourists crossing the customs border of the Republic of Belarus!!! If you are traveling through the territory of Belarus by car in transit, then you do not need a visa! You just need to pay the transit fee and travel on the toll road.

You can travel to Lithuania through the following border points: From Belarus – via Lavorishkes (motorway 103), Medininkai (road A3), Raigardas (motorway A4) and Šalčininkai (motorway 104).

From Russia (Kaliningrad region) – via Nida (motorway 167), Panyamune (motorway A12) and Kybartai (highway A7), Obeliai (highway A122) and Smelin (highway A6).

From Poland: Kalwariski (highway A5), Lazdiyski (highway 135).

The distance between Vilnius and Moscow along the highway is 902 km, and along a straight road - 791 km.

How to rent a car in the Baltic countries

If you don’t like long car trips, you can rent a car immediately upon arrival in the Baltics. Renting a car here is convenient and fast. The car will be delivered to you wherever you want, and you can leave it in any other city, including neighboring European countries, and even Portugal.

Take advantage of a comfortable travel option - renting a camper (motor home).

Required documents

To rent a car, you need to have with you:

a driver's license corresponding to an international standard;
international insurance (“green card”) or local road insurance policy, which can be taken out when crossing the border;
bank credit card.

Your driving experience must be at least 1-2 years, and your age must be from 21 to 25 years (depending on the conditions of the rental company).

Where can I get a car?

As a rule, you can pick up a rental car from the parking lot of the rental company office. International car rental companies have their branches at airports. In this case, you can drive your car directly from there. But even those companies that do not have their representative offices at air terminals can deliver the car to the address that you specify.

Where can I park my car?

If you are planning a route in one direction, then for an additional fee you can leave the car in any other city or even country. As a rule, most rental companies allow you to travel in a rented car throughout the European Union.

Technical nuances of renting

You receive the car with a full gas tank, and you must return it in the same condition, otherwise you will be charged a fine. All cars are insured under the Compulsory Insurance program, but before the trip, be vigilant and inspect the car for damage and its technical condition. From the moment you sign the technical condition report, you are responsible for all subsequent damage, unless it is caused by an accident. It would be useful for you to clarify what measures are taken in the event of material damage or car theft (what additional insurance options exist), late return to the specified place under the contract, and also take contacts in case of vehicle breakdown.

Rent price

The rental price varies depending on the car class and rental period. The average price is 30-70 euros/day (except for executive class). There is an opportunity to save on rent if you use the “Weekend Package”: pick up the car on Friday and return it no later than Monday morning. In this case, you are guaranteed a 10-25% discount from the regular rate.

When paying or making a reservation with a bank card, the required amount is not immediately debited, but simply blocked. Thus, the rental company is insured against unforeseen expenses that are specified in the rental agreement (delay in returning the car, return with an incomplete fuel tank, etc.). Full debit will be made only after the final return of the car.

Keep in mind that the cost of renting and returning a car at the airport may be higher than at the city office of the same company.

Additional services

If necessary, you can also rent a child restraint and navigator by notifying the rental car in advance.

Traffic Laws

Speed Limit

Standard speed limits in the Baltic countries:

Cars and motorcycles:

in a populated area - 50 km/h
on a country road - 90 km/h
on the highway - 110 km/h

Alcohol

The maximum permissible dose of alcohol in the blood is 0.2 ‰.

If the blood alcohol level is 0.2 ‰-0.49 ‰, then the fine will be 400 euros and withdrawal of rights for six months.

If the blood alcohol level is 0.5 ‰-1.49 ‰, then the fine will be 1,200 euros and the license will be suspended for a year.

Low beam

Driving is permitted only with low beams. During daylight hours, instead of low-beam headlights, you can turn on daytime running lights, which can operate without turning on the side lights and license plate lighting. Front fog lights can be turned on when driving together with the headlights in case of insufficient visibility caused by rain or fog

Fine – up to 200 euros.

Carriage of children and seat belts

It is prohibited to transport children under 3 years of age without a seat belt. A child can be transported in the front seat of a car only if he is firmly fastened with a seat belt or is well secured in a special child car seat.

In addition to children, all other passengers in the front and rear seats, including, of course, the driver, must also be fastened.

Fine – up to 400 euros

Talking on a mobile phone

While driving, talking on a mobile phone is prohibited without a special Hands Free device, which allows you not to hold the phone in your hands during a conversation.

The fine is 16 euros.

Fines

Traffic police officers may collect fines at the scene of the violation.

Fines for some traffic violations in the Baltic countries:

In case of repeated violation, fines for some violations can be several times higher.

Over speed	Fine (EUR)
up to 20 km/h	120
from 21 km/h to 40 km/h	400
from 41 km/h to 60 km/h	800
over 60 km/h	1,200

The use of radar detectors is prohibited. Fine € 400 and confiscation of the device itself.

Required equipment

The car must have:

Warning triangle
Car first aid kit (for legal entities)
Fire extinguisher
Two wheel chocks
Winter tires are required for vehicles with a total weight of up to 3.5 tons from December 1 to March 1. The minimum tread depth should be 3 mm. These dates are subject to change depending on weather conditions.

Toll roads

In the Baltic countries there are no fees for using highways.

Parking

Estonia

Parking in the center of large cities is paid. Payment for parking can be made using a special parking card (parking clock), which can be purchased from parking employees or in shops and kiosks.

In some places there are parking machines that issue tickets with the permitted parking time. In the capital of Estonia, Tallinn, to pay for parking you can buy a scratchable parking ticket, which costs 0.26; 0.51; 1.15 and 2.30 euros. The parking start time is scratched off on the ticket in the following fields: year, month, date, hours and minutes. The marked parking ticket must be placed behind the windshield of your vehicle. If nothing else is specified, parking is paid from 7 am to 7 pm on weekdays, and from 8 am to 3 pm on Saturday. On Sundays and public holidays parking is free. Parking costs 1-2 euros per hour. Incorrectly parked cars are towed, and violators are punished with a fine of up to 70 euros.

Latvia

In the capital of Latvia, Riga, all parking lots located in the center are paid. RP SIA Rigas satiksme parking lots are open from 8.00 to 20.00 on weekdays and from 9.00 to 17.00 on Saturdays. On other days, including Sundays and holidays, parking lots can be used free of charge.

Parking prices vary depending on the zone in which it is located.

The cost of parking in Vecaki is 2.00 euros for the entire period from 8 to 20 hours.

Lithuania

In the capital of Lithuania, Vilnius, in the central part, all parking is paid. From Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 8 pm you must pay for parking. Parking is free on Sunday (with some exceptions).

There are 4 paid parking zones: blue, yellow, red and green.

A parking lot in the blue zone allows you to park a car in all other zones too. Parking in the green zone allows parking only there, parking in the yellow zone allows parking in the green zone. Paying for parking in the red zone allows you to park your car in the yellow and green zones.

The minimum parking fee is 10 cents. Funds are collected by parking meters that accept coins of 10, 20, 50 cents, as well as 1 and 2 euros.

In addition to the machines, you can pay for parking via SMS to the service number.

Violation of parking rules is punishable by a fine of 23 to 40 euros. The amount of the fine if paid on the spot can be reduced to 11 euros.

Gasoline cost

Latvia

Unleaded gasoline (98 and 95) and diesel fuel are available in Latvia. Not all gas stations have 92 gasoline. Gas filling stations (LPG) are available.

According to Statoil data, average prices for all types of fuel as of 08/31/2015 are as follows:

Bezsvina 95 - 106 euros
Bezsvina 98 - 1.161 euro
Dizelis - 0.999 euros
Autogāze - 523 euros

Estonia

All types of gasoline are currently available in Estonia: ecto95, E85, 95, 98. Also gas and diesel fuel. The average price fluctuates approximately 17.4 EEK, which is approximately 42 rubles or 1.11 euros. Not the highest cost for the whole of Europe.

The most common gas station company is LukOil; on the website you can find out the cost of gasoline in any city in Estonia.

http://www.lukoil.ee/rus/index.php?id=111

The price of gasoline in Estonia is higher than in Latvia, but lower than in Lithuania, so if you are going to transit through Estonia, it is advisable to refuel in Latvia.

Lithuania

In Lithuania you can refuel with 95 and 98 unleaded gasoline, as well as diesel fuel and gas. Not every gas station has 92 gasoline available.

Average prices for all types of fuel according to Lukoil data as of 09/01/2015:

Benzinas 95 - 159 euros
Benzinas 98 - 208 euros
Dyzelinas - 037 euros
LPG - 494 euros

Sights and hotels of the Baltic countries

We offer you the following quite interesting route through the Baltic countries. You can go on a trip by car, both during long weekends and on holidays, not to mention vacations. In one trip you will visit three countries and see a lot of sights. Your trip by car will be quite comfortable, since in the Baltic states you will find a large number of campsites that optimize living costs.

Lithuania

Vilnius

When entering Lithuania, the first stop is the capital - Vilnius. The old town of Vilnius is one of the largest in all of Europe.

The capital of Lithuania – Vilnius – is a city of Renaissance, Baroque and Gothic:

The Renaissance is represented by the Church of St. Michael, the Medinin Gate of the city wall and the university courtyards.

Baroque decorates the churches of St. Catherine, St. Peter and Paul, St. Casimir, Dominicans, Trinitarians, Augustinians, St. Raphael, St. James, and Missionaries.

Gothic – these are the churches of St. Anne, St. Nicholas, Franciscans and Gedeminas Castle.

In Vilnius you can stay in the following hotels:

Congress 4*
Europe Royal 4*
Ecotel 2*+
Panorama 3*

Trakai

When traveling around Lithuania, do not miss the opportunity to visit the amazing city of Trakai, the ancient capital of the Principality of Lithuania, located just 30 km from Vilnius.

The main attraction of Trakai is the world-famous Trakai Castle, located on an island in the middle of Lake Galvė. Note that this is the only castle on the island of Eastern Europe.

Kaunas

Next, your route goes to Kaunas. This is a conveniently located, perfectly preserved Old Town, where there are many valuable architectural and cultural monuments: Kaunas Castle, the churches of St. Gertrude and Vytutas the Great, the Gothic Perkūnas House, Kaunas Town Hall - “White Swan”, Čiurlionis Museum, Adam Mickiewicz House Museum, etc. .

Klaipeda

Then your route lies to Klaipeda, the only Lithuanian port city and the northernmost ice-free port of the Baltic Sea. Here you can go on an excursion to the maritime museum-aquarium and visit the dolphinarium. Sailing enthusiasts can head to the yacht club.

Palanga

Near Klaipeda is Palanga, the largest resort on the Lithuanian coast. In recent years, the tourism infrastructure has developed greatly, as a result of which the resort has equipped many good hotels and guest houses of various levels, such as:

Jellyfish;
Alanga;
Gabia;
Raje.

The most beautiful corner of Palanga is the botanical garden, where the Tyszkiewicz Palace is located, in the courtyard of which there is an Amber Museum.

Latvia

Liepaja

Coastal Liepaja is a “town of musicians” and a favorite vacation spot for members of the royal family.

Various musical events are constantly held here, the Flower Festival is held twice a year, and the Kalvene Zoo is open year-round.

Be sure to visit Rundeli Castle, from where you can go to Saldus.

Saldus

The suburb of Saldus is famous for the Kalnsetas Park, through which the Tsiecere River flows. This is an amazing place for boating and fishing. Ancient estates and other cultural monuments preserve memories of the years of rule of the German barons.

Riga

Gutenbergs 4*
Conventa set 3*
Tia 3*
Livonia 2* +

Jurmala

Then we recommend that you have a good rest at the most famous resort of the Baltic states - Jurmala. The cleanest air, the unique aroma of centuries-old pine needles, amazing wooden houses dusted with New Year's snow create a picturesque winter atmosphere. The winter climate of Jurmala is very calming and tonic at the same time. Our advice is to make a stop at the most famous hotel of the legendary resort. At the Wellness Oasis recreation and sports center, you can completely forget about the everyday hustle and bustle and get the maximum charge of overflowing energy. Five types of saunas, a jacuzzi, an ultra-modern solarium, swimming pools with different temperatures and a water bar are at your disposal.

You can also stay at the following hotels:

Jurmala spa
Lielupe
Rose of Wind
Daina

Sigulda

From Jurmala you can head straight to Estonia, but still stop by the city of Sigulda along the way. Just an hour's drive and you will already get acquainted with the ancient castles of the city and walk along the paths of the banks of the Gauja. Here you can see the massive stone castle of the Livonian Order - Zegevold, Turai Castle, the Livonian fortification and the huge Gutmania Cave.

Estonia

Tartu

We know Tartu as the university capital of Estonia. Ancient Tartu has a thousand-year history - it is the city of Lotman and Ber, a favorite place of Russian emperors and Pushkin’s comrades, the cradle of the famous Dorpat University.

You will definitely feel the unique aura of Tartu, where the romance of student traditions is intertwined with the mysterious Middle Ages.

The highlight of the city is Toomemägi Park, built in English style on the site of an ancient Estonian settlement. The park contains the Angels and Devil's Bridges, the ruins of the Dome Cathedral dating back to the 15th century and an observatory.

Tallinn

In Tallinn, you can relax in hotels near the old town Grand Hotel 4*, Hermitage 3* or Central 3*. These hotels offer free parking.

For those wishing to combine a spa holiday and walks around the city, we recommend staying at the Pirita Top Spa 3* hotel, which is located 5 km from the old town, or at the Laulasmaa 3* hotel, located 35 km from Tallinn.

Our advice: it is not advisable to travel around the city by car, as there may be problems with parking.

Among other things, Tallinn can surprise you with a variety of exciting excursions.

Rakvere

On your way back to Russia, we strongly advise you to visit the town of Rakvere. The main attraction here is the ruins of the Order's castle, which houses a stage and an open-air museum, a windmill and the symbol of Rakveri - the sculpture of the tour.

Kuremäe

Next, visit the Orthodox Holy Dormition Pyukhta Convent in Kuremäe, built in 1891. The Estonian governor, Prince Sergei Vladimirovich Shakhovskoy, who contributed to the founding and construction of the monastery, is buried within the monastery. Legend says that it was here that the image of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary was found on a sacred oak tree. This is the only monastery that is related to the Moscow diocese, unlike all others subordinate to the Orthodox Church of Estonia. In summer you can meet many pilgrims from St. Petersburg and Latvia here.

Toila and Narva-Yesu

You can put an end to your car journey in the interesting resort of Toila, with a popular park and Narve-Jesu, a resort town with a long sandy beach.

Here you can comfortably stay in the best SPA hotels Toila 3* or Narva-Yesu 3*.

Conclusion

Baltic tourism is a real long-liver in our tourism market: going to “almost real” Europe - with Catholic churches, developed infrastructure and such a detached view of life from socialist pseudo-seriousness - was considered happiness by any Soviet employee. Times have changed, but the feeling of belonging to the elite remains with the Baltics to this day. Feel the Baltic culture too! Take the “iron horse” as your assistant and go explore the mysterious culture of the Baltics.

We present to you the following video story about the sights of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

It so happens that PRTBRT often broadcasts from the Baltic countries - one of its editorial bases is located in Latvia. We often look at how our friends and acquaintances travel around Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania and clutch our heads. That’s why we decided to write this column about how to truly experience these small countries, where you really have to look for the flavor.

Do not take the route Tallinn - Riga - Vilnius at once

For several days you just walk around the Old Towns of the three capitals, drink, eat, stare and spend money, and then say: yes, I was in this Baltics, everything is the same. Although all three cities are unique and very different, this can only be understood by visiting each one separately.

During a trip to three capitals you will remember some passages, but everything will stick together into one lump of cathedrals, towers, food and booze. And at the same time, each city has its own face and its own unusual places that you most likely will not see. Simply because the “three (five, seven) days - three cities” format does not imply anything other than an endless race and walks in the Old Town together with British lovers of cheap flights to stag parties and getting drunk, old people and tourists from ferries.

Advice: Don't be fooled by the size of the countries - each is best viewed individually. Therefore, do not try to travel around everything during the allotted vacation time.

Old town of Tallinn

But if you do go, don’t spend all your time in the Old Town

As already mentioned, each city has its own face and its own places of power: in Tallinn this is the Telliskivi district, which is located outside the Old Town. In Riga, for example, the best bars have never been located within the Old Town: just go for a walk along Krisjan Barona Street and turn into small streets. This is where the most interesting places and establishments will be, such as the editor’s favorite bar - Taka or the city's most current dance floor - Piens.

In the Old Town there is average entertainment, typical bars and restaurants, of which there are many in any city in Eastern and Northern Europe from Krakow to Stockholm. This is not why you come to see the country.

Advice: If you know that there is no life in the Old Town, then there is no need to rent housing there either. Look for apartments on Airbnb or hotels near places of power: you will save both time and money.

Telliskivi district in Tallinn

Another cool place outside of the old town of Riga – Kaņepes Kultūras centrs

Don't linger in cities

You won't get to see the country in cities, so be sure to plan to visit alternative or out-of-town attractions.

From Tallinn you can easily go to see the quarry in Rumma (there is still room to climb through, don’t be scared by the fence), and then go to the island of Saaremaa, where there are almost more attractions than in all of Estonia.

From Riga you should definitely go to Irbene - a ghost town with a huge radar, spend the night on Cape Kolka, see the seaside Ventspils and Liepaja. Who even knows about the existence of the Mark Rothko art center in Daugavpils? The famous artist was born in this city.

From Vilnius you should definitely go to the Hill of Crosses, visit the Europos Parkas landscape park - an analogue of the Russian Nikola-Lenivets, explore Klaipeda and cross the border with Russia on the Curonian Spit.

All three countries have many opportunities for diverse tourism: alternative attractions, eco-farms and national parks - plan your route so that you can stay in the capitals for one or two days, get acquainted with the main places and cultural life, and then go deeper!

Countries are replete with craft, family-run productions of everything from cheese to amber. A fair is held annually in Latvia, where you can buy not just handmade things, but modern and beautiful accessories and clothes. It’s nice to use such things not because they are crafted, but simply because they are convenient and beautiful.

Mountain of Crosses

Quarry in Rummu

But if you are still delayed, be sure to travel out of town at least one day

If it’s already late and you stay in each of the capitals for three days, then don’t be sad: there are many interesting places around each of the cities:

near Vilnius - the beautiful Trakai Castle;

from Riga you should definitely go to Jurmala or the Kemeri National Park;

From Tallinn, go to Laachema National Park.

By the way, the locations from the previous paragraph also apply to this: this is the Baltics, and you can go back and forth to any place within one country! The main thing is not to be lazy and plan. It’s entirely possible to rent a car for one or two days, or find a driver using BlaBlaCar, use Lux Express buses, or maybe even stop hitchhiking. In summer, Estonia is overrun by friendly Finns, and Latvia and Lithuania are overrun by Poles and Germans (and less wary tourists in Russian cars).

Kemeri National Park

Spend more time searching

Not all good hotels, campsites and guesthouses are available on the usual booking sites. For example, the editor’s favorite campsite Saulesmājas with barrel houses on Cape Kolka (another chic Latvian location - the meeting place of the waves of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga) appeared on booking.com only in May of this year!

Or another great option is the Klaukas glamping site in the area of Sigulda and the Gauja National Park. And this is just what is on the surface - there are dozens of such places, but you will have to prepare well and search.

Camping Saulesmājas

Don’t forget that these are already different countries

If in the minds of the older generation this is still a homogeneous Baltic region, then the modern traveler is struck by striking differences: Estonia and especially Tallinn are full-fledged Northern Europe, Lithuania gravitates towards Poland, and Latvia is still at an undefined crossroads, but with European features. At the same time, each of these countries has preserved unique original places and cultural features. Understanding this simple fact will help you take a different look at these neighboring countries and choose the one that is closer in spirit for a full-fledged trip!

Check tickets to Tallinn, or maybe Riga or Vilnius

We need the support of our readers.

Thank you for reading this text to the end, we tried our best. The entire PRTBRT project was created by a small team of two people, now the site is read by 200 thousand people a month - this is incredibly cool!

But for the project to continue to live, we need the help of our readers. You can help PRTBRT by subscribing to a monthly donation (from $1) at Patreon website. By the way, we offer bonuses for donations! Plus, we explain why we decided to take such a step.

In order not to miss interesting publications from the world of travel, subscribe to our groups in

Auto tourism among Russians is becoming more and more popular every year. Traveling in your own car has many advantages.

It is not surprising that many tourists prefer to get to the Baltic countries, which are quite close to Russia, by car.

On such a trip, travelers do not depend on other people's schedules and prices - they can stop at any time and enjoy the place they like.

To Riga by car

Trip to Riga with your own transport has obvious advantages:

autotourists do not depend on the schedule of planes, trains and buses;
traveling in your own car, especially if 4-5 people are traveling in it, is much cheaper than air travel and even train and bus travel;
the opportunity to travel around the country on your own route, regardless of other tourists.

In order for a trip from Moscow to Riga by car to go well, without any incidents, you need prepare your route in advance travel, familiarize yourself with the rules for crossing borders with Latvia and collect all the necessary documents.

Documents for traveling to Latvia by car

To enter Latvia by car, tourists need the following documents:

foreign passports for each of the tourists. Children under 14 years of age may be included in the foreign passport one (or both) of the parents traveling with the child;
If a child travels without parents, he must have his own passport, regardless of age. Moreover, in this case you need power of attorney from parents, certified by a notary;
children's birth certificates;
a valid Schengen visa affixed to the foreign passport;
medical insurance valid for the duration of the trip, issued in accordance with the requirements of EU countries, with the amount of coverage not less than 30,000 EUR;
for a car driver - a driver's license, which meet international standards(that is, the driver’s data must be written on the license in Latin letters);
car registration certificate;
Green card (motorist liability insurance), valid in Latvia.

The green card is issued by the insurance company no earlier than 30 days before the start of the trip. The minimum validity period of a Green Card is 15 days.

It is useful to read about what it is, because in Latvia they strictly monitor compliance with its rules.

Read here what you need to apply for a visa to Latvia and get all the necessary information if you are going to apply for a visa to this country yourself.

Travel routes

You can enter Latvia by car either through Russia or Belarus. When traveling from Moscow, the difference in mileage between routes is about 90 km. On Russian territory (along the M9 highway) the route is shorter.

Despite this, most motor tourists prefer to travel through Belarus (along the M1 highway). This is due to the fact that usually checkpoints on the Latvian-Russian border are more heavily loaded, and motorists have to wait for several hours stand in lines at customs.

In addition, many drivers were not satisfied with the quality of the road on the M9 highway. Until recently, the road in the Tver region and in the Rzhev area was badly damaged, but last year there was road repairs carried out.

Route along the M9 highway on the map

The distance from Moscow to Riga along the M9 (Baltic) federal highway is about 950 kilometers. Travel time without stops is 11-12 hours.

The route passes through Volokolamsk, Rzhev, Velikiye Luki to the automobile border checkpoints Burachki (on the Russian border) and Terekhovo (on the Latvian border). Further on the territory of Latvia the route passes through Ludza, Vilany and Ogre.

The road after repair, according to recent reviews from motorists, is really good. The exception is small areas near Rzhev. In the Tver region, where the worst section of the road was, new asphalt was laid and fresh markings were applied.

The road on Latvian territory is slightly worse from Ludza to Vilana(all in patches), but there are practically no holes. In general, Latvian roads (A6, A12) are of fairly good quality.

One of the advantages of this route is the small number of settlements where the driver has to reduce speed greatly. Therefore, you can get to Riga quite quickly.

Among the disadvantages of this route, tourists note a small number of cafes and gas stations.

On the Russian-Lithuanian border there are often queues in which you can stand from 2 to 6 hours. Point Burachki-Terekhovo considered the busiest of 4 automobile checkpoints located on the border of Russia and Latvia.

Cars containing small children are allowed to enter without a queue. The customs inspection itself is quick. The main thing is to have all the necessary documents.

Latvian border guards are only just planning to follow the example of their Estonian colleagues to introduce electronic reservation of places in queues at the border, so queues can rarely be avoided.

The Burachki-Terekhovo point is open around the clock.

Technological checkpoint breaks: 08:45 – 09:00 in the morning and 20:45 – 21:00 in the evening.

Route along the M1 highway on the map

There are two possible options here.

Option one: from Moscow, take the Minsk highway (M1 highway), and then, a little before reaching Smolensk, turn onto the road towards Velizh-Nevel, and in the Pustoshka area take the Baltic highway (M9). Then you can continue moving towards the Russian-Latvian border;
Option two (via Belarus): from Moscow take the M1 highway, after the Smolensk bypass you need to turn onto the road to Vitebsk. Continue on across Belarus along the P21 and P20 highways. Border crossing is carried out at the Urbany-Silene and Grigorovshchina-Paternieki checkpoints.

The distance from Moscow to Riga is just over 1000 kilometers. Travel time is approximately 13-14 hours without stops. And although the route is a little longer than the M9 highway, you can get to Riga faster.

This is due to the lower congestion at vehicle checkpoints on the border of Belarus and Latvia. Therefore, as a rule, there are no such queues as on the Russian-Latvian border.

Works around the clock . The average waiting time in queues at the border with Latvia is approximately 1-2 hours.

The Grigorovshchina-Paternieki checkpoint is also located in the Vitebsk region along the road R-20 Novopolotsk-Verkhnedvinsk-Riga.

The point is open 24 hours a day from technological breaks: from 08:45 to 09:00 and from 20:45 to 21:00.

There are more cafes and gas stations along the M1 than along the M9. However, the last gas station is located in the Polotsk area. The next gas station is in Latvia. Motorists should remember that in Gasoline is much more expensive in Latvia, so it’s better to fill the tank full before crossing the border.

Duty free to the Republic of Latvia allowed to import:

one full tank of gasoline plus one 10 liter canister;
40 cigarettes or 10 cigars;
1 liter of strong alcohol or 2 liters of weak alcohol, or 4 liters of wine.

It is prohibited to import dairy products and meat, including sausages, into Schengen countries.

Motorists should also take into account that in Latvia You can't use a radar detector, so it is better to remove it before the border. Studded tires are allowed only in the autumn-winter period (from October 1 to May 1).

Your car must have a warning triangle and a reflective vest.

Soon, very soon, the New Year holidays are coming. Where to go for the holidays? The A-Renta company is ready not only to provide you with truly inexpensive prices for renting a car from Moscow, but also to provide you with ideas for the holidays. For example, Why don't you arrange a romantic car trip around the Baltics?

Many people treat the Baltic states with disdain: they say, they are the countries of the former USSR, which eagerly rushed to Europe, although there is no smell of European there. There is nothing to see there, zero service, and the attitude of the Balts towards us Russians... to put it mildly, is disappointing. However, those who think so are completely wrong. Let's try to destroy the existing stereotypes by driving around the Baltics.

Trip to the Baltics by car

Taking care of documents in advance is a must:

For those traveling by car, it is necessary to obtain a so-called Green Card, which will need to be presented when crossing the border.
And don’t forget that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are part of the European Union, so passports must have valid visas.

How to get there?

You can get to the Baltic states in two ways: through Belarus and through the Leningrad region. Residents of central Russia, as a rule, travel via Belarus. Therefore, if you need to travel by car to the Baltics from Moscow, then you can at the same time take a look at some of our former ones, as they say.

Tests at customs

The first and, perhaps, only thing that overshadows traveling by car is the incredible queues at the border with Lithuania. You can stand for 6, 8, 12 hours. It depends on your luck. You need to be prepared for the fact that arrogant drivers driving cool cars with thieves' license plates will pass without waiting in line. And for some reason they are missed.

Before your trip, it’s better to “scour” auto traveler forums, where people share observations and thoughts about what time is best to cross the border.

The procedure for inspecting a car and passports takes a little time.