Explore the Entire Baltics in a Few Days: Tallinn — Tartu — Riga — Vilnius Private Tour
Three countries, four cities, and hundreds of kilometres of history, nature and medieval architecture — all within just a few days, travelling in complete comfort with a private car. Artsantaxi offers a unique Baltic road trip: from the Tallinn ferry terminal through quiet Tartu and elegant Riga to baroque Vilnius, with stops at the most scenic and historically significant places in the region.
No crowded buses, no rigid schedules. Just you, your companions, and an experienced driver who knows every road. The itinerary is fully flexible — linger longer at the places you love, or add a new stop along the way.
A Baltic tour with Artsantaxi is an individual excursion you will remember for the rest of your life. We have been operating since 2019, with a Google rating of 5.0 based on over 100 genuine reviews. The best time to travel is spring, summer or autumn, but we operate 24/7 all year round.
Day 1. Arrival in Tallinn. Haapsalu — the Town of the White Lady
Your journey begins the moment you step off the ferry. Your Artsantaxi driver meets you at the terminal with a name sign — no taxi queues, no hassle. The car is ready, your luggage is loaded, and your Baltic adventure begins in full comfort.
Haapsalu
The first stop is Haapsalu, one of Estonia's most romantic seaside towns, founded in the 13th century and famous across Europe for its therapeutic mud baths. In the 19th century, Pyotr Tchaikovsky himself came here to recuperate and composed several of his works during his stay.
The centrepiece of Haapsalu is its medieval Bishop's Castle from the 13th century, one of the best-preserved in Estonia. According to legend, the ghost of the White Lady appears in the castle chapel on full-moon nights in August. Every summer the White Lady Festival is held here with live music and theatrical performances.
Nearby is Tchaikovsky's summer cottage — a museum dedicated to the great composer's time in Haapsalu. End your visit with a stroll along the long wooden promenade overlooking the peaceful bay and surrounding islands.
Kadriorg, Tallinn
On the way back to Tallinn, stop at Kadriorg Park. This magnificent baroque palace was built by Peter the Great in 1718 for his wife Catherine I. Today it houses one of Estonia's finest art museums, surrounded by beautiful gardens beloved by Tallinn residents year-round.
Overnight: Tallinn. We recommend hotels in the Old Town — the medieval atmosphere in the evening is truly special.
Day 2. Tallinn to Tartu via Lake Peipus
In the morning, explore medieval Tallinn: the Viru Gates, Town Hall Square, and the Kohtuotsa viewing platform on Toompea Hill with panoramic views over the terracotta rooftops.
Varnija and Lake Peipus
The route from Tallinn to Tartu passes through a remarkable corner of Estonia — the shores of Lake Peipus (Peipsi järv), one of Europe's largest freshwater lakes, located on the border of Estonia and Russia. It was here that the famous Battle on the Ice took place in 1242, when Alexander Nevsky defeated the knights of the Livonian Order. In the village of Varnija, the Varnja Elava Ajaloo Museum preserves the way of life of Old Believer communities from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Advance bookings include tea from a traditional samovar and pies baked in a Russian stone oven.
Tartu — Estonia's University City
Tartu is Estonia's second-largest city and its intellectual capital, home to the country's oldest university, founded in 1632 by Swedish King Gustav II Adolf. Visit Town Hall Square with its beloved Kissing Students fountain, the Tartu Observatory — part of the UNESCO Struve Geodetic Arc — and enjoy dinner in the charming Old Town.
Overnight: Tartu. We recommend centrally located hotels within walking distance of all sights.
Day 3. Tartu to Riga through Medieval Latvia
Cēsis — the Medieval Heart of Latvia
Cēsis is one of Latvia's oldest towns, founded in 1206. Its 13th-century Livonian Order Castle offers a unique experience: there is no electricity inside, and every visitor is given a candle lantern to explore the dark spiral staircases and medieval corridors. Climbing by candlelight, you are transported straight back to the Middle Ages.
Sigulda — the 'Switzerland of Latvia'
Nestled in the Gauja River valley, Sigulda boasts three medieval castles, the only cable car in the Baltics with breathtaking views over the valley, and Gutmanis Cave — the largest cave in Latvia, over 10,000 years old and considered the oldest tourist attraction in the country.
Riga
In the evening, arrive in Riga. The Old Town of Riga is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, blending stunning medieval and Art Nouveau architecture. Stroll across Cathedral Square, visit the famous Central Market, and enjoy dinner at a Latvian restaurant.
Overnight: Riga. We recommend hotels in the Old Town or the Quiet Centre with its Art Nouveau architecture.
Day 4. Riga — Kuldīga — Jūrmala
Kuldīga — the 'Venice of Latvia'
Just 90 minutes from Riga lies Kuldīga, one of Latvia's most beautiful towns, whose wooden architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023. The highlight is the Ventas Rumba waterfall — the widest natural waterfall in Europe, stretching up to 249 metres across the Venta River. Every spring, an extraordinary natural spectacle takes place here: fish leap upwards through the rapids on their way to spawning grounds — known locally as the 'flying fish' phenomenon.
Jūrmala
On the way back to Riga, stop in Jūrmala — the most famous Baltic seaside resort, with 33 kilometres of white sandy beaches, pine forests, charming 19th-century wooden villas, and fresh sea air.
Overnight: Riga.
Day 5. Riga to Vilnius via the Hill of Crosses
Hill of Crosses
En route to Vilnius, stop at one of the most extraordinary places in the Baltics. The Hill of Crosses (Kryžių kalnas) near Šiauliai is a small hill bearing hundreds of thousands of crosses, crucifixes and devotional objects, placed here for over 500 years as acts of remembrance, prayer and hope. In 1993, Pope John Paul II visited the site and called it 'a place of hope'. Even when Soviet authorities demolished the crosses with bulldozers, they reappeared each time. A deeply moving and unforgettable experience.
Vilnius
Arrive in Vilnius in the evening. The Old Town of Vilnius is the largest in Eastern Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its extraordinary baroque architecture, cobbled streets, and over 40 churches. Climb Gediminas Tower for a panoramic view of the city, and explore the bohemian Užupis district — an artist quarter that declared itself an independent republic on 1 April 1997, complete with its own constitution, president and a 12-person army.
Overnight: Vilnius. We recommend the Old Town or the historic centre.
Day 6. Trakai — Kaunas
Trakai
Trakai is a small town 27 km from Vilnius, surrounded by lakes and forests. Its Island Castle from the 14th and 15th centuries is the only island castle in all of Eastern Europe and one of Lithuania's most iconic landmarks. The castle stands on an island in Lake Galvė, connected to the shore by a wooden bridge. According to legend, those who gaze at the south-western tower on a full-moon night may see the ghost of Grand Duke Vytautas — and will enjoy good fortune for the entire following year. Don't miss kibinai — the traditional meat pastries of the Karaite people, who have lived in Trakai since the 14th century.
Kaunas
Kaunas served as the temporary capital of Lithuania from 1920 to 1940 and developed a unique architectural style blending modernism and national romanticism. Visit the 14th-century Kaunas Castle, built to defend against the Teutonic Knights, and stroll along Laisvės Alėja — the central pedestrian boulevard lined with magnificent 1920s and 1930s buildings found nowhere else in the world.
Why Travel the Baltics with Artsantaxi?
Artsantaxi offers fully personalised Baltic tours — no groups, no fixed schedules, complete comfort. Business class cars and minivans for groups. Available 24/7, fixed price with no hidden fees. Google rating 5.0 based on 100+ reviews. Contact us: +372 5802 4209, WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, artsantaxi.ee.