Tallinn Riga Vilnius Tour by Private Car: Tallinn to Vilnius via Turaida, Riga and Trakai

Three countries, three capitals and the most beautiful places in between, all in one comfortable journey with your own driver. This Tallinn to Vilnius via Trakai private tour takes you from medieval Tallinn to the seaside resort of Pärnu, the red brick Turaida Castle, the green Gauja valley in Sigulda, majestic Riga, the famous Hill of Crosses and the fairy tale island castle of Trakai, before you arrive in Vilnius.

You travel at your own pace. Your driver picks you up at your hotel, loads your luggage and stops wherever you want to take a photo, have coffee or simply enjoy the view. It is a Baltic states private car tour, a relaxed Baltic road trip and a Tallinn to Riga and Vilnius chauffeur drive in one, without timetables, bus stations or heavy suitcases. Of all Baltics tours, this is the easiest way to see three capitals and the most famous sights on the way.

Tour at a glance

Route: Tallinn, Pärnu, Turaida Museum Reserve, Sigulda, Riga, Hill of Crosses, Trakai Island Castle, Vilnius.

Countries: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.

Duration: 2 days. We recommend an overnight stay in Riga.

Vehicles: premium sedans for couples and individual travellers, minivans for families and groups of 4 to 8 people.

Price: calculated by our manager for your dates, fixed and agreed in advance for the whole car.

Your own route: you can change the stops or plan the whole route yourself.

Day 1. Tallinn, Pärnu, Turaida, Sigulda and Riga

Pärnu, the romantic summer capital of Estonia

Your journey begins in Tallinn. About 128 km south, on the shore of the Gulf of Riga, lies Pärnu, known since 1996 as the summer capital of Estonia. Its fame as a resort began in the 19th century, when the first bathing house was built by the sea. Stroll along the wide sandy beach, see the historic Pärnu Mud Baths from 1927 and enjoy a relaxed coffee before crossing into Latvia.

Turaida Museum Reserve, a medieval castle above the Gauja

Next comes one of the most beautiful sights in Latvia. Turaida Castle was founded in 1214 on the orders of Albert, Bishop of Riga, and built of red brick. Climb the main tower for a wide view over the Gauja valley, explore the exhibitions in the restored buildings and visit the grave of the Rose of Turaida. Legend says Maija, the Rose of Turaida, was killed in 1620 in Gutmanis Cave by a man who wanted to force her into marriage, and newlyweds still bring flowers to her linden tree. A minivan tour to Sigulda and Turaida is the easiest way to see both in one afternoon.

Sigulda, the Switzerland of Vidzeme

Just across the river lies Sigulda, called the Switzerland of Vidzeme for its red sandstone cliffs and caves along the Gauja. See Gutmanis Cave, the largest cave in the Baltics, the ruins of Sigulda Castle and, if you like, ride the cable car across the river valley. Sigulda is about 53 km from Riga, so you reach the Latvian capital in time for dinner.

Overnight in Riga

We recommend spending the night in Riga. Your driver takes you to your hotel, and in the evening you can walk through the Old Town and choose a restaurant near the Dome Cathedral.

Day 2. Riga to Vilnius via the Hill of Crosses and Trakai

Majestic Riga

The Historic Centre of Riga has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. In the morning see the House of the Blackheads, St Peter's Church and the Riga Central Market, and admire one of the largest collections of Art Nouveau architecture in the world, with at least 800 buildings.

The Hill of Crosses, the soul of Lithuania

After crossing into Lithuania, stop at the Hill of Crosses, about 12 km north of Šiauliai. Families began placing crosses here after the 1831 uprising, and today there are well over 100,000 of them. In Soviet times the hill was bulldozed three times, but people always brought new crosses. Pope John Paul II visited it in 1993. It is one of the most moving places in the Baltics and a highlight of any Riga to Vilnius drive with stops.

Trakai Island Castle, a fairy tale on the water

Trakai Island Castle stands on an island in Lake Galvė. It was begun by Grand Duke Kęstutis in the 14th century and completed by his son Vytautas the Great. Walk across the wooden bridge, visit the Trakai History Museum inside the castle and try kibinai, the traditional pastry of the Karaim community, whom Vytautas brought to Trakai in the late 14th century.

Arrival in magnificent Vilnius

Trakai is only about 28 km from Vilnius, so the last stretch is short. Vilnius Old Town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994 and is one of the largest surviving medieval old towns in Northern Europe. Your driver drops you at your hotel, and you can walk to the Cathedral Square, the Gate of Dawn, Vilnius University and the artistic Užupis district.

Overnight stays and the driver

We recommend one overnight stay in Riga. The car and driver stay with you for the whole tour, and the client provides a hotel room for the driver for the night.

On request we can plan other options: more nights in Riga, a night in Pärnu or Sigulda, or extra time in Vilnius.

Plan your own Baltic route

This itinerary is only a suggestion. You can choose your own route through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and the places you want to see, remove stops or add new ones.

Tell us your wishes, and our manager will calculate the exact price for your route in advance. The price is fixed for the whole car, with no extra charges on the way, and your driver will follow the route you have chosen.

More trips with Artsantaxi

Want to see even more of the Baltics? Take a look at our 6 day private Baltic tour by car with Tartu, Jūrmala and Kaunas.

Only need to reach Riga? Book our Tallinn ↔ Riga transfer.

Need a direct ride without sightseeing stops? Book our Tallinn ↔ Vilnius transfer.

Why a private driver instead of buses

A trip through three countries by bus means several buses and connections, timetables, early departures, waiting at stations and carrying your suitcases yourself. Turaida, Sigulda, the Hill of Crosses and Trakai each need a separate trip, and a big part of your holiday is lost on the road.

With Artsantaxi your Baltics sightseeing transfer becomes part of the holiday:

Your own driver for the whole route, from hotel door to hotel door.

Total freedom to stop for photos, coffee, lunch or a walk whenever you like.

Premium comfort: air conditioning in summer, a warm car in winter, drinking water and wet wipes on board, child seats on request.

Safety on the highways: experienced professional drivers who know the Baltic roads.

Your luggage stays with you in the car and the driver takes care of it.

A fixed, honest price for the whole car, agreed in advance, with no surprises on the way.

Our cars

Premium sedans Mercedes-Benz E-Class, S-Class and Lexus ES for 1, 2 or 3 passengers, ideal for couples and individual travellers.

Spacious minivans Mercedes-Benz Vito for up to 8 people and V-Class for up to 7 people, ideal for families and groups with plenty of room for luggage.

For groups of more than 8 people we also offer buses with 18, 24 and 55 seats.

On request a licensed guide in any language can join you, paid separately.

Price and booking

This is a long tour, so the price is calculated individually. Our manager will work out the exact cost for your dates, number of overnight stays and vehicle, and you will receive a fixed price for the whole car before the trip.

When the car and driver stay with you for the whole tour, the client provides a hotel room for the driver for each night.

Payment in cash, by card, via PayPal or by invoice for companies.

FAQ

How long is the private tour from Tallinn to Vilnius?

The tour takes 2 days, and we recommend an overnight stay in Riga.

Does the driver stay with us overnight?

Yes, the car and driver stay with you for the whole tour. The client provides a hotel room for the driver.

Can we add more overnight stays?

Yes, on request we can plan more nights in Riga, Pärnu, Sigulda or Vilnius.

Is the Hill of Crosses on the way from Riga to Vilnius?

Yes, it is in northern Lithuania near Šiauliai, and we stop there on the second day.

Can we choose our own stops?

Yes, the driver stops wherever you want for photos, coffee or lunch.

Can we plan our own route?

Yes, you choose the route and the places you want to visit. Our manager calculates the exact price in advance, with no extra charges, and the driver follows your route.