Baltic Capitals by Rail
- Take the train via Strasbourg and Berlin to the Baltics
- Spend the night in Polish capital Warsaw
- Enjoy time at leisure in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius
- Catch a flight back to the UK
- Decide when you would like to travel
- Adapt the route to suit your plans
- Upgrade hotels and rail journeys
- Add extra nights, destinations and/or tours
- All rail journeys, in standard class
- Seat reservations where required
- 13 nights’ handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
- Flight from Tallinn back to the UK in Economy Class
- Easy-to-follow travel documentation
- Despatch of tickets by email
- Proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions
A Seat61 Recommended Holiday
Suggested Itinerary
Head to St Pancras this morning for your Eurostar service to Paris (or Lille). Then change onto a high-speed TGV service bound for Strasbourg in the south-eastern corner of France. On arrival in Strasbourg, make your way to the Hotel des Vosges (or similar) where you have an overnight stay.
Strasbourg enjoys a great mix of French and German culture with a photogenic old town threaded through with canals. There’s also a wonderful Gothic cathedral and plenty of options for your first evening meal.
You have a leisurely start today with some time to enjoy another stroll around Strasbourg – or perhaps take a canal cruise? Just before midday, return to the station for your journey to Berlin by direct train.
You’ll speed across the border and through Germany, arriving into the German capital in the early evening, where you have a 2-night stay at the Arcotel John F (or similar).
Spend a full day in Berlin, discovering the sights of this fascinating city. You might like to visit the historic Museum Island with its five grand museums covering art, sculpture and collections from antiquity. Alternatively, you can find more modern history at the DDR Museum and the moving Holocaust Memorial. Take in the views from the top of the TV Tower on Alexanderplatz or discover trendy bars in the Mitte District.
After breakfast this morning, leave Berlin and continue your rail journey east, across the Polish border to capital Warsaw. Check in here for an overnight stay at the Polonia Palace (or similar).
Spend an evening at leisure exploring the centre of Warsaw. Not to be missed is a visit to the stunning Old Town, rebuilt in the Soviet era using paintings by 18th century artist Bernardo Bellotto. If you have the time, we’d highly recommend an extra night in Warsaw to discover the sights of this historic capital.
Leave Warsaw early this morning and catch a train bound for Mockava, just across the Lithuanian border. Here, the gauge changes and almost everyone will join the train that pulls in on the adjacent platform, a domestic Lithuanian service heading to capital Vilnius, where you check in for a 3-night stay at the conveniently located Shakespeare Boutique Hotel (or similar).
With its UNESCO World Heritage listed Old Town, Vilnius is a real treat of a travel destination. Wander around streets lined with neo-classical and baroque architecture, pay a visit to the imposing cathedral or head to the Mo Museum for some modern art. There’s also a wealth of restaurants and bars here, where you can enjoy local specialities such as zepellins, giant potato dumplings stuffed with pork mince or vegetables.
After an early start, it’s a 4-hour journey from Vilnius to Riga. On arrival here, check in at the conveniently located Eurostars Metropole Hotel (or similar) for a 3-night stay.
Latvia’s capital sits on the Baltic Sea at the mouth of the River Daugava. The city is famous for its medieval Old Town and one of the largest collections of Art Nouveau architecture in the world. There’s also a wealth of museums and concert venues to choose from.
Another rail journey via the border town of Valga takes you to Tallinn, the pretty capital of Estonia. You have another 3-night stay here at the Hestia Illmarine (or similar).
Spend your last days in Tallinn, one of Northern Europe’s best-preserved mediaeval cities. Once a member of the famous Hanseatic League, Tallinn’s rich merchants left their mark on the architecture here. Enjoy exploring the walkable heart of the city and discovering museums, green spaces, tempting cafés and more.
It’s time to check out of your hotel and leave Tallinn today. Your holiday includes a flight back to the UK, but if you’d rather travel by train and or ferry, we can help plan this for you.
Typical hotels on this itinerary
Strasbourg
Conveniently located on the Place de la Gare, opposite Strasbourg’s main station, the Hotel des Vosges offers comfortable, modern accommodation in a refurbished Art Deco building. Bedrooms are furnished in a relaxed, classic style with en suite bathrooms, free Wi-Fi access and coffee & tea making facilities. The hotel also offers a cocktail bar and a well-equipped gym.
Berlin
The Arcotel John F is conveniently located within walking distance of Museum Island and the famous Unter den Linden street leading to the Brandenburg Gate. Bedrooms are elegantly furnished with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and rocking chairs. There is a restaurant serving international cuisine as well as a bar, a gym and a spa area.
Warsaw
This historic hotel is ideally situated, just opposite the Palace of Culture and Science and within walking distance of the main station. The Polonia Palace features spacious air-conditioned rooms with a minibar and heated bathroom flooring. Enjoy Polish and European cuisine at the Strauss Restaurant.
Vilnius
The Shakespeare Boutique Hotel occupies a renovated 17th-century palace in the centre of Vilnius, within easy walking distance of Cathedral Square. The bedrooms are all individually decorated and dedicated to different famous authors. There is also an on-site restaurant serving Lithuanian specialities and a terrace bar.
Riga
The Eurostars Metropole is conveniently located for the train station and Riga’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town. It’s an historic hotel with classically furnished bedrooms offering flat-screen TVs, free Wi-FI, a minibar and a safe. Along with a 24-hour reception, there is also a bar, the De Commerce Gastro Pub 1871, offering drinks and snacks.
Tallinn
Within close walking distance of Tallinn’s UNESCO World Heritage listed Old Town, the ferry terminal and the main station, the Hestia Ilmarine Hotel is conveniently located for a visit to the city. All bedrooms offer free internet access, satellite TV and air-conditioning.
