Baltic Coastal Hiking - Facts and Figures

The Baltic Coastal Hiking Route is part of the European long distance path E9. The E9 route starts at Cape St.Vincent in Portugal and ends in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It runs along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel, the coast of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. The E9 route crosses 10 countries: Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

The Name in Lithuania: Jūrų takas, in Latvia: Jūrtaka, in Estonia: Ranniku Matkarada.

Start: The Lithuanian-Russian border, Nida village in Lithuania

Finish: The Port of Tallinn in Estonia. The route can be followed in both directions and Tallinn can also be the starting point.

Two capital cities whose old towns have received UNESCO site status: Riga, Tallinn

The Curonian Spit National Park is also on the UNESCO list.

Territory: The Baltic Sea, Gulf of Riga and Gulf of Finland coastline

Length: 1419 km, composed of:

  • 216 km in Lithuania     
  • 581 km in Latvia
  • 622 km in Estonia

The Route:

  • In Lithuania: Nida (Lithuania) – Klaipėda – Palanga
  • In Latvia: Nida (Latvia) – Liepāja – Ventspils – Cape Kolka – Jūrmala – Rīga – Saulkrasti – Ainaži
  • In Estonia: Ikla – Pärnu – Virtsu – Lihula – Haapsalu – Paldiski – Tallinn.

Highest points: Curonian Spit in Lithuania (up to 20 m altitude on the route), Rannamõisa cliff (Rannamõisa pank) located 35 m a. s. l., the Pakri Lighthouse viewing platform together with the height of Pakri cliff: around 70 m a. s. l., situated in Estonia.

Time required to complete the route: around 70-72 days. Experienced walkers can cover it in a shorter period of time.

What to see: more than 600 natural, historical and cultural sites and monuments to be viewed.

In Lithuania, the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route crosses the Curonian Spit National Park and Klaipeda, running through the seaside resorts of Palanga and Šventoji to reach the Latvian border. A second branch of the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route in Lithuania starts on Rusnė Island and runs along the coast of the Curonian Lagoon to Klaipėda.

In Latvia, the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route runs along the coast of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga, crossing the coastal areas of Slītere and Ķemeri National Parks, and then running upwards along the rocky beaches of Vidzeme.

In Estonia, the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route runs along Pärnu Bay, loops out around Matsalu Bay, and crosses Matsalu National Park. It then follows the jagged coastline of the Gulf of Finland to reach Tallinn. In Estonia, the Baltic Coastal Hiking trail also includes various islands: Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Muhu, Vormsi, Osmussaar, the Pakri Islands and Naisaar.