Getting there & around
It is very easy to visit Latvia and Estonia in one trip for a variety of reasons: relatively short travelling distances between and within countries due to their relatively small size, no border formalities between them since they both belong to the European Union and the same time zone, the same currency, and similar climate.
The main airports are located in the capitals: Tallinn and Riga. Ferry ports are located in the cities of Tallinn in Estonia, and Riga, Liepāja and Ventspils in Latvia, local ferries connect the Estonian islands with the mainland. There are good bus services between Riga and Tallinn. Tickets are also available to buy online.
Sites on the route can be reached by rented car, public transportation or through a pick-up service from the accommodation provider. When travelling by local public transportation it is recommended to check schedules in advance and pre-arrange pick-up transfers from bus or train stations with the hosts in the countryside.
Airports
Latvia
Riga www.riga-airport.com
Liepaja www.liepaja-airport.lv
Estonia
Tallinn www.tallinn-airport.ee
Tartu www.tartu-airport.ee
Kuressaare www.kuressaare-airport.ee
Kärdla www.kardla-airport.ee
Pärnu www.parnu-airport.ee
Coaches
Lux Express: www.luxexpress.eu
Ecolines: www.ecolines.eu
The bus trip between Tallinn and Riga takes approximately 4.5 hours.
Car rental
Avis, Budget, Sixt, Hertz and other international car rental companies with a wide worldwide network and standardised level of service operate throughout the region. Driving is on the right side. Headlights must be on at all times.
Local busses and trains
Latvia
Busses: www.autoosta.lv. Busses are the most convenient means for reaching local destinations outside Riga sub-urban area.
Trains: www.pv.lv. Train travel is most convenient for travelling to destinations such as Jūrmala, Gauja National Park and Daugavpils.
Enquiry service, including public transport: www.1188.lv.
Estonia
Busses: www.tpilet.ee (regional transport and online tickets)
www.peatus.ee (route search, city transport, regional transport)
Trains: www.elron.ee
Ferries
Stenalines
Passenger transport services from Germany, Travemunde to Liepaja (LV) and from Sweden, Nynashamn to Ventspils (LV).
www.stenaline.lv
Tallink Silja Line
The leading provider of high-quality mini-cruise and passenger transport services in the northern Baltic Sea region.
Routes: Helsinki – Tallinn, Helsinki – Stockholm, Riga – Stockholm, Tallinn - Stockholm.
www.tallinksilja.com
Viking Line
A market-leading brand in passenger traffic on the northern Baltic Sea. Routes: Tallinn - Helsinki.
www.vikingline.com
Eckerö Line
Estonian ferry line and a travel agency. Route: Tallinn - Helsinki.
www.eckeroline.ee/en
Local ferries in Estonia
Local ferries operate between the islands and mainland Estonia:
• Aegna, Prangli and other small islands www.veeteed.com
• Naissaar www.monica.ee
• Muhumaa, Hiiumaa and Saaremaa www.praamid.ee