The Baltics

Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia.

We knew very little of these three Baltic nations until we passed through as part of our 50 days European campervan trip. A first-time visit for us both, our time in Eastern Europe was far too fleeting and came with many pleasant surprises.

We first travelled through Lithuania where we were sad to have to leave so soon and wished we could linger longer. Our first stop was in the spa town of Druskininkai where we allowed ourselves to be pampered, lulled for some extra minutes in the hot water and spent a glorious night in a hotel bed. Next, we visited the capital city, Vilnius, which surprised us in more ways than one. Here, we discovered a delightful Old Town, Vilnius’ burgeoning specialty coffee scene and cold pink soup (trust us – it tastes better than it sounds!). A mere 24 hours in Vilnius felt slightly rushed so consider an extra day or two to enjoy the sights slowly.

We drove onwards to Riga, Latvia. A smaller Old Town is fringed with grungy, yet hip outskirts and a dark war history that lingers to the present day. Unfortunately, we only had one day to explore Riga. We knocked back craft beers and sampled some black balsam (we’re unlikely to repeat the latter experience!) but not before hitting the pavement in search of the famous Art Nouveau style buildings. The elaborate decoration had us conjuring images of wealthy residents inside high ceiling apartments with glorious natural light illuminating fabulous pieces of art. 

From Riga, we continued north, making our way to Estonia, where we arrived in the fairytale town of Tallinn. Of the three nations, Tallinn’s Old Town is arguably the prettiest. Narrow cobblestone corridors showcase coveted cafes and boutique hotels. The city is quite compact meaning you can rather comfortably see the sights of Tallinn in one day. The morning can be spent exploring the grandeur of Kadriorg Art Museum, the former palace erected by Tsar Peter the Great. In the afternoon, make your way to the hip neighbourhood of Telliskivi, where the next generation of bright minds are undoubtedly creating the next mobile app to go viral. When you need to catch your breath, make sure it’s at one of the specialty coffee shops in Tallinn.

Although these countries still bear scars from their torrid war past, the previously suppressed identity of these Baltic states are now coming into the limelight. One can feel the thrum of innovation and the promise of a bright future ahead. Come see for yourself.