Plan your trip · Two countries
10 days from Riga to Vilnius through Latvia and Lithuania
Start with Riga, choose one Latvian extension, then continue to Vilnius for the second half of the trip. The route keeps the international transfer simple and leaves room to adjust around the transport operating on your dates.
This guide is independently written and checked against the official sources listed below.
Check before travel
Timetables, opening hours, access rules and event programmes can change. Confirm date-specific details with the official operator or venue.
Route summary and who it suits
Days 1 to 3 are based in Riga. Days 4 and 5 add Jūrmala, Sigulda or Cēsis. Day 6 is the international transfer. Days 7 to 10 are based in Vilnius with one Lithuanian choice.
The route suits a first Baltic trip when you want two capital bases, only one international transition and a choice of day trips. It is less suitable if you want to cover both countries' coasts or change hotels every night.
Before booking the route
Fix your arrival and departure cities first. Check the international train and coach options for the exact date before committing to day six, and keep one flexible day near a flight.
Choose regional stops for the experience they add, not simply because they appear on a map between the capitals.
Days 1 to 3: Riga
Use the first day for Old Riga and the riverfront, then divide the following days between Central Market, the boulevards, Art Nouveau streets and one substantial museum. Keep the arrival day light if it follows a long journey.
Day 1
Old Riga, riverfront and an easy evening.
Day 2
Central Market, boulevards and one museum.
Day 3
Art Nouveau streets and a neighbourhood or extra museum.
Open guideSources: RIX Riga Airport: transport
Days 4 and 5: one Latvian extension
Choose one extension rather than collecting distant stops. Jūrmala is the straightforward coast option; Sigulda or Cēsis gives more landscape and castle time. Return to Riga before the international leg unless a verified connection supports another plan.
Jūrmala option
Stay in Riga or spend one night by the coast, depending on season.
Open guideGauja option
Use Sigulda or Cēsis as the base and return to Riga before the international transfer.
Open guideSources: Vivi: international routes
Day 6: Riga to Vilnius
Official operators publish the current international rail information. Check the service for your date, reserve where required and leave a sensible margin between separate onward tickets. Coaches may suit some dates or departure points better.
Before booking
Confirm direction, date, reservation conditions, luggage terms and the station shown on the ticket.
On the travel day
Treat the transfer as the day's main task rather than adding another major attraction.
Sources: LTG Link: Vilnius to Riga , Vivi: international routes
Days 7 to 10: Vilnius and one Lithuanian choice
Give Vilnius at least two full days. Use the remaining time for Trakai or Kaunas, chosen around your interests, current transport and departure point.
Vilnius guide Trakai guide Kaunas guide
Vilnius
Keep the Old Town, museums and neighbourhoods in separate walking blocks.
One extension
Choose Trakai for a compact castle-and-lake day or Kaunas for another city stay.
Departure
An open-jaw journey avoids backtracking when flight options suit your dates.
Sources: LTG Link: timetables
Seven-day and fourteen-day variants
For seven days, keep Riga, one Latvian side trip, the transfer and three nights in Vilnius. For fourteen days, add one Latvian region and one Lithuanian region with two-night minimum stays.
A coast variant can link Liepāja with Klaipėda only when the overland connection works for the exact travel date.
Sources: LTG Link: Vilnius to Riga
Transport and booking approach
Trains and coaches cover the main city-to-city legs. A car adds flexibility for rural stops but is unnecessary in central Riga or Vilnius. Do not assume an international timetable matches a domestic connection; check every leg for the same date.
Book the international leg and any limited regional accommodation before filling the route with tours. Confirm the final-night city when departure is early.
Sources: Vivi: international routes , LTG Link: Vilnius to Riga
Check the primary information
Official sources and review information
This guide was last reviewed on 3 August 2026. These official transport and airport sources support the practical guidance on this page.
Transport
Vivi: international routes
Current operator information for international rail services and ticket channels.
RIX Riga Airport: transport
Official airport information for public transport, taxis, car sharing and rental cars.
International rail
LTG Link: Vilnius to Riga
Official information for the direct international train and ticket conditions.
LTG Link: timetables
Current Lithuanian passenger-rail timetables and service notices.
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