Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania fit three countries, three capitals and a long stretch of Baltic coast into a single cycling holiday. You can ride from medieval Tallinn to baroque Vilnius, spend two nights on the Estonian island of Saaremaa, roll through the forests of Lahemaa and the Gauja valley, or follow the dunes of the Curonian Spit along the Lithuanian seaside. This guide walks through every self-guided tour we offer across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, grouped by the kind of trip they make, so you can match a route to the time you have.
The Grand Crossings: All Three Baltic States
If you want to see the whole region in one journey, three tours cross all three countries from end to end.
The most complete is a fifteen-day ride of about 569 km from Vilnius to Riga through Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. It takes in the Curonian Spit, Saaremaa island, the three UNESCO-listed capitals, Lahemaa and Lake Peipsi, with a support van alongside.
With eleven days, two routes link Vilnius and Tallinn in opposite directions. One rides about 400 km from Vilnius to Tallinn through forests, sand dunes and the three historic capitals. The other rides about 357 km from medieval Tallinn to baroque Vilnius, through Lahemaa's forests, past Lake Peipsi and the Gauja valley to the dunes of the Curonian Spit, with a support van always close by.
Estonia and Latvia: Riga, Tallinn and Saaremaa
The northern Baltic coast is the region's shortest classic ride. A seven-day tour of about 242 km runs from Riga to Tallinn along the coast, with a seaside afternoon in Jūrmala, the resort town of Pärnu and two nights on Saaremaa island, on flat roads with a support van and two UNESCO old towns.
For a longer trip that returns to its starting point, an eleven-day loop of about 418 km sets off from Riga along the Baltic coast to Pärnu, spends two nights on Saaremaa, continues to medieval Tallinn and Lahemaa's forests, and takes in the Gauja valley. A support van carries your bags all the way.
To the Lithuanian Coast and the Curonian Spit
The dunes of the Curonian Spit are the natural finish for a ride south. A nine-day tour of about 293 km leaves Tallinn through Lahemaa's forests, the lakes of Otepää and the Gauja valley to Riga, then continues to the Lithuanian coast and the Curonian Spit. A support van carries your bags and stays close by.
If the coast is all you want, an eight-day loop of about 249 km from Klaipėda rides the Lithuanian Baltic coast from the Curonian Spit dunes to the stork villages of the Nemunas Delta, on forest paths and past golden beaches, with two slow nights in Nida.
Beyond the Baltics: Vilnius to Gdansk
From Vilnius you can also ride south-west into Poland. A ten-day tour of about 347 km crosses the old Polish-Lithuanian borderland, from Trakai's island castle through the pine forests of Dzūkija and the lakes of Wigry and Masuria to the Vistula Lagoon coast and Gdansk.
How to Choose the Right Baltic Route
Start with the time you have. With a week, the seven-day Riga to Tallinn ride gives you two capitals, the coast and Saaremaa. With eight or nine days, choose the Lithuanian seaside loop from Klaipėda for the Curonian Spit alone, or Tallinn to the Lithuanian coast to cross all three countries. Ten or eleven days open up the crossings between Vilnius and Tallinn, the Latvia and Estonia loop from Riga, or the ride from Vilnius to Gdansk. And with fifteen days, the Three Baltic States tour is the most complete journey of all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these tours guided or self-guided?
All eight Baltic tours in this guide are self-guided: you ride at your own pace on a route planned in advance. Several of them, as noted above, have a support van on the road.
What kind of bike can I choose?
Trekking bikes and e-bikes are available on every route in this guide. Gravel bikes are also available on the Three Baltic States tour, the Vilnius to Tallinn crossing and the Lithuanian seaside loop.
Can I visit all three Baltic capitals in one trip?
Yes. The fifteen-day Three Baltic States tour and the eleven-day Vilnius to Tallinn crossing both take in Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn.
Which tours include Saaremaa island?
The Riga to Tallinn tour and the Latvia and Estonia loop each spend two nights on Saaremaa, and the fifteen-day Three Baltic States tour includes the island too.
Which tours reach the Curonian Spit?
The Three Baltic States tour, Tallinn to Vilnius, Tallinn to the Lithuanian coast and the Lithuanian seaside loop from Klaipėda.
Start Planning Your Baltic Ride
From a week on the coast between Riga and Tallinn to a fifteen-day journey through all three countries, there is a Baltic route for every length of holiday. Browse our cycling tours in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to compare itineraries and prices.
