Baltics and Scandinavia in 10 Days — Self-Launched
10 days · Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia & Finland
Travel Addicts Club charges £1,450
No-markup version: ~£384 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Travel Addicts Club's 10-day Vilnius-to-Helsinki coach tour, done independently by bus, train and ferry. You'll still hit all four capitals, the Hill of Crosses, Rundale Palace, Pärnu, and the Tallinn–Helsinki crossing — but on hostel/guesthouse budgets, using free walking tours, public transport and self-booked day trips. Costs are approximate backpacker estimates in GBP per person.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Vilnius — Old Town orientation
Vilnius, Lithuania
Fly into Vilnius (cheap Ryanair/Wizz routes from the UK, often £30-60 one-way). From the airport, take bus 1 or 3i into the centre (~€1.50, 20 mins) or a Bolt ride for ~€8 — skip the operator's €55 private transfer. Check into a hostel or guesthouse in or near the Old Town (e.g. around Pilies or Vilnius street). Spend the late afternoon wandering the UNESCO-listed Old Town, grabbing dinner at a local canteen like Bernelių Užeiga (cepelinai ~€7). No mandatory welcome meeting — instead use the evening to read up on the towns ahead.
🚌Airport bus 1/3i ~£1.30; Bolt from airport ~£7
🛏Hostel dorm or private room in Vilnius Old Town (£15-25/night)
- →Old Town evening wander
- →Cathedral Square
- →Pilies Street
Vilnius Old Town walking tour + Trakai Castle
Vilnius, Lithuania
Join a free walking tour of Vilnius Old Town (tip-based, ~£5-8 tip) covering Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Tower, St Anne's Church, the Old University and the Gates of Dawn — all the landmarks the guided tour includes, for tips only. In the afternoon take local bus 1 or a minibus from the bus station to Trakai (~€2 each way, 45 mins) and pay the ~€12 entry to Trakai Island Castle. Return by early evening. Optional: Lithuanian dinner at Senoji Trobele (~€18-22 instead of the operator's €45).
🚌Local bus to Trakai ~£3.50 return
🛏Hostel dorm or private room in Vilnius (£15-25/night)
- →Free walking tour of Vilnius Old Town
- →Gediminas Tower
- →Gates of Dawn
- →Trakai Island Castle day trip
Vilnius → Riga via Hill of Crosses & Rundale Palace
Riga, Latvia
Take an early bus or train from Vilnius to Šiauliai (bus ~2.5h, ~€8), then local bus to the Hill of Crosses (~€1) — free to visit and arguably more atmospheric without a crowd. Continue by bus to Jelgava or Riga (Lux Express/FlixBus ~€15-20, 3-4h). Rundale Palace is hard on public transport: either book a shared day tour from Riga (~£25-35 via GetYourGuide) on a later day, or arrange a taxi/bus combo from Bauska (~€40 total). Check into a hostel in Riga's Old Town or Art Nouveau district — the operator's Radisson Blu Latvija is right here, but hostels nearby cost a fraction.
🚌Bus Vilnius–Šiauliai–Riga ~£20-25
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Riga centre (£15-22/night)
- →Hill of Crosses
- →Optional Rundale Palace visit
Riga Art Nouveau & Old Town
Riga, Latvia
Start with a free walking tour of Riga Old Town (tip-based) covering Riga Castle, Dome Cathedral, St Peter's Church, Swedish Gate, the Three Brothers and Freedom Monument. In the afternoon do a self-led walk of the Art Nouveau district along Alberta iela and Elizabetes iela (free) — arguably the best in Europe. In the evening, catch an organ concert at the Dome Cathedral (tickets ~€10-15 direct, vs the operator's €35 add-on).
🚌Trams on foot / day ticket ~£3
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Riga centre (£15-22/night)
- →Free walking tour of Riga Old Town
- →Art Nouveau district walk
- →Dome Cathedral organ concert
Gauja National Park & Sigulda by train
Sigulda / Riga, Latvia
Take the direct train from Riga to Sigulda (~1h, ~€3-4) and hike the Gauja valley to Turaida Castle (entry ~€6), the bishop's castle ruins and Gutmanis Cave. Trails are easy and well marked; a full day out costs about £15 instead of the operator's €55 excursion. Return to Riga in the evening, or stay overnight in Sigulda for a rural night. Alternative: the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum is reachable by bus from Riga (~€1, entry ~€8).
🚌Train Riga–Sigulda return ~£7
🛏Hostel in Riga or guesthouse in Sigulda (£18-30/night)
- →Turaida Castle
- →Gutmanis Cave
- →Gauja National Park hike
Riga → Tallinn with a Pärnu stop
Pärnu / Tallinn, Estonia
Take a Lux Express or FlixBus from Riga to Tallinn (~4.5h, ~€15-20). Break the journey in Pärnu for 2-3 hours — the 'summer capital' of Estonia with its beach, promenade and wooden villas — a quick walking wander instead of the operator's coach stop. Arrive Tallinn in the evening and check into a hostel inside or just outside the medieval Old Town walls.
🚌Bus Riga–Pärnu–Tallinn ~£18-20
🛏Hostel in Tallinn Old Town (£15-22/night)
- →Pärnu beach & promenade stop
- →Tallinn Old Town arrival
Tallinn Old Town + Kadriorg & KUMU
Tallinn, Estonia
Free walking tour of Tallinn's medieval Old Town (tip-based) covering Toompea Castle, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Dome Church, the Town Hall Square and Great Guild Hall. In the afternoon, walk or take tram 3 to Kadriorg Park (free) and KUMU art museum (~€14 entry) instead of the €52 operator excursion. Optional medieval dinner at Olde Hansa or Maikrahv (~€25-35 — the operator charges €60).
🚌Tram to Kadriorg ~£1.70
🛏Hostel in Tallinn Old Town (£15-22/night)
- →Free walking tour of Tallinn Old Town
- →Toompea & Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- →Kadriorg Park
- →KUMU Art Museum
Lahemaa National Park day trip, then ferry to Helsinki
Lahemaa / Helsinki, Finland
If you want Lahemaa (Palmse, Sagadi and Vihula manors), book a small-group day tour from Tallinn (~£60-75 via GetYourGuide, refreshments included) — or self-drive-free alternative: bus to Võsu or Palmse (~€6 each way) and explore two manors on foot. Then take the evening Tallinn–Helsinki ferry (Eckerö Line or Tallink, 2h, ~€20-35 for foot passengers booked in advance). Overnight in Helsinki — a hostel like Eurohostel or a budget hotel in Kamppi at a fraction of Hotel Glo Art.
🚌Lahemaa buses ~£10 + Tallinn–Helsinki ferry ~£25
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in central Helsinki (£28-45/night)
- →Lahemaa National Park manors
- →Vodka Museum at Palmse
- →Ferry crossing with archipelago views
Helsinki sightseeing + Suomenlinna
Helsinki, Finland
Free walking tour of Helsinki (tip-based) covering Senate Square, the Lutheran Cathedral, Mannerheim Street, Parliament Building, Finlandia Hall, the Sibelius Monument and the Church in the Rock (all free to view). In the afternoon, take the HSL public ferry to Suomenlinna (part of the €9-11 day ticket — the operator charges €62 for the water bus excursion). Walk the sea fortress ramparts and return for a sauna or a Market Square dinner of salmon soup (~€12).
🚌HSL day ticket incl. Suomenlinna ferry ~£9
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in central Helsinki (£28-45/night)
- →Free walking tour of Helsinki
- →Senate Square & Lutheran Cathedral
- →Sibelius Monument
- →Church in the Rock
- →Suomenlinna sea fortress
Helsinki — depart
Helsinki, Finland
Easy morning. Take the HSL commuter train (I or P, ~€4.50) from the central station to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in ~30 mins instead of a €100 private transfer. If you have time, browse the Old Market Hall or catch a ferry to Tallinn again (2h) or the overnight ferry to Stockholm if you're extending the trip.
🚌Airport train ~£4
🛏—
- →Old Market Hall
- →Last Helsinki wander
Self-launched vs. Travel Addicts Club
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Travel Addicts Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£384 | £1,450 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,066 per person (74%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Travel Addicts Club-style trips? Check them out here.~£384
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Baltics and Scandinavia in 10 Days — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £384 per person for 10 days in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia & Finland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Travel Addicts Club?+
Yes — Travel Addicts Club charges around £1,450 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £384 — a saving of roughly £1,066 (74%) per person.
How long is the Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia & Finland trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia & Finland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, budget, city-breaks trip through Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia & Finland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.