Hello dear readers and guests of the site. In previous posts, I promised to tell you about my recent trip to the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), which I managed to visit without planning.
After I managed to achieve my goal in 2012, namely to go to the Black Sea, which I described in the article "", it was decided that there was more than enough rest for the next year. However, it turned out quite differently ...
Trip to the Baltic States (Talin - Sigulda - Riga - Jurmala - Vilnius)
At our work, the "trade union" organized tourist trip in the cities of the Baltic states, and only four of them were allocated to our section. Naturally, everyone wants to travel for a modest price, since half of the trip or even the most part is paid by the company. 
It is clear that I didn’t get a ticket right away, because I occupy a modest position, and there are other people who are offered in the first place. But at the last moment, for unknown reasons, someone refused to travel and then my turn came to me, of course I did everything quickly, and that was to hand in photos, money and a passport for a Schengen visa, also fill out a form and get insurance.
Since I understood that I would be gone for about a week, which means that the blog will not be updated for 10 days, because until you come to your senses after the rest, you also need to write an article in the same time. It was decided to write the article "" in advance, but I planned to publish it on April 13, thanks to the wordpress engine for allowing it to be done.
Estonia - sightseeing Tallinn
Since we live in a small town called Luninets, and the bus departed from Baranovichi, we had to get there by our favorite transport - "diesel train".
There we all plunged into the bus together and went to the city of Lida, because it was necessary to pick up the remaining people there.
Further, as always, crossing the interstate border with Lithuania, where we had to stand for about one hour. It's good that there was no long queue, and checking documents always takes a certain amount of time, especially since we entered the territory of the European Union.
Then, while I slept in 9 hours, we drove through Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. At about 10 o'clock in the morning, the beauty of the city of Tallinn appeared before us.
After breakfast at the hotel, which was in the form of a buffet (food is in everyone's sight and you can eat it as much as you want), we went on a tour of Tallinn.
To tell everything where we have been, I simply will not have the patience to write, as there were a lot of places, and I took even more pictures.
First we drove along the coast Baltic Sea, namely the Tallinn Bay, where you could see several famous monuments (Rusalka, Singing Stage). We saw the Pirita area and the Olympic facilities.
But most of all I was impressed by the Baltic Sea, since there is none at all in our country, and we really like to contemplate the unusual views of the water leaving the horizon.
Usually you go to the sea in summer, but here it is quite another thing to see the sea in winter, despite the fact that it was the middle of spring.
After everyone was finally cold, we went to bask on the bus and we were taken to Old city, the most historic part of Tallinn.
On the way, we were greeted by Estonian youth who walked the streets of the city and were just “fooling around”.
Estonians were the luckiest of all, as they have the most towers and a fortress wall that protected the city from enemies.
We visited the Town Hall Square, which is very different from our Lenin squares. Almost all cultural and public events take place here. We also visited the largest orthodox Church - Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
The old town is divided into Lower and Upper. If you want, you can go up to the observation deck and look at the city from a bird's eye view.
There is really something to see in Tallinn, I was very impressed that everything was done for the convenience of the tourist. Although there is nothing to be surprised here, tourism replenishes the city treasury.
Various souvenirs and trinkets are sold at every step. For a simple fridge magnet, you will have to pay from 2 euros. In Estonia, only euros are used in money circulation.
Their standard of living is much better than in our Belarus, this can be seen even from the cars they drive, including law enforcement agencies.
Then, a little tired, we went to the hotel, where we still had to check in. Probably, I was very far behind civilization, but it was surprising for me that everything in the room works only from a plastic card: a door lock and light.
If we compare their elevator with ours, it is generally heaven and earth, after a ride in ours it can definitely get seasick.
After settling in, we went to see Tallinn by the light of the moon. Although the town is small, there is a place for a walk.
There are a lot of bars, discos and restaurants. We sat in some bar and even treated us to homemade liquor. People are very kind and friendly, though they speak Russian very poorly.
We didn’t have to resort to the services of urban transport, since we could get everywhere with our own two ... After an overnight stay, breakfast and checking out of the room, three hours later we were already in Latvia.
Latvia - Riga, Sigulda and Jurmala
The first thing in Latvia we went to the city of Sigulda. It is also called the Latvian Switzerland - it is a favorite vacation spot for tourists and residents of Riga.
We started our tour from the Sigulda Castle, the passage to which lies through the New Castle, in other words, a palace or a manor. It is a pity that only a small part of the castle has survived to this day.
Then we went to the Gutmana cave. This is one of the largest caves in Latvia, from the base of which flows a source of pure healing spring water.
Then we visited Turaida Castle. Only one tower has survived to this day, the bottom of which is made of stone, and then turns into red brick. After I climbed 5 floors of the tower, I got a beautiful winter view of the castle in heights.
Then we also visited the museum and walked around the landscapes of the estate. Beauty, and only if in such bad weather the landscapes were simply mesmerizing, I can imagine how everything looks there in summer.
After the end of the excursion, we went to Riga, where we were to check into a hotel and go for a walk in Riga at night.
Of course, Riga impressed me a lot, as I like large and beautiful cities... In the evening we decided to walk along the old part of it. Songs are pouring around, music is playing, which fills and charges tourists with a good mood.
We continued our tour of the Baltic Riga in the morning. Although the weather was damp, it still did not spoil our rest.
We have visited many beautiful places and looked at all the main attractions of the city. I cannot but mention the Church of St. John and the House of the Blackheads - some of the most beautiful Gothic buildings.
And also many other attractions: Riga Castle, Dome Cathedral, Swedish Gate, Powder Tower and much more.
By the way, Latvians are very fond of pets, especially cats. Therefore, it is not surprising that they are even used to decorate buildings and other structures.
They say that if you rub a monument "Bremen Town Musicians" and make a wish, then it must necessarily come true.
So I also decided to make it up, and to find out whether it was fulfilled or not, I will tell you at the end of this year in the report on the work done for the whole year. So that keep for updates and don't miss new blog posts.
Having seen enough of Riga, we went to Jurmala, a city that I often heard about on TV, as there are various New Wave festivals, as well as the well-known KVN-Voting Kivin and others.
Of course, I tried to look at concert hall "DZINTARI", however construction worksand there was no good access to it.
But most of all I was impressed again by the Baltic Sea, or rather the Gulf of Riga. For the first time in my life I saw the sea, which was practically frozen. I threw a coin for luck to return there again.
After Jurmala, we plunged into the bus amicably and went on the final tour of Lithuania.
Lithuania - travel in Vilnius
Arriving in the capital of Lithuania Vilnius, we stayed overnight at a hotel. If we compare this hotel with Tallinn or Riga, then I would give it 2 out of 5. It can be seen that it was very poor before, but a small renovation made its own adjustments.
After an overnight stay, we went on a bus and walking tour of the city. I liked the Cathedral very much, which is of great value both for Lithuania and for the whole world.
The walls of the cathedral are decorated with paintings and frescoes from the 16th century, and a museum is located in the underground.
It was also fascinating to see the monument to Gediminas, the church of St. Anne, three crosses, the church of St. Peter and Paul.
After a sightseeing tour of the old city, everyone wanted to go to the Akropolis shopping center (Akropolis). This is the so-called entertainment center where you can buy absolutely everything and also have a great time.
You can really find anything here. Starting as a constructor Lego and ending with a cool car.
What is most interesting is the opportunity to buy some product at good discounts, but I did not find anything for myself, since the prices were no different from ours in Belarus. But it's really worth visiting ...
After shopping center we went to our homeland, and after 10 hours I was already sharing my impressions with my relatives and friends.
Summing up
To be honest, of the three countries I liked Estonia and Latvia the most. And if we consider the cities, then Riga, perhaps, has no equal. So historical and modern city In one place. However, Tallinn is more modern in terms of development.
It felt like you were not in Estonia, but some Czech Republic. In a word, Tallinn impressed me with its modern lifestyle, which cannot be said about Lithuania (Vilnius), which reminded me more of my country.
As for prices, Estonia turned out to be the most expensive country, where prices are cheaper in Latvia, and Lithuania has become the most affordable.
Summing up my expenses, they turned out to be very modest.
1) Insurance + voucher (travel, accommodation, breakfast and a guide) + visa cost me and my wife $ 400 for two.
2) Well, the rest of the expenses amounted to another $ 300 for two.
The total is 400 + 300 \u003d 700 divided by 2 \u003d $ 350 per person. I think it's very cheap, so if you have the opportunity, be sure to go on an excursion to the Baltics.
I will be glad to hear everyone in the comments who have already visited these countries, what impression did you have?
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- two countries and five cities.
Day 1. Moscow - Riga - Jurmala
I decided to start my journey with, where I arrived by train (5 thousand re.). I love to travel with this particular type of transport, I like to look out the window and observe the cities, forests and fields flashing one after another. I sat in the compartment late in the evening, and the next morning I found myself in one of the most beautiful cities Baltic states.
I lived in a hostel for two nights in Riga Seaqulls Garret Hostel (60 EUR for two for two nights). About the hostel, I will say that it was not the best choice - the beds creaked, screamed outside the door, and terrible snoring was heard at night. Then I still had little experience + greed is my second nature. Now I am trying to fight this quality for the sake of comfort.
In general, you won't be able to relax in the hostel, unless, of course, you first stock up on earplugs. But the main thing is cheap and clean bed.
Leaving my things, I decided to postpone the tour of the city until tomorrow, and on the first day of my trip to go to the famous resort city, which hosts the "New Wave", "Jurmalina" and other festivals. It's terribly interesting! We all think that Jurmala is whole city, but no. This is one collective name for the whole coast, where such settlements as Dubulti, Bulduri, Lielupi and God forgive me, Stirnurags are located. But I went to Majori.
How did I get to Jurmala? Jurmala is located just 20 kilometers from Riga. The easiest way is by train, which leaves every 15-20 minutes from the central station in the direction of Sloka or Tukums.
I spent the rest of the evening in Riga, in the restaurant with cows "1221", which is located on "Blumenstrasse" - Flower Street.
Day 2. Riga
Riga is a real medieval Europe, it is old City on the cold Baltic coast. She is like a rich merchant's wife who guards her treasures. The city seemed to be frozen and does not want to change anything. This trip for me became like a journey through time.
All day I walked along the narrow streets of the city, ate at the best restaurants, sightseeing tours and fulfilled the "must visit" plan, which I wrote about.
Day 3. Trakai - Kaunas - Vilnius
Early in the morning I left Riga for a new country for me - Lithuania. I got there on a luxury bus, one might say a five-star bus with all the amenities. I alone had a whole chair on which the lunch lay. Before my eyes hung a TV, filled with films and music for every color and taste. And for all this I had to pay only some 1200 rubles.
It takes only three hours to get to Lithuania, but this trip was like a whole journey for me. Ha window flashed green fields, grazing cows and Lithuanian-Latvian villages. And it was so good! Look for bus tickets from Riga to Vilnius.
Upon arrival, I immediately checked into the hostel Jimmy jumps house (30 EUR). Cozy, not expensive, youth hostel, where you can make yourself a delicious breakfast with waffles in the morning.
Trakai is another reason to come to Lithuania for the weekend. This is a great travel idea, let's say, for the May holidays. When people talk about the Baltic country, they first of all remember Trakai, a place that should be included in the "must see" list.
Trakai harmoniously combines an orange-colored castle; mirror surface of water; boats painted in the Lithuanian flag with fishermen sitting in them; quaint courtyards with ladybirds, hand-painted glass bottles. All this is complemented by sunny weather, spring mood and red tulips that grow everywhere here.
This is a wonderful place that harmoniously combines a castle, a mirror-like surface of the water, boats painted in the Lithuanian flag and quaint courtyards with ladybirds, glass bottles, hand-painted with acrylics. This is all complemented by sunny weather, spring mood and red tulips that grow everywhere here.
Not far from Vilnius there is a wonderful town Kaunas, which has not yet been trodden down and untouched by crowds of tourists, which is definitely worth a look if you are in Lithuania.
Having returned to Vilnius, happy as an elephant, I quickly fell asleep. The next day promised to be fine and rich in pleasant impressions from walks in Vilnius.
Day 4. Vilnius
After exploring the city, it turned out that - this is an amazing place to relax on may holidays... You even wonder how so many interesting things can fit in such a very small town.
We went to the Prie Katedros brewery, where we tasted local beer, climbed the Castle Hill, walked around the Old Town, examined all the painted houses in Uzupis.
We returned home by train Vilnius-Moscow (we paid 7 thousand per person for the compartment).
This route through the Baltic States turned out to be full and rich, we tasted a lot, and saw even more. For four days on the road, 38 thousand were spent for two, including travel, accommodation, meals and a couple of souvenirs.
To get to know the Baltics, you need to visit all three countries: Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Some of you will say that the Baltics are not only the above countries, but we will only concern them. First of all, we will visit three capitals: Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn. It is advisable to visit them in the same weather and with the same mood, so that nothing prevents you from comparing these three cities. Do not listen to anyone who says that this or that is more beautiful or interesting. They are all interesting, beautiful and, in general, everyone has their own opinion. I have been to the Baltics several times, I liked something more, so I tried to include this in the route. The route program is designed in such a way that it can be completed in a week. So: St. Petersburg - Tallinn - Cesis - Sigulda - Riga - Bauska - Siauliai - Kaunas - Vilnius - Daugavpils - Rezekne - St. Petersburg. These are the key points, now in more detail:
Saint Petersburg - Tallinn
I will not dwell on the preparation of the car, documents, etc. You can't predict everything. However, recently, I take at least two navigators on the road. I trust "booking.com" more and more and, if possible, return to cash. Do not forget that it is difficult to cross the Estonian border back and you have to buy a queue, so we return through Latvia.
The distance from St. Petersburg to Tallinn is 362 kilometers and the estimated travel time is about 5 hours, excluding the time spent at customs. It is best to move around while everyone is asleep, so we leave for an hour at 4 am. At the border we will be about 6, and there we are already as lucky. It takes 4 hours to get to know the Old Town of Tallinn sufficiently. For those who like slower this time is not enough.
Car parks near the Old Town cost 3-4 euros per hour, there is cheaper nearby, but it is not a fact that they will free places... If we compare prices for hotels in all three capitals, then Tallinn and Riga are approximately the same, but Vilnius is cheaper, but not worse.
For me, Tallinn is always different in terms of impact. Sometimes I admire him, and sometimes he is boring to me, apparently it depends on the mood, mood and company. In the "Old City", in addition to the main attractions, such as:
Town Hall
The Dome Cathedral
Oleviste Church
Niguliste Church
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Fortress towers and walls
Jaani Church
… There are many beautiful and remote streets, corners, courtyards. There are several viewing platformswith beautiful views of the city. Lots of shops and interesting cafes. The architecture here is very different, of different eras, styles and "nationalities".
I will never forget the impressions of my first visit to Tallinn. It was on New Year 2007, when they started trying to ride tourists from Helsinki-Stockholm-Tallinn. The first sign was the passenger ship Vana-Tallin, that is, "Old Tallinn", not to be confused with the drink of the same name. And, by the way, it justified its name - it was built in 1974. That year there was no winter and no ice. In Helsinki on January 1 it was +6, and in Stockholm +8. When we were going from Helsinki to Stockholm, we got into a terrible storm and people, remembering this night, already leaving Stockholm for Tallinn, were firmly "typed" to fall asleep and not hang out on the decks, clinging to everything that was possible and to each other. We arrived in Tallinn all a little rumpled, but in anticipation of new impressions. We were allocated buses, guides and some time to explore the city. For an hour they gathered and waited for latecomers, then rode all over Tallinn and listened to the guide, who did not really hide her hatred of everything Russian. After dropping us off at the walls of the "Old City" and giving us another guide, she left with the bus. The first words of the "new" guide were: "Forget everything she said," "Now they ran, we have little time." We didn’t seem to lag behind, but at the next turn the guide disappeared. 15 minutes have passed since the beginning of his tour. There were half a group of us, we spat and each went our own way. It was chilly, damp, cold and windy outside. Only in the evening, when the garlands were lit and the wind died down, did it become better, warmer and much more beautiful. That's how they were - first impressions.
If you are not going to visit a pub in the evening or just look at the city at night, then you can stop for the night on the road towards Riga. I stayed at the Ruunawere Hotel near Tallinn and loved it. There is a small sketch about the hotel in the "Video" section. At all interesting places for the night there are many: estates; guest houses; cottages, etc. If you are planning your trip 21 days in advance, you can get exclusive deals on hotel reservations, but you probably know that. If you are planning to stay in the city, I recommend Kalev Spa Hotel & Waterpark. Comfortable, cozy, next to the "Old Town", a good restaurant and after long walks you can lie in a jacuzzi, relax your muscles or swim.
Cesis-Sigulda
From Tallinn to Cesis (Sigulda) about 300 kilometers. By time 4 hours. You can go in three ways, but the easiest way is through Pärnu. After Pärnu, the road goes along the coast and if it is summer outside, you can turn to the sea and swim, sunbathe. Relax in one word. The main sights of Sigulda and Cesis cannot be seen in one day, even briefly, so expect to spend the night somewhere. Both of these cities are approximately at the same distance to Riga, Sigulda is a little closer, where you stop, does not play a special role.
In the area of \u200b\u200bthese two cities, there is a real concentration of medieval castles, various attractions, there is something to see and do. Residents of Riga think the same, so it can get crowded on weekends. Draw conclusions.
Let's start with Cesis. Here is the largest and best preserved in Latvia ...
Cessian (Vendensky) Castle
A beautiful park at the foot of the castle disposes for a leisurely walk and relaxation. The castle itself is no different, it's just interesting to touch the history, take the semblance of an old lantern and walk along the dark staircases and back streets. Next to the old castle is
New Cessian Castle
There are cash desks, as well as history and art museums. Almost close to these castles is located
St john's church
This magnificent structure is the largest church in Latvia, built outside Riga (XIII century). She belonged to the Livonian Order.
In addition to the main attractions, it is very pleasant to walk around the block of wooden buildings. Nice houses that have seen a lot interesting stories, provide an opportunity to take a break from the "stone jungle" of big cities.
Not far from Cesis is another attraction of the local region, the so-called
Raiši lake castle
Latgalians lived here in the XIX-XI centuries. A large enough area for a walk, where you can get acquainted with the ancient life and buildings, the ruins of the Araiši Order Castle and the lake settlement.
Here are the must-sees in the area:
Turaida castle
Old Sigulda Castle
New Sigulda Castle
Of course, besides the castles, there is much more to do here. Huge park, zoos, cable cars, caves, etc. Work in winter ski slopes... Here is one of the best bobsleigh tracks.
In these parts, I stayed in only one hotel - Hotel Atputa, it is located in Cesis. Quiet, comfortable hotel, good restaurant, friendly service.
Riga
From Sigulda to Riga it takes less than an hour. As soon as I enter Riga, I cannot get rid of the feeling that I am driving along the outskirts of St. Petersburg. The building of the Latvian Academy completes the image of a large, Soviet city. Only in the "Old City" you come to your senses and return to the tourist's skin. It is better to park the car from the side of the embankment. Until I forget, the police in Latvia are the same as in Russia. They like to check for alcohol, set up an ambush, “pay on the spot”. If there is something written in Latvian on the parking signs, it is better not to stop there, you will be fined. Alcohol: Estonia (0.2 pr), Latvia (0.5 pr), Lithuania (0.4 pr). I wish not to get caught.
Riga is different! Different than Tallinn. Firstly, there is no height difference, and therefore everything is, as it were, on the same plane, along the Daugava embankment. By the way, be sure to visit the other side of the river, a beautiful panorama of the "Old City" opens up from there. All sights are tightly packed. In order to inspect absolutely the entire "Old City" you will more than once go to the places that you have already seen. This is not a "running in a circle", but somewhere nearby. Tallinn's architecture is diverse and multinational, and Riga has a certain style.
I have noticed for a long time that tourists are equally fond of both large, huge churches or castles, and very small, even tiny "mulks", such as the St. Petersburg "Chizhik-Pyzhik". And everywhere, in any city in the world, the reaction to them is the same. It is imperative to stroke or toss a coin, and of course, take a picture. One of these Riga "mulekas" is a monument to the "Bremen Town Musicians", almost a copy of the same one located in hometown... Here, bouncing is also included in the attraction program. Everyone is trying to stroke the animal located higher. Walking around Old Riga, you will see unusual figures and installations more than once.
The Bremen Town Musicians
Now, let's go over the main attractions of the "Old City"
House of Blackheads
The Dome Cathedral
Church of St. Peter and panoramas from the observation deck.
Town Hall and Town Hall Square
Riga castle
Church of Our Lady of Sorrows
In Soviet times, as soon as it was necessary to show "abroad", all the film studios went to Riga, here every house, every intersection was visited as scenery. Here lived "Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson", spy passions "Seventeen Moments of Spring" were played out, songs "D" Artanyan and the Three Musketeers were sung
At the expense of having a snack in Riga, the choice is huge and the price tags are already quite democratic. If you have heard about LIDO, then I would not recommend visiting it in the "Old City", you can spoil the impression, it is better to go to the LIDO Recreation Center on Krasta Street 76. The food there is excellent, tasty and not expensive.
LIDO
For tourists with children, I advise you to see the Riga Zoo and its guests. Generally, Riga a beautiful city and I think you will want to come here more than once, to see not only it, but also the surroundings, such as Jurmala, Jaunmokas Castle, the Daugava Museum. Or spend a summer night on the streets and in the pubs of the "Old City" that never sleeps.
Bauska-Rundale Palace
If you have already seen everything in Riga and are not going to stay for the night, you can go towards the town of Bauska. More precisely, our goal is the Rundale Palace. It takes about an hour to drive, and I can recommend Hotel Rundale. It is very favorably located just 250 meters from the palace itself.
The town of Bauska is not big at all, but there are many interesting places here too. There are churches, old quarters, Bauska Castle. Delicious Latvian beer is brewed here. On the Town Hall Square, you can have a good and tasty sitting in a cafe. But due to the fact that we visited this city only for the sake of the Rundale Palace, we will go there.
The palace belonged to Duke Ernst Johann Biron. It was built in 1740. In the same year, Biron, after a coup d'état, was arrested and exiled, returning only in 1763. At the same time, by 1768, Rastrelli completed the interior decoration of the premises.
The palace amazes with its sophistication of interiors and richness of decoration. Unfortunately, I was there in winter time, and I was not able to see the splendor of a blossoming French park, spread over an area of \u200b\u200b10 hectares, closed on all sides by a canal, behind which, in turn, stretches a hunting park.
In the palace, I constantly do something, restore, decorate, take care of, restore, even clothes. Everything shines with cleanliness and you can feel with what love the local workers treat the exhibits. The palace and its decoration left an indelible impression on the memory. I will definitely come in the summer to take a walk in the garden and park.
Cross Mountain. Šiauliai
Frenkel's palace
Now we are heading towards Lithuania, more precisely, towards the city of Siauliai. A little before reaching the city, we make a compulsory stop at Krestovaya Mountain or Mountain of Crosses. This is one of the most unexpected attractions of the entire route. To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect, but I heard it and was ready to be surprised, but not so much. Crosses from all over the world are indeed brought here, and this is indeed a Mountain of crosses.
The place is shrouded in legends. Under Soviet rule, it was destroyed 4 times, but the Mountain has not gone anywhere, and there are more and more crosses. Even the Pope was "marked" here with a rather impressive cross. Our crosses, like water droplets, melted in the sea of \u200b\u200bhuge waves from the crosses.
Even if this place initially did not carry any energy load, millions of prayers and aspirations that came here have saturated this place with faith. There are no restrictions, orders, statutes, which are so loved in the churches of various confessions, here the person is one - on - one with his feelings, with God.
The next point of our trip will be the city of Siauliai. We were passing through there, stopped to have a bite to eat, walk along the pedestrian street, go to the Cathedral. The weather was disgusting, and we were in a hurry towards Kaunas, so I can't say anything special about this town. There was an attempt to visit the cat museum, but, just sticking his nose there, they decided not to waste time.
Now we are going to one of the most beautiful cities in the Baltic States - Kaunas, it is called “Beautiful”. And there is even no doubt that it is necessary to stay there for the night.
Kaunas
It so often happens that people go to the capitals, and nearby cities, which are no less interesting, pass by. Kaunas does not complain about the lack of tourists, but the number of tourists going there is undeservedly less than to Vilnius and Trakai. Kaunas is great. IMHO, of course, but even the weather didn't stop me from just falling in love with this city.
The "Old Town" of Vilnius is large, spacious, mostly pedestrian, protected by UNESCO. I really liked the leisurely stroll along the main streets and squares, but there are a lot of people, but if you turn off somewhere, in a couple of minutes it becomes just deserted and you can get lost. I parked my car in one of the parking lots in the southern part of the "Old City", put a mark in the navigator, relying on the technique, and set off for a reckless study, instead of taking chalk and leaving marks on houses and sidewalks. Lost. And parking is paid by the hour, the fines are large, unpleasant. The conclusion is that it is necessary to park the car in the northern part, where the Castle Hill and Gedemina Tower are. If this landmark falls out of your sight, people will help. And I could not even explain plainly to passers-by where my car was "next to a church or a church." Yes, they are here…. Now, with the arrival of new gadgets and applications, it has become much easier.
What is interesting to see in the "Old City"?
Church of St. Kazemir
Presidential palace
Cathedral of St. Nicholas
Church of St. Paraskeva (Pyatnitskaya Church)
Cathedral
Sharp brama
Bernardine Church and St. Anne's Church
In addition, there is also: the tower of Gedemin, the church of St. Teresa Church, Church of the Holy Spirit, Church of the Holy Trinity, bastion of the Vilnius defensive wall, St. John's Church, St. Michael, Church of St. Anna, St. Ignatius and the Jesuit Monastery, Alumnat, St. Catherine, Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Church of St. Nicholas, etc., etc. This is not all, and this is only in the "Old City" itself. Now can you imagine how difficult it was to find the desired church, church or temple?
One of the nicest experiences is the prices. In cafes, restaurants, hotels, etc. Whether in the business center or in the "Old Town" there are many places where you can enjoy your evening, night and all the rest of the day. We ate, rested, ate some more and set off. Now in back side, home. Daugavpils will be an intermediate point and there you can spend the night or see the city and drive to the small town of Rezekne and stop there.
Daugavpils-Rezekne
Daugavpils is the very city in which I was once again convinced how the weather affects perception, first impression, and finally in the photograph. The first time I was there in terrible, nasty, dirty weather, passing through, and the second - nice weather, warm, in no hurry, wonderful hotel, unhurried promenade. Earth and sky. An excellent town, beautiful and interesting. The most important attraction, or rather the “mountain of sights”, is the “church hill”. Here literally in meters from each other there are four temples of different confessions.
Martin Luther Cathedral
Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Mother of God
Daugavpils Orthodox cathedral holy noble princes Boris and Gleb
Novosretensky Church of the Resurrection, the Nativity of the Virgin and St. Nicholas (Old Believers)
In the city itself there is a small pedestrian street where you can just walk and look around. There is a fortress here, it is a definite symbol of the city. In terms of accommodation, I can recommend the Park Hotel Latgola, it is located in the center, modern, not expensive, there are often special offers (double standard - 2000 rubles), a panorama of the city opens from the upper floors. If you are unlucky with the weather, then it is better to leave the inspection of this city for another time, and go towards the town of Rezekne and stop there to rest.
To see information about Rezekne or Daugavpils (any other object), click on the name. We stayed in Rezekne just to rest before the last dash to the house. We walked, sat well in the restaurant of our Kolonna Hotel Rezekne, and got up early (at 4 am), taking the "breakfast to go", pre-ordered at the hotel, went towards the border.
From Daugavpils to the border 2 hours, from Rezekne 40 minutes. Arriving at the border at about 5 am, we found a really sleeping customs, we had to wake up to let us through. A nightmare, they could "leak" unnoticed and take out the entire Baltic region. That's basically it. The route, as you understand, can be easily changed, for example, you can organize everything with the opposite opposite. And from Tallinn go to Helsinki. 2-3 hours by ferry and you are in the capital of Finland. And there already all of Scandinavia is in front of us.
On my website in the section for tourists there is a "Planner", where you can view the route and description, calculate the mileage, fuel and estimate the time. Have a good time in the Baltics. Get new impressions and just have a good rest.
I want to tell you how my friend and I ourselves, without agencies, visited the Baltics. I will not talk about the sights, only about the case. How to go yourself. This is my first independent trip.
At the time of our trip, such a tour of the three capitals of the Baltic countries cost 44,000 per person for a week, and we got 23,000. Almost two days in each city. There is a difference!!! TIP: I always buy books from the Orange Guide series. A wonderful series. I take it with me on all trips when I go myself.
VISA. I must say right away that we decided to submit documents to the visa center. A little more expensive, but easier: if something goes wrong, they will still reprint the documents on their forms. For money. Documents are submitted to the embassy or visa center of the country where you will spend more time, namely nights, regardless of the sequence of visiting countries. We started from Lithuania, but we applied for a visa to the visa center of Latvia, because there were two days in Vilnius, but one overnight stay, and in Riga and Tallinn for two nights. You can find a list of documents on the websites. Along with the documents, be sure to bring copies of your hotel reservation and copies of all tickets, insurance is required. Read carefully. For example, at the time of our registration, they did not accept hotel reservations from booking in Lithuania. Maybe something has changed. We booked on Hotels.com. There were not many people in the center, they handed over an hour and a half. We waited longer for the documents to be reprinted. After 10 days my husband arrived and took the passports with visas. When submitting documents, you mark who will pick it up. Very comfortably.
MOVING BETWEEN COUNTRIES: we chose the bus. Tickets were booked on the website.
A very user-friendly site. Buses take 4 hours on average. There is not much to see on the road. The buses were empty. Maybe it's not a tourist season, or maybe so lucky. We chose the afternoon, left at 5 pm, arrived at 9 pm, slept, and in the morning with fresh strength to walk around the city. Hotels were chosen closer to the center and to the bus stations so as not to spend extra money on the road ..
HOTELS. We chose inexpensive ones with the expectation only to spend the night. Breakfast.
VILNIUS. We arrived by airBaltic aircraft. The plane is tiny: rows of 15, two seats across the aisle.
We flew perfectly. From the airport we took a bus to the Comfort Vilnius 3 * hotel. In Vilnius, there are two hotels with a similar name and we were a little misinformed by the locals, but from the same hotel
to our extra 15 minutes on foot. Found. The hotel is small but cute. For a night or two, no more. There was not even a closet in our room.
We took only breakfast in all hotels. The food was decent, the linen was clean. All attractions are within walking distance. They did not spend on the road anywhere.
We arrived in Vilnius at 10 am, the bus to Riga was the next day at 16.30. From the hotel to the bus station on foot 10 min. Almost two days were enough to see the main attractions and just walk around the city. But the review is not about that. Travel yourself, fear nothing.
RIGA. From the bus station to the hotel 4 * on foot 10 minutes. The hotel is very good. We got a discount when booking. Breakfast for slaughter, there was even champagne. There is no such breakfast in Turkish fives. Clean, quiet, 5-7 minutes to the center. The room even had an ironing board with an iron, kettle, tea, coffee. Bus to Tallinn at 17.00. Everywhere we went on foot, we did not spend on transport.
TALLINN. In Tallinn, from the bus station to the hotel 3 * by tram 10 min and walk 5 min. The hotel is not bad, but there is no pallet in the shower, and water almost did not go into the hole in the floor and flooded the entire floor in the bathroom. But in a mock there was a mop, you know, with such an elastic band to collect water. But across the road is the Old Town and all the sights. Back to Moscow by airBaltic. By taxi 15 euros and in 20 minutes on the spot.
CONCLUSION: By yourself it is twice cheaper, you are your own masters, travel yourself and everything will be fine. We walked in all cities, I can't say anything about transport prices.
Finally, I got around to writing a text about our autotravel route in the Baltics.
The total length of the path is 2,975 kilometers, but taking into account the trips within the cities and to the surrounding attractions, we hit much more - 3,672 kilometers. I must say right away that it is worth going on a journey only if you have a love for traveling by car, and if you are traveling with a child, it is desirable that he shares this passion.
Our daughter, fortunately, is growing up as a tireless traveler, and takes long trips more than favorably - after all, during this time you can listen to a whole bunch of fairy tales!
So, the route is broken down by day:
In the morning we leave Moscow along the M-1 highway and drive towards Smolensk (380 km). To save time and nerves, I highly recommend using the Odintsovo toll bypass.
In Smolensk we have lunch (I highly recommend the Peter Push cafe @restoran_peterpush on Lenin Street, 14) and move on towards Belarus. There is no border between countries, even the most formal one.
We didn’t like a single hotel in Minsk, so we spent the night in the "Quiet Dvorik" agro-estate in Lagoisk (306 km from Smolensk)
We will have breakfast and drive to Minsk (distance from Lagoisk - 40 km).
There we went to the zoo @minsk_zoo_official (Tashkentskaya street, 40), had lunch and moved towards the border with Lithuania (to the Benyakoni crossing point - 191 km)
We cross the border and go to Vilnius (distance from the border - 53 km), where we settle for the night
The third day takes place in Vilnius - we have already been here, so they did not repeat the tour of the historical center. Instead, we visited:
Museum under open air "Park of Europe" (Joneikiskiu village, LT-15148)
Cafe with a huge playground "World of the Dwarfs" (Laisvės pr. 88)
Interactive Toy Museum (2 Shiltadarzho st.)
We begin to move to the sea. We leave Vilnius in the direction of Trakai, but on the way we enter a wonderful corn maze (Vilnius – Trakai 16 km)
After getting out of the labyrinth, we go to Trakai and walk around the castle there (only 11 km)
From there we leave for Kaunas for a walk and lunch (on the way - 87 km)
After Kaunas we continue to go to the sea. Our correspondent on the coast was the town of Sventoja (from Kaunas - 250 km)
We come to our senses after a busy day and explore the surroundings. In the morning we went to the beach, and then went to the HBH entertainment complex Palanga (Zhibininkai, Lepu, 23). You can easily hang out there for the whole day.
In the morning - the sea, and then we go to the dinosaur park DINO.LT (Radailiai, Klaipeda region). After the lizards, you can have lunch and walk in Klaipeda or Palanga, they are very close.
We will have breakfast and go to the old port of Klaipeda, where we will take a ferry to the Curonian Spit. In this part of the spit, you should definitely visit the Lithuanian Sea Museum, it is beautiful.
We return back by ferry, get into the car and drive towards the border with Latvia. There are again no borders between countries.
We spend the night in a small but wonderful town of Liepaja (from Šventoji to Liepaja - 61 km)
We walk around Liepaja, swim, weather permitting, and go to Riga (drive to the capital 216 km)
There we went to the Latvian Museum of Nature (K. Barona st. 4), had dinner and went to bed.
This day takes place in Riga - we dedicated it to a walk along the huge Ethnographic Museum In Latvia in the open air (Bonaventuras street 10).
Then I recommend stopping by for lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants of the Lido chain - it's delicious, cheap and very colorful
We have breakfast and go wandering around the historic center Riga. To appreciate all the beauty of the city, we climb the tower of St. Peter's Church (Skarnu street 19).
Then we leave the capital and go to Cesis to see the local castle (88 km)
Then we say goodbye to Latvia and leave for Tallinn (on the way - 300 km)
We walk around Tallinn, although one day here, of course, is not a crime.
We went to the Tallinn Zoo @tallinnzoo (Ehitajate tee 150 / Paldiski mnt 145), the medieval restaurant Olde Hansa @olde_hansa (Vene 1) and went to the Pirita beach 15 minutes from the city center.
In the morning we walk around Tallinn, and then we move towards the border with Russia - it was more convenient for us to leave through Narva (211 km). Don't forget to sign up for the electronic queue!
Once at home, we go to rest and sleep in Veliky Novgorod (distance - 272 km)
We will have breakfast, walk around the Novgorod Kremlin and set off towards Moscow. I would make the most of the paid Leningradka, because it saves time very much.
We have lunch and stretch our legs in Tver (from Novgorod - 387 km)
The last push to Moscow (176 km)
