Which one is more beautiful? Which one is for you? A complete comparison between Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn after visiting all of them!
I have visited Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania multiple times. I’ve been there in summer and winter. I’ve seen the contrasts between the frozen Baltic Sea and the beautiful warm summers. I never doubted which country to visit first. When one of my best friends (many years ago) went on an Erasmus to Riga, I knew it would be the first one I would visit. After that, I went to Tallinn. A few years later, Vilnius, and then, all 3 at the same time.
If you are here, it’s because you are considering a trip to the Baltic countries, but you are not sure which one (or ones) of the capitals to include. In this guide, you will find out what the differences are between Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius, so you can create your perfect trip!
Curious about the 3 cities? Check my detailed Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius photography guides!
How different are Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius?
Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius are quite different, but at the same time have many similarities. The most obvious one is the geographical proximity. From North to South, we have Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius, the capital cities of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, respectively.
In terms of population, the three cities have similar numbers. Vilnius and Riga have around 600.000 inhabitants, while Tallinn has around 500.000.
The main differences, though, are in the vibe of each city.
Tallinn is the most Scandinavian of the three. Although it’s not part of the Scandinavian countries, the city feels more Nordic, slightly more modern (in some areas), and has a unique vibe compared to Riga and Tallinn.
Riga feels sadder. Let me explain myself. Sad in the sense that as a city, it seems it’s still waking up from the soviet occupation. I will detail more below, but it could be that it is the most beautiful of the 3 cities.
Vilnius is the most European of the three and the one that has a more relaxed vibe. To describe it in one word, it’s a cosy city. Easy to visit, and very livable.
Tallinn vs Riga vs Vilnius: tourist attractions
When comparing the tourist attractions of the 3 cities, we can see some differences, but also points in common. The 3 cities have many interesting points of interest.
However, in terms of the absolute number of things to see, Riga and Tallinn come at the top. In the case of Riga, because of its easy day trips (see below). In Tallinn, because of its amazing Old Town. Vilnius is still a great city to visit, but it doesn’t have as many things to do as the other cities. Yet, it is my favourite one.
Tallinn vs Riga vs Vilnius: Day Trips
This is a decisive factor for me when visiting a city. Not only what I can do in the city, but also near it. All 3 Baltic Capitals have amazing one-day trips.
- Vilnius has Trakai, a stunning castle at the heart of an island in a lake. Perfect for a one-day trip, easy to reach by public transport.
- Riga has Jürmala, Bog Walks, and Sigulda: a beach day in Jürmala, a day surrounded by nature in the Kemeri Bog walk, and beautiful historical castles in Sigulda.
- Tallinn has bog walks, and Helsinki. Yes, you can take a ferry and go to a different country in a single day, besides some nature one-day trips.
As you can see, the 3 cities have great one-day trip options, but if I had to order them, it would be first Riga, second Vilnius and then Tallinn.
Tallinn vs Riga vs Vilnius: Culinary offering
I did not find many differences between the 3 countries when it comes to food. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised by the culinary offerings of the Baltic countries. I like trying some local dishes when I travel, and I wasn’t expecting much from the Baltics.
It’s true that it’s not Italy, Spain or France. But there are a good number of restaurants with very interesting cuisines. I tried some good restaurants in all 3 countries, some offering local cuisine, others with fusion between the local cuisine and others, such as Indian or Portuguese.
If you are looking for a culinary trip, it might not be the best place. Otherwise, make sure to try the local specialties!
Tallinn vs Riga vs Vilnius: Nightlife
This is an area I am not a big expert in. However, some of my friends are, and from what I hear, Riga and Tallinn are the two places to go if you are looking for some nightlife. However, overall, the Baltic capitals are not extremely famous for their nightlife. If this is what you are after, you might get more action in other European countries.
Tallinn vs Riga vs Vilnius: Prices
Let’s talk about prices. In general, the Baltic capitals are not very expensive. If you compare it to other European capital cities, such as Berlin, Rome, London, Paris,…, they are significantly cheaper.
However, if we want to compare the 3 of them, the further north you go, the more expensive it is. Vilnius is definitely the cheapest of the 3. Riga is slightly more expensive, especially in the Old Town. Tallinn has touristy prices, and the change in recent years has been notorious. Between my first and second visit to the city, I felt like the prices had doubled, especially when it comes to accommodation. However, it is still affordable if you compare it with the Central or Northern Europe destinations.
Can I visit all 3 Baltic capitals (Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius) in one single trip?
The answer to this question is yes. However, there’s a but. The connectivity between the three cities is bad. You would expect reliable, high-speed trains connecting Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius, but this does not exist. There’s one train connecting Riga and Vilnius, but its frequency and speed are not optimal at all.
Thus, the way to travel between the 3 cities is either by car (if you rent one) or by bus (what most people do). There are many businesses covering the route between Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and the buses are comfortable, but it is a bit disappointing that it is the only way to connect the 3 capitals.
You can fly, but the time spent going to the airport, waiting for the flight, flying, landing, and getting to the city center is almost the same it takes to drive. Oh, and buses are really cheap.
Let’s see now what makes each city unique, and why you should (or should not) visit each of them. This is based on my own experience visiting each city more than once. I have challenged my thoughts with others around me, and I think my point of view is not unique, but your experience can differ from mine. If that’s the case, happy to hear about it!
What makes Tallinn unique?
Tallinn is the most modern of the 3 cities. Also, it is the one with a more Nordic style. It feels a bit similar to Denmark or even Sweden in some areas. However, their biggest influence is that of Finland. At a short ferry ride (even as a one-day trip), there is Helsinki, the capital city of Finland. Thus, it is common for Finnish people to spend their days in Estonia, or in the old days, to go there to buy cheaper alcohol.
Reasons to visit Tallinn
- If you are looking for an established tourist destination, Tallinn is the one that feels more touristy. There are tours everywhere, the tourism facilities are very developed, and it is very easy to explore.
- If you want a weekend getaway: Tallinn, together with Vilnius, might be the quickest city to explore, if you only want to explore its old town. If we include daytrips, there’s much more to visit, but as a weekend getaway, Tallinn might be the best one out of the three, in terms of size, beauty and convenience to visit.
- If you want to include a day trip to another country, Tallinn is the only city that offers this possibility, a day trip to Helsinki, Finland. While 24h might not be enough to see all that the city has to offer, it is a good opportunity to get a first glimpse of Finland.
Reasons not to visit Tallinn
- If you want a cheap destination: although the three cities are not very expensive, Tallinn is the most expensive of them. Most likely due to its Nordic (and Finnish) influence, the hotels and food prices are significantly above those in Riga, and especially Vilnius.
- If you want a big city: none of the three cities is especially good at that, but Tallinn is compact. While it’s true that there are other areas to explore in the city (I list them on my photography guide), the Old Town is really compact.
- If you look for a hidden gem: Tallinn is already a tourist attraction. Unless you travel at specific moments in the low or shoulder season, you will not be alone there.
What makes Riga unique?
I really like Riga, but to me it has an industrial /post-USSR vibe. Which I love, because I can see the charm in it, but I believe in a few years the city will be much better as a tourist destination. It has a really beautiful old town, but there are some thigns missing. For example, the riverside, compared to that of Vilnius, is clearly worse. It’s more industrial and less friendly to people. But let’s see the reasons to visit and not visit Riga.
Reasons to visit Riga
- If you want to do day trips: If you are looking for a stay longer than a weekend, Riga might be your place. Besides a beautiful Old Town, Riga has multiple day trips: Sigulda area with the Turaida Castle, the bog hikes (like Kemeri), Jürmala, a great beach destination, and Cesis, another beautiful castle.
- If you want some beach and sun: while the Baltics are not known for their amazing beaches, Riga (and Jürmala) are probably the closest to a beach destination among the 3 cities. Tallinn is more Nordic, so the water temperature will be lower, and Vilnius doesn’t have access to the sea.
- If you want to learn about soviet history: I already mentioned it, but Riga is the city where I felt that soviet times were more present. This was especially true during winter, but also in summer, I could feel it there.
Reasons not to visit Riga
- If you are looking for a welcoming city: Riga is probably the least welcoming of the three. It’s not because of its people or anything similar, but because it feels that it wasn’t built thinking about how to enjoy the city, but how to be effective. Which makes a lot of sense, but besides a couple of parks and the Old Town, the city isn’t that welcoming. A clear example is when it comes to running. I run in every city I visit, and Riga was the one where the route was the worst, no good pathways after leaving the city centre, cars everywhere,…
- If you want a modern city: Riga is not that modern. It has all you need, but it doesn’t have a “modern vibe”.
- If you only have 2 days: If that’s the case, I would recommend Vilnius or Tallinn, because Riga, to me, asks for at least one or two day trips. Unless you really want to visit it, wait until you have a bit more time, and then go to Riga.
What makes Vilnius unique?
Vilnius is the Baltic Capital closest to the “old Europe”, and you can feel it. During the Summer months, if you get great weather, it is a fantastic city to visit, with a slower pace than the other two, and a bit more open. Although it might have fewer things to offer than Tallinn or Riga in terms of tourist attractions, it is the city I enjoyed the most.
Reasons to visit Vilnius
- If you want a relaxing holiday, Vilnius has a slower pace of life and is a city that is ideal for walking and exploring without a rush. The river promenade is a great example of it. Very accessible, for everyone, and close to the city centre.
- If you don’t want an impressive location. Don’t get me wrong, Vilnius is really beautiful. But if I have to be honest, Riga and Tallinn have more impressive single elements: the Old Town of Tallinn seems like taken out of a fairytale, and some of Riga’s churches and views are amazing. Vlinius might not be at the top in terms of overall beauty, but to me, it makes it even more attractive.
- You want a cheaper destination: this can change quickly, but Vilnius, as of 2024-2025, is the cheapest of the 3 cities, especially when it comes to accommodation. In general, prices were lower, especially when compared to Tallinn.
Reasons not to visit Vilnius
- If you want a longer trip: Vilnius is a great city for a 2-3 day trip, maybe including a trip to Trakai (highly recommended). Unless you enjoy a slower pace of travel, and you’re OK with revisiting some spots, Vilnius can be visited in 1-2 days. If you want a city with more museums or attractions, Riga might be your best bet, or Tallinn, as it also offers a day trip to Helsinki (which can easily become a 2-day trip).
- If you like busy cities: Vilnius is not hectic. It is a quiet city, and this is what I loved about it. But if you are looking for a metropolis, you will not find it there. And to be very honest, you will not find it in any of the 3 Baltic capitals.
- If you want a touristy destination: while there are tourists in Vilnius, there are not as many as in Tallinn or Riga, or at least, they are less visible. While there’s some nightlife, if this is what you’re looking for, go to Riga or Tallinn.
Conclusion: Riga, Vilnius or Tallinn? Which is best?
So, after reading all of this, what are your thoughts? Mine are the following:
If you can, visit them all. If you have a week (or 9 days), you could visit the 3 capitals, including day trips and even get some relaxing time. Each of them has its own charm, and it’s really interesting to see the differences between the 3 countries while travelling across them.
If you can only visit 2 of them, Riga is a must, due to its geographical location. Then, decide if you want to go north to Tallinn or south to Vilnius.
If you have a free weekend, all of them are good options, but if you want to explore them more in the future, avoid Riga, as it has many cool and easy day trips. If you want a more relaxed time, Vilnius is your choice. A mix of Nordics and Baltic (and a really nice old town)? Then Tallinn.
As you can see, there’s no clear answer to the question: Riga, Vilnius or Tallinn, which is best? But now you can decide by yourself and enjoy a trip to one of the regions in Europe that I bet will become way more popular in the coming years! (especially when the Russia/Ukraine war is over, hopefully soon).
If you want to read more about Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn, make sure to check my detailed travel photography guides below!
