Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Baltic Christmas Markets: Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn
7 days from Vilnius to Tallinn: two nights each in Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn, timed for the weeks when the three Old Town markets are open, with short daylight and real cold.
7 days · Vilnius to Tallinn · up to 12 guests
The illuminated Christmas tree on Cathedral Square, Vilnius, December 2022 (a past year's installation; each year's tree and market layout can differ) Photo: Felix Winkelnkemper, CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/), via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christmas_Tree_on_Cathedral_Square,_Vilnius.jpg). Resized for web; no other changes.
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 7 days, 6 nights
- Start and end
- Vilnius to Tallinn
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Moderate
Plan for 4 to 7 km of walking on sightseeing days, on cobbles, frozen paths and castle approaches that can be icy, in temperatures that may stay below freezing all day. Day 3 and day 5 are long road days. Shorter-walk suggestions are not step-free alternatives; suitability, transport and any extra costs need checking before booking.
- Meals included
- 6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners
- Season
- Christmas markets
Highlights
Why this trip
- The Cathedral Square tree and market in Vilnius, with Užupis and the Old Town on foot
- Trakai Island Castle, with the interior subject to the museum's opening days and renovation notices
- The Hill of Crosses, which the local tourism office says can be visited at any time, on the road to Riga
- Riga's Old Town and Christmas market, with the House of the Blackheads and the local story of the first Christmas tree
- A stop in Pärnu on the long road to Tallinn
- Tallinn's Town Hall Square market and the medieval town walls, with the wall walkway where it is open
- Two nights in each capital, with free evenings for market food
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Vilnius
Vilnius Airport (VNO) to your hotel in or near the Old Town
- Dinner
- Stay in Vilnius
Fly into Vilnius Airport (VNO); the transfer to the Old Town hotel is proposed and its time confirmed with the supplier. If you land early, ask the hotel whether bags can be held (not assumed) and walk to Cathedral Square, where the Christmas tree and market are planned to be open from 28 November.
Evening
In the early evening your See Sight Tours guide meets the group for a briefing on the seven days: which days are long road days, how much daylight to expect, what to pack for streets that can be icy and temperatures that may stay below freezing. We then walk to a welcome dinner of Lithuanian dishes nearby, perhaps potato dumplings called cepelinai or a bowl of beetroot soup. Tomorrow starts with Trakai, so tonight is for resting after the journey.
Included
- Pick-up at Vilnius Airport (VNO), proposed
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Welcome dinner
Free time: Free until the evening briefing
Trakai castle and Vilnius Old Town
Vilnius: Trakai Island Castle, then the Old Town, Cathedral Square and Užupis
- Breakfast
- Stay in Vilnius
Morning
We plan to drive out to Trakai in the morning, about half an hour from Vilnius by road (an estimate), to see the red-brick island castle on Lake Galvė. The museum's page still carries a Dukes Palace renovation notice with no completion date, and its hours differ by month: Tuesday to Sunday in November, Wednesday to Sunday from December, with no year stated. The visit date is the departure date plus one day, so we check the castle's access for that actual date before offering any interior, and walk the lakeshore if it is closed. Back in Vilnius we walk the Old Town with a guide: the cathedral, the university courtyards and the lanes toward Užupis, the small district that declared itself a republic.
Afternoon
Late afternoon is free for the Cathedral Square market, whose crowds and stalls we cannot predict. Whether the lake is frozen, or any snow lies on the castle, cannot be promised.
Included
- Trakai Island Castle visit, subject to opening days and ticketing
- Vilnius Old Town walk with your guide
Optional experiences
- Hot chocolate or mulled wine at the market; the Gediminas Tower climb if conditions allow (the museum lists daily 10:00 to 20:00, with different holiday hours)
Easier option: Skip the Užupis lanes and shorten the Old Town walk; Any vehicle or taxi help is unconfirmed, may cost extra and is not included.
More active option: Climb Gediminas Hill in the free afternoon for the view over the Old Town roofs
Free time: Free late afternoon and evening
Activity: Check Trakai access and renovation status for the actual day 2 visit date
Hill of Crosses on the road to Riga
Vilnius to Riga by road, with a stop at the Hill of Crosses near Šiauliai
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Riga
This is a long road day, an estimated four to five hours of driving in total plus stops, which we explain rather than hide.
Morning
We leave Vilnius in the morning and drive north across Lithuania to the Hill of Crosses near Šiauliai, a pilgrimage site where visitors have planted many thousands of crosses. The local tourism office says it can be visited at any time; in winter the paths can be frozen and slippery, so boots with grip matter.
Afternoon
We stop here for about an hour, then have a lunch break before crossing into Latvia. Latvia is also in the Schengen Area, so we do not expect a routine border stop, though checks can be reintroduced temporarily, so carry your passport. The sun sets in mid-afternoon at this time of year, so expect to reach Riga in the dark and check in.
Evening
The evening is free; the Old Town lights and the market are a short walk from most central hotels, though we do not name hotels yet. Drive times are estimates to be confirmed with the supplier.
Included
- Hill of Crosses stop
- Lunch on the road
Easier option: View the hill from the nearest point and skip the paths; icy paths may limit access
Free time: Free evening in Riga
Riga Old Town and the Christmas market
Riga: Old Town walk, Dome Square and the House of the Blackheads
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stay in Riga
Today is Riga on foot in the short winter daylight. The guided walk takes in the Old Town lanes, the House of the Blackheads with its Roland statue and the square where, by local story, the first decorated Christmas tree stood in 1510; Tallinn tells a similar tale, and we treat both as lore rather than proof. We go through to the cathedral at Dome Square and past the Three Brothers houses.
Afternoon
The Riga Christmas Market is listed from 27 November with hours that differ by weekday, so lunch and afternoon browsing are yours and we check the listing for your day. We suggest trying grey peas with bacon and, as an optional extra for adults, a taste of Black Balsam, the dark herbal liqueur, at a venue to be chosen.
Evening
In the evening we share a dinner of Latvian dishes in the Old Town, then the night is free. Church opening times are rechecked before departure.
Included
- Riga Old Town guided walk
- Dinner in the Old Town
Optional experiences
- Black Balsam tasting, adults only, venue and cost not included
- A museum visit in the free afternoon
Easier option: Shorten the walk; public tram or taxi use is unconfirmed, may cost extra and is not included
More active option: Walk the riverside and Bastion Hill park in the free afternoon
Free time: Free afternoon and late evening
Pärnu and on to Tallinn
Riga to Tallinn by road via Pärnu
- Breakfast
- Stay in Tallinn
Our second long road day starts with the coast road north from Riga, an estimated four hours of driving plus stops, which we plan to break at Pärnu, Estonia's seaside town.
Afternoon
In summer it is a beach resort; in late November and December we make no promise about what will be open or how busy it is, so we plan a short walk, a coffee stop and a free lunch instead of a full programme, and we do not promise any particular weather.
Evening
We then continue to Tallinn, arriving in the afternoon or at dusk, in time to check in and walk to Town Hall Square, where the Christmas Market is listed to be open from 20 November. The tree and the stalls are lit after dark, so we plan the first look in the early evening. Dinner tonight is free. Winter ice or fog could slow the road; the guide decides on the day whether to shorten the Pärnu stop.
Included
- Pärnu walk and coffee stop
- Town Hall Square first look
Free time: Free evening in Tallinn
Activity: Winter road conditions may shorten the Pärnu stop
Tallinn medieval walls and market
Tallinn: Old Town, Toompea hill and the medieval town walls
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stay in Tallinn
Our last full day is Tallinn on foot.
Morning
The guided morning covers Toompea hill with its viewing platforms, the lanes of the lower Old Town and the medieval town wall. The Hellemann Tower wall walkway is listed Monday and Wednesday to Sunday, 11:00 to 17:00, from 15 October to 15 April, so it is closed on Tuesdays, and the climb is by steep stairs without handrails; the listing carries no year, so we recheck it for your date and do not promise access.
Afternoon
After a free lunch at the market or a café, the afternoon is open for the Town Hall Square market, handicraft stalls and mulled wine.
Evening
Tonight we share a farewell dinner of Estonian dishes in the Old Town. Lahemaa National Park is not part of this plan. Whether Tallinn has snow, a bright sky or fog on your date cannot be promised.
Included
- Tallinn Old Town walk with your guide, with the wall walkway where open
- Farewell dinner
Easier option: Skip the climb to Toompea and walk the lower Old Town only; the wall walkway has steep stairs without handrails
More active option: Walk the Hellemann Tower wall walkway if open on the day
Free time: Free lunch and afternoon
Departure from Tallinn
Hotel to Tallinn Airport (TLL)
- Breakfast
Morning
After breakfast we transfer you to Tallinn Airport (TLL), which is close to the centre, for your onward journey; we confirm the transfer time with the supplier. Please book flights with this in mind: we do not set a default flight deadline, and an early departure may mean skipping breakfast. If you have time before a later flight, you could take one last walk through the Old Town or a final market stall if time allows; luggage storage at the hotel is not assumed and must be asked about. The trip ends at the airport.
Evening
If you wish to stay longer in Tallinn, or continue to Helsinki by sea, tell us before booking so we can price an extra night, which is not included. Nothing is promised about the weather on the departure morning.
Included
- Transfer to Tallinn Airport (TLL), proposed
Free time: Free until your transfer
- Vilnius2 nights
- Riga2 nights
- Tallinn2 nights
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: Late November to December is cold and dark: daytime highs near or below 0 °C are common, with snow, sleet, fog or rain all possible, and only about six to eight hours of daylight (fewer in Tallinn in late December). Snow cover and frozen lakes are not guaranteed.
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Get the day-by-day itinerary by email, or ask us anything about this trip. A trip planner replies the same or next business day.
Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- First-time visitors who want three Baltic capitals and their Christmas markets with only two hotel changes
- Travellers comfortable with winter cold and early dark
- Anyone who prefers one guide and a vehicle to arranging three cities alone
- Solo travellers who want one guide and shared logistics; any single-room cost would be quoted in writing
Not for you if you want
- Step-free access: cobbles, ice and castle approaches are part of every city
- Travellers wanting a confirmed departure now: this itinerary is in development
- Anyone expecting guaranteed snow, frozen lakes or quiet markets
- Travellers who dislike two long road days
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
6 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Vilnius2 nights
- Riga2 nights
- Tallinn2 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 6 nights in central hotels (proposed three-star-plus standard, to be confirmed): 2 in Vilnius, 2 in Riga, 2 in Tallinn
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
- Hotels named only once confirmed
Transport
- Proposed pick-up at Vilnius Airport (VNO) and drop-off at Tallinn Airport (TLL)
- A group vehicle and driver for Trakai, Vilnius to Riga and Riga to Tallinn, booking pending
- Local walking as in the day plan
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group, appointment to be confirmed
- Local guides where sites require them
Activities
- Vilnius: Old Town walk; Trakai Island Castle visit when open
- Hill of Crosses stop
- Riga: Old Town walk
- Tallinn: Old Town walk, with the wall walkway where open
Meals
- Breakfast daily on days 2 to 7 (6)
- 1 lunch: day 3
- 3 dinners: welcome dinner in Vilnius, Riga dinner, farewell dinner in Tallinn
Not included
- International flights to Vilnius and from Tallinn
- Travel insurance
- Visa or travel authorisation fees, if any apply to your passport
- Meals not listed (lunches on days 2, 4, 5, 6 and dinners on days 2, 3, 5)
- Drinks, market food and Black Balsam tastings
- Tips
- Optional activities
- Extra nights and separately arranged early airport transfers
- Personal expenses
Extras
- Room of your own
- Price on request
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
Is this trip available to book?
Not yet. It is in development: there are no departures, hotels or suppliers appointed. You can send an enquiry; no payment is taken and nothing is booked on request. Accepting a quote alone does not confirm bookings; hotels, guides and vehicles are confirmed only when suppliers confirm in writing.
When are the markets open?
Official pages read directly on 2026-11-08 give Tallinn 20 November 2026 to 6 January 2027 (opening day from 18:00), Riga 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, and Vilnius Cathedral Square 28 November to 27 December 2026. We have not verified other years, so a date is offered only after the relevant calendars are checked.
How cold and dark will it be?
Expect temperatures around or below freezing and only about six to eight hours of daylight, fewer in Tallinn in late December. Snow is possible but not guaranteed, so pack insulated waterproof boots with grip, thermal layers, hat and gloves.
Will Trakai Castle be open?
The museum's page shows a Dukes Palace renovation notice with no completion date, and lists Tuesday to Sunday for October and November and Wednesday to Sunday for December to February, with no year. We check the actual day 2 visit date and do not promise a full palace interior.
How long are the drives?
Day 3 (Vilnius, Hill of Crosses, Riga) and day 5 (Riga, Pärnu, Tallinn) are long road days, each an estimated four to five hours of driving plus stops. Exact times are estimates to be confirmed with the supplier.
Do I need a visa?
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are in the Schengen Area. Entry rules depend on your passport, so check the official entry pages before you travel; we do not give entry or visa advice.
What does the price include?
Proposed: six nights in central hotels, breakfasts on days 2 to 7, one lunch, three dinners, a vehicle for the road days, a guide and the entries in the day plan. Prices are indicative and unconfirmed. Other meals, drinks and market food are extra.
How big is the group?
The proposed small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests. A private version for your own party would be priced separately on a date you choose, subject to market calendars and supplier availability.
Is a Lahemaa day included?
No. A Lahemaa manor day is not in the plan. It could only be offered as a separately planned extension or a whole-day replacement for the Tallinn programme, with the forfeited guided morning and farewell dinner stated, and only if winter hours and costs are confirmed.
What happens when I send an enquiry?
We reply with questions and, if a date fits the market calendars, a written quote. Sending an enquiry takes no payment and books nothing, and accepting a quote alone does not confirm bookings. Taxes and local fees are not yet known and would be stated in the quote.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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