Baltic Holidays

Encompassing Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Baltic holidays explore a tranquil, wooded northeastern corner of Europe. Bordered by the Baltic Sea, all three nations were occupied by the Soviet Union from 1940 until their independence in 1991; while they may share this history, the region is wonderfully diverse, each country offering something unique. All fairytale-like with their vast tracts of forest, crumbling castles and pristine lakes, there is much to explore here.

Furthest north is Estonia, a place of wild landscapes (over half the country is covered in forest) and a fascinating history. Its capital, Tallinn, is home to a third of Estonia’s total population – when you visit, you’ll see why! Once an important trading centre and part of the powerful and wealthy Hanseatic League during the Middle Ages, Tallinn is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in northern Europe, its Old Town a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lively yet relaxed with a vibrant modern feel, it is an alluring place to wander, with cobbled streets, ancient churches and a picturesque castle looming over the old world streetscape.    

Latvia is utterly unspoiled; a stretch of forest dotted with lakes and a coastline of undulating dunes. This landscape is scattered with manor houses, stately homes and palaces, including the elaborately splendid Rundale, a Baroque confection with gardens inspired by Versailles. Capital Riga, Latvia’s only ‘real’ city, is tranquil and culture-filled and considered the most cosmopolitan of the three. While its handsome medieval Old Town is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, around it you’ll find an eclectic selection of architectural styles, including an extensive array of flamboyant Art Nouveau.

Last but certainly not least is Lithuania, the southernmost Baltic state. Also covered in forest and speckled with lakes, it is a place of many and varied charms with a culture that is rooted in Paganism and folklore. Aside from picturesque castles, like lake-bound Trakai, one of its most striking attractions is the Hill of Crosses, started as an act of defiance during the 1831 uprising and peaking during Soviet Rule, there are now 100,000 crosses on this low hill, and any visitor can still plant one today. Capital Vilnius, also with a UNESCO-listed Old Town, is the focal point of Lithuania’s culture and cuisine. Cathedral Square, at its heart, buzzes with local life, while cobblestone medieval lanes, baroque finery and architecture that ranges from Baltic gothic to neoclassical waits to delight and amaze.