From the airport to the city centre Estonia

Arrival in Vilnius - Lithuania: Located 5 km from the city, the airport has been completely renovated and is still expanding. There are car rental agencies, an exchange office and a tourist office. The Wifi network is free.

- Buses no. 1 and 2 connect the airport to the bus and train stations, bus no. 3G goes to the city center (Lūkiškių park), bus no. 88 is a good way to get to the old town, while the N88 runs at night. Buy your ticket directly on the bus (€1) or in advance via the Trafi app (€0.65 for half an hour, €0.90 for one hour).

- Cabs to the city center cost around €10. There's a cab rank in front of the airport, but airport cabs charge a surcharge and prices can soar to €40 for a trip to the city center. Think Bolt, the VTC service.

- An express train connects the airport to the train station. The journey takes 7 minutes and the fare is €0.80. Tickets can be purchased from the driver on the train. The train runs approximately once an hour from 8.15 a.m. to 6.30 p.m., and the timetable can be consulted on the ltglink.lt website.

Arrival in Riga - Latvia: 13 km from the city center. The airport has one terminal. Check-in is on level 2. Arrivals are on level 1. Luggage storage is available in the basement for €5 per day.

- By car. From Rīga, take the A10 freeway, then exit P133. Follow the signs to Rīga International Airport. The journey takes 15 to 20 minutes, depending on traffic. Short-term parking is located just in front of the terminal and costs €1.50 per half-hour. Long-term parking is located along the A10 freeway and costs €8 per day (24 hours).

- By bus. From the airport, bus line 22 serves the city center on Janvāra Avenue at number 13 and the central station between 5:30 and 22:40. The journey takes around 30 minutes, and the ticket costs €1.50 (purchase from the ticket machines at the bus stop, at the Narvesen stand or via the Mobility app), €1.81 directly from the driver, with a credit card. The bus stop is at the far end of the airport parking lot. Timetables are available at the information desk and at the bus stop. From the airport, a bus leaves approximately every half-hour for the center. From the center, bus 22 leaves from Abrenes and passes through the central station and Janvāra Avenue at number 13 (the bus stop is opposite the bus station on the Old Town side). Timetables are available at www.rigassatiksme.lv.

- By cab. The cab rank is in front of the terminal, on level 1, at arrivals. The journey to the city center takes about 15 minutes. The average fare to the city center is €15.

Arriving in Tallinn - Estonia: The airport is 4 km from downtown Tallinn, in the direction of Tartu. For local and international flights, it is not necessary to check in more than 1.5 hours in advance. A luggage locker is available for travelers, and Wi-Fi is available everywhere. The airport is very close to the city center, just 3 km away. To reach the center from the airport, bus no. 2 to Balti Jaam (the central station) leaves every 15 to 30 minutes and takes around 10 minutes. Bus no. 15 runs to the city center, terminating at Estonia. The Lennujaam stop is the airport stop. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket machine at the airport, directly on the bus, by swiping your contactless bank card on a validator or via the pilet.ee app or website. A departure is scheduled every 20 to 30 minutes from the airport and connects to the city center in 15 minutes; the cost of the ticket is that of a normal city ticket, €2. Stops : Bussijama (bus station) - Sojamae - near Sokos Hotel Viru. Cab fares are around €12, slightly less with Bolt.

Arrival by train Estonia

Trains are not the Baltic States' strong point. The network has long been outdated, as have the trains. All three countries are making efforts to renovate the network (especially Estonia and Lithuania), but the work requires a great deal of time and resources. Connections are still slow and less frequent than those by bus. On the other hand, trains are slightly cheaper than buses, except in Lithuania (it's easy to see why!).

International connections with Eastern European capitals (Minsk, Moscow, Kiev...) are provided by night trains, a legacy of the Soviet past. These trains are reliable, comfortable and more than affordable. Border crossings are often very long, as the entire train is searched by customs officials.

Lithuanian trains: www.ltg.lt

Latvian trains: www.pv.lv

Estonian trains: www.elron.ee

All service provider websites include an English-language version and a mobile application.

Arrival by boat Estonia

In Estonia, ferries depart from the port of Virtsu every hour in summer, or every two hours the rest of the year, and arrive at Kuivastu, on the island of Muhu, which is linked to Saaremaa by a dike. Vehicles should be booked well in advance, and a return ticket purchased on arrival on the island (tickets cannot be purchased at the departure terminal). Further information: www.saaremaa.ee and www.tuulelaevad.ee

From the island of Hiiumaa, take the ferry to the port of Sõru; the ferry docks on the island of Saaremaa at Triigi.

The port of Rīga in Latvia is linked to the island of Saaremaa by a ferry service to the port of Roomassaare.

In Lithuania, the port of Klaipėda offers ferry connections to many destinations, including Germany, Denmark, Sweden..

Public transport Estonia

Buses are the most popular, cheapest and therefore most popular means of transport in the Baltic States and Kaliningrad. The national bus networks run smoothly and are remarkably punctual. Mainline buses can even be comfortable (take the express, symbol E). The major cities are also linked by minibuses, which are smaller but faster. Ask in advance at the bus station or directly to the drivers. Prices are very low. Minibuses are a little more expensive than buses, and an extra charge is made for luggage.

For your information, unlike in some European countries, advance booking is subject to a surcharge.

Bike, scooters & co Estonia

Cycling is a fast-growing means of transport throughout the Baltic States. There are more and more cycle paths in town, especially in the three capital cities. However, you need to be careful, as cars are not yet used to dealing with two-wheelers. In fine weather, cycling is a highly recommended way to explore the country: discovering nature, with few topographical changes in altitude and freedom of movement.

With a driver Estonia

Uber is not available locally, but there is the Bolt app. The big advantage: there's a fixed base plus a price per kilometer. No nasty surprises in case of traffic jams!

By car Estonia

Baltic roads are notoriously dangerous, due to the recklessness of drivers (especially in Lithuania) and the harsh winter conditions. It's a good idea to be vigilant, and to carry all the necessary papers with you (license, compulsory insurance, letter from the vehicle owner authorizing driving if it's not you). And don't be fooled by the police, who have an easy time with breathalysers! A very good road guide, Baltijas Valstis, is available in bookshops in all three states. It is organized by region and includes maps of 56 Baltic towns.

Lithuania. The country holds the sad European record for the number of road deaths. When you're behind the wheel, it's easy to see why: swerving over a white line, passing three vehicles on a two-way road, mind-boggling manoeuvres in town, etc. If you're planning to travel by car, bear in mind that Lithuania is not the queen of signs, even if it is better endowed than its Baltic neighbors.

In fact, signs are few and far between. You'll need a well-developed sense of direction, a very good co-pilot and GPS, and a lot of patience. In addition to the Via Baltica, which links Helsinki to Warsaw (but does not pass through Vilnius), Lithuania is served by two main freeways: the A1, between Vilnius and Klaipėda, and the A2, between Vilnius and Panevėžys. They are correct by Western European standards. Their verges are not always surfaced, and all kinds of vehicles can be seen on them, such as horse-drawn carts, although this phenomenon is prohibited. The speed limit on freeways is 130 km/h (except between Vilnius and Kaunas, where it is 100 km/h). It is 60 km/h in town and 90 km/h on national roads, where you need to be on the lookout for unforeseen obstacles such as sewer holes, trees and stones. Please note that you must now use your headlights, day and night, all year round.

In Latvia. Drive on the right, respecting international road signs. Seatbelts must be worn at all times. When driving, always carry your original car registration certificate and driver's license. A speed limit of 50 km/h is mandatory in populated areas. Elsewhere, in the absence of other restrictions, the speed limit rises to 90 km/h. The maximum permitted blood alcohol level is 0.5 g/l. Possession of an international insurance card, known as a "green card", is compulsory! For answers to your vehicle insurance questions, call +371 7 28 8501. Your lights must be on all the time, whether at night or during the day, all year round. It goes without saying that the use of cell phones while driving is prohibited. On the roads, signs illustrating a tool indicate the presence of a garage in the area.

Estonia. Road conditions have improved since the country joined the EU; the main roads, which have recently undergone major repairs, are passable in all seasons. Road signs are clearly visible at night, and road markings are present even on minor roads. In the event of an accident, always call the police, who are the only people authorized to draw up an accident report. Neither vehicles nor injured parties should be moved.

Driving is on the right. The speed limit on roads is 90 km/h, and 50 km/h in built-up areas. Please note: headlights must be on all day, all year round. Cell phones may only be used when driving with a hands-free kit. European car insurance is valid (check EE endorsement on green card), including for rental vehicles. Since Estonia joined the European Union, an international driver's license is no longer required. A valid French driver's license will suffice. You should also bring the original vehicle registration document, which is required for entry into Estonia. Check that Estonia is on your green card. If this is not the case, temporary insurance can be taken out for passenger cars 24 hours a day at all border crossings. The permitted blood alcohol level is 0.2 g/l. Police checks on drivers are frequent on national roads, and fines can be as high as €1,200 (with license suspension).

Parking.

- In Lithuania. The old town of Vilnius is accessible by car, but parking is charged from 8am to 8pm.

- In Latvia. The old town of Rīga is accessible only to local residents or after paying a fee. In the center, parking spaces are rare and expensive. Don't forget to put money in the parking meters in Rīga, or you'll be facing a fine or a boot!

- In Estonia. You have to pay to park in Tallinn's city center and old town, as well as in Pirita. You can pay at pay-and-display machines on the street. In some places, tickets are sold directly by parking attendants. Paid parking in downtown streets: weekdays from 7am to 6pm, Saturdays from 8am to 3pm. On Sundays and public holidays, parking is free. The first quarter of an hour is free in Tallinn, except in the Old Town.