Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Posted 15 years ago
[b]FINLAND via ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA to POLAND[/b]
I you want to visit the Baltic Countries, you can not do it by InterRail. But it is really cheap to do this kind of exotic journey.
In total you will pay from HELSINKI (Finland) via TALLINN (Estonia), VILNIUS (Lithuania) to WARSAW (Poland) [b]EUR 50,-[/b]
:!: Off course you have to pay something extra if you want to stay in hostels or do some extra journeys to the sea.
For example from [b]VILNIUS (Lithuania) to KLAIPEDA (Lithuania)[/b] directly at the sea with magic white beaches you have to pay EUR 14,- one-way by train.
The hostels ( [ux]https://rail.shop/hostelworld[/ux] ) are extremely cheap (good ones for about EUR 10,-), the food and night life as well.
:arr: [b]HELSINKI to TALLINN by ferry[/b]: it is a journey of 2 hours. And if you avoid peak times like weekends, the ferry will be EUR 20,-. At peak times it can be up to EUR 35,-. So pay attention and ask at the office for the low fare tickets. More details: Tallink Silja Line - [ux]https://rail.shop/tallinksilja[/ux]
:arr: [b]TALLINN via RIGA to VILNIUS by bus[/b]: it is a journey of 9 hours for EUR 20,- to 30,-
More details: Eurolines Estonia - [ux]https://rail.shop/eurolines[/ux]
:arr: [b]VILNIUS to WARSAW by train[/b]: take the day train (there is also a nigh bus available). You have to change at the Lithuanian-Polish border at Sestokai. For the Lithuanian part ( [ux]https://rail.shop/lit[/ux] ) of this journey you have to pay EUR 7,-. The Polish part is free as you can use your InterRail ticket.
From Warsaw you have direct access by train to the whole Eastern Europe as well to Berlin (Germany) and even Switzerland.
:arr: UPDATE: [u]https://rail.cc/blog/baltics-train-bus-ferry/[/u]
anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments
Has the situation in the Baltic States changed ? Still not included in the Interrail Pass ? Thanks.
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
It is still the same: not included.
But in these countries it is the best to use buses, as they do not have a big railway network.
Peter :)
da1jonty
Traveller
3 comments
Hi! I just signed up, and have loads of questions as I'm wanting to buy InterRail passes as soon as possible - and I've completely new to InterRailing!!! This is good info, my backpacking trip plans was to make my way from Helsinki to Tallinn by Nov 27th (night ferry) or 28th (daytime or night), then go through the main cities of the Baltic States (which I've just come to learn aren't covered by InterRail passes) by bus.
I guesstimate that in giving myself enough time to enjoy sightseeing each Baltic city, I'll be in Tallinn from Nov 28th til 29th, then go to Riga (Nov 30th til Dec 2nd), then to Vilnius & Trakai (Dec 3rd til 5th).
RE: Vilnius to Warsaw
From about Dec 5th or 6th onwards I should be making my way from Vilnius to Poland:- the places I wanted to visit & sightsee are in the northern region of Poland: Malbork (the Malbork Castle), Gdansk, (unsure about Gdynia it may not be nice to visit in cold December?), and Torun. After Torun, I wish to make my way to Berlin.
Looking at [ux]https://rail.shop/bahn[/ux] , it seems like the journey has several connections and takes 20-24 hours?!! That sounds rather slow to me, or is this normal for Poland railway travel? Also, is this still cost and time-effective compared to say bus connections from Vilnius to Malbork? Or heck, even a plane from Vilnius to nearby Gdansk??
I'm just trying my best to figure out a good start date for my first InterRail pass - given the above, I'm still confused as to whether to make it Dec 5th or 6th... :|
Thanks in advance!
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
The fasted connection is in deed 20 hours from Vilnius to Gdansk. But think about having a stop in Warszawa. Definitely worth!
Vilnius(LT) dep: 1200 | RJ train
Sestokai arr: 1448
Sestokai dep: 1508 | Train without supplement. This is the border station. From here you start with your InterRail pass.
Warszawa Wschodnia arr: 2021
Warszawa Wschodnia dep: 2212 | TLK night train - calculate with these supplements: [u]https://rail.cc/en/gdansk-warsaw-krakow-zakopane-night-train/f3485[/u]
Gdansk Glowny arr: 0705
The reason for this long journey is: the train is going from Vilnius to the South (Warszawa) and again back to the North. Not the direct way.
Have a look for a bus in Vilnius - there are a lot of connections available.
Peter :)
JohnMJ
Traveller
2 comments
Take the ferry from Helsinki (I recommend the 17:30hrs departure) to Tallinn (my recommended departure gets in at 19:30hrs). Tallinn is worth seeing so stay for a day (I recommend the Olav Hotel) then take the 13:15hrs train to Riga which gets in at 21:49hrs.
Riga is worth seeing and it is also famous for its Art Deco buildings and interiors - I recommend the Riga Hotel - and when one is ready, catch the 13:10hrs train to Daugavpils. Daugavpils is a compulsory change but is a delightful town in its own right and has the world's largest fortification which is impressively worth seeing and has a good vistitor centre - I recommend the Dinaburg Hotel (interestingly Dinaburg is the old name for Daugavpils).
Take the 07:16hrs train from Daugvapils to Vilnius which is another small city that is well worth a stay over - the Old Town is a Unesco World Heritage Site - I recommend Hotel Vilnius Europolis.
Leave Vilnius on the 11:40hrs train to Sestokai which gets in at 14:40hrs. This reason for going to Sestokai is to avoid Belarus and the need for transit visas for that country. The change is tight but doable so leave Sestokai on the 14:59hrs train for Warsaw Central which gets in at 20:10hrs.
Warsaw is well worth a visit and I recommend the Westin Warsaw Hotel. When you've had enough leave from Warsaw Central on the 10:36hrs train for Polands other great city, Krakov Glowny, which gets in at 13:36hrs. Krakov is also a town worth visiting and I recommend the Galaxy Hotel (Bed & Breakfast only).
The best International Airport from Krakov is at Berlin and you can get to Berlin by taking the train which leaves Krakov Glowny at 07:24hrs and arrives in Berlin at 17:33hrs.