Four countries, and more than one kind of travel memory. I started in Tallinn feeling relieved just to have made it onto a trip after a few travel plans had fallen through. By the time I reached Riga, I had a favorite city. In Lithuania, an independent-minded arts neighborhood and the Hill of Crosses gave me two very different stops. The trip continued to Poland, which I shared as a photo essay. Here are all five posts from that trip, with the places I would prioritize if I went again.

The trip at a glance

• Countries in these stories: Estonia → Latvia → Lithuania → Poland.
• My favorite city: Riga, even under grey skies.
• Best old-town wandering: Tallinn and Riga. I would leave time to walk without a checklist.
• Most unusual stops: the self-declared Republic of Užupis and the Hill of Crosses in Lithuania. Poland closes the trip in photographs.
• What this guide cannot tell you: my original posts do not record exact intercity transport, hotel choices, prices, or a complete day-by-day schedule. The Poland post is a photo gallery without written location details. Check those details before planning your own trip.

Estonia: two days in Tallinn

Tallinn was the beginning of the trip, and the relief I felt when the plane landed is part of why I remember it so fondly. Its colorful Old Town delivered what I had hoped for: winding streets, bright doors, and buildings that made me want to keep turning corners. Kohtuotsa Viewing Platform gave me a wide view over the city. I also loved seeing Alexander Nevsky Cathedral as I walked past.

My Tallinn story and sightseeing list covers Old Town Hall Square, Viru Gate, St. Catherine’s Passage, the Baltic Station Market, the city walls, and more. That list is a record of what interested me, not a promise that every stop needs equal time. If I had only a short stay, I would start with Old Town and the viewpoint, then choose the rest by mood.

Latvia: Riga was my favorite

Riga won me over even on overcast days. The Old Town still felt bright, and the view from the top of St. Peter’s Church was a highlight. I also remember the market in former hangars and the visible layers of the city’s Soviet history. A statue like the one I had seen in Bremen was an unexpected little connection to another trip.

My Riga story has the longer list, including the Central Market, Alberta iela, the Three Brothers, Vērmanes Garden, and stops for a drink or tea. This is the city I would give extra time rather than treating it as a quick transfer between capitals. Tallinn and Riga shared some visual similarities for me, but Riga had the energy I most wanted to stay with.

Lithuania: art in Užupis, then the Hill of Crosses

In Lithuania, Užupis was a fun surprise. This self-declared republic in Vilnius had the playful, independent spirit of a place built around art and music. It was a different kind of stop from the polished old-town views I had been chasing earlier in the trip, and that was precisely its appeal.

I also visited the Hill of Crosses. I want to be fair about it: my original post says it ranked lowest among my Baltics stops, and it offers photos rather than a detailed explanation of why. I would include it if its meaning or imagery speaks to you, but I would not make it the one must-do stop in Lithuania based on my own experience. I would prioritize time in Vilnius first.

Poland: the trip’s final photo essay

The trip continued into Poland after Lithuania. My “Trip to the Motherland – Poland!” post tells that last chapter through 17 photographs. I did not write down city stops or a day-by-day route there, so the gallery is the best way to experience this part of my trip. It gives the journey a visual ending that the Baltic city stories alone cannot.

What I would do differently

• Keep Tallinn’s Old Town and a viewpoint, but do not turn the entire visit into a race through a sightseeing list.
• Give Riga the most breathing room. It was the place I liked best, and a rushed stop would miss what made it work for me.
• Let Lithuania be more than one famous site. Užupis had more personality for me than the Hill of Crosses.
• Before copying this route, verify transport, opening hours, and costs from current sources. These stories capture my April 2023 experience, not today’s logistics.

What stayed with me was not a single landmark. It was the pleasure of arriving in Tallinn, the surprise of loving Riga most, the change of pace in Lithuania, and the Poland photos that finished the trip. Read the linked stories for the details each one records; use this guide to decide where you would give yourself more time.