How much does a trip to the Baltic states cost? A budget guide

The Baltic states are cheaper than Scandinavia, cheaper than western Europe, and cheaper than most travellers expect. They are also not the bargain-basement destination they were fifteen years ago. Tallinn, Estonia in particular has caught up with mid-tier European cities on accommodation and restaurant prices. What you will find is solid value: well-maintained cities, good food, reliable transport, and genuinely interesting things to do at prices that do not punish you for staying an extra day.

This guide breaks down real costs across accommodation, food, transport, and activities for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The figures reflect 2026 prices. All amounts are in euros.

Overview: the three countries compared

Of the three Baltic states, Estonia is the most expensive, Lithuania the most affordable, and Latvia sits in the middle. The gap is noticeable in restaurants and accommodation, less so in museums and public transport. Tallinn, Estonia's capital, has a well-developed tourist infrastructure and prices to match. Vilnius, Lithuania and Riga, Latvia both have livelier local restaurant scenes where you can eat well for less.

The difference between travelling in peak summer (June to August) and shoulder season (April to May, September to October) is significant for accommodation -- expect to pay 20 to 40 per cent more in high season, especially in the Old Towns. January to March is the low season: prices drop, attractions are uncrowded, and the cities have a different, quieter atmosphere.

Accommodation costs

The Baltic states cover most price points. Hostels in the three capitals charge 15 to 25 euros per person per night for a dorm bed. Budget guesthouses and B&Bs in central locations run 45 to 70 euros for a double room. Mid-range hotels in the Old Towns of Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius cost 90 to 150 euros per night for a double. Boutique and design hotels at the upper end of the mid-range market -- think 4-star properties with character -- come in at 130 to 200 euros.

Outside the capitals, prices fall considerably. A well-rated guesthouse in Sigulda, Latvia or Tartu, Estonia charges 50 to 80 euros for a double. Farmstays and countryside guesthouses -- genuinely good accommodation, often with home cooking -- run 60 to 100 euros including breakfast. On Saaremaa island, Estonia, prices vary by season; summer weekends book out early and prices spike accordingly.

Airbnb and apartment rentals are widely available in all three capitals and worth considering for stays of three or more nights. A central apartment in Riga or Vilnius for two people typically costs 70 to 110 euros per night.

Food and drink costs

Eating well in the Baltics does not require a large budget. The key is knowing where to look. Tourist-facing restaurants in Old Town Tallinn and Riga Old Town price at western European levels -- a main course for 18 to 28 euros, a glass of wine at 8 to 12 euros. Walk ten minutes from the central tourist areas and prices drop by a third.

A three-course lunch at a mid-range local restaurant costs 12 to 18 euros in Estonia and 9 to 15 euros in Latvia and Lithuania, usually including soup, a main, and a soft drink. The business lunch (dienas pusdienas in Latvian, dienos pietys in Lithuanian) is a local institution -- many restaurants offer a two or three-course set lunch for 6 to 10 euros between noon and 3pm. This is the best-value meal of the day.

Coffee -- a flat white or americano -- costs 2.50 to 4 euros across all three countries. A 0.5 litre beer in a bar runs 3 to 5 euros. Local craft beer is widely available and good; a 0.33 litre craft pour costs 4 to 6 euros. Wine by the glass at a restaurant: 5 to 9 euros for something decent.

Street food is a reasonable option in Riga and Vilnius. The covered markets -- Riga Central Market and Hales Market in Vilnius -- sell cooked food, fresh produce, and bakery items at low prices. A meal from a market stall runs 4 to 7 euros.

Transport costs

Getting between the three capitals by intercity bus is the most affordable option. Lux Express and FlixBus run frequent services. A one-way Tallinn to Riga ticket booked in advance costs 12 to 25 euros; Riga to Vilnius runs 10 to 20 euros. Journey times are 4 to 4.5 hours between capitals. Trains are available on the Riga-Vilnius corridor via the Rail Baltica project, though the network is still expanding; check schedules as they change frequently.

Flying is an option but rarely necessary for travel within the Baltics. Budget carriers serve all three capitals from major western European hubs. Return flights from London, Paris, or Amsterdam to Riga, Tallinn, or Vilnius cost 80 to 200 euros booked six to eight weeks ahead.

Within cities, public transport is cheap and covers the main areas. A single bus or tram ride in Riga, Latvia costs 1.15 euros with a transport card (somewhat more with cash). Tallinn, Estonia is notable for offering free public transport to registered residents, but visitors pay standard fares -- a 24-hour pass costs around 3 euros. Vilnius, Lithuania day passes cost around 3 euros.

Taxis and ride-hailing apps (Bolt is dominant across all three countries) are affordable by western European standards. A cross-city trip in Riga or Vilnius costs 5 to 10 euros. Tallinn is slightly pricier. Renting a car for regional exploration costs 35 to 60 euros per day including insurance, depending on the class; book in advance during summer.

Attraction and activity costs

Most museums in the Baltics charge 5 to 12 euros for adults. Major attractions with higher admission include the Rundale Palace in Latvia (10 euros) and Trakai Island Castle in Lithuania (10 euros). Tallinn's Kiek in de Kok bastions tour costs 10 euros. The Estonian Open Air Museum near Tallinn charges 15 euros. Many churches and viewpoints are free.

Outdoor activities have variable costs. The Gauja National Park in Latvia is free to enter; guided activities like bobsled at Sigulda cost 25 to 35 euros. Lahemaa National Park in Estonia charges no entry fee. Bog-walking tours in Estonia run 35 to 60 euros per person with a guide. Island ferry crossings -- to Saaremaa or Hiiumaa in Estonia -- cost 3 to 6 euros per person each way.

Guided city walking tours in the three capitals run 15 to 25 euros for a 2-hour group tour. Private guides charge 100 to 200 euros for a half-day.

Sample daily budgets

A budget traveller staying in hostels or cheap guesthouses, eating at market stalls and set-lunch spots, and using public transport can manage 50 to 65 euros per day across all three countries.

A mid-range traveller in a 3-star hotel or guesthouse, eating at local restaurants for lunch and a mid-range restaurant for dinner, with one paid attraction per day, will spend 100 to 140 euros per day. This covers a very comfortable experience in Latvia and Lithuania. In Estonia, budget 120 to 160 euros for equivalent comfort.

A comfortable upper-mid range experience -- boutique hotel, proper restaurant meals twice a day, private transfers -- runs 180 to 280 euros per person per day in summer, less in shoulder season. This is the bracket where a guided private journey often represents better value than arranging everything independently, once you account for logistics, local access, and the time saved on planning.

What drives costs up

The factors that push daily spend significantly above average are summer weekend accommodation in Tallinn Old Town (book early or expect 200+ euros for a basic double), island travel in Estonia (Saaremaa is more expensive than the mainland), spa hotels in Jurmala, Latvia (80 to 200 euros per night for the established spa properties), and peak-season dining in tourist-heavy Old Towns. Alcohol, if consumed liberally at restaurant prices, adds up quickly. Self-catering for some meals -- all three countries have well-stocked supermarkets with good deli sections -- keeps overall costs manageable.

Getting the most out of your budget

The Baltic states reward travellers who stay longer and go a little off the obvious route. Beyond the three capitals, prices drop and the experience often improves. Spending a night in Cesis or Kuldiga, Latvia rather than an extra night in Riga saves money and adds places most visitors miss entirely. The same applies to Tartu, Estonia over a second night in Tallinn, or Kaunas, Lithuania over a third night in Vilnius.

Travelling in May, early June, or September gives you good weather, lower prices, smaller crowds, and the golden light that makes Baltic cities look their best. July and August are perfectly fine but significantly pricier and busier, particularly in Tallinn and on the Curonian Spit in Lithuania.