Baltic States Vacation Packages & Tours at -48%

The best time to travel to the Baltic States depends on what you plan on doing during your stay. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have a mild continental climate and being surrounded by sea, the temperatures differ greatly between inland areas and coastal regions.

Being situated at a northern latitude, summers are short and mild, and the temperatures don’t rise much above 18ºC, despite daylight hours of up to 19 hours during the height of summer. Winters, on the other hand, are long and quite cold. The average temperature is 5ºC but on the coldest days, it can drop to -30ºC!

The popular festivals of the Baltic Republics, which are held in Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius, pay homage to religious or historical situations. Natural cycles such as solstices and equinoxes are also of special importance. The folk tradition of Latvia has been recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Religious holidays are usually marked by the Catholic calendar, but we cannot forget that there is a large percentage of Orthodox citizens who celebrate their events on other dates.

Popular festivals of the Baltic Republics

Estonia

Anniversary of the Tartu Peace Treaty

It takes place in Estonia, every 2nd of February. On that day in 1920, the country signed a treaty with the USSR, which set the border limits and recognized the independence of Estonia.

Festival of the National Language of Estonia

This is on 14th March and it celebrates the language itself, its literature and its poetry.

Grillfest

In June, the longest night of the year is celebrated and people go out to make bonfires and sing while they dance around. At nightfall, citizens should go to find the mystical fern flower, which will bring them prosperity and good luck. This is one of the most beautiful popular festivals of the Baltic Republics.

Tallinn Day

15th May is the day in which the city received the state, in 1248. The festival takes place in the main square of Tallinn and processions are held with a very medieval atmosphere, as well as concerts. The museums open and offer free visits.

Days of the Old City

It is celebrated in Tallinn at the end of May and is a party which lasts a whole week. In its streets, you can enjoy concerts, theatre, and games.

Grief Day in Estonia

June 14 commemorates the memory of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces Johan Laidoner and the presiding candidate Konstantin Päts who were deported to the USSR in World War II.

Night of the Ancient Lights

This is one of the most peculiar events in Baltic Republics. It refers to an ancient tradition in which fires were set to indicate the way to fishermen. A kind of camp is prepared where typical food is made and a sailing regatta is held.

Latvia

Christmas

Christmas in Latvia has special importance. It starts on 24th December and lasts 12 days. Thousands of candles are lit, lamps are hung in the windows and everything is filled with garlands. The decoration is especially beautiful and traditional sweets are sold.

Riga WinterFest

This is an appointment to enjoy a few days of Latvian music. It takes place at the beginning of February.

Day of the Restoration of the Independence of Latvia

I could not miss this celebration which is so important for the population of the country. 4th May marks the anniversary of the independence of Latvia which was won in 1991.

Jani

This is one of the popular festivals of the Baltic Republics which best reflects the ancient folklore of this country. It is celebrated at the summer solstice, outdoors. Fires are lit and people sing, drink beer and eat the typical dishes of that date. The women put pretty crowns on their heads made with oak leaves. Live music is also played.

Festival of Folk Music of the Baltic

Another must-see festival which is celebrated only every 5 years and during which you can enjoy the best folk music of Latvia.

The Gadatirgus Handicraft Fair

It takes place in Riga, in its ethnographic museum and is an event which delights tourists who are interested in the history and art of the country. It is another of the popular festivals of the Baltic Republics which is preferred by travelers.

Lithuania

Kaziuko mugé

This is one of the most appreciated events in the Baltic Republics in Lithuania. It is celebrated in Vilnius, on 4th March, which is the day of St. Casimir, the patron of Lithuania. That day there is a craft festival, with street markets where all kinds of local products are sold, such as toys, clothing, footwear, paintings, decorative items, everything artisan and handmade.

Anniversary of Kaunas

From 18th to 20th May, it is another important and solemn festival in the country. It is celebrated in the town of Kaunas. The mayors of the twin cities and heads of state also attend.

International Folklore Festival

At the beginning of July, a great folklore festival takes place in Vilnius. Three days of traditional music in which the streets of the capital are filled with rhythm and joy.

Day of the Restoration of the Independence of Lithuania

Like the other countries of the Baltic Republics, the day in which Lithuania's independence was restored is celebrated. In this case, it is 11th March.

The options on what to eat in the Baltic Republics are marked by a gastronomic history which has been shaped by its location. First of all, the three countries, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, are bathed to the west by the Baltic Sea, which means that fish is a very important ingredient in the typical dishes of the Baltic Republics. If you're going to travel to these regions, get ready for some big and strong dishes.

What to eat in the Baltic Republics

In the three countries, cod is especially important along with cold meats. Soups are an essential first course on most occasions, especially seljianka or potato soup. They also eat many vegetables accompanied by meat. Salads to accompany smoked fish, fishcakes, and some spirits are typical of these northern regions.

Gastronomy of Latvia

The Latvian culinary culture is based especially on fish, whether cooked or smoked. Caviar, pike, sardines or herring are the most common. The meat is usually served with potatoes, peas, and mushrooms. They are experts in cheeses and big enthusiasts since they include them in many meals, and they eat it until dessert. The preferred sweets are those that are made with puff pastry and berries.

These are some of the most typical dishes:

Piragi: a cake prepared with puff pastry and stuffed with bacon and onion.

Zirni ar speki: a tasty stew made with bacon, peas, onion, pepper and curdled milk.

Pelmeni: This dish is originally from Russia and consists of pasta stuffed with minced meat, very similar to ravioli.

Zirnu Pikas: a typical food consisting of meatballs made with grey peas, butter, bacon, and onion.

Putraimdesas: sausages prepared with barley.

Skabu kapostu zupa: if there is something typical in the gastronomy of the Baltic Republics, it is soup. This is specifically cabbage, pork, sour cream, onion, and carrot.

Rupjmaizes kartojums: this typical Latvian dessert is made with rye, cream, cranberries, and cinnamon.

Sklandu rausi: another very popular sweet are these carrot and potato tarts which are an essential dessert to eat in the Baltic Republics.

Black Balsam of Riga: if there is a typical drink of the country, it is this. It is a very rich liquor made with plants, roots, and flowers.

Estonian cuisine

The cuisine of this country is greatly influenced by the cuisine of other regions such as Germany, Russia, and Scandinavia. In Estonia fish is the protagonist of most dishes as, in addition to having access to the Baltic Sea, they have many rivers and inland lakes.

Potato is another star ingredient, along with swede and turnip. If the Estonians have an ancient, traditional and unique food in the region, it is the kama flour, which is a mixture of grains (pea flour, rye, oats, and barley), which is used to prepare desserts. And of course, the Estonians are beer lovers, but they are also producers of other beverages such as vodka or herbal liqueurs.

Some of the most typical dishes of Estonia are:

Keel hernestega: an appetizer which is served cold and which has a tongue as the main ingredient.

Mariners angerjas: consists of marinated eel.

Silgusoustt: a small herring which is caught in the Baltic Sea.

Mulgikapsad: sauerkraut cannot be lacking in the gastronomy of the northern European countries. This is cooked with pork and accompanied with cooked potatoes.

Sült: a stew made with pork.

Verivorst: a black pudding, similar to how it is prepared in other countries. It is a sausage which is traditionally eaten on Christmas night with an accompaniment of jelly made with berries.

Karask: this is the typical bread of Estonia, food to eat in the Baltic Republics which everyone likes.

Vaesed rüütlid: in Estonian, it means "poor gentlemen" and it is a dessert made with bread, very similar to French toast.

Kali: a sweet and very soft fermented drink.

Lithuanian cuisine

It could be said that the Lithuanian diet is based on potatoes, dairy products, and meat. The dishes are strong and high in calories. This is due to the harsh winters of the country. What are the caloric dishes typical of the country's cuisine?

Cepelinai: a kind of empanadillas with a dough made with potatoes. They are filled with meat, mushrooms or cheese. It is one of the most representative meals of Lithuanian gastronomy.

Kugelis: it's a dish taken from German cuisine. It is prepared with grated potatoes and carrots which are baked and covered with sour cream.

Saltibarsciai: soups are never lacking among the typical dishes of the Baltic Republics. It is served cold, so it is eaten more in summer. It is made with beetroot and served with cooked potatoes which are dressed with sour cream and dill.

Koldünai: basically consist of ravioli which are stuffed with mushrooms or meat.

Kepta duona: it is the favorite bread of the Lithuanians. It is black bread fried and seasoned with garlic.

Siupinys: a stew of some parts of the pig (legs, snout and tail) with beans and peas.

If you are not sure what to eat in the Baltic Republics, this little glossary will be very useful.

The Baltic Republics are composed of the three countries Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which were part of the USSR until 1991 when they regained their independence to become the Baltic States. They quickly recovered their own identity and moved forward with determination and effort to join the European Union.

Free from the great Soviet power, they proudly showed the rest of the world their culture, their history, their nature, and their people. From then on, tourism was growing in the Baltic Republics, their capitals being the most visited. Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius are World Heritage cities with incredible places to discover. And as all tourists like to take some souvenirs of their trip, we will tell you what the typical products of the Baltic Republics are.

Shopping in Tallinn (Estonia)

Estonia is not a region which has a great culinary tradition, although there are some typical products which can be a good gift. When Tallinn joined the commercial federation of the Hanseatic League, back in the 13th century, it became a rich city of merchants. These are some really traditional and typical things to buy in the Baltic Republic of Estonia.

Marzipan

Tallinn is another of the many cities which are attributed to the creation of marzipan. According to legend, it was manufactured for the first time in the City Pharmacy which, by the way, is still in operation. It is a very popular product in Tallinn, and it does not look like our marzipan.

Vana Tallinn

This means "Old Tallinn" and it is a liquor which is considered the country's national drink. It has a sweet flavor and is quite strong (with a degree of alcohol of 40% to 50%) and is drunk alone or mixed with coffee. In addition to the original, there are other versions with orange, chocolate or Vana Tallinn cream.

Traditional clothing

Woolen fabrics are one of the typical products of the Baltic Republics, specifically Estonia. Garments are still sold with the traditional patterns of the different regions of the country. Gloves, hats, scarves, jumpers, etc. can be found in the craft markets which are located near the city walls.

Chocolate Kalev

The Kalev chocolate factory was founded in 1806 and offers a huge variety of chocolates with an impeccable presentation, perfect for gifts. From the same house, there is also a nice cafeteria-shop and a peculiar marzipan museum.

Shopping in Riga (Latvia)

If we're looking for traditional products to buy in the Baltic Republics, in Riga we can find a wide variety of options.

Baltic amber

The Baltic Republics have the largest reserve of amber, no more or less than 80% of the world's supply of amber. It dates back 40 million years. With this beautiful material pieces of decoration and jewellery are made. Be careful to make sure that the amber is authentic.

Black Balsam

Called Rīgas Melnais balzams as its Latvian name. It is a traditional liquor made with a wide variety of herbs which are mixed with pure vodka. It has a high alcohol content of 45%. It is usually sold in precious handmade ceramic jars.

Products of markets

On Saturdays of each week, in the neighbourhood of Kalnciema, a large market is organised with a fun bohemian atmosphere where you can find local products of all kinds at a great price.

Shopping in Vilnius (Lithuania)

This capital is not well known and yet its historic centre is the largest of the three capitals of the Baltic countries. In this amazing city, we can also find interesting souvenirs of the Baltic Republics.

Crafts

In Lithuania, the wood is worked masterfully, and weather vanes and religious icons are specially made which are excellent gifts to buy in the Baltic Republics. With equal skill, artisan works are made with other materials such as ceramics, silver and glass.

Baltic Gold

Amber also has a great presence here, as it is very appreciated for its beauty and its quality. It is usually sold in delicate sizes or as a decorative element in many objects.

Craft beer

The Lithuanian beer tradition is quite unknown to the rest of the world, however, there is a deep-rooted culture around this rich and ancient drink. Traditional beer is characterised by its slightly bitter and slightly sweet flavour. It is made with locally produced barley.

Dziugas

Dziugas is a traditional Lithuanian cheese which its people are very proud of. It is traditional in the families of the country, to finish the celebrations by eating a bit of dziugas. Its consistency is hard and grainy in texture and it has many awards for being one of the best cheeses internationally.

These are some of the products to buy in the Baltic Republics, three countries which are proud of their tradition and which have much to offer tourists.