Estonia – Tallinn to Riga Latvia by Bus

Tallinn, Estonia  

to

Riga, Latvia

Tallinn to Riga by Bus

My Baltic trip involved visiting the three Baltic capitals, but the question was how was I going to travel between these three cities.

They are physically not far apart – approximately around 4 hours by road or 300km between each of them. Those small distance didn’t seem worth catching a plane for, but if not a plane that by what method?

I did plenty of advance research on how to travel between these cities and eventually decided on the best value method of transport for price, time and comfort. My decision was to go from Tallinn to Riga by bus.

My tour of the Baltic States

My trip to Tallinn, Estonia was part of my 10 day trip to visit the three capitals of the Baltic States.

I flew into Tallinn, Estonia, for a 3 day stay in the capital of Estonia. Click here for my post on Tallinn.

From here I then took the Lux Express bus to Riga, Latvia. You can read here in this post on my experience of that journey.

Riga, the capital of Latvia was another marvellous stay of three days. Click here for my post on Riga.

From Riga I then travelled onwards, again by Lux Express bus to Vilnius in Lithuania. Click here for the Lux Express Riga to Vilnius post.

I stayed in Vilnius, the small but enchanting capital of Lithuania for 3 memorable days. Click here for my post on Vilnius.

At the end of this wonderful ten day trip I flew from Vilnius back to the UK.

Click here for the LuxExpress bus website for bookings

Tallinn to Riga by bus, plane or train?

My Baltic trip involved visiting the three Baltic capitals, but the question was how was I going to travel between these three cities.

They are physically not far apart – approximately around 4 hours by road or 300km between each of them. Those small distance didn’t seem worth catching a plane for.

Flying. I worked out that each was about an hours flight, then  add in 2 hours at each end for getting to and from the various airports and security/passport time. Total was about 5 hours for each leg. Cost would be between £40-80, depending on day, time and how far in advance you book.

Far too long, time-wise, for flights so I excluded that means of transport. I would also just get to see the inside of two anonymous airports and see nothing of the countryside between these two cities.  So I looked at road/rail.

Train. It would take around 4 hours, a possible change of train at Parnu in Estonia and cost around £15-20. Trains appeared modern and comfy and there were a fairly decent number of departures daily.

Bus. This would be also around 4 hours, direct and cost around £15, although if I wanted to take certain early or late departures that price could go down to £5!

A benefit here was that the bus pictures looked luxurious of the Lux Express bus lines. At-seat wifi and screens, toilets, state of the art seating, free seat  selection, power points at the seat and ultra modern new big buses.

They even had a luxury compartment with single seats, airline/space-age style, for a little extra in price….. I was sold. Bus it would be!

Lux Express bus service 

I bought my ticket online so easily. The site is super easy to use and tickets were emailed to me to print off within a minute. You can download it as an e-ticket and upload to your phone too.

This company has several other routes, all equally great and the Baltics are well connected by their services.

Click here for the LuxExpress bus website for bookings.

I had a choice of around 6 daily departure times with prices from £5 to 12 Euros in standard seating i.e. two seats abreast in great looking coaches. The prices really depended on what time you wanted to leave.

 Lounge Class or Standard Class seats?

If I wanted Lounge Class, the seat prices were £15 to £22 including free hot drinks. You could choose a seat that has two abreast if travelling with a companion or one abreast if like me travelling solo (I’ve never seen this before on coaches, so was intrigued).

The seats are wider than Standard Class, have huge leg room with a footrest and reclining backrest.

I actually bought a Standard Class seat at a slightly more expensive time than the cheapest time as I didn’t want to leave very early or late.

I then planned to book a Lounge Class seat option on my next journey from Riga to Vilnius, just to experience the difference … it was so cheap anyhow for a 4 hour journey!.

Tallinn Bus Station

I had noted where the bus station was on the map when I flew into Tallinn Airport. The bus that I took from my airport to a stop near to my hotel passed along the main road into the centre and the bus station was on a side road on this route.

Having noted where it was as we passed the side road and clocked a few buildings to remind of its location, I checked the distance. I realised that I could walk from my hotel back to this side road in around 20-25 mins when I needed to catch the coach.

That’s exactly what I did and it took me 25 mins at a leisurely pace along well maintained pavements on an easy route. I also got to see a little more of suburban Tallinn.

The station was modern and easy to use and the specific pick-up lane in the outside arrivals area was marked clearly. I waited outside as the weather was good although inside was fine with a small café and waiting area.

The Bus

The Lux Express turned up on time – you can’t miss the bus in its distinctive brown/gold/red livery. It was by far the biggest most modern and most luxury looking coach n the station and my expectations were raised for a great journey.

The coach had a Tallinn – Riga sign in the front window and there were about 15 people waiting for the coach which held around 40 seats.

Luggage was carefully stowed in the undercarriage storage area and we all boarded by showing our ticket or the e-ticket image on our phones which were scanned. Inside it was super modern.

Clean, tidy almost futuristic and the seat were stylish and really comfy.

I was slumming it in Standard Class but they were the best seats I had ever sat in on many world coach trips.

I sat down and noted the large media screen in the back of the seat in front, just like on a plane and the several options to use. I plugged my phone into the at-seat recharge socket and plugged my tablet into another socket, placing it on the drop down table. Seats were big leather/fabric upholstered, comfy and looked new.

There were refreshments in the form of a coffee station at the back of the coach and the picture windows were huge. Toilets were onboard at they were well maintained.

The seats had their own air con blower above and bags could be placed easily in the overheads.

No-one sat next to me and everyone, apart from those travelling with a companion could stretch out into the next seat due to the quietness of this service.

I was truly impressed!!!

The Journey to Riga

The journey was so smooth and effortless. The countryside, rather flat and plain and just full of endless fields of what looked like wheat with the occasional forest area flew by. I actually fell asleep for a while, such was the comfort.

Can’t recommend enough this service. If I was ever to travel Estonia, Tallinn to Riga, Latvia by bus again, I would definitely take this service.

I was left feeling jealous as to why, even though we have a perfectly comfy modern National Express bus service in the UK, that we didn’t have these ultra modern coaches at home.

Arrival In Riga was 10 mins later than scheduled but I did notice that this was probably due to a huge slow roadworks section we passed through on the motorway that no doubt slowed us down.

The Bus station in Riga was just out of the centre. Again I had worked out my walking route and it would take me around 25 mins of slow walking to get to my booked apartment in Riga, Latvia.

Tallinn to Riga by Bus

Aug 2017

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Below are some related posts on nearby places to visit. Click on the pic to view.