‘Best’ train journey for tourists this summer ends in Europe’s ‘cheapest city’

The “best” train journey for tourists this summer ends in Europe’s “cheapest” city.

A train links two Baltic capitals, Vilnius in Lithuania and Riga in Latvia. It takes 4 hours and 15 minutes and runs daily.

The route has been named the best European train route to explore this summer by Lonely Planet, alongside lines between Barcelona and Seville or Brussels and Prague.

It only opened in late 2023 and it is hoped that further stops will be added to reach Tallinn in Estonia, to link all three Baltic capitals.

Vilnius has recently been named Europe’s cheapest city of 2024 by Conde Nast Traveller, having previously held the title in 2015, 2019 and 2020. 

This is the result of low prices across the board – the cost of a weekend is up to £237, more than 10 percent lower than in the runner-up city, and less than half the cost of 18 out of the 37 cities featured.

Vilnius has grown in popularity recently – the travel magazine also named it one of Europe’s most underrated cities to visit. 

The city has sites to visit including Vilnius Cathedral and the secret St. James Church bell tower, Paupys Market, Gediminas’ Tower, the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, and the Glass Quarter.

Riga came sixth on Conde Nast Traveller’s list of Europe’s cheapest cities, behind Lisbon in Portugal, Lille in France, Krakow in Poland and Athens in Greece.

The city’s old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known as an “architectural jewel”. Also among its sites are the 13th-century St Peter’s Church, the granite and copper Freedom Monument, the House of the Blackheads, and the Agenskalns Market.

Tickets for the Vilnius-Riga train are available to book on the LTG Link website, with prices starting at £20.