Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Around the Baltic

We're planning a driving trip taking in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Has anyone got any recommendations of what to watch out for/places to visit?

Ken

I don't know enough about Poland , but all 3 of the Baltic states have fascinating capital cities.

Latvia is the most"soviet" of the 3 republics, but ignoring the stalinist buildings there are some lovely Art Nouveau examples around the city centre and the embassies.

Estonia is perhaps the closest to the west , and the old town in Tallinn is certainly worth a visit, but beware of the British stag parties at weekends.

Lithuania is something of a mix between the two, but again the central area is full of really good old buildings which pre-date the Soviet era.

PS I have never been there in the Mog , only on business.

Ken,

northern Poland has some wonderful towns, but also a lot of "Soviet Style" suburbs. This is because in WWii Poland was between the Red Army and the Germans....and much was destroyed.

The centre of Warsaw is a delight, BUT it is a post war rebuild.

Ken, my wife is Lithuanian so been around quite a few places. Trakai is certainly worth a visit, Vilnius and Kaunas also and if you are driving up the Baltic coast then Klaipeda, Palanga and into Latvia, Jurmala and Riga old town are nice and Rundale Palace also. Like others have said the soviet left overs are ugly as heck but plenty of traditional buildings worth seeing. Watch out for some of the drivers though and odd situations at traffic lights in towns where you can go through on red!

Ken
I drove my +8 past Berlin, through Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia and then across to Norway and the Swedish MOG meeting from Cambridge back in August 2016. Happy to share my route and hotels. I will message you in the morning with my email address.
(I have crossed Poland several times in the +8)
Stephen

ken,
we are going to do this trip in june so are very interested in replies....

Lithuania near Siauliai the Hill of Crosses
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/lithuania/siauliai/attractions/hill-of-crosses/a/poi-sig/1085557/360110
Kaunas 9th Fort museum
http://www.9fortomuziejus.lt/?lang=en

Which is your plan to cross Poland?
Krakow, Wroclaw and Warszawa are places to visit.
If you are interested on WW2 sites the Wolfsschanze next to Ketrzyn (Rastenburg) might be a place to see. Stettin and Gdansk are most likely more en route for a Baltic trip and also worth a visit.
Do not underestimate the distances in Poland, especially at regions without highway connections.

BALTICS
Route options from UK
Whether you start from Calais or Hook Holland it’s 1600-2000 miles to Tallinn
• “There and back” similar route both ways
• Estonia and then home via Sweden/Norway & Denmark
• Estonia and return via ferries from Estonia or Lithuania to Kiel/Travemunde in Germany
My route in 2016 – 4000 miles – 23 days
• France, Belgium, Netherlands staying near Eindhoven
• Germany – Magdeburg
• Germany – Berlin
• Grudziadz Poland
• Avoiding Kaliningrad to Vilnius
• Around Baltics – Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia (see below)
• Paldiski Estonia – Kapellskar Sweden (DFDS Truck Ferry)
• Sweden, Norway, Sweden (Halmstad), Denmark
• Nykobing Denmark – Rostock Germany (Ferry)
• Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France and Home
Where to go
• Lithuania
o Klaipeda
o Curonian Spit National Park
o Vilnius
o Trakai
o Ramiskes Open Air Museum
• Latvia
o Riga
o Cesis and Gauja National Park
• Estonia
o Parnu
o Muhu Islands
o Sangaste
o Tallin
Hotels
• Booked on-line
• Not completely precious about parking but big city hotels wanted car parks
• Riga stayed Pullman Hotel in old town, underground car park
• Tallin Merchants House Hotel in old town. Parking was 200 metres away. Apart from Russian plated Brabus there were a couple of Ferraris. Not guarded but had no problems
Roads
• I had no problems with surfaces
• Driving standards aren’t brilliant, just be careful
• Always, always, always check both ways at green traffic lights before proceeding
Notes
I have driven across Poland from both Russia and Belarus in the Morgan coming down from St Petersburg/Moscow and crossing into Poland at Brest. Stayed Poznan & Warsaw
Route through Poland depends on how much time you have. The eastern side towards Belarus is beautiful. It's a big country
Note coming from UK Kaliningrad is tricky, last time I checked you had to stay at least one night when transiting.
More deatils available on request. Message me on Talk Morgan

Thanks everyone for your replies which I’ll now investigate.

Hannes, our proposed route is Berlin, Poznan, Warsaw, Alytus, Vilnius. Still working out the detail.