Tallinn to Riga by Bus: My Honest Review of the Estonia – Latvia Route

Getting from Tallinn to Riga is one of the easiest ways to travel between Baltic capitals. For many, bus is the most practical choice since it’s affordable, frequent and takes just a few hours.

Before my trip, I found lots of ticket options but not much in terms of personal reviews on what the bus ride looks like. So, in this post, I’m sharing my experience of the Tallinn – Riga (and Vilnius) bus route – from booking and boarding in Estonia to the bus journey, and arriving at the station in Latvia.

In a separate post, I share the visa and entry requirements that you need to be aware of. Check that out so you’re not caught off-guard like I was.

How to get from Tallinn, Estonia to Riga, Latvia

Tallinn and Riga are some of the closest capital cities, with just a distance of roughly 315 km. If visiting one of the Baltic countries, then you may want to take advantage of the proximity and visit the other countries.

From Tallinn, the best way to get to Riga on public transport is taking the bus. There are 3 bus companies that serve this route:

• Flixbus
• LuxExpress
• EcoLines

This review focuses on LuxExpress since that’s what I took. However, you can search, compare and book the different companies on omio.

The bus only takes about 4 hour 30 minutes from Tallinn to Riga, compared to 7 hours on the train. It has a few steps along the way – all short stops with passenger pickup and drop off.

If travelling between Riga, Latvia and Vilnius, Lithuania, then it takes 3 hours 40 minutes.

If you’re visiting the three cities, then an ideal route would be Tallinn – Riga – Vilnius or vice versa.  

Lux Express Tallinn – Riga Review

Lux Express is an Estonian intercity bus service operating in Baltic States, Poland, Finland and Russia.

I’ll go ahead and say it upfront: Lux Express is one of the best bus companies in Europe. I was really satisfied with my experience travelling with them; it was comfy, fast and relaxing.

Booking a ticket on Lux Express

I previously planned this Estonia and Latvia trip in July 2025. Unfortunately, due to a family emergency, I had to cancel that trip which meant trying to cancel booked transportation and activities.

The Lux express cancellation process was smooth: just a few buttons online and I received a full refund. No frills or tricks. They also allow you to change or cancel for a voucher, but I opted for a full refund because things were uncertain then.

When I was ready to travel after the said family emergency, I just quickly hopped onto the Lux Express website and booked the ticket online. Their website is very easy to navigate: input your origin and destination and you’ll see your options of buses/routes. You see what you’re paying for, I ended up paying 19 EUR for my Tallinn-Riga ticket. Lastly, checkout is equally smooth with no attempts to oversell.

Since the process was quite smooth, I did not need to contact Customer Service at all.

Riga and Tallinn Bus Stations

The bus leaves from Tallinn Coach Station to Riga Bus Station. Both stations are well-located, not far from the city centre and easy to get to and around. I suggest arriving 10 -15 minutes before your departure.

Since I was staying in Tallinn Centre, I took a quick Bolt to the bus station. In Riga, my accommodation was literally 5 minute walk from the train station (and other tourist sites)! How convenient.

Tallinn – Riga Bus Journey Experience

Like I said, Lux Express is one of the best bus services I have taken.

After booking the ticket online, I just had to show the e-ticket when boarding the bus. Since you’re crossing an international border, the driver checked for IDs and passports. The driver was jolly, welcoming and looked professional in a smart uniform. Our bus left right on time and was very clean.

The seats on the ‘regular’ Lux Express bus are very spacious and comfortable – complete with a footrest and the option to recline. Like planes, there is a TV screen on the back of every seat offering a range of entertainment options: movies, tv shows, music in multiple languages. Don’t fret if you didn’t bring your own entertainment. Headphones can be rented at 1 eur from the bus driver. The system also comes with a charging port for your phone. Additionally, there is working wifi connection throughout the journey.

For this trip, I was travelling very light with only a carry-on bag and handbag. There was ample overhead space for smaller bags and even more space to store luggage in the luggage compartment underneath.

We did not have any alighting stops or breaks along the way, so you may want to carry a few snacks with you. However, you do get a complimentary bottle of water and there is a toilet on board. Oh, you also have free coffee and tea on the bus!

If you’re travelling with Lux Lounge, you get an even more luxury experience: They have Relax seats offering superior comfort and more personal space.

All in all, great value for money.

Other Ways to get from Tallinn to Riga

• Drive

A direct drive between Tallinn and Riga is about 314 km, which should take 4h 20 minutes total. Google maps recommends driving along the coastal route, for more scenic views.

• Flight

You can travel between Riga and Tallinn via air – AirBaltic offers flights from Riga to Tallinn. Just remember to account for the time to get to and through the airport etc. I found both Riga and Tallinn airports to be small and easy to get through.

• Train

There is currently no direct train line from Tallinn to Riga to Vilnius, taking trains would require taking multiple separate trips with a detour e.g.

Tallinn – Tartu / Tartu-Valga / Valga – Riga / Riga – Vilnius.

People have reported the train journey taking an entire day, so the 4-5 hour bus journey time is a big time saver. Train travel costs around 20 EUR.

From 2030, there will be direct rail connections between Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania thanks for Rail Baltica – an ongoing rail infrastructure project intended to integrate the Baltic states.

Closing Thoughts on Travelling between Riga and Tallinn

Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius are well-connected by bus, making these Baltic cities perfect for a multi-country/city trip. The bus journey was very straightforward, smooth and comfortable, with no complications.

A few factors, like how boarding works and comfort on the bus, can make a big difference if you’re planning the same trip. While the journey itself was nothing mind-blowing, it was a good chance to sit and have some quiet time amidst busy days of travel.

Hopefully this review gives you a better picture of the journey from Tallinn to Riga so you can decide whether the bus is the right option for your own Baltic travels.

If you’re looking for more ways to make your Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania trip smoother, check out my other tips and experiences here.