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Travelling to Baltics from UK this summer

  • January 5, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 56 views

We're doing our first interrail to the Baltics on a 7day pass and wondering about the best route there. We're thinking of getting to Amsterdam from Oxford on the first day then using the second day to get to Gdansk probably via Berlin. Is this the best route?

We've also looked into booking the sleeper to Berlin via Brussels but found some problems which put us off. It looks like, when booking through the app, the number of sleeper reservations are limited for pass holders and also bookings don't open til late Jan, so.we're worried about missing the booking slot. Using a different booking tool, reservations for our mid July dates were possible but it looked like (even though i entered our pass details) it was going to cost the same as if we didn't have a pass- and booking an Amsterdam hotel near the station would be cheaper. Am I missing something? Also as the sleeper crosses 2 days presumably this will use 2 days worth of pass even if we go no further than Berlin on our first day?

I'll be back to pick some more brains about the Baltics- and return route. We're thinking of using the bus when we get there as it seems trains may be a bit limited but would love some thoughts on that to ponder meanwhile 

Thank you!

4 replies

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  • Railmaster
  • January 5, 2026

How do you define "best route”? Fastest, cheapest, most scenic, anything else?

The Rail Planner app can't book anything. It can only forward to some of the websites where you can book and has a preference for the Interrail website (not recommended for multiple reasons). It's best to use this page as a guide for reservations:

https://www.seat61.com/interrail-and-eurail-reservations.htm

European Sleeper is best booked on their own website. If you book early, then a pass holder reservation may be around the same price as a regular advance fare. The latter cannot be exchanged or refunded though. You didn't mention a travel date so I can't verify any prices you may have seen.

You only use 1 travel day if you don't board another train after midnight:

https://www.interrail.eu/en/support/interested-in-interrailing/what-is-a-travel-day

Trains in the Baltics are a bit limited but you can still use them, depending on where you want to go.


ralderton
Railmaster
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  • Railmaster
  • January 5, 2026

The most direct rail route from UK to Gdansk is via Brussels and Berlin (by day or by night train), though of course you can go via Amsterdam if you prefer. 

The European Sleeper from Brussels-Berlin will be running daily by Spring. As far as I know, there’s no Interrail quota. You can just buy the ‘reservation only’ from the European Sleeper website, from the same inventory as regular tickets. 

A sleeper train only uses one pass day: the day of departure. If you make any changes after midnight, you’d use another day. 

Within the Baltics, the trains are now better timed than they used to be, although I would probably do Riga-Tallinn by bus, since it’s so much quicker. Lux Express is pretty good, with b2+1 seating.

Good summary of the trains here: https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/vilnius-riga-tallinn-by-train.htm


  • Author
  • Rail rookie
  • January 5, 2026

Wow! Thank you both for your speedy replies and clear information- will have a look later. 


  • Rail rookie
  • January 6, 2026

Regarding the Baltics, actually you’re in luck! Elron (Estonian national passenger rail) just launched a service between Riga, Latvia and Tartu, Estonia. The route continues all the way to Tallinn, the capital.

https://estonianworld.com/life/railway-diplomacy-tartu-and-riga-reconnected-by-train/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPJXLVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEevJlcsY5p9Cl_Mng_Ivv8e2NaMwD5Jpqonrac5qcQk_CZtcVfiLx2rzAsj3g_aem_7UeKizzWECDOCOq0nG773g

 

This now means you can take an LTG Link from Vilnius to Riga, and an Elron train from there all the way to Tallinn