The best time to visit the Baltics.

May is a strong choice. The old towns warm up before the summer crowds arrive, chestnut trees flower on Riga's boulevards, and the evenings stretch longer every day. Prices sit in the shoulder band.

The coast is still cool and not yet swimming temperature, but the Curonian Spit dunes are walkable and peaceful. Most day-trip sites are fully open from late April.

Peak season in all three countries. Tallinn's old town is at its most photogenic under long northern light; Riga's Art Nouveau facades show best in sunshine. The Baltic coast at Jūrmala and Palanga and the lagoon side of the Curonian Spit are warm enough for swimming by late June.

Midsummer, June 23 to 24, is the biggest celebration of the year in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. If you are there around that date, build it into the plan.

The Latvian Song and Dance Festival brings more than forty thousand participants to Riga every five years, among them around sixteen thousand choir singers and nearly seventeen thousand dancers. Worth checking whether your year is a festival year.

September is the quieter sweet spot. Summer crowds thin quickly after school starts, amber storms deposit amber on the beaches, and the forests of Lahemaa and the Curonian Spit go gold. Temperatures hold in the mid-teens through most of the month.

October is cooler and wetter. The autumn colours are worthwhile for photography and nature travel, but it is not ideal for long coastal walks.

Cold and dark, but not without character. Tallinn and Riga run two of Europe's most atmospheric Christmas markets. Vilnius fills Cathedral Square with mulled wine and crafts from late November to 27 December.

Temperatures range from around zero in December to below minus ten in a cold February. The old towns under snow are as atmospheric as any city in Europe. Most museums and restaurants stay open through the winter.

Northern lights are possible from Estonia and Latvia between November and March during periods of strong solar activity. Reliable aurora viewing needs Finland.

Coast and swimming: July or early August. The lagoon side of the Curonian Spit warms faster than the open Baltic.

Midsummer festivals: June 23 to 24 in any of the three countries.

Autumn colours and amber: September, especially Lahemaa and the Curonian Spit forests.

Christmas atmosphere: late November to the end of December.

Low prices and no queues: November, early December, February to March.

What is the warmest month in the Baltics?

July, with average highs of 20 to 23°C in the capitals. The coast reaches swimming temperature from late June.

Is the Baltics worth visiting in winter?

Yes, for the right kind of traveler. The Christmas markets in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius are among the best in northern Europe, and the empty old towns under snow have a distinct atmosphere. Pack for temperatures below zero and ice on the cobblestones.

When is the cheapest time to visit the Baltics?

November and early December, and again in February and March. Shoulder months, May and September, give lower prices with better weather.

Is August too crowded in the Baltics?

Tallinn's old town is busy in August, but the Baltics are far less crowded than Prague or Dubrovnik in peak season. Even in midsummer there are quiet corners, especially in Vilnius and in the countryside.

Can you see the northern lights in the Baltics?

Possibly, from Estonia and Latvia, between November and March, during strong solar activity. It is not as reliable as Finnish Lapland. If the aurora is a main reason for your trip, consider adding Finland.

• Latvian Song and Dance Celebration: about the celebration
• Latvian Public Broadcasting: song and dance festival facts and figures

• Baltic capitals itinerary
• The Baltics in winter
• How many days do you need
• Browse tours
• Is the Baltics worth visiting?
• Lithuania country guide
• Latvia country guide
• Estonia country guide
• Christmas markets in the Baltics
• Christmas in the Baltics