Overland Travel into Poland

I have a business trip to Poland next summer and I am thinking of taking the "scenic route" by flying into Tallinn, Estonia and then travelling overland by bus through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania into Poland. I plan to travel through the Baltics by Eurolines (I believe their Baltics subsidiary is called Lux Express). I plan to go from Tallinn to Riga; Riga to Vilnius; and finally from Vilnius to Warsaw. With respect to this journey, I had a couple of questions:

1. Eurolines does allow online booking through their website (in fact, I did this years ago when I used their overnight service from London to Paris). In late June, is it necessary to reserve bus tickets online or can I just show up at the bus station and buy my ticket? I primarily plan to travel during the week (and avoid weekends) if that makes a difference.

2. On the Eurolines timetable, the bus station in Warsaw is labeled Warsaw Zachodnia. Is that the name of the central bus station in Warsaw?

Thanks.

Krish

Warszawa Zachodnia means "Warsaw West". There's no central bus station; international buses end up either at Warszawa Zachodnia (west station) or Warszawa Wschodnia (east station). There are good public transport links to the middle of town from there, or you can walk it in 30 minutes.

I was in Riga and Tallinn this summer and used the buses to go between. Generally, try book the day before or at least the morning if you are going in the evening. We were strongly advised not to just show up at the bus station just before it leaves.

Buses are very comfortable, more so than a lot of planes I've been on.

Sounds like a great trip, I would have done something similar if i had more time. Most people we met were doing that route. If you had time you could even fit Helsinki in and get the ferry over to Tallinn.

#2,

Actually, I do plan to fly into Helsinki, spend a few days in Finland and then arrive into Tallinn by ferry. I did not mention that in my post because I posted questions related to that portion of my trip on the Finland page. A follow up to the earlier question regarding buses:

Are the bus stations in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius centrally located? I am trying to decide whether or not I should purchase the bus tickets online before leaving home so that I don't waste time going to the bus station on the day prior to travel, or the morning of, just to purchase a ticket.

Also, if I do wait until I arrive to purchase my ticket, can I purchase tickets for all three legs (Tallinn-Riga; Riga-Vilnius; and Vilnius-Warsaw) at the bus station in Tallinn or do I have to purchase the ticket for each leg ONLY from the departure bus station?

Thanks.

"Warszawa Zachodnia means "Warsaw West". There's no central bus station; international buses end up either at Warszawa Zachodnia (west station) or Warszawa Wschodnia (east station)."
Actually there is a DW Centralna, at the train station, which serves a number of foreign destinations, including one route to Wilno (Vilnius). Of course there are many domestic only terminals.
http://www.e-podroznik.pl/public/timeTableSearcherResults.do?stopId=103163&tabToken=7382fa98b6857d4d68016acd887def9e

Are the bus stations in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius centrally located?

Riga's bus station is quite central, Vilnius' just outside the city centre beside the train station but Tallinn's is a bit of a hike...

If you purchase your tickets of departure when you arrive in each city then you should be fine...I did a similar trip some year's ago (Tallinn - Warsaw) and just turned up and bought tickets, no problem...

Firehazard Jack,

I plan to arrive into Tallinn by ferry from Helsinki and so this is what I am thinking:

I might purchase my bus ticket for the leg from Tallinn to Riga online so that I don't have to go to the Tallinn bus station just to purchase a ticket. With respect to the other two legs of the journey, I will do as you suggest: Purchase the ticket for the next leg as soon as I arrive in that city. A couple of follow up questions since you say you have done this journey before:

1. How is the scenery on this route? Which leg is most scenic (Tallinn-Riga; Riga-Vilnius; or Vilnius-Warsaw)?

2. Since all 4 countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland) are members of the Shengen agreement, I am presuming that you don't have to go through passport control each time you cross the border into one of these countries. Is that correct?

Thanks.

1. Although I did this route, I did it in a slightly different way to you but here's my opinion...I would say the Tallinn to Riga route is probably the most scenic although not outstandingly so...however, you willl get a very good flavour of the topography of these countries...(I went from Tallinn to Riga via Tartu, from Riga to Vilnius via Siauliai and Klaipeda and took the night bus from Druskininkai to Warsaw)...

2. Yes, that would also be my assumption although my trip was pre-Baltic accession to Schengen...

Firehazard,

How did you arrive into Tallinn? Did you arrive by ferry from Helsinki? If so, do you know how many ferries ply that route each day?

By the way, I might also go from Tallinn to Tartu and then on to Riga from there.

There are quite a number of ferries each day, some fast some slow, if you google them you will find all the timetables.

The bus station in Tallin isnt too far outside. Hop on a tram just near the old town and its less than 10 mins away. But it will be easier to buy them online of course. I'm sure wherever you are staying will have a facility for you to print off a booking you have made online.

I heard good things about Tartu as well, but didnt have time to make the detour. You will be there in summer, so alternatively, if you're a fan of beaches, you could go via Parnu, which has one of the most amazing beaches I've ever been on.

Jonzy,

Thanks for the info. Actually, I have a printer at home and so I can instantly print my online booking once it is confirmed. I will purchase the ticket for my first leg online, but as firehazard suggested I will purchase subsequent legs when I arrive in each city - that will be quite convenient because I will already be at the bus station and all I need to do is make a brief stop at the ticket counter before exiting the station. I have no problem making that "detour" but I would prefer not to make a trip to the bus station just to purchase a ticket and so that is why I will purchase the first leg online.

Krish

Firehazard, How did you arrive into Tallinn? Did you arrive by ferry from Helsinki?

Krish...no, I flew twice into Tallinn airport but the Helsinki ferry query comes up here quite a lot so if you do a "search" then you should get all the info...

hi

i travelled your path about ten years ago in both sides. (poland - estonia - finland) also by eurolines.

bus station in tallinn is in terminal ferry so you can take bus directly from there. tallin's city centre is located about 2km from this terminal.

bus station in tallinn is in terminal ferry so you can take bus directly from there.

Has it been moved?...as far as I'm aware it's still approx halfway between the city centre and airport...not near the ferry terminal at all unless relocated in the last year or two?...

Actually, it looks like I too will be travelling the other way (Warsaw to Tallinn by Eurolines) and then taking a ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki. Originally, I was thinking the other way, but now it looks like Poland will be the first stop on my 5 country trip in July.