Tour Baltic Capitals

Itinerary: Vilnius-Trakai-Siauliai-Riga-Tallinn

Period: April-October 2023

Length: 8 days / 7 nights

Tour languages: English German Italian Spanish Portuguese

DAY 1 (Sunday): ARRIVAL VILNIUS
Arrival in Vilnius, optional transfer to Hotel Radisson Blu Lietuva**** or similar, check-in, welcome meeting.

DAY 2 (Monday): VILNIUS
Vilnius is known for its more than 1200 medieval buildings and 48 churches. The morning sightseeing tour includes a panoramic tour of the city and a walking tour of the Old Town with Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Tower, Peter and Paul Church, St. Anne’s Church, Old University and the Gates of Dawn. The afternoon offers an optional excursion to Trakai, the medieval capital of Lithuania with the well preserved Trakai Castle, beautifully located on an island in Lake Galve. In the evening enjoy an optional dinner at Restaurant Senoji Trobele.

DAY 3 (Tuesday): VILNIUS-RIGA
Heading for Riga, the first stop is the ‘Hills of Crosses’, one of the most holy sites of Catholic Lithuania. After crossing into Latvia, we soon reach the magnificent Rundale Palace, the former summer residence of the Duke of Courland. Following a guided tour of the palace we travel through the rolling hills of Southern Latvia to reach Riga late afternoon, check-in at Hotel Radisson Blu Latvjia**** or similar.

DAY 4 (Wednesday): RIGA
Riga, founded in 1201 by the German bishop Albert, is the largest of the three Baltic capitals and boasts a real kaleidoscope of architectural styles. The walking tour of the Old Town includes Riga Castle, the Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, the Swedish Gate, the Three Brothers, the Large and Small Guilds and the Freedom Monument. The afternoon is reserved for an optional visit to Jurmala, the vibrant Latvian sea resort, famous for its wooden architecture and sandy beaches. The evening offers an optional organ concert at the Dome Cathedral.

DAY 5 (Thursday): RIGA
The program of the day includes 2 optional excursions. The optional tour for this morning takes us to the stunning scenery of the Gauja National Park and the town of Sigulda. We listen to the medieval Latvian legend of the Rose of Turaida and see the ruins of the Episcopal Castle and of the Castle of the Knights of the Sword before we return to Riga. The afternoon offers an optional visit to the Riga Motor Museum which has an impressive collection of vintage car including a very unique collection of old Soviet limousines from the Kremlin Garage. In the evening we offer an optional dinner at the restaurant Three.

DAY 6 (Friday): RIGA-TALLINN
The tour continues along the coastal highway to the Estonian summer resort of Pärnu. We do a short tour of the resort before we continue through the North Estonian land of forests and arrive in Tallinn early afternoon. Check-in at the Hotel Radisson Blu Olümpia**** or similar.

DAY 7 (Saturday): TALLINN
Tallinn is a charming blend of medieval tranquillity and modern urban life. The medieval Old Town is a busy place in the summer with its many shops, galleries, souvenir markets, outdoor cafes and restaurants. The sightseeing tour takes us around the old medieval city walls and into the Old Town where we see Toompea Castle, the Dome Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, medieval Old Town Hall and Great Guild Hall. In the afternoon an optional excursion is offered to Kadriorg Park and visit to KUMU, the award-winning new Estonian art museum, with its collections of classic and contemporary fine art. The evening offers an optional dinner at Restaurant Peppersack.

DAY 8 (Sunday): TALLINN DEPARTURE
Optional transfer to airport