ITINERARY: 7 DAYS IN THE BALTICS
DAY 1 VILNIUS
Arrival in Vilnius
Meet English speaking guide at airport and transfer to hotel
Overnight in Vilnius
DAY 2 VILNIUS
Breakfast at hotel
Enjoy Vilnius city tour (walking & driving, duration: 3 hours)
Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania was founded in 1323 when Grand Duke Gediminas built a castle there, nowadays bustling city with one of the oldest and most charming Old Towns in Europe. The splendid architectural blend of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles makes this a wonderful city to explore. During sightseeing tour you will visit Old town, which is included to the UNESCO World Heritage. Visit Cathedral and Cathedral Square and pass by Gediminas Avenue, the Parliament and President’s Palace, Vilnius University and Town Hall. Continue walking narrow old streets, visit St. Anna’s Church – a gem of Gothic architecture, Gates of Dawn and St. Peter-Paul Church.
After free time for lunch, meet driver and continue to Trakai and Insular castle (till 4 hours)
Tour of Trakai, the former capital of Lithuania, which is situated on an island in the middle of a lake. The 14th century red brick castle now houses the Art Museum. The castles of Trakai are the best known works of defensive architecture in Lithuania. The old town of Trakai, which includes the Island and the Peninsula Castles, surrounded by lakes, is one of the most impressive and most picturesque locations in Europe. Here still reside small national minority of Karaites, who were brought from the Crimea by the Grand Lithuanian Duke Vytautas.
Overnight in Vilnius
DAY 3 VILNIUS – HILL OF CROSSES – RUNDALE – RIGA
Breakfast at hotel
Transfer from hotel to Rundale Palace without guide assistance
Meet guide at Rundale Palace
Rundale Palace, the most magnificent masterpiece of baroque architecture in the Baltic States, lies at a distance of 70 km from Riga. It was built as a summer residence of the Duke of Courland Ernst Johann Biron in the first part of the 18th century by the Italian architect F. B. Rastrelli, the baroque genius from Italy who created many of St. Petersburg’s finest buildings including the Winter Palace. The professionally renovated palace interiors are decorated with authentic 18th century furniture, paintings and china. The most impressive are the Golden Hall, the White Hall, and the bedroom of the Duke. The palace boasts a beautiful French-style park surrounded by a canal.
Overnight in Riga
DAY 4 RIGA
Breakfast at hotel
Full day tour with English speaking guide
Riga city tour (walking, 4 hours)
During the walking part of the tour you will enjoy the beauty of the ancient Hanseatic city, while strolling through the cobble-stone, picturesque streets of the Old Town. In Old Riga you will see the Dome Cathedral which boasts one of the world’s largest pipe organs, St. Peter’s Church with magnificent views of the city from its steeple, the old Guild Houses, the Swedish Gate, the architectural ensemble Three Brothers, St. Jacob’s Church, the Parliament House, Old Riga Castle, and view the many wonderfully restored buildings, now housing cozy restaurants, cafes, bars and souvenir shops.
Free time for lunch and continue to Jurmala (walking & driving, 4 hours)
Jurmala is the place to enjoy sea breeze, sun, nature, architecture and cultural life. It has 150-year-old resort traditions and has become the largest resort area in the Baltic’s. The look of Jurmala since 19th century has been characterized by its wooden architecture, cottage-style buildings and resort centers. Romantic streets and wooden cottages surrounded by pine trees also nowadays create the vision of the olden days. Stroll along Jomas Street- the most popular pedestrian walkway with its many little restaurants and diverse entertainment. Visit city’s white-sand beach area, which is still largest draw to Jurmala.
Overnight in Riga
DAY 5 RIGA – SIGULDA/TURAIDA – TALLINN
Breakfast at hotel
Drive to Sigulda
Tour of Turaida Castle with English speaking guide
The Turaida Museum Reserve is the historical centre of Turaida and comprises archaeological, historical and art monuments that tell us about the events that have taken place since the 11th century. Turaida church, one of the oldest wooden churches built by the local rural craftsmen, is situated here. A graveyard was established here for the first baptized Liivs. Under an old linden tree is the legendary tomb of Roze that commemorates a girl who sacrificed herself in the name of love The “Folk Song Garden”, containing 25 sculptures by Indulis Ranka, is situated on the site of a former ancient Liiv village. It is dedicated to Latvian folk songs and to the lifelong work of their collector Krisjanis Barons.
Overnight in Tallinn
DAY 6 TALLINN
Breakfast at hotel
Tallinn city tour (walking & driving, 3 hours)
City tour of Tallinn, a picturesque old city, where whole districts date back to the Middle Ages. You will visit the Old Town with its quaint narrow streets and beautiful merchants’ houses exemplifying the best of Gothic architecture. The tour includes Toompea Castle, the 13th century Dome church, the 19th century Russian orthodox Cathedral of Alexander Nevskij, the 15th century town Hall square, the Old Guild built to celebrate Tallinn’s membership in the Hanseatic League, and St. Olaf’s church.
On the second part of the day continue Open Air museum Rocca al Mare (4 hours)
The Estonian Open Air Museum (founded in 1957) is situated at an 8 km distance from the centre of Tallinn on a wooded coastal headland in a beautiful place called Rocca al Mare. The Open Air Museum presents a unique collection of old Estonian buildings on a 79-hectare expanse of seaside land. Farm buildings, windmills and water mills from various periods and regions have been together here.
Overnight in Tallinn
DAY 7 TALLINN
Breakfast at hotel
Free time for leisure
Transfer to airport