Baltic states & Helsinki
per person
Trip route:
Vilnius – Riga – Tallinn – Helsinki
Highlights:
- Tallinn, Riga & Vilnius Old Towns
(3 x UNESCO World Heritage sites) - Trakai, Lithuania
- Kernave
- Rundale
- Gauja National Park, Latvia
- Cesis
- Uspenski Cathedral
- Temppeliaukio Church
Price includes:
- Accommodation in 4 star hotels, based on double occupancy in rooms with private facilities
- Transfers, sightseeing & touring in deluxe air-conditioned coach
- Professional English/German-speaking tour guide
- Complete program throughout the tour
- Entrance fee according program
What to expect:
This tour will acquaint you with the Baltic States, full of heroic history preserved in the 13th -14th century stone and brick castles in Trakai, Sigulda and Cesis, defence walls and towers of Tallinn. The green landscape with seven hills in Kernave near Vilnius, the capital of the 13th century Lithuania, the last pagan country in Europe. Historical capital cities, Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn are renown for their charming old town areas, full of architectural gems with their medieval winding streets, 13th – 18th centuries churches and palaces. Just 80 km from Tallinn you’ll reach Finland’s capital Helsinki, called “the Daughter of the Baltics”, now famous for modern design and architecture. Visit the Rock Church, Suomenlinna fort. Enjoy Helsinki, full of Nordic beauty.
9 days / 8 nights
- Destination
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Departure
Vilnius / Tallin
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Included
AccommodationAir conditioned coachComplete programGuideProgram
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Not Included
BreakfastDinner
From our gallery
1
Day 1. Arrival to Vilnius
Arrival to Vilnius. Transfer to hotel with guide escort. Accommodation. Overnight in Vilnius.
2
Day 2. Vilnius –Trakai –Kernave -Vilnius
Morning Vilnius city tour including the most interesting architectural and historic monuments of the 16th - 19th centuries, such as majestic classical Vilnius Cathedral with the history dating back to the 14th century, a monument to Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas, the founder of Vilnius, the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, Gediminas Hill & Tower, St. Anne's Church – the 16th century gem of the Lithuanian gothics, the Vilnius University founded in 1579, the Dawn Gate with a holy icon of Virgin Mary etc.
The afternoon offers excursion to Trakai, 28 km from Vilnius, the ancient Lithuanian capital, famous for its 15th c. Gothic Castle amidst the lake, now housing a History Museum.
Then you will visit Kernave, what has been known as the capital of Lithuania before Trakai and Vilnius. In Kernave you will be able to climb 5 mounds and enjoy a superb breath- taking view of the river valley graced by the bends of the river Neris. In the evening return to Vilnius for overnight in Vilnius.
3
Day 3. Vilnius – Hill of Crosses – Rundale - Riga
After breakfast 300 km drive to Riga the capital of Latvia, another Baltic Republic. En route stop in the most famous Catholic pilgrimage site - the Hill of Crosses, one of the most famous sacral places in Lithuania, with thousands of crosses placed here by Lithuanians thanking God for his mercies. Around 200,000 crosses of various sizes adorn the hill now. A further drive to Latvia and first stop in Rundale Palace built by the famous architect Rastrelli, the main designer of Russian czars' palaces in St. Petersburg. Rundale Palace is also known as “Versailles of Latvia”.
In the late afternoon drive to hotel in Riga. Accommodation and overnight in Riga.
4
Day 4. Riga - Jurmala - Riga
After breakfast a morning walking tour of Old Riga including the most famous architectural monuments: the 13th century Dome Cathedral and its famous organ - one of the biggest organs in Europe, medieval dwelling houses "Three Brothers", 13th c. St. Jacob's and St. Peter’s Churches, 14th century Riga Castle.
Further tour to the Art Nouveau area famous for its exclusive early 20th century architecture style. At lunch time you visit to Riga Central Market in the heard of Riga, first opened in 1930 being the largest and most progressive marketplace in Europe since then. Every day it sells vegetables, dairy produce, meat, fish and grocery, manufactured goods, farmers’ products. In the afternoon tour to Jurmala, the vibrant Latvian sea resort, famous for its wooden architecture and sandy beaches. Overnight in Riga.
5
Day 5. Riga – Gauja Nationalpark – Ceisis - Tallinn
After breakfast a morning departure to Tallinn the capital of Estonia. A first stop in Gauja Nationalpark, called the Latvian Switzerland. A visit to Turaida Castle to experience a genuine atmosphere of the Middle Ages listening to romantic legends, admiring the ruins of the 13th c. Knights’ Castle, the mysterious sandstone grottoes on the river bank. The second stop en rout in Cesis - a beautiful medieval hanseatic town with 13th century Order of Knight’s Castle. In the evening arrival to Tallinn, accommodation at hotel. Overnight in Tallinn.
6
Day 6. Tallinn
After breakfast a morning tour in Tallinn. A walking Tallinn tour includes The Upper Town – Toompea Hill, the 13th c. Gothic style Dome Cathedral, a perfect city panorama. In the Lower Town the tour includes the Gothic Town Hall (early 15th c.), St. Nicholas Church a museum of medieval art, the pharmacy, opened in 1422 and still functioning. Afternoon you will have a tour to Kadriorg Palace and Park. The Kadriorg Art Museum displays hundreds of 16th- to 20th-century paintings by Western and Russian artists, as well as prints, sculptures and other works. En rout to Pirita Convent you will see the long promenade. The Pirita promenade runs from the edge of Kadriog park all the way, across the bridge by the sailing club, to Pirita beach. The promenade runs for about 2 kilometers stretching along the waterfront, offering spectacular views of the Tallinn’s. After you will visit Pirita Convent, which was a monastery for both monks and nuns dedicated to St. Brigitta, located in the district of Pirita in Tallinn, Estonia. It functioned from 1417 to 1575. It was the largest convent in Livonia, and one of the largest in Northern Europe. Overnight in Tallinn.
7
Day 7. Tallinn - Helsinki - Tallinn
Morning tour to Helsinki. Ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki. Arrival to Helsinki, City tour consists of the main sights of Helsinki – the „ Doughter of the Baltic Sea“. Open Market place and on the neoklassic Senate Square with the elegant Lutheran Cathedral from year 1852, the Esplanade shopping streets and park area where most of the embassies are situated, then to the ship yeards, the mainstreet called Mannerheimintie, where are located the Parliament House, the National Museum, the Opera house and the Finlandia Hall designed by the famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. The tour goes by Olympic Stadion, the scene of the Olympic Games in 1952. You will visit the unique Temppeliaukio Church blasted into solid rock. The tour includes a visit to the Sibelius Park where you can see and photograph the monument of 527 steel pipes, wich honors the great Finnish compose Jean Sibelius. Lunch in a city. After lunch free time in Helsinki. Transfer to the harbor. Ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn. Dinner on board. Overnight in Tallinn.
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Day 8. Departure from Tallinn
Departure from Tallinn after breakfast.
