Historic Baltic Republics

Welcome to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. After settling into your hotel, meet your tour leader at the reception at 7 pm for a brief introduction to the tour. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or start exploring the city on your own. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town is a short walk away, where you can wander through the cobbled streets and marvel at the 14th-century town hall.

Today, we delve deeper into the enchanting streets of Tallinn. Our guided walking tour starts in the picturesque Old Town, where we'll explore the colorful houses, old merchants' quarter, and bustling town square. Highlights include the Gothic town hall, the pink Parliament buildings, Toompea Castle, and the yellow Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. The afternoon is free for you to continue exploring at your own pace.

Today, we drive towards the Gulf of Riga, heading for Saaremaa, the largest of the offshore islands. En route, we stop at Muhu Island, where you can optionally visit the Koguva Museum, an open-air museum showcasing the old way of life. Once on Saaremaa, we visit the Karja Church, Angla Windmills, and the 4000-year-old Kaali Crater.

Spend the day soaking up the relaxed atmosphere of Saaremaa, dotted with windmills, churches, and juniper groves. We explore the main town of Kuressaare, visiting the town hall and St Laurentius Church. In your free time, you may choose to visit Bishop's Palace, one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Europe.

Today, we take a short ferry ride back to the mainland and drive to Tartu, Estonia's oldest town. We stop at the old town of Parnu for lunch and a leisurely stroll. Upon reaching Tartu in the evening, you have free time to explore this vibrant university city.

This morning, we explore Tartu's 18th-century architecture on a walking tour. We visit Raekoja Plats, the town square, with its famous kissing students statue, and Toomemagi Cathedral Hill, a 5th-century stronghold turned university. The rest of the day is free for you to uncover more of this beautiful city.

Today, we journey to Riga, the capital of Latvia. We pass through scenic landscapes dotted with quaint villages, forests, and lakes. We stop at Cesis in the Gauja National Park, where you can visit the ruins of the 13th-century Order of Knight's Castle and the Church of St. John. Before reaching Riga, we also visit Turaida Castle, an imposing redbrick structure on the banks of the Gauja River.

Today, we explore the enchanting city of Riga. Our walking tour takes us through the old city, where we visit the Freedom Monument, Gunpowder Tower, St. Jacob's Church, and the cathedral. The city's architecture is a mix of gothic, baroque, and art nouveau styles. Don't miss the lively market located in disused Zeppelin hangers, offering a variety of local produce.

Today is a free day for you to explore Riga at your own pace. You might choose to relax with a long lunch at one of the traditional restaurants, or visit Jurmala, a series of coastal villages with long sandy beaches and pretty cottages. Alternatively, you can simply enjoy people watching at one of the many street cafes.

Heading south, we visit the 18th-century Rundale Palace, a classic example of the fusion of German and Russian society. We then cross into Lithuania, stopping at the Hill of Crosses near Siauliai, a unique monument adorned with a vast number of rosaries and crosses. We end the day in Klaipeda, a major port and the third-largest city in Lithuania.

Today, we explore the area around Curonian Spit National Park, home to moose, wild boar, and many bird species. We visit the wooden sculptures at the Hill of Witches and the fishing town of Nida, situated on drifting sand dunes. Depending on the weather, we'll either spend more time at the beach or return to Klaipeda to explore the city.

Today, we journey to Kaunas, which served as Lithuania's capital between 1920 and 1939. The city is situated right in the heart of Lithuania and is home to centuries-old buildings that date back to the Gothic period and the 17th century. After a tour of the town, the rest of the day is free for you to explore at your own pace.

On our way to Vilnius, we stop at the Pazaislis Monastery, the largest monastic complex in the country and a great example of baroque architecture. We also visit Trakai, the former home of the Grand Duchy, and its 14th-century castle set on its own island. Once we reach Vilnius, the evening is free for you to explore.

Today, we explore the capital's must-see sites. The catholic influence in the city is evident from the numerous baroque churches. We visit the ancient university, founded by the Jesuits, and the Gates of the Dawn chapel, home to the Black Madonna. The afternoon is left free for you to explore at your own pace.

Our tour of the Baltic capitals concludes today in Vilnius. There are no activities planned, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight leaves later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. We hope you enjoyed your journey through the enchanting Baltic capitals and look forward to welcoming you on another tour soon.