A Tour of the Baltic States – Helsinki Cruise

After breakfast, we’ll set out for a guided tour of Riga. We’ll start in the Old Town, one of the best-preserved in Europe. Spread out on a plain crossed by the Daugava River, the city “rivals” the charm of Vilnius with its own impressive Art Nouveau architecture, the historic Old Town of Vecriga, and the large, beautiful, and lush green parks along the old medieval moat. We will walk through the old town, see magnificent Gothic monuments, buildings of various architectural styles, the Town Hall Square, and the Cathedral Square. We’ll wrap up with a stroll through the newer part of the city, where we’ll admire works of the Art Nouveau movement. Our tour will end with a fantastic cruise (optional) on the Daugava River and through Riga’s beautiful canals! Transfer to the hotel and free time to rest. In the afternoon, another excellent suggestion… a visit to the most beautiful beach on the Baltic Sea!!! Jurmala is the largest resort on the Baltic coast. It is an area 32 kilometers long and 3 kilometers wide, with magnificent white-sand beaches, situated between the Gulf of Riga and the Lielupe River. In the evening, take a stroll through the town to capture nighttime scenes that feel like a knightly fairy tale!

After breakfast at the hotel, we leave Riga behind and head to Vilnius, the fairytale capital and largest city of Lithuania. The journey is wonderful, a true taste of the Baltic, filled with unique natural scenery and magnificent palaces. A major stop is Rūdaile Palace, exceptional in its interior and featuring magnificent gardens. Built in the Baroque style in the 18th century for the Dukes of Courland, it was a center of artistic excellence. Sculptors and painters from Germany and Italy were brought in to work on the palace. Admire the Gilt Hall and take a stroll through the Grand Gallery. We continue to the country’s second-largest city, medieval Kaunas. It is located at the confluence of the country’s two largest rivers, the Nemunas and the Neris. The old town and its significant interwar-era architecture make Kaunas a landmark of modernism (European Capital of Culture 2022). Today is one of the most beautiful days of our journey through the spruce forests. Evening stroll in Vilnius.

After breakfast, we’ll begin our tour of the city, built at the confluence of the Vilnelė and Neris rivers. We’ll walk along the main pedestrian street, Pilies Street, to reach Vilnius’s first historic university (1579). Next, we’ll visit the Cathedral of the Assumption, pass through the Gate of Dawn with its unique woodcarving of the Virgin Mary, and end up in the Uzupis neighborhood. You will be impressed by the Church of Saints Peter and Paul as well as the Church of Saint Anne. Afterward, we will visit the Trakai region, a town literally built on the water, surrounded by 200 lakes and 21 small islands. The most significant attraction is the 15th-century castle located on an islet in Lake Galvė. Walking across a wooden bridge, you reach the castle gate. We end up in the center of Vilnius for a final stroll, and from there we’ll head to the airport for our flight to Tallinn. Check-in at the hotel and overnight stay.

Today we have a morning guided tour of Tallinn, during which we will walk up Toompea Hill to see the old castle, the Baroque palace (now the parliament), and the superbly preserved 13th-century churches. The Old Town—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—consists of two levels and features exceptionally well-preserved medieval walls. The market square is dominated by the unique medieval town hall, as well as Europe’s oldest pharmacy. We will walk through Kadriorg Park, dedicated to Tsarina Catherine, and visit the adjacent museum of European painting, the former summer palace of Peter the Great. We will also see the ruins of the Pirita Monastery. The rest of the day is at your leisure.