Lithuania Latvia Estonia

Categories Escorted Tours Baltic Tours Summer Tours

Visit the three independent Baltic Republics of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on this escorted motor coach tour from Vilnius. Days 4 - 8 are spent relaxing in Nida on the Curonian Spit in Lithuania!

This trip can also be taken from Riga. Please see Classical Baltics Tour Plus Curonian Spit from Riga.

Itinerary

Arrival in Vilnius. A transfer by private car to your hotel. Check-in at the hotel. 7:00 p.m. welcome meeting at the hotel where you will be greeted by your tour guide. Overnight at Novotel Center Hotel or similar.

9:00 a.m. a city tour of Vilnius, capital of Lithuania for more than 600 years. The tour includes: St.Peter and Paul’s Church, Gediminas Castle, Cathedral Square with St. Stanislaw Cathedral and Bell tower, Bernadine Garden, St.Ann and Bernardines’ Church, Amber gallery-museum, Užupis -one of the oldest districts of Vilnius, mentioned in the historical sources as far back as the 16th century, nowadays the artists’ “republic”, which has its own constitution, national anthem, calendar and map, short photo stop on the street Subaciaus to throw the view of the old town from the observation deck, the Gates of Dawn with a holy image of the Virgin Mary, Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit, Town Hall Square and Vilnius University (founded in 1579) with St. John’s Church. Afternoon trip to Trakai (25 km from Vilnius), the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Visit to the insular castle of the 14th century, erected on a small island in the lake Galve. Return to Vilnius. In the evening optional: dinner at Lithuanian restaurant “ Lokys” or similar.

Breakfast at hotel. Departure for Druskininkai. Stop in Gru­tas vil­la­ge for a vi­sit to Gru­tas Par­k an open-air ex­hi­bi­tion of the So­viet era sculp­tu­res and mo­nu­ments. Ar­ri­val in Drus­ki­nin­kai, check-in at the ho­tel.

Ci­ty tour of Drus­ki­nin­kai, the ol­dest he­alth re­sort in Lit­hu­a­nia. The pri­de of the town is its mi­ne­ral springs. In 1794 the king of Po­land and Lit­hu­a­nia an­noun­ced a dec­ree of­fi­cial­ly de­sig­na­ting Drus­ki­nin­kai as a he­alth re­sort.. Possibility to try various spa treatments against extra payment at health center.  

9:00 a. m. departure for Nida. Stopover in Kaunas – former temporary capital of Lithuania. City tour of Kaunas- the second largest city of Lithuania - includes ruins of the castle, Town Hall Square with its impressive monuments, visit to Cathedral. Arrival in Klaipeda. Ferry trip to the Cu­ro­nian Spit. Visit the Hill of Witches which houses a hundred fanciful and folksy wooden sculptures scattered along a forest path in Juodkrante. Arrival in Nida. Check in at hotel.

Walking tour of Nida resort, including the Fisherman’s House- museum, famous German writer Thomas Mann’s House, Amber Gallery, old ethnographic cemetery, neo-gothic church and a walk along impressive sand dunes.

Leisure time. Ni­da is an old fis­hing vil­la­ge on the Cu­ro­nian Spit was­hed by the Bal­tic Sea from one si­de and the Cu­ro­nian La­go­on from the ot­her si­de. To­day Ni­da is the lar­gest set­tle­ment of the town of Ne­rin­ga and one of the most be­au­ti­ful re­sorts in Lit­hu­a­nia. The an­cient fis­her­men’s ar­chi­tec­tu­re is dis­tin­guis­hed by its ori­gi­na­li­ty. One can cho­o­se from a va­rie­ty of ac­ti­vi­ties such as wa­ter sports and cyc­ling.

10:00 a.m. de­par­tu­re by bo­at from Ni­da to the Ne­mu­nas Ri­ver Del­ta Re­gio­nal Park.

En route passing the Mi­ni­ja vil­la­ge cal­led the Lit­hu­a­nian Ve­ni­ce, whe­re the Ri­ver Mi­ni­ja ser­ves as the main street. Departure by coach for lunch at the restaurant in Kintai, tasting of local fish dish. Departure by coach to the Vente Horn. Visit of the ornithological station and the 19th century lighthouse. Ar­ri­val in Klaipeda. Check-in at the hotel.

Ci­ty tour of Klai­pe­da, the main se­a­port of Lit­hu­a­nia, includes walking in the old part of the town which is interesting for frame-built architecture, cozy closed yards, paved streets, the Theatre Square with a sculpture of “Annchen von Tharau”, Old Post Office. Trip to Palanga, the biggest seaside resort of Lithuania. City tour including the vi­sit to the Bo­ta­ni­cal Gar­den and Am­ber Mu­seum in the Pa­la­ce of Count Tys­zkie­wicz, with over 25000 pie­ces of am­ber and 15000 inc­lu­sions of in­sects on dis­play, further walk by the Birutė Hill along the sea coast, on the sea bridge and on pedestrian Basanavičiaus street famous for its cafes and restaurants with live music. Return to Klaipeda. In the evening optional dinner at the restaurant “Fridricho pasazas” or similar.

9:00 a.m. de­par­tu­re by co­ach to Ri­ga, the ca­pi­tal of Lat­via. Stop at the Hill of Crosses (16 km from Siauliai), the unforgettable place with thousands of crosses on two small hills. Further drive to Riga. Stop in Rundale. Visit to Rundale Palace of the 18th century, a beautiful late baroque palace in Latvia. It is a splendid example of the early work of famous Italian architect F.B.Rastrelli. Ar­ri­val in Ri­ga, check-in at the ho­tel.

9:00 a.m. a city tour of Riga. A combined coach and walking tour encompasses the most significant sights of Riga: driving along the central boulevards of Riga, enjoying the view of the City Canal Parks, the Bastion Hill, the Powder Tower, the Latvian National Theatre, the Fine Arts Museum, the Art Nouveau Buildings of the beginning of the 20th century, the Freedom Monument, University of Latvia, Latvian National Opera House and the Daugava River. During the walking part of the tour you will enjoy the beauty of the ancient Hanseatic City: picturesque streets of the Old Town, the Dome Cathedral, the Church of St.Peter, the old Guild Houses, the Swedish Gate, St.Jacob’s Church, St. Mary Magdalene's Church, the Parliament House, Old Riga Castle. Following the visit of the Key to Riga or similar.

9:00 a.m. de­par­tu­re for Tal­linn with a stop in Pärnu, Estonia “Summer Capital”. This little town has been known as a summer health resort since the first spa opened here in the 1830s. Further drive to Tallinn. Ar­ri­val in Tal­linn, check-in at the ho­tel.

9:00 a.m. a city tour of Tallinn, visiting the Old Town of Tallinn - an example of Gothic architecture in the Baltic and Nordic countries. The tour includes Toompea Castle fortifications, the Dome Church (13th century), the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky (19th century), Town Hall Square (15th century), St. Catherine's Passage, where artists of St. Catherine guild present their work, St.Olaf’s Church. Afternoon optional: excursion to Kadriorg Park and visit to Kadriorg Palace. In the evening optional: Dinner at restaurant “ Peppersack ” or similar.

9:00 a.m. de­par­tu­re for Si­gul­da. Sto­po­ver in Tar­tu, the se­cond lar­gest town in Es­to­nia. Ci­ty tour of Tar­tu, To­o­me Hill Park with its mo­nu­ments, sculp­tu­res, brid­ges and ruins of got­hic Church, pa­no­ra­mic view of the town with Ja­a­ni Church and Town Hall Squ­a­re. Furt­her dri­ve to Si­gul­da (Lat­via). Short stop in a small an­cient town of Ce­sis for a walk in Castle Park. Ar­ri­val in Si­gul­da, check-in at the ho­tel.

9:00 a.m. walk in Gau­ja Na­tio­nal Park, inc­lu­ding vi­sit to Tu­rai­da Castle and the ruins of the 13th cen­tu­ry Cru­sa­der Castle in Si­gul­da. A furt­her dri­ve to Vilnius. Ar­ri­val in Vilnius, check-in at the ho­tel.

Private car Transfer to airport following breakfast.

Notes