Baltic Capitals with Helsinki

Breakfast and sightseeing tour in Vilnius.
Enjoy a guided tour in the historic Vilnius Old Town, one of the largest old towns in Eastern Europe. Visiting the most important sights like Cathedral Square with the Dome Church and Clock-Tower, St. Anne’s Church, St. Bernhardin’s Church, Town Hall Square and Vilnius University with St. John’s Church, the Gates of Dawn with the holy image of the Virgin Mary, and the Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit. During the tour your guide will also show you Gediminas Castle and Tower and beautiful St. Casimir’s Church. Vilnius is often called a Baroque city. However, the ruins of castles, narrow streets, church spires, bell towers, red tile roofs and residential cellars testify that Vilnius has had major influence from the Gothic style. In the 16th century Gothic became intertwined with Renaissance, and in the 17th – 18th century Baroque buildings started to appear.
Have free time for lunch. After lunch drive to Trakai (4 hours).
Trakai town is situated on a narrow cape between 3 lakes, and it is famous for its impressive Trakai Castle. Trakai and Trakai Castle are important to Lithuanian history. Associated with Grand Duke Gediminas, a medieval Lithuanian hero, Trakai rose to importance before the Grand Duchy of Lithuania joined with Poland. The area began to develop in the 1400s with its castle as the centre of the action, though the area saw human habitation long before these permanent structures were built. Trakai Castle Museum is situated in two castles – one on an island in the middle of a lake, and one on the shore. Historically, communities of Karaims, Tatars, Lithuanians, Russians, Jews and Poles lived here.
Drive back to Vilnius. Overnight stay at hotel in Vilnius.

After breakfast, drive to Siauliai where 12 km north is located Hill of Crosses. Over the centuries, crosses, giant crucifixes, carvings of Lithuanian patriots, statues of the Virgin Mary and thousands of tiny effigies and rosaries have been brought here by Catholic pilgrims. The number of crosses is estimated at more than 100,000. After a short brake in Hill of Crosses leave for Latvia.

Rundale Palace (2 hours)
Drive to Rundale which is one of the most visited sights in Latvia. Rundale Palace, once the summer residence of the Duke of Courland Ernst Johann Biron, is one of the most outstanding monuments of Baroque and Rococo art in Latvia. Built from 1736 to 1740 the palace was designed by outstanding Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the creator of the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg. The splendid interior of the palace dazzled contemporaries. Crystal chandeliers, silk wallpaper, sculptures, luxurious tiled fireplaces, mirrors, elegant galleries and refined colours and frescos were made by Italian artists Francesco Martini and Carlo Zucci.
Rundale Palace Garden
The selection of plants for the park is based on information obtained from 18th century garden descriptions and books on Baroque gardens. The park of Rundale Palace is an essential part of the palace complex; it has retained its original layout without any significant changes. The garden was created between 1736 and 1740, at the same time as the palace was constructed. The park was not affected by modernization in the 19th century when formal gardens were transformed into landscape gardens. Cartography and inventory carried out in 1974 revealed that in the 19th century trees in the park were still planted according to Rastrelli’s design.
Drive to Riga – the capital of Latvia. Arrive in Riga, check in hotel. Overnight stay at hotel in Riga.

After breakfast, a walking tour through Riga Old Town seeing remarkable sites like St. Peter’s Church with its famous rooster, St. Jacob’s Church, Dom Square and Dom Cathedral, home to one of the world’s most valuable historic organs. The Powder Tower and city walls will make you feel the breath of the medieval. The guide will tell you about the oldest stone residential dwellings in Riga, the Three Brothers, the Great and Small Guilds, and the fortification wall of Riga with the Swedish Gate the last surviving gate in the wall. The guide will introduce you to the intriguing story of the Cat House and show you Town Hall Square with the beautiful and elegant Blackheads House. The tour will take visitors to Riga Castle founded in 1330, the Parliament, the Monument of Liberty and fantastic Riga`s Opera House.
Have a free time for lunch.
Drive to Jurmala – a world-famous seaside resort situated only 20 km from Riga. The natural curative features of this place were already well known more than 150 years ago. Nowadays endless golden beaches, Baltic Sea, salubrious air and the unique beauty of pine forests attract tourists. Jurmala is a cozy European town composed of houses plunged into the parks and forests. Here you can come across wooden country houses from beginning of the 20th century as well as modern cottages.
Surrounded by pine trees, the wooden cottages of Jurmala are unique monuments of cultural heritage; in which Classicism, Art Nouveau, National Romanticism and Functionalism harmoniously co-exist. This place is a must for those who are planning to visit Latvia in spring or summer.
Overnight stay at hotel in Riga.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning starts with ride to the beautiful town of Jurmala, which is famous for its incredible wooden buildings and 19^th Century Russian villas. Jurmala is also one of Latvia’s largest seaside resorts – it has a 33 km stretch of white sandy beach for us to explore on our bikes. There will be plenty of time to have a swim in the sea before we transfer back to Riga.

Lunch in Jurmala.

Evening Riga Walking City Tour. The tour includes the most significant sights of Riga and begins along the central boulevards of Riga, enjoying the view of the City Canal parks, the Art Nouveau buildings of the beginning of the 20^th century, the Opera House. In Old Riga you will see the Dome Cathedral, the Church of St. Peter, 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. Overnight in Riga.

Have breakfast at hotel. Drive to Tallinn with enroute stop in Paernu. Stop for a short brake and have a free time for lunch in Estonian beach resort – Pärnu. Pärnu is a town of lime-trees, parks and sea. Stop for a short break in charming old resort. Continue your trip towards Estonia until arrive in the capital – Tallinn. Check in hotel. Overnight stay at hotel in Tallinn.

After breakfast, we start our tour of Tallinn. It is the oldest capital in Northern Europe, first put on the map in 1154 by Arab geographer Al-Idrisi. Enjoy a walking tour in the UNESCO Heritage listed Tallinn Old Town. During the tour, explore Holy Spirit Church, the 600 years old Gothic Town Hall, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the world`s oldest functioning Pharmacy on Town Hall Square and the 159 meters high Oleveste Church which was the over the city. Toompea Castle was built in the 13th and 14th centuries and is the seat of Estonia`s parliament. Have an afternoon at leisure for shopping and your own activities. Overnight stay at hotel in Tallinn.

Have a breakfast & transfer to Helsinki port. Have a hydrofoil to Helsinki (approx 2 hours). Arrive in Helsinki, disembark and meet English speaking guide. The sightseeing tour will take you to the historical centre, Senate and Cathedral Square, the Presidential Palace, City Hall, the Parliament building, Finland Hall and the Opera House, the Sibelius Monument and the famous Church in the-Rock, Uspenski Cathedral and Esplanade Avenue. Overnight stay at hotel in Helsinki.

Transfer to the airport.
End of arrangements…