EASTERN BALTICS

Arrival at Vilnius International Airport, Lithuania.

Explore Vilnius:

• The Capital of Lithuania. The Old Town of Vilnius is one of the biggest East Europe's old towns and is included in UNESCO World's Cultural Heritage list. 


• Highlights: Gediminas Tower, Presidental Palace, St. Anne’s church, St. Peter’s and Paul’s church, KGB museum, The Gates of Dawn, Bernardine Gardens, Castle Hill, Hill of Three Crosses, Gediminas avenue.

Getting around: public transport, on foot.

Hotel accommodation in Vilnius.

Breakfast

Depart Vilnius for Daugavpils, Latvia

Transport: train (1x/day (Sat-Sun), duration 2 h 50)

Explore Daugavpils:

• The second largest city in Latvia and an important economic centre of the Latgale region. Dates back to 1826.


• Highlights: the Daugavpils Fortress, built to ward off Napoleon's army in early 19th century, total area 150 ha. Its Arsenal building hosts the Mark Rothko Art Centre exhibiting the original masterpieces of Mark Rothko, the founder of the abstract expressionism. Shmakovka Museum – the history of the traditional Latgalian alcoholic beverage that is recognised as culinary heritage of region.

Getting around: on foot, public transport.

Hotel accommodation in Daugavpils.

Breakfast

Depart Daugavpils for Rezekne

Transport: bus (6x/day, duration 1 h 50)

Explore Rezekne:

• Dates back to the 9th – 12th centuries. Today the second largest city of the Latgale region.


• Highlights: Latgale regional Culture and History Museum, Rezekne castle mound and castle ruins, the monument of Latgalian liberation, contemporary architecture - the “Gors” concert hall, “Zeimuļs” - Centre of Creative Services of Eastern Latvia.

Getting around: on foot.

Hotel accommodation in Rezekne.

Breakfast

Depart Rezekne for Riga

Transport: train (2x/day, duration 3 h 50) or bus (6x/day, duration ~4h)

Explore Riga:

• The Capital of Latvia. The Old Town of Riga (included in UNESCO World's Heritage list) - an excellent medieval building monument. The pearl of Art Nouveau in Europe. The former city of the Hanseatic League, a medieval commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and their market towns.


• Highlights: Old Town, Art Nouveau area, city parks, Museum of Arts, National History Museum of Latvia, the National Library of Latvia, Central Market - one of the largest in Europe.

Getting around: on foot, public transport.

Accommodation in Riga.

Breakfast

Explore Riga:

• Ethnographic open-air museum located in a beautiful spot by the lake in pine forest http://brivdabasmuzejs.lv/en/.


• Mezaparks - one of the greenest neighbourhoods in Riga, a popular recreation area. http://www.latvia.travel/en/sight/mezaparks. Riga Zoo can be found in Mezaparks http://www.rigazoo.lv/en.

Getting around: on foot, public transport.

Accommodation in Riga.

Breakfast

Depart Riga for Sigulda

Transport: train (10x/day, duration 1 h 15)

Explore Sigulda:

• The surroundings of Sigulda present some of Latvia’s most beautiful landscapes. The town is located in Gauja National Park.


• Highlights: three medieval castles – Sigulda, Krimulda Castle ruins, and Turaida Castle Museum complex with its observation tower, functioning estate houses and sculpture park. There are numerous well-marked and scenic walking trails along the Gauja River valley.

Getting around: on foot, public transport.

Accommodation in Sigulda.

Breakfast

Depart Sigulda for Cesis Transport: train (4x/day, duration 40 min), alternative – bus.

Explore Cesis:

• Cesis was founded in 1206 and is the third oldest town in Latvia. Since the end of the nineteenth century Cesis has been known as a centre of the arts, culture and recreation.


• Highlights: Cesis medieval castle; the old town of Cesis with its original street network, masonry, ancient manor houses and wooden villas built on the banks of the River Gauja.

Getting around: on foot.

Accommodation in Cesis.

Breakfast

Depart Cesis for Valmiera

Transport: train (4x/day, duration 1 h 55 min), alternative – bus.

Explore Valmiera:

• Valmiera is the economic, educational and sporting centre of the Vidzeme region.


• Highlights: the ruins of Valmiera Castle, St Simon’s Lutheran Church, Valmiera Museum, Valmiermuižas beer Brewery.

Getting around: on foot, by taxi (for the brewery).

In the evening depart for Tartu, Estonia, by bus (2x/day in the evening, duration approx. 2 hours).

Hotel accommodation in Tartu.

Breakfast

Explore Tartu:

• The second largest city in Estonia. Tartu Old Town sits on the left-hand bank of the River Emajõgi.


• Highlights: Town Hall Square, “Kiss of the Students” fountain (the symbol of the city), Toomemägi Hill, Tartu University, the Old Town, AHHAA science centre http://www.ahhaa.ee/en.

Getting around: on foot, public transport.

Accommodation in Tartu.

Breakfast

Depart Tartu for Narva

Transport: bus (several times a day, duration ~3 h), alternative – train (connecting trains)

Explore Narva:

• Estonian – Russian border town by the River Narva, first mentioned in chronicles in 1171. Narva is primarily a Russian-speaking city and is populated mostly by ethnic Russians.


• Highlights: the Narva Castle and museum.

Getting around: on foot.

Accommodation in Narva.

Breakfast

Depart Narva for Tallinn

Transport: bus (1x/h, duration 3 h 50 min), alternative – train (4x/day)

Explore Tallinn:

• The capital city of Estonia.


• Highlights: the Old Town of Tallinn – an excellent medieval (14th-15th century) city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Seaplane Harbour (Estonian Maritime Museum), Pirita beach.

Getting around: on foot, public transport.

Accommodation in Tallinn.

Breakfast

Explore Tallinn:

•  Estonian Open Air Museum http://evm.ee/eng/home.

Getting around: on foot, public transport.

Departure from Tallinn International Airport.