HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BALTICS

Essential Highlights

An adventure through the medieval capitals of the Baltics will keep you on your toes as you wind your way from Warsaw to the Gothic spires of Riga to the fairy-tale façades of Tallinn. Delve into decades of Soviet rule, the youthful spirit of nations and a Hanseatic heritage that put these cities on the trading map for centuries. Your Local Specialists will reveal the legacies left by foreign rulers and the stories that have brought a new lease on life to this region.

Warsaw Sightseeing with your Local Specialist includes a visit to the Old Town, see the monumental Palace of Culture and Science building

Vilnius Enjoy views of the Bishop's Palace, Gediminas Tower and the church of St. Peter and St. Paul on your included sightseeing with a Local Specialist Šiauliai Visit the remarkable pilgrimage site of the Hill of Crosses

Riga Sightseeing with your Local Specialist includes the Old Town, views of the House of the Blackheads, and the Freedom Monument Tallinn See the 15th-century Lühike Jalg Gate and the old Hanseatic Quarter on your included sightseeing with a Local Specialist

Poland

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Day 1, Arrive Warsaw

Tucked away, but not forgotten, the Baltics stand at the edge of Europe – revived and reinvigorated after years of Nazi and Soviet occupation. Meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers later this evening for a glimpse into what lies ahead. D Hotel: Ibis Warsaw Centrum

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Start/end Overnights Sightseeing stops

Lunch D Dinner

Day 2, Warsaw sightseeing and free time

Warsaw’s façades are a testament to the resilience of the Poles who have lovingly restored their capital city after it was razed to the ground in retaliation for the 1944 Warsaw Uprising. With your Local Specialist, you’ll see the site of the Warsaw Ghetto. An Optional Experience could see you explore Wilanów Palace with its collection of royal furniture. B

Day 3, Warsaw – Vilnius

The journey north begins today, through pastoral landscapes and rural villages to Vilnius, Lithuania’s elegant capital. There isn’t a city in Northern Europe with a medieval Old Town its size and you’ll have an opportunity to explore every inch of its Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance splendour on your own. Signs of the city’s 50-years of Soviet occupation can still be seen, but it is the city’s beautiful architectural heritage, gritty street art and youthful spirit which take centre stage on your visit. Launch into a love a air with Lithuanian food this evening, joining an optional dinner and folklore show. Skanaus! B Hotel: Art City Inn

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Day 4, Vilnius sightseeing and free time

All the iconic sights of Vilnius are revealed this morning as you join a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour, including the 16th-century Bishop’s Palace, the Baroque Church of St. Peter and St. Paul and the Gates of Dawn. This afternoon, head back to the former communist era on an Optional Experience to the KGB museum. B, D

Day 5, Vilnius – Šiauliai – Riga

This morning, switch the new capital for the old on an Optional Experience to Trakai with its enchanting lakeside castle. Later, leave Vilnius bound for the Hill of Crosses at Šiauliai where millions of crosses jostle for their spot. Arrive in the ancient city of Riga later – its Gothic skyline has witnessed German, Scandinavian and Russian rule across eight centuries.

BHotel: Park Inn by Radisson Riga Valdemara

Day 6, Riga sightseeing and free time

Riga’s UNESCO-listed Old Town reveals one of the world’s finest collections of Art Nouveau buildings and a rich Hanseatic trade heritage that comes to life in the colourful stories shared by your Local Specialist this morning. Stroll through the winding medieval streets keeping your camera at hand to capture St. Peter’s Church, the Three Brothers and Riga Cathedral. The rest of the day is free to explore Riga on your terms. Admire the skyline from the comfort of a canal boat, indulge in the herbal flavours of the city’s favourite Black Balsam at a traditional city tavern, or join an Optional Experience at the Bergi Open Air Museum, revealing Latvia’s cultural heritage. B

Day 7, Riga – Tallinn

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Lithuanian Folklore And Traditional Dinner

Enjoy a hearty Lithuanian dinner of local specialties accompanied by a rousing folklore show.

Trakai Castle And Town

Explore the old Lithuanian capital of Trakai, whose lakeside castle has been lovingly restored. See the wooden cottages built by the Karaites.

Kalamaja Visit

Visit the fishing harbour turned Bohemian Quarter of Kalamaja, a must-see destination for history buffs. Then visit Seaplane Harbour where Charles Lindbergh landed after his first solo flight across the Atlantic.

The Estonian capital of Tallinn is your final destination today. You’ll encounter a blend of Scandinavian and Russian flavours, but it is the Old Town that will capture your heart as you step back in time to explore it. B, DHotel: Ibis Tallinn Center

Day 8, Tallinn sightseeing and free time

Your Local Specialist will take you past the 15thcentury Lühike Jalg Gate and you’ll visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, a symbol of Russian power with its magnificent gold-plated dome. An Optional Experience could see you visit Tallinn’s colourful Kalamaja neighbourhood. B

Day 9, Depart Tallinn

You’ve embraced the youthful spirit of a Baltic region free from the shackles of its Soviet past and explored beautifully restored medieval capitals along the way. Close the curtain on your journey across Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, saying a fond nägemist to new friends. Find out more about your available transfers at costsavertour.com/transfers. B

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