8-Day Baltic Highlights: Vilnius, Riga & Tallinn

Tour Overview

Itinerary Highlights

Day 1: Arrive Vilnius, Lithuania

Welcome to the Baltic States! Airport transfer to your hotel in Vilnius, the baroque jewel of the Baltics. Evening walking tour of the UNESCO-listed Old Town — the largest baroque old town in Eastern Europe. See the Gothic St. Anne’s Church (Napoleon wanted to take it to Paris in his palm), the neoclassical Cathedral Square with its separate bell tower, and the bohemian Užupis Republic with its whimsical constitution. Welcome dinner at a traditional Lithuanian restaurant with cepelinai (potato zeppelins).

Day 2: Vilnius — Trakai Castle & KGB Museum

Morning excursion to Trakai, the medieval capital of Lithuania. Visit the stunning 14th-century Island Castle on Lake Galvė — a red-brick fortress on an island, connected by wooden bridges. Afternoon: Gediminas Tower for panoramic views, the Gates of Dawn with its miraculous icon, and the sobering Museum of Occupations (former KGB headquarters) documenting Soviet-era repressions. Evening free to explore the vibrant Pilies Street.

Day 3: Hill of Crosses & Riga, Latvia

Drive north through the Lithuanian countryside. Stop at the Hill of Crosses near Šiauliai — one of the world’s most extraordinary pilgrimage sites with over 200,000 crosses covering a small hill. Continue across the border into Latvia. Arrive in Riga, the largest Baltic capital. Evening stroll through the Art Nouveau district with its ornate facades.

Day 4: Riga — Medieval & Modern

Full-day Riga exploration. Morning in the UNESCO Old Town: Riga Castle, the House of the Blackheads, the Three Brothers (oldest dwellings), and the soaring St. Peter’s Church tower for city panoramas. Afternoon: Riga Central Market in converted WWI Zeppelin hangars — one of Europe’s largest markets. Art Nouveau walking tour on Alberta Street. Evening beer tasting at a Latvian craft brewery.

Day 5: Gauja National Park & Sigulda

Day trip to Gauja National Park, the “Latvian Switzerland.” Visit the medieval Turaida Castle and its rose garden. Explore Gutman’s Cave, the largest grotto in the Baltics covered in centuries-old inscriptions. Walk the scenic trails along the Gauja River valley. Afternoon visit to Sigulda’s three castles. Return to Riga.

Day 6: Pärnu & Tallinn, Estonia

Drive along the Baltic coast to Estonia. Stop in Pärnu, Estonia’s summer capital with its long sandy beach, wooden spa architecture, and relaxed seaside vibe. Afternoon arrival in Tallinn. Evening walking tour of Tallinn Old Town (UNESCO): the fairy-tale Town Hall Square with Europe’s oldest continuously operating pharmacy (1422). Dinner at a medieval-themed restaurant in a 15th-century merchant’s house.

Day 7: Tallinn — Medieval Marvel

Full-day Tallinn exploration. Visit Toompea Hill with the Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the pink parliament building, and sweeping viewpoints over the red-tiled rooftops. Walk the intact medieval city walls and climb St. Olaf’s Church tower. Afternoon visit to the KUMU Art Museum (2008 European Museum of the Year). Evening folk dance performance with Estonian dinner. Taste Vana Tallinn liqueur.

Day 8: Depart Tallinn

Morning visit to the Rotermann Quarter’s design shops for Baltic amber, linen, and Marzipan. Transfer to Tallinn Airport.

Inclusions

• 7 nights 4-star hotels (3 nights Vilnius + 2 Riga + 2 Tallinn)
• Daily breakfast + 2 dinners
• All transportation in comfortable coach
• Bilingual tour escort + local guides
• Trakai Castle entry
• Gauja National Park excursion
• All city tours and monument entries

Why Visit the Baltic States

• Three distinct cultures in one compact region
• UNESCO Old Towns: Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn each unique
• Hill of Crosses: one of the world’s most extraordinary sights
• Art Nouveau architecture: Riga has the world’s largest collection
• Exceptional value — medieval Europe at Eastern European prices
• Safe, modern, and surprisingly undiscovered by mass tourism