Tour Overview
| Duration | 11 Days / 10 Nights |
|---|---|
| Countries | Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania |
| Price From | $1,688 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Group Escorted / Cultural Immersion |
| Data Source | Nordic Saga Tours — 2026 |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrive Riga
Welcome to Latvia! Airport transfer to your hotel in Riga’s Old Town. Evening orientation walk: Town Hall Square, the House of the Blackheads, and the Daugava River promenade. Welcome dinner with Latvian dark rye bread, grey peas with bacon, and Riga Black Balsam liqueur. Overnight in Riga.
Day 2: Riga — Medieval Merchant City
Full-day Riga: the cathedral with its massive organ (6,768 pipes), St. Peter’s Church tower, the Three Brothers, and the Powder Tower. Afternoon dedicated to the Art Nouveau district — Alberta Street’s ornate facades are the world’s finest collection. Visit the Jugendstil Museum. Evening at a converted brewery in the Kalnciema Quarter. Overnight in Riga.
Day 3: Gauja National Park & Rundāle Palace
Morning excursion to Rundāle Palace, the “Versailles of the Baltics” — a magnificent baroque palace designed by Rastrelli (who built St. Petersburg’s Winter Palace). Afternoon in Gauja National Park: Turaida Castle and the sandstone cliffs along the Gauja River. Return to Riga. Overnight in Riga.
Day 4: Lahemaa National Park & Tallinn
Drive into Estonia. Full day in Lahemaa National Park on the northern coast: visit Palmse Manor (a restored 18th-century estate), walk the Viru Bog boardwalk trail, and see the fishing village of Altja with its traditional thatched-roof tavern. Afternoon arrival in Tallinn. Overnight in Tallinn.
Day 5: Tallinn — The Best-Preserved Medieval City
Tallinn Old Town: Toompea Hill with its viewpoints, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the medieval town wall with 26 defense towers (including Kiek in de Kök), and the Town Hall Pharmacy (since 1422). Visit the Kiek in de Kök tunnels. Afternoon at the Kumu Art Museum. Evening free for exploration and Estonian craft beer. Overnight in Tallinn.
Day 6: Tartu — University City
Travel to Tartu, Estonia’s intellectual heart and 2024 European Capital of Culture. Visit Tartu University (founded 1632), the charming Town Hall Square with the Kissing Students fountain, and the quirky AHHAA Science Centre. Explore the Supilinn (Soup Town) neighborhood of colorful wooden houses. Overnight in Tartu.
Day 7: Setomaa & South Estonia
Explore the unique Seto culture in southeastern Estonia. Visit a Seto farm-museum, hear leelo (UNESCO-listed polyphonic singing), and learn about this distinctive Finno-Ugric culture. Drive along the scenic Onion Route past Lake Peipus. Overnight in Tartu.
Day 8: Daugavpils & Aglona, Latvia
Cross into Latvia, heading to the Latgale region. Visit Aglona Basilica, Latvia’s most important Catholic pilgrimage site. Continue to Daugavpils, Latvia’s second-largest city, with the impressive 19th-century Dinaburg Fortress. Afternoon arrival in Vilnius, Lithuania. Overnight in Vilnius.
Day 9: Vilnius — Baroque Beauty
Full-day Vilnius exploration: the UNESCO Old Town, Cathedral Square, the Gates of Dawn, St. Anne’s Church, and the Gediminas Tower. Walk through the artists’ republic of Užupis. Afternoon: Trakai Island Castle and a Karaite lunch. Evening free along Pilies Street. Overnight in Vilnius.
Day 10: Vilnius — Deeper Dive
Visit the Museum of Occupations, the Literatų Street art project, and the Bernardine Cemetery. Afternoon free for shopping Baltic amber, linen textiles, and contemporary Lithuanian design at the alternative fashion district. Farewell dinner with Lithuanian sakotis (tree cake). Overnight in Vilnius.
Day 11: Depart Vilnius
Transfer to Vilnius Airport. Viso gero!
Inclusions
- 10 nights in 3-4 star hotels
- Daily breakfast + 3 dinners
- All transportation
- Bilingual tour director + local guides
- Rundāle Palace & Turaida Castle entries
- Lahemaa National Park excursion
- All city tours
Why Baltic Impressions
- Lahemaa National Park: Estonia’s pristine coastal wilderness
- Tartu: one of Northern Europe’s most historic university cities
- Seto culture: a unique living tradition few travelers experience
- Rundāle Palace: the Baltic Versailles by Rastrelli himself
- Deep dive beyond capitals to discover the real Baltic States
