In-Depth Sightseeing in the Centuries-Old Baltic Capital Cities
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Explore Helsinki, Finland; Riga, Latvia; Vilnius, Lithuania; and Tallinn, Estonia – with their age-old castles, medieval lanes, and incredible architecture – and experience a kaleidoscope of different views traveling by coach, train and high-speed ferry. Visit Moscow’s Kremlin and Red Square, and tour St. Petersburg’s Peter and Paul Fortress, the Peterhof, and Catherine Palace in Pushkin. More special experiences include lunch in the celebrated Gallery of Artists restaurant and a visit to see works by Zurab Tsereteli in Moscow… and in St. Petersburg, an evening of Russian ballet, a gala “Tchaikovsky Night" dinner, and a Tauck Exclusive guided visit to The State Hermitage Museum when crowds are fewer.
Highlights
- TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS – Drive along coastal roads, through peaceful forests and idyllic farms as you travel across the Baltic region from Lithuania to Latvia and Estonia
- TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Guided early-morning visit to The State Hermitage Museum, allowing you to view its treasures when crowds are fewer
- In-depth sightseeing in the centuries-old Baltic capital cities of Riga, Latvia; Vilnius, Lithuania; Tallinn, Estonia; and Helsinki, Finland
- A private concert featuring the music of Finnish national composer Jean Sibelius in Helsinki
- A gala “Tchaikovsky Night” dinner with live music at L’Europe in St. Petersburg
- An evening of Russian ballet in St. Petersburg
- Two journeys by high-speed train
- Lunch in the Gallery of Artists & a visit to Apple Hall to see works by Zurab Tsereteli in Moscow
- A private lecture on Russian history in Moscow
- Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
- 27 meals; service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage
Itinerary
DAY 1
DAY 1Arrive Vilnius
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Grand Hotel Kempinski Vilnius. Your transfer is included from Vilnius Airport to the Grand Hotel Kempinski Vilnius in the heart of Vilnius’ Old Town, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight at your five-star hotel on Vilnius’ historic Cathedral Square.
Meals Included: Dinner
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Kempinski Vilnius
DAY 2
Discovering historic Vilnius
Experience a living museum of Baroque and Renaissance architecture on a walking tour along the cobblestone streets of Vilnius’ Old Town this morning. As the oldest and largest surviving medieval town in northern Europe – and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Vilnius abounds with historic architecture, including its magnificent 16th-century Cathedral and adjacent Cathedral Square, steps from your hotel, and the Baroque Church of Saints Peter and Paul; if you wish, you may visit the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights (formerly the Museum of Genocide Victims), situated in Vilnius’ former Soviet-era KGB headquarters. After an included lunch, the afternoon and evening are free in Vilnius to explore and enjoy dinner as you please.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Kempinski Vilnius
DAY 3
Travel to Latvia via the “Yellow Roads”
Depart Vilnius and journey along the Yellow Roads through the pristine countryside of Lithuania; cross into Latvia and stop for lunch in seaside Jurmala on your way to the capital, Riga, an important trading center for Central and Eastern Europe from the 13th to the 15th centuries. Visit Riga’s opulent 19th-century Opera House, which was painstakingly rebuilt in the 1990s and is a source of great national pride for the Latvian people. Your home for the next two nights is located in the heart of the old city. Enjoy dinner at the hotel tonight.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga
DAY 4
Explore historic Riga, Latvia’s capital
Take a drive to Riga’s Art-Nouveau New Town, considered the best in Europe, for a guided walking tour; many of these Art-Nouveau gems were designed and built by Latvian architects including Mikhail Eisenstein (father of the noted 20th-century Soviet film director Sergei Eisenstein). After some free time to enjoy lunch as you please in town, join us for a walking tour of Riga Market and the cobbled streets of Old Town, revealing buildings dating back 800 years, including Riga Castle, the Swedish Gate and the Three Brothers Medieval Dwelling House. This combination of period architecture has earned Riga’s Old Town UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. The rest of the day and evening are yours to enjoy as you wish in Riga.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga
DAY 5
Journey to Tallinn, then on to Helsinki
Depart Latvia and cross into Estonia this morning, stopping in seaside Parnu for lunch. Arrive early afternoon in Estonia’s capital city of Tallinn, an outstanding example of a medieval Northern European trading center. On a guided walking tour along the cobblestone streets of Lower Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, see the Town Hall square, centuries-old walls and towers (one affectionately dubbed “Fat Margaret”), and St. Olaf’s Church, renowned as the tallest building in the world from 1549 to 1625. Next, board a ferry to cruise in first class across the Gulf of Finland to Helsinki, Finland for a two-night stay, enjoying dinner aboard the ferry.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Kämp
DAY 6
Helsinki, Finland’s fascinating capital
Finland’s capital city is an intriguing mix of parks, waterways, and various architectural styles, which you’ll explore on a morning sightseeing tour. Visit the extraordinary Temppeliaukio (The Rock) Church, built into solid rock in the 1960s; see the Neo-Classical Senate Square, the green cupolas and white columns of Helsinki Cathedral, the Sibelius Monument and Finlandia Hall. Then attend a private concert featuring the music of Finland’s beloved national composer of the 19th and early 20th centuries, Jean Sibelius. Spend the afternoon and evening discovering more of Helsinki on your own, enjoying lunch and dinner in the city as you please.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Kämp
DAY 7
Via train to glorious St. Petersburg
From Helsinki, travel to Russia this morning in First Class aboard a train to opulent St. Petersburg; the historic center of Peter the Great’s “Window to the West” and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Get acquainted with Russia’s cultural capital on an orientation tour that includes the imposing Peter and Paul Fortress, among the city’s oldest structures, built in 1703. Inside the fortress, Peter and Paul Cathedral, with a tall golden spire, contains the tombs of the Russian czars, including the city’s founder Peter the Great. Your home for the next four nights is itself a historic landmark – the celebrated Belmond Grand Hotel Europe on the famous Nevsky Prospekt. Dinner tonight is à la carte at a local restaurant in St. Petersburg.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Belmond Grand Hotel Europe
DAY 8
A day around St. Petersburg and a night at the ballet
Today begins with an excursion to Petrodvorets, on the Gulf of Finland, for a tour of the Peterhof, the summer palace of Peter the Great. After lunch on the palace grounds, a hydrofoil whisks you back to the city for a visit to St. Petersburg’s Grand Choral Synagogue (holidays permitting), followed by some free time. Tonight, enjoy a glorious evening of Russian ballet (schedule subject to change).
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Belmond Grand Hotel Europe
DAY 9
Catherine Palace & more St. Petersburg treasures
Journey to Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo) for a visit to the opulent Catherine Palace, expanded by Empress Catherine the Great in the mid-18th century, and its remarkably restored Amber Room. Back in St. Petersburg after lunch, take a guided tour that includes a visit to the 19th-century Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, built as a memorial to Czar Alexander II on the site of his 1881 assassination. Spend the rest of the day exploring more of St. Petersburg on your own.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Belmond Grand Hotel Europe
DAY 10
The State Hermitage Museum & Tchaikovsky Night
Today, Tauck has arranged an early morning visit – when crowds are fewer – to The State Hermitage Museum, boasting one of the largest collections of art and artifacts in the world. Displays include prehistoric cultures, classical antiquities, and Western European art; you’ll also view the Impressionists Gallery. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, then join us this evening for a sumptuous four-course “Tchaikovsky Night” dinner at the L’Europe restaurant – accompanied by live music and dancers from the Marinsky Theatre or a comparable local ballet company.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Belmond Grand Hotel Europe
DAY 11
The magic of Moscow
Take a high-speed rail journey to Russia’s capital city, Moscow – for a three-night stay near the Kremlin. A drive along the river leads to lunch at the fantastical Gallery of Artists restaurant in Dolgorukov House, one of the most beautiful neoclassical buildings in the aristocratic Old Moscow district. The President of the Russian Academy of Arts, the artist Zurab Tsereteli, restored and reconstructed the building and opened his art gallery here; you’ll see a collection of his over-the-top works on your visit after lunch. Check in at the Four Seasons Hotel Moscow and spend some free time before joining us for a walking tour of Red Square, followed by an evening spent as you please.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Moscow
DAY 12
From the Tretyakov to the Moscow Metro
Begin the day with a lecture on the history of Russia at the hotel. Then join your local guide for a visit to the State Tretyakov Gallery/National Museum of Russian Fine Art, featuring 11th- to 20th-century paintings and sculptures by Russian artists. Next, head to Bolshoi Square to tour the beautiful Moscow Metro, renowned for its opulent architectural designs and plentiful public art, with a local guide, before returning to the hotel for dinner this evening.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Moscow
DAY 13
Inside Red Square & the Kremlin
Today, tour Red Square and the 64-acre Kremlin, the center of Russian power for centuries and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll enjoy early entry into the Kremlin Armory; walk through Alexander Gardens and visit Moscow’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; and see the Cathedral of the Archangel and Assumption Cathedral. Spend the afternoon pursuing what interests you most in Moscow. Tonight, please join us for a farewell reception and dinner at your hotel at “the doorstep of the Kremlin.”
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Moscow
DAY 14
Journey home
Tour ends: Moscow. A transfer is included from Four Seasons Hotel Moscow to Sheremetyevo International Airport or Moscow Domodedovo Airport. Please allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Departures & Rates
Small Group Departures – Select small group departures, averaging 24 Tauck guests, are priced from AUD $10,860 per person double
Ask one of our Travel Specialists about Packaging Flights with your Tour and Save
Additional dates and rates may be available, please speak to one of our Travel Specialists for more information.
Single Supplement rates are available on request.
*Rates are subject to availability and seasonality and may change without notice. Rates are based on two adults sharing. For solo travellers or single person occupancy rates or further information on terms and conditions, please contact our Travel Specialists at time of booking.
Accommodation
Nights 1-2
Grand Hotel Kempinski Vilnius
Grand Hotel Kempinski VilniusVilnius, Lithuania
The luxurious and elegant Grand Hotel Kempinski Vilnius is truly a distinctive and individual hotel, offering a one-of-a-kind experience in the very heart of Vilnius. Relax, enjoy and find yourself surrounded by refinement overlooking the Cathedral Square and Old Town. Boasting elegant design and décor, wooden floors, subtle lighting, the finest fabrics and exclusive furnishings, each guest room offers unforgettable accommodation and lavish amenities paired with the ultimate Kempinski service – featuring in-room coffee/tea facilities, flat-screen TV, a lounge area, a laptop-size safe and a working desk. Dine in style at Restaurant Telegrafas, highlighting seasonality and the freshest ingredients, blending the best European culinary traditions and local heritage, and presenting them with a modern twist. Relax and enrich yourself with remarkable moments at our Le Salon Bar and Lounge; all about champagne, the finest selection of cocktails and a laid-back atmosphere, it is an ideal place to unwind in Lithuania’s historic capital city.
Nights 3-4
Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga
Riga, Latvia
Originally built in the 19th century, the newly restored Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga is situated in the heart of the Latvian capital, just opposite the Latvian National Opera House and near the entrance to the city’s historic medieval center, with most main attractions within walking distance. Discover the finest collection of luxury guest rooms, featuring modern, stylish interiors and equipped with king or twin beds with choice of pillows, walk-in closet, working desk, safe, flat-screen TV, in-room coffee/tea facilities and climate control. Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga’s dining and drinking options include the signature Amber Restaurant; the stylish rooftop restaurant & bar Stage 22; the Berthold Deli; and the Grand Bar, the Lobby Lounge and the Cigar Lounge. The hotel also features Kempinski The Spa, featuring six treatment rooms, a swimming pool and a health club with fitness center.
Night 5
Swissôtel Tallinn
Tallinn, Estonia
Surveying the city from the tallest building in town, the modern Swissôtel Tallinn enjoys a prime location in what is known as the “Wall Street of Tallinn.” Guest rooms at the newest luxury hotel in Tallinn feature all the amenities that today’s sophisticated travellers expect, including high-speed Internet wireless access, voice mail and an espresso machine. The “Amrita Spa & Wellness” offers an indoor swimming pool and gymnasium as well as rejuvenating spa treatments. Assuage your palate with modern eclectic cuisine and a range of fine wines at the hotel’s Horisont Restaurant – Tallinn’s most exciting dining venue offering unrivalled views – and cap the evening with cocktails and pulsating music at the Horisont Bar. Or indulge in authentic Swiss delights, international and local specialties at Café Swiss; innovative cakes and sandwiches at No. 3 Deli-Lounge-Bar; or the most prestigious brands of cigars in the exclusive atmosphere of the Cigar Lounge.
Nights 6
Hotel Kämp
Helsinki, Finland
Hotel Kämp enjoys a wonderful location in the center of Helsinki just across from the Esplanade Park and a short walk from the scenic Harbor. Guest rooms have been completely refurbished while carefully preserving the hotel’s late-19th-century heritage. Amenities include down duvets and pillows (synthetic available upon request), a Sweet Dreams Menu with a choice of complimentary accessories for a great night’s sleep, bathrobes, slippers and a hairdryer, 37-inch flat-screen TV with video-on-demand, iron and ironing board, minibar and in-room safe. Rev up or wind down at the Kämp Spa & Gym featuring everything from Cybex exercise equipment to three different sauna experiences. The menu at the Japanese restaurant Yume follows the rhythm of the changing seasons. Restaurant Kämp Signé specializes in seasonal Finnish specialties while the Brasserie Kämp & Bar is the place for both the classics and the latest trends in food and drink.
Nights 7-10
Belmond Grand Hotel Europe
St. Petersburg, Russia
“Grand” is an apt description of this historical, cultural and culinary landmark, a hotel of distinction in St. Petersburg for over 130 years, favoured by the likes of Tchaikovsky, who spent his honeymoon at Belmond Grand Hotel Europe, George Bernard Shaw and Maxim Gorky. Its location in the heart of the city on the famous Nevsky Prospekt is convenient to many popular attractions and diversions. Spacious guest rooms welcome guests with air conditioning, in-room safe, comfortable armchairs, minibar, TV with satellite reception and movie channel and a hair dryer. The swimming pool and fitness center are great places to unwind and work out the kinks. If you’re looking for a true taste of Russian cuisine, head for the Caviar Bar & Restaurant. The elegant L’Europe Restaurant, among the city’s leading gourmet restaurants and winner of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence, offers Haute cuisine surrounded by a lovingly restored Art Nouveau ambiance. You’ll find Italian cuisine at Rossi’s Restaurant and Oriental fare at Chopsticks Restaurant. The hotel even offers its own line of marvellous chocolates, made in the on-premises chocolate factory using the recipe created by Dominique Ferchard, that you can enjoy at the Mezzanine Café, along with amazing desserts, sandwiches and salads. Your favourite libation is accompanied by live entertainment each evening at the Lobby Bar.
Tauck Guests enjoy complimentary Internet access in guest rooms!
Nights 11-13
Four Seasons Hotel Moscow
Four Seasons Hotel MoscowMoscow, Russia
Steps from the Kremlin and Red Square in Moscow’s historic heart, Old World glamor gets a contemporary spin at Four Seasons Hotel Moscow. Discover a bold reimagining of the legendary 1930s-era Hotel Moskva at this modern replica that puts destination dining and decadent spa treatments in the spotlight. Among the largest in Moscow, the hotel’s sumptuous guest rooms feature spacious marble bathrooms with thick terry bathrobes and a professional hair dryer, and expansive walk-in closets. All are equipped with down pillows (or hypoallergenic pillows on request), CD and DVD player, iPod docking station, all-news cable network, clock radio, in-room safe, multi-line telephones with voicemail, and refrigerated private bar. Surrounded by artwork from the Soviet-era Hotel Moskva, the hotel’s indoor heated pool is housed in the central courtyard under a dramatic glass roof. Four Seasons Hotel Moscow’s dining and drinking options include Quadrum, the signature restaurant pairing contemporary Italian fare and fine wines with views of the Kremlin and Manezhnaya Square; the casual-chic Bystro, offering modern Russian dishes and local specialties; the poolside Amnis Café; the avant-garde Moskovsky Bar; and the elegant, Hotel Moskva-inspired Silk Lounge. The hotel also features the Amnis Spa, offering a full range of indulgent spa services and wellness treatments, and a well-equipped fitness center.
