Adventure Through the Baltics & Helsinki - Superior Christmas

It's time to pack your bags ready for your trip to the enchanting Baltic Capitals. Arrive at your UK/Ireland departure airport, ready to take a flight to Vilnius*, the capital of Lithuania. Arrive in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, known for its substantial amount of medieval buildings (over 1200!) and 48 churches. Self-transfer** to the hotel for check-in.

The rest of the day is yours to spend as you see fit; take this time to explore one of three Christmas markets of the city (Cathedral Square, Vinco Kudirkos Square and Odminių Square) decked out in some of the most enchanting Christmas decorations in the continent. Explore the Christmas market where you will be able to sample tasty treats available only during this time of the year! Overnight stay in Vilnius.*If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.**Optional private transfer available in the next step of the booking process.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, embark on a walking tour of Vilnius where you will become acquainted with the Old Town and immerse yourself in the history of centuries past. Walk along Vilnius’ winding streets and visit the most exciting architectural and historic monuments, including the Vilnius Cathedral, a nearby Gediminas Castle, the 16th century St. Anne’s Church, the Vilnius University, the Town Hall, the Jewish Quarter and the iconic Dawn Gate.You will also be visiting the bohemian and artistic district, Užupis, self-proclaimed as being the ‘Republic of the Old Town’ as it has its own anthem, constitution, president, bishop and its own guardian known as The Bronze Angel of Užupis. Today its thriving creative community hosts regular fashion festivals, concerts, exhibitions, and poetry evenings. From here, enjoy leisurely time to grab some lunch.

Upon completing the walking tour, enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure; take this time further explore the beauty of the Christmas markets the city of Vilnius has to offer. Alternatively, take part in our optional excursion to the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania*. Overnight stay in Vilnius.*Optional Excursion to the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania: Situated in the Cathedral square right in the heart of Vilnius, get to know more about the history of Vilnius as you explore its many halls and rooms reflecting the gothic, renaissance and baroque styles of the times.**Optional three dinner package: This pack of three dinners, in three iconic Baltic cities, is a must! In Vilnius, savor a delicious traditional menu in an establishment that is praised by locals, enjoy modern, international cuisine in a central restaurant in Riga and dine in a medieval themed restaurant that lives up to the surrounding city of Tallinn. Please note all dinners are three course set-menus, which include water for the table and tea/coffee.Please note: This optional package and all optional excursions for this trip requires a minimum of 5 participants in order for it to operate. If there are not enough participants, the optional excursion will be canceled and you will be refunded for it when you return from your trip.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the entire day at your leisure; take this time to further explore the second largest city of the Baltic states. Why not get to know the Bernardine Garden or visit the array of fascinating museums scattered throughout the city, like the National Museum of Lithuania or the Amber Museum?Take advantage of this free time to immerse yourself in the spirit of the festive season as you explore the culinary delights offered during this time of the year. Try Lithuania's classic kūčiukai (small pastries with poppy seeds made from leavened dough) to treat your tastebuds to an explosion of flavors.

Alternatively, we recommend you take part in our optional excursion to Trakai, the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania*. Overnight stay in Vilnius.*Optional Excursion to Trakai: Make your way to the Trakai Castle, situated on an island in the middle of Lake Galve. The castle today houses a fascinating museum with artifacts dating back to the times of the Grand Duke Vytautas. Enjoy a panoramic boat ride around the castle and later, explore the quaint and charming town of Trakai at your leisure.Please note: The boat trip is only available from May to September and it is subject to weather conditions.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, transfer to Riga, the capital of Latvia. En route, stop by the famous Hill of Crosses, a uniquely historic place in the world considered to be the best place to get acquainted with cross-making, a branch of Lithuanian folk art, inscribed on the UNESCO Non-material and Verbal Heritage Masterpiece List.Today, more than 100 000 crosses have been put up to plead for grace or to express gratitude since ancient times. Later, enjoy some free time for lunch. After crossing the border of Latvia, you will visit the Rundale Palace, an 18th century Baroque monument designed by the Italian-Russian architect Rastrelli also known for designing the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg.Sights to behold include, the Golden Hall, the White Hall and private quarters of the Duke of Courland Johan Ernst Biron. Arrive at your hotel for check-in. If time permits, get a head start getting to know the Christmas-themed markets of this area, one of the most visited in all of the continent. Overnight stay in Riga.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, embark on a walking tour of the Old Town of Riga where you’ll get to explore the city’s medieval and art nouveau architecture. Stops you will be visiting include: Riga's Castle, the Swedish Gate, the Monument of Liberty, the Art Nouveau district, Riga Dome Cathedral and Riga’s Central Market to discover one of Europe’s largest markets and food bazaars.In the market, you will sample some delicious Latvian produce, such as homemade cheeses and smoked chicken and eel and baked goods. Enjoy free time for lunch and then the rest of the day is at your leisure.Use this time to get to know the magical Old Riga Christmas Market where festive decorations and Christmas carols light the entire city with festive energy. Alternatively, we recommend you take part in our optional excursion to Jurmala*. Overnight stay in Riga.*Optional excursion to Jurmala: Visit the largest seaside and spa resort in the Baltic States. The town is known for its mineral waters, said to have healing properties, pine forests, sand dunes and unique architecture mixing classicism, Art Nouveau and National Romantic.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. En route, stop by the Gauja National Park in Sigulda, often referred to as the Latvian Switzerland. This national park is home to the Gauja River Valley known for its stunning landscape thanks to its 500 archaeological monuments and charming architecture dating back to the 11th century.Visit the 13th century Turaida Castle, today housing a small History Museum, and relax walking in the adjacent Sculpture Park, featuring works of iconic Latvian sculptors. Later, stop by the Gutman Cave, the widest and highest cave in the Baltic countries.Your final stop will be in the Estonian summer resort of Parnu before arriving at Tallinn where you will check-in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Use this time to acquaint yourself with the holiday spirit the city of Tallinn has to offer, a true Christmas wonderland with gorgeous Christmas trees placed on the squares, streets and parks decorated with Christmas lights and a gleeful feeling of excitement in the air. Overnight stay in Tallinn.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, take part in a walking tour of medieval Tallinn, where you will gaze in awe at the 14th and 15th century-style maze, walls and towers, soaring church spires and winding streets. Visit the city’s main attractions, including: Toompea Palace and Castle, Town Hall Square, the Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Tallinn Dome Church and the Great Guild Hall, among others.Continue your journey visiting the Balti Jaama market, an excellent opportunity to acquaint yourself with the products of the region. From here, make your way to the Kalamaja district, a very trendy area of the city, known for its colorful wooden houses, bohemian charm, industrial heritage and once the city’s main fishing port during the Middle Ages. The rest of the afternoon is yours to spend as you see fit, we recommend you take part in our optional visit to Kadriorg Park*.Why not take a stroll through the Tallinn Christmas Market held annually at the Town Hall Square and become enchanted with the magic of the festive season?. Overnight stay in Tallinn.*Optional Visit to Kadriorg Park: Visit this 70 hectare park’s main attractions including the Kumu Art Museum, known as the largest exhibition place in Estonia. Here you will find 18th century to present day Estonian art.

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the port to board the Tallinn-Helsinki Connecting Cruise to get to the next part of your trip, Helsinki, the capital of Finland—a city offering a fascinating combination of Scandinavian and Baltic cultural influences.

Transfer to your hotel for check-in and enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure; take this time to familiarize yourself with your new surroundings. Overnight stay in Helsinki.

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, you will take part in a walking city tour of the Finnish capital where you get to indulge in all of the city's top attractions, including: the center of Mannerheim Street, Parliament Building, the Finland Hall, the Market and the Oodi Library, among other sites.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy as you please. Alternatively, take part in our our optional visit of the World Heritage Site Suomenlina*. Return to your hotel and overnight stay in Helsinki.

*Optional Visit to the Suomenlinna Fortress: Tour this impressive fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for being an important monument in military architecture which has served as the defence of Sweden, Russian and Finland.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the entirety of the day at your leisure. Use this opportunity to take in the beauty of Finland one last time before departure. Why not take a stroll down to the iconic Helsinki Cathedral or soak in the local culture by visiting one of its many art galleries and/or museums?. Overnight stay in Helsinki.

Breakfast at the hotel*. Self-transfer** to the Helsinki airport for your flight back to the UK/Ireland. Arrive in the UK/Ireland and end your trip.

*Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.

**The transfer from the hotel to Helsinki airport on departure is not included. You have the option to add a private transfer from the hotel to the airport in the next step of the booking process.