Best of Finland, Russia and The Baltic States
Best of Finland, Russia and The Baltic States
Best of Finland, Russia and The Baltic States
15 Days Starting and ending in Helsinki
Visiting: Helsinki, St Petersburg, Moscow, Smolensk, Minsk, Vilnius, Riga, Siauliai, Tallinn, Tallinn (Estonia)
Tour Overview
St. Petersburg's domes are the golden start to your sightseeing journey - an incredible eastern Europe trip including Moscow's Red Square, the Baltic capitals and Finland's cool capital. You'll also love meeting a Belarussian family for vodka tasting and accordion songs.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Helsinki
Location: Helsinki
Accommodation: Holiday Inn City Centre
Meals Included: Welcome Reception
Welcome to Helsinki, the cool capital of Finland, whose sophisticated streets and laidback atmosphere are yours to enjoy, before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travel companions for an orientation drive to see the city's iconic sights followed by a Welcome Reception.
Day 2: Venture To St. Petersburg
Location: St Petersburg
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Moskovskie Vorota
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Follow the beautiful shoreline along the Gulf of Finland, crossing the border into Russia. We journey through the lush forests of Karelia to the imperial city of St. Petersburg - our home for the next three nights. You will have the option of admiring the 'Venice of the North', taking to its waters and navigating the city's canals by boat, or perhaps indulge in the delicious flavours of a traditional pie at the Stolle bakery, while you wander through the city's narrow lanes and grand boulevards this evening. This evening, we dine at our hotel.
Day 3: The Hermitage And More In St. Petersburg
Location: St Petersburg
Meals Included: Breakfast
Join a Local Specialist this morning to explore the city's iconic sights including the Tsar's Winter Palace, Nevsky Prospekt, St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Statue of Peter the Great, whose inspired vision for this city saw it evolve into an elegant metropolis to rival even the most sophisticated of European capitals. Then visit the Peter and Paul Fortress, built to protect the city against invading forces in the 18th century. Next, Dive into Culture during a Small Group Sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist to the spectacular Hermitage Museum, one of the world's largest and most valuable art collections. Admire the exquisite works of da Vinci, Rembrandt and Vermeer which hang proudly on its magnificent Baroque and Rococo walls.
Day 4: St. Petersburg Your Way
Meals Included: Breakfast
Spend the day exploring St. Petersburg, admiring the ornate golden domes and colourful mosaics of cathedrals and churches. Consider joining an Optional Experience to a high-energy Russian folklore show.
Day 5: Journey By High-Speed Train To Moscow
Location: St Petersburg, Moscow
Accommodation: Azimut Olympic
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Board a high-speed Sapsan train that will take you across the vast Russian landscape to the capital city. Delve into the tumultuous and captivating history of Moscow, an ancient city that oozes grandeur. This evening, we dine at our hotel.
Day 6: Explore Magnificent Moscow
Location: Moscow
Meals Included: Breakfast
Join a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour of the imposing Red Square - the site of grand celebrations, fierce fighting and beautiful architecture. See the domes of St. Basil's Cathedral, before venturing beyond the red walls of the Kremlin for a memorable visit to the seat of Russian power.
Day 7: Moscow Your Way
Meals Included: Breakfast
Immerse yourself in the kofe culture of Moscow, before taking to its streets to learn about the city's triumphs and defeats. You have a full day at leisure to explore the sights. Stroll along the flower-lined boulevards of Gorky Park, admire the exquisite underground art and history showcase that is the Moscow Metro, or consider an Optional Experience to the Tsar's Treasury Chamber or St. Sergius Monastery and its handicraft market.
Day 8: Onwards To Minsk
Location: Smolensk, Minsk
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Follow in the footsteps of Napoleon's retreating army of 1812, passing near the 'bloody battlefields' of Borodino, before stopping for a lunch in the Smolensk region. We cross the border and journey to Minsk, the cosmopolitan capital of Belarus and our home for the next two nights. This evening we dine on traditional cuisine at our hotel. Later, consider visiting the Old Town and indulging in the honey flavours of the local medovukha drink.
Day 9: Discover Slavic Minsk
Location: Minsk
Meals Included: Breakfast, Be My Guest
This morning, we join our Local Specialist to see the iconic sights of Minsk, including the Hero City Memorial, built to commemorate the city's status as one of the Hero Cities of the former Soviet Union. Consider a visit to the Saint Elizabeth Convent during your free afternoon to see its beautiful stained glass and religious icon workshop. This evening, Connect With Locals and join Anatolij and his family in their Belarus farmstead for a traditional dinner. Enjoy rousing accordion choruses and, of course, a few shots at this exclusive Be My Guest experience.
Day 10: Continue To Vilnius
Location: Vilnius
Accommodation: Courtyard by Marriott City Center
Meals Included: Breakfast
We journey west and cross the border into Lithuania, arriving later in the capital Vilnius, renowned for its beautiful Baroque façades. Join a Local Specialist on a leisurely tour past the city's iconic sights. See the Bishop's Palace and the University, the oldest university in the Baltics, founded in 1579. Explore the 17th-century Baroque Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, built on the site of a temple to the pagan goddess of love. Walk to the Gates of Dawn, the Carmelite Church of St. Theresa and former Jewish Ghetto, passing the Cathedral on the way.
Day 11: Off To Šiauliai And Riga
Location: Riga, Siauliai
Accommodation: AC by Marriott
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy a leisurely morning in Vilnius, departing the city after lunch. Our first stop is the extraordinary Hill of Crosses at Šiauliai. This site features thousands of crosses, each mysteriously claiming its place since the mid-19th century. We arrive in the ancient city of Riga later, where we will spend the next two nights. This evening, after dinner, maybe take to the streets to explore the Latvian capital's inspiring Gothic spires.
Day 12: Uncover Riga’S Secrets
Location: Riga
Meals Included: Breakfast
Stroll through the winding medieval streets of Riga's UNESCO-listed Old Town - with one of the world's finest collections of Art Nouveau buildings and a Hanseatic trade history we will have an opportunity to explore during a sightseeing and walking tour with a Local Specialist. Spend the rest of the day discovering the sights on your terms. Admire the skyline from the comfort of a canal boat, view the 14th-century House of the Blackheads or indulge in the herbal flavours of the city's favourite Black Balsam at a traditional city tavern - the choice is yours.
Day 13: Journey To Coastal Tallinn
Location: Tallinn
Accommodation: Nordic Forum
Meals Included: Breakfast
We follow the Gulf of Riga north into Estonia, and travel via Parnu, a popular beach resort for Tallinn residents. Explore the beautifully preserved streets of Tallinn's old Hanseatic Quarter with a Local Specialist. See its 15th-century Luhike Jalg Gate and visit the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, a symbol of Russian power, with its magnificent gold-plated dome. This evening, you'll check into our Stays With Stories accommodation, the Nordic Forum hotel offering marvellous views over Tallinn's UNESCO Old Town, and the first hotel to lead the way in urban beekeeping. Learn about the hotel's fascinating green initiatives, including its six rooftop beehives.
Day 14: Return To Helsinki
Location: Helsinki, Tallinn (Estonia)
Accommodation: Holiday Inn City Centre
Meals Included: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
We board a ferry this morning, crossing the Baltic Sea to Helsinki where we'll meet a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour past the modern marble façades of Finlandia Hall, the Senate and Market Squares, and the café-lined Esplanadi. This evening, we toast to an unforgettable northern adventure, joining our fellow travellers for a special Farewell Dinner.
Day 15: Farewell Helsinki
Location: Helsinki
Meals Included: Breakfast
Our time together has come to an end. We say a fond farewell to newfound friends at the end of a memorable trip. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.
What's Included
-
14 breakfasts
-
1 lunch
-
7 dinners (including Be My Guest)
-
Audio Headsets for flexible sightseeing
-
Daily breakfast and up to half your evening meals
-
Ferry across the Gulf of Finland.
-
Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
-
Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
-
Optional Experiences and free time
-
All porterage and restaurant gratuities
Check out our Q&As
-
Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
-
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1947
-
What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.
-
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
Reviews of this Operator
Book with Confidence
-
Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Trafalgar allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform trafalgar, 90 days before departure.
-
Low Deposit
Trafalgar requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
Why book with tourhub?
Safe & Secure
Your money is protected in an external trust until you travel.
100% Guaranteed Refunds if your trip is cancelled.
The safest way to make overseas, multi-currency payments.
Guaranteed Best Value
Industry leading discounts, we won't be beaten on price.
No cancellation or amendment fees from tourhub.
(Operator terms may apply)
Expert Knowledge
Reliable & unbiased advice from travel experts.
Direct contact with the tour operator via our messaging service.
Inspiration & advice from a community of 6000+ real travellers, influencers & content creators.
Trusted Service
Official partners & licensed agents of 1000+ tour operators worldwide.
Don't just take our word for it...
"Tourhub: Friendliness, Professionalism & Integrity I would happily give tourhub a 6* review if I could..."