CULTURE & RAIL TOUR

Exploring culture and railway traditions in the Baltic States

Program
CULTURE & RAIL TOUR
Duration
8 days / 7 nights
Date
2023
ITINERARY
Day 1

  • Arrival to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.
  • Meeting by local group leader at the airport
  • Bus transfer to your centrally located hotel. Check-in.
  • Overnight in Vilnius.
Day 2
Vilnius - Trakai - Vilnius

Vilnius - Trakai - Vilnius

  • Breakfast at hotel.
  • Vilnius city tour by bus and a walking to see most interesting sights: the Old Town, listed by UNESCO’s World Heritage Lists and its main churches, historical and architectural monuments, the Gates of Dawn with a splendid icon of Virgin Mary, Vilnius University and Cathedral Square.
  • Departure to Vilnius train station for rain: Vilnius – Trakai
  • 12:30 train to Trakai (28 km from Vilnius), the former capital of Grand Duchy of Lithuania with it’s beautiful insular castle of 14th century, erected on the amazingly situated island in the middle of a lake. Trakai castle is about 20 – 25 minutes’ walk from Trakai train station.
  • Lunch on your own
  • Visit to the castle
  • A lake cruise
  • Return by train to Vilnius.
  • Welcome dinner at restaurant close to hotel.
  • Overnight in Vilnius.
Highlights
  • Visit to Trakai castle
  • Lake cruise around Trakai castle
  • Train trip to Trakai
  • Welcome dinner at traditional Lithuanian restaurant
Included Meals
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Day 3
Vilnius - Kaunas - Vilnius

Vilnius - Kaunas - Vilnius

  • Breakfast at hotel
  • Departure by train to Kaunas. Travel distance – 100 km, time 1:15 h.
  • Kaunas city tour, included funiculars in Kaunas. Kaunas is the only city in Lithuania with this type of transport since 1931. In the residential districts of Žaliakalnis and Aleksotas these “climbing cars” serve both as a means of transport and entertainment. The Aleksotas funicular links the old part of the city with the slopes of Aleksotas hill, offering a marvellous panoramic view of the city. The Žaliakalnis funicular provides an easy way of reaching the Resurrection Church from the city centre.
  • Lunch in traditional Lithuanian restaurant
  • Visit to the church and monastery of Pazaislis
  • Return by train back to Vilnius
  • Dinner on your own.
  • Overnight in Vilnius.
Highlights
  • Return trip to Kaunas with train
  • Visit to the church and monastery of Pazaislis
  • Sightseeing tour in Kaunas
Included Meals
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Day 4
Vilnius - Anyksciai - Riga

Vilnius - Anyksciai - Riga

  • Breakfast at hotel.
  • Transfer by bus to Anykščiai.
  • Arrival to Anykščiai and visit railway museum.
  • Private trip with Siaurukas on line Anykščiai – Rubikiai with narrow gauge railway of Aukštaitija, otherwise Siaurukas, – a unique train heritage.  A narrow-gauge railway line Panevėžys – Anykščiai – Rubikiai was built in 1899. This was the time of black engines and wooden carriages. At the beginning of the 20th century siaurukas was the main mechanical means of transport in the region of Aukštaitija (north-eastern Lithuania) for carrying people and goods such as flax, bacons, sugar-beet, flour, butter, flax-seed, wood and sand.
    From the year 2001, narrow gauge railway is used only for carrying passengers. Now it is a unique object of engineering heritage.
  • Barbecue lunch at small café located right on the bank of Rubikiai lake.
  • Afternoon Continue by bus to Riga, during the trip stop in Panevezys to visit oldest narrow – gauge railway museum.
  • Stop at the Hill of Crosses.
  • Late arrival to Riga.
  • Overnight in Riga.
Highlights
  • Private trip with narrow gauge railway of Aukštaitija
  • Barbecue lunch at small café located right on the bank of Rubikiai lake.
  • Stop at the Hill of Crosses
Included Meals
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Day 5
Riga - Jurmala - Riga

Riga - Jurmala - Riga

  • Breakfast at hotel.
  • Riga Highlights tour with visit to the biggest indoor market in the Baltic States. During the tour you will see numerous places of cultural and historical importance, such as the Dome Cathedral, St. Peters church, St.Jacob’s church, Great and Small Guild houses, Parliament building, Swedish Gate.
  • Visit to Riga Central market and small tasting of local specialities
  • Lunch at restaurant “Kalku Varti” in Riga Old town.
  • Visit to Riga railway museum
  • Departure by train to Jurmala.  Suburban electric train runs along Jurmala and Riga Central Station in Riga. Trains run every 30 minutes. Travel time 30 minutes.
  • Jurmala is a summer resort on the Baltic Sea beach 25 kilometers from Riga. It is also popular among tourists for its beautiful wooden structures. Samples of the wooden architecture of Jurmala are spread out across town, along the streets of its districts. Wooden Architecture of Jurmala is one of the best examples of romantic and classical architectural style of the country.
  • Walking tour of Jurmala and free time
  • Return by train back to Riga
  • Dinner on your own.
  • Overnight in Riga
Highlights
  • Riga Highlights tour
  • Train trip to Jurmala
  • Visit to Riga Central market and small tasting of local specialities
  • Visit to Riga railway museum
Included Meals
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Day 6
Riga - Sigulda - Tartu

Riga - Sigulda - Tartu

  • Breakfast at hotel.
  • Check out.
  • Departure by train to Gauja National Park. Visit to Turaida castle in Sigulda – the Switzerland of Latvia – set on the banks of the Gauja River. The town and surrounding areas offer magnificent views and other attractions. Turaida castle was built in the 13th century as the residence of the Bishop of Riga, the residence of the Master of the Livonian Order.
  • Lunch at restaurant „Kungu Rija“ in Gauja National Park
  • Continue by bus to Tartu
  • Check in hotel in Tartu
  • Walking tour in Tartu
  • Dinner on your own.
  • Overnight in Tartu
Highlights
  • Train trip to Sigulda
  • Visit to Turaida castle in Sigulda
  • City tour of Tartu
Included Meals
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Day 7
Tartu - Tallinn

Tartu - Tallinn

  • Breakfast at hotel.
  • ~8:30 Departure by train Tallinn (2 hours 48  min)
  • Arrival to Tallinn
  • Tallinn Highlighs tour. Tallinn is the one of the most completely preserved medieval towns in Europe. Tallinn’s medieval Old Town is known around the world for its well-preserved completeness and authentic Hanseatic architecture.
  • Check in at hotel
  • Free lunch
  • Free afternoon
  • Farewell dinner at medieval restaurant „Peppersack“
  • Overnight in Tallinn

 

Highlights
  • Train trip from Tartu to Tallinn
  • Tallinn city tour
  • Farewell dinner at medieval restaurant
Included Meals
  • Breakafast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Day 8
Tallinn - home

Tallinn - home

  • Free time for your own relaxation is this wonderful World Heritage city.
  • Transfer to airport
Included Meals
  • Breakfast
Price
What‘s included
  • • 7 overnights in central located hotels;
  • • 7 Breakfasts;
  • • 4 Lunches (3 course with water + coffee or tea);
  • • 2 Dinners (3 course with water + coffee or tea);
  • • English/German/French speaking group leader escort during whole tour;
  • • Air-conditioned coach (with two doors and toilet) for the entire stay
  • Train tickets: Vilnius – Trakai – Vilnius, Vilnius – Kaunas - Vilnius, Riga – Jurmala - Riga, Riga – Sigulda, Tartu – Tallinn, Kaunas – Zaliakalnis (funicular), Kaunas – Aleksotas (funicular)
  • Sightseeing tours and excursions with English speaking guide. Lithuania: Vilnius, Trakai, Kaunas, Anyksciai; Latvia: Riga, Jurmala, Gauja National Park, Riga Central Market; Estonia: Tallinn, Tartu
  • • Entrance fees: Lithuania: Trakai castle, Pazaislis Monastery, Railway museum in Anyksciai and Panevezys Latvia: Turaida castle, Riga railway museum
  • • Private train trip with “Siaurukas” ;
  • • Visit to “Siaurukas” museum in Panevezys
  • • Boat ride on Trakai lake.
Accommodation
City Hotel name Hotel type Contact details
City
Vilnius
Hotel name
Amberton Hotel Vilnius 4*
Hotel type
4* hotel located in the Old Town
Contact details

City
Riga
Hotel name
Hotel Mercure 4*
Hotel type
4* Hotel located in city centre. Walking distance to train station
Contact details

City
Tartu
Hotel name
Sophia Hotel Tartu 3*
Hotel type
3* hotel in city centre
Contact details

City
Tallinn
Hotel name
Park Inn by Radisson Meriton Conference & Spa Hotel Tallinn 4*
Hotel type
4 * hotel close to the Old Town
Contact details

Booking conditions

For rates and availability please contact us by email hello@balticmotion.com or tel. +370 61000 809.