The Baltic Serenade

Tallinn is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe, and its Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Yet it is also a modern, creative capital. In summer, the cobbled streets come alive with shops, galleries, craft markets and outdoor cafés tucked under centuries-old gables.
 
Our morning walking tour follows the old city walls and their watchtowers into the heart of the Old Town. We pause at the Gothic Town Hall, crowned by its famous weather vane, Old Thomas, and at the Great Guild Hall, once the meeting place of the city's wealthy merchants. Then we climb Toompea Hill, home to Toompea Castle, the onion-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the quiet, historic St. Mary's Cathedral. From the viewing platforms, Tallinn spreads out beneath you: a sea of red-tiled roofs, church spires and, beyond them, the glittering Baltic.

In the afternoon, an optional excursion takes you to leafy Kadriorg Park, laid out for Peter the Great around a Baroque palace built for his wife Catherine. Nearby is KUMU, Estonia's striking award-winning art museum, home to everything from classic Estonian painting to bold contemporary works.
 
As evening falls, step back in time with an optional medieval dinner at Restaurant Maikrahv, where hearty dishes and historic surroundings make a fitting end to the day.

• Breakfast
• Hyatt Place Hotel 4*
• Optional excursion to Kadriorg Park and KUMU
• Optional dinner at Restaurant Maikrahv

Today we leave the capital behind and head west along the coast to Haapsalu, a seaside resort that has charmed visitors for more than a century. Its painted wooden houses, quiet streets and gentle sea views give it an unhurried, almost timeless feel. The town is also famous for its delicate hand-knitted lace shawls. We stroll along the romantic seaside promenade and admire the mighty walls of Haapsalu Episcopal Castle. According to local legend, the ghost of the White Lady appears in one of its chapel windows on August full-moon nights.
 
Continuing to the islands, we take the ferry to Muhu and visit the Muhu Museum, where thatched farmhouses and old village traditions give a vivid picture of island life. We then cross the causeway to Saaremaa, Estonia's largest island, a land of juniper meadows, stone fences and windswept coastline. In the late afternoon we arrive in Kuressaare, the island's relaxed and inviting capital, and check in at the Georg Ots Spa Hotel**** or similar. Take an evening stroll to the moat of Kuressaare's medieval Episcopal Castle, one of the best-preserved in the Baltics.

• Breakfast
• Georg Ots Spa Hotel 4*

Today is all about Saaremaa's wild beauty and ancient mysteries. We begin at the Kaali Meteorite Crater, a near-perfect circle of water created when a meteorite struck the island thousands of years ago. It is one of the most remarkable natural sights in Europe, and it has inspired legends and folklore ever since.
 
We then head north to Angla Windmill Hill, where a row of traditional wooden windmills stands against the open sky, the most photographed scene on the island. Next comes Panga Cliff, the highest point on Saaremaa's coast, where limestone walls drop steeply into the sea and the views stretch to the horizon.
 
In the afternoon, we follow the long, narrow Sõrve Peninsula south to its very tip. Here the historic Sõrve Lighthouse watches over the meeting of sea and sky. It is a wild, windswept place, and one of the most atmospheric corners of the Baltics.

• Breakfast
• Georg Ots Spa Hotel 4*

• Breakfast
• Radisson Blu Latvija Hotel 4*

Founded in 1201 by the German Bishop Albert, Riga grew rich as a Hanseatic trading city and today boasts a true kaleidoscope of architectural styles, from Gothic and Baroque to Art Nouveau. 

Our morning walking tour starts in the famous Art Nouveau district, where the façades are decorated with stone faces, mythical creatures and swirling floral designs. Riga has one of the finest collections of Art Nouveau buildings in the world. We then explore the UNESCO-listed Old Town, visiting Riga Castle, the vast Dome Cathedral and St. Peter's Church with its soaring spire. Along the way we pass the Swedish Gate, the Three Brothers (Riga's oldest group of houses), the Great and Small Guilds and the Freedom Monument, a powerful symbol of Latvian independence.
 
In the afternoon, an optional excursion takes you to Jūrmala, Latvia's favourite seaside resort. Here, miles of white sand beach meet pine forests, and the streets are lined with ornate wooden villas.
 
In the evening, an optional organ concert at the Dome Cathedral is a highlight not to be missed. The cathedral's magnificent organ is one of the largest and most celebrated in Europe, and hearing it fill the vaulted nave is truly moving.

• Breakfast
• Radisson Blu Latvija Hotel 4*
• Optional excursion to Jūrmala
• Optional organ concert at the Dome Cathedral.

Today's journey takes us through the rolling farmland of southern Latvia, the historic heartland of the Duchy of Courland. Our first stop is Jelgava, once the duchy's capital.
 
We then continue to the magnificent Rundāle Palace, one of the finest Baroque palaces in the Baltics. It was designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli, architect of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. Wander through gilded state rooms and grand halls, then step out into the formal French-style gardens, which bloom with roses in summer.
 
In Bauska, there is time to explore the charming small town and its historic castle, set where two rivers meet. We then cross into Lithuania and arrive in the evening in Kaunas, the country's vibrant second-largest city.

• Breakfast
• Hotel Kaunas 4*

Kaunas was Lithuania's temporary capital between the two World Wars, and this golden era left the city a remarkable legacy of modernist architecture, now recognised by UNESCO. Today it is a youthful, creative city full of street art, cafés and culture.
 
Our tour begins in the charming Old Town, where we see the red-brick Kaunas Castle and Town Hall Square with its elegant white Town Hall. We then stroll along Laisvės Alėja, the city's long, tree-lined pedestrian boulevard, and visit the Art Deco Museum to discover the stylish architecture and design of the interwar years.
 
On the edge of the city, we visit the beautiful Pažaislis Monastery, a Baroque masterpiece built by Italian masters. Its richly decorated church is a true hidden treasure.

• Breakfast
• AC Hotel by Marriott 4*

Vilnius has one of the largest medieval old towns in Central and Eastern Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with more than 1,200 historic buildings and 48 churches. Its winding streets, hidden courtyards and Baroque bell towers make it a joy to explore on foot.
 
Our morning walking tour takes us to Vilnius Cathedral and the hilltop Gediminas Tower, the symbol of the city. We continue to St. Anne's Church, a Gothic gem of red brick so beautiful that, legend says, Napoleon wished he could carry it back to Paris in the palm of his hand. We also visit Vilnius University, one of the oldest in Eastern Europe, with its peaceful courtyards, and the Gates of Dawn, the last surviving city gate and home to a revered icon of the Virgin Mary.
 
In the afternoon, an optional excursion takes you to Trakai, Lithuania's medieval capital. The red-brick Trakai Island Castle rises from the waters of Lake Galvė and is one of the most picturesque sights in the Baltics. Don't miss tasting kibinai, savoury pastries made by the local Karaim community.
 
In the evening, celebrate the end of your journey with an optional traditional Lithuanian dinner at Restaurant Senoji Trobelė, a warm farewell with hearty local flavours.

• Breakfast
• AC Hotel by Marriott 4*
• Optional excursion to Lake Galve and Trakai castle
• Optional traditional Lithuanian Dinner

After breakfast, it's time to say goodbye to the Baltics. An optional transfer takes you to the airport, with memories of medieval capitals, island landscapes and summer evenings by the sea to take home with you.

• Breakfast
• Optional transfer