Highlights of the Baltic States

Local departure by coach or Home Connect service then to Belgium for an overnight stay.

After a leisurely breakfast, we leave Belgium and head into Germany to the Old Hanseatic City of Lübeck. Situated on the River Trave, Lübeck is one of Germany’s major ports. It is also listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site due to its Gothic red brick architecture.

This evening, after some free time for our evening meal in Lübeck, we continue onto the port in Travemünde for our two-night ferry cruise to Helsinki.

Today we sail the Baltic Sea, take in the sights and enjoy all the facilities on board.

After a leisurely breakfast on board, we dock in Helsinki around midday. Centred around the harbour and market square, you will have free time to explore this lively city. full of vivid colours, exciting smells and beautiful buildings. If you'd prefer, you can choose to join our optional guided sightseeing tour of Helsinki, including the harbour area, flea market, Old Market Halls, Senate Square including Lutheran Cathedral, Mannerheim Street, Parliament House and many more. Afterwards, we head to our hotel for our evening meal.

This morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we transfer to the port for our short crossing from Helsinki to Tallinn. This afternoon, enjoy some free time in Tallinn.

Today, enjoy our included guided sightseeing tour of Tallinn and its Old Town. This exceedingly pretty area features a jumble of medieval walls and turrets, needling spires and winding cobbled streets. Our walking tour will showcase the eye-catching medieval and Baroque architecture, including the Town Hall (one of the oldest in Europe), St Nicholas Church, Toompea Palace, and the old city walls.

This morning, we leave Tallinn and continue south towards Latvia with a stop in the country’s “summer capital,” Pärnu. In summer, the promenade comes alive with cyclists, families and café-goers soaking up the long northern daylight. In the compact centre, you’ll find a relaxed mix of boutique shops, cosy cafés and inviting restaurants. The atmosphere is friendly and unpretentious; it’s a place to linger over coffee, browse local crafts, or enjoy fresh Baltic seafood.

Afterwards, we continue to our hotel in Riga.

After breakfast, enjoy our included city sightseeing tour of Riga, including the Melngalvju House (or The House of the Blackheads, as it is more commonly known). We also see Riga Castle, originally built in 1330 and now the residence of the Latvian President. Once known as ‘small Paris’, the city of Riga is a delightful mixture of medieval ambience and a modern cosmopolitan metropolis.

Today we depart Latvia and travel south to Lithuania. Firstly stopping in Panevezys, we'll glimpse into authentic regional Lithuania, away from the busier tourist centres. Located in the north of the country on the banks of the Nevėžis River, Panevezys has a calm, spacious feel, with leafy parks and wide streets that make it pleasant to explore on foot. The city’s central square is where local cafés and small shops create a relaxed, everyday atmosphere.

Afterwards, we continue onto the country's capital of Vilnius.

Enjoy an included guided sightseeing tour of Vilnius, journeying through one of Europe’s largest and most atmospheric Old Towns. Along the way we see the magnificent Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, a Baroque masterpiece renowned for its extraordinary white stucco interior.

From here, we continue into Vilnius’ UNESCO-listed Old Town, where cobbled streets weave between Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings. At Cathedral Square stands the grand Vilnius Cathedral, with its striking neoclassical façade. Nearby rises the separate Vilnius Cathedral Bell Tower, offering panoramic views over the red rooftops and church spires. Winding deeper into the Old Town, you’ll encounter the flamboyant Gothic façade of St. Anne's Church, often praised for its delicate brickwork.

For a touch of local artistry, we visit the Amber Museum Gallery, where Lithuania’s “Baltic gold” is showcased in beautiful jewellery and intricate carvings, offering insight into the region’s long connection with amber.

Finally, we cross the small bridge into the self-declared Užupis Republic – a quirky, bohemian neighbourhood known for its tongue-in-cheek constitution, street art and creative spirit. With galleries, cafés and a riverside setting, Užupis offers a playful and contemporary contrast to the grandeur of the Old Town.

Today we depart Vilnius and travel firstly to Kaunas for an included guided tour. We see the atmospheric, 14th-century Kaunas Castle, whose red-brick ruins stand at the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris rivers. Its restored tower and surrounding parkland provide a scenic and photogenic introduction to the city’s history.

From here, we stroll into the heart of the Old Town to admire the elegant Kaunas Town Hall, often nicknamed the “White Swan” for its tall, graceful tower and pale façade. The square around it is one of the most charming in Lithuania, lined with colourful townhouses, cafés and small boutiques. A short walk away stands the red-brick Church of Vytautas the Great, one of the oldest churches in the city. Built in the Gothic style and closely associated with Grand Duke Vytautas, this landmark adds to the distinctly medieval atmosphere of the Old Town.

We conclude our visit with a relaxed stroll along Laisvės alėja (Liberty Boulevard), a lively pedestrian avenue that stretches from the Old Town towards the modern centre. Shaded by trees and lined with shops, cafés and restaurants, it is the social heart of Kaunas – offering the perfect place to pause for a coffee and to watch daily life unfold.

Afterwards, we continue onto Klaipeda for some free time before we board our overnight ferry to Kiel.

Today, enjoy your included breakfast and lunch as we sail through the Baltic, arriving in Kiel in the early evening before travelling onto our hotel in northern Germany.

Continue to our overnight hotel in Belgium.

Return home.