Compare St. Petersburg & the Baltic Capitals by Odysseys Unlimited

Day 1

Depart U.S. for Vilnius, Lithuania

Day 2

Meals: Dinner

Arrive Vilnius After connecting in Europe, a short flight this morning brings us to Vilnius, the attractive Lithuanian capital with Baroque architecture, numerous churches, medieval towers and fortifications, and one of Eastern Europe’s oldest “Old Towns.” Our afternoon in this historic city is at leisure before tonight’s dinner at our hotel.

Day 3

Meals: Breakfast

Vilnius We see the highlights of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, on this morning’s tour, including Cathedral Square, Gedimino Tower, Vilnius University, and the President’s Palace. We also tour the fascinating KGB Museum. The remain­der of the day is at leisure, perhaps to relax at one of the many outdoor cafés; explore the old Jewish Quarter and ghetto; or admire the city’s architectural diversity.

Day 4

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Vilnius/Trakai Today we travel about 20 miles outside Vilnius to Trakai, the medieval capital of Lithuania set in a resort village surrounded by five lakes. Here we tour 15th-century Trakai Castle, with exhibits commemorating the days when the Grand Duchy of Lithuania stretched all the way from the Baltic to the Black Sea. After a turbulent history of Russian rule, in 1991 Lithuania became one of the first of the Soviet Union’s breakaway republics and today, again, is a sovereign democratic nation.

Day 5

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Vilnius/Riga We leave this morning for Riga, the Latvian capital. En route we stop for lunch in Siauliai where we visit the Hill of Crosses, a pilgrimage site and symbol of Lithuanian nationalism. After crossing the border into Latvia, we travel through gentle countryside to the restored 18th-century Baroque palace of Rundale. Designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli who also designed St. Peters­burg’s Hermitage, Rundale’s construction took more than 30 years and 1,500 workers. From here we con­tinue on to surprisingly sophisticated Riga, once known as the “little Paris of the North.” We dine tonight at our hotel.

Day 6

Meals: Breakfast

Riga This morning’s city tour reveals the special treasures of this Baltic gem, once Russia’s coveted warm-water port and the largest of the Baltic capitals. Riga boasts lovingly restored architecture ranging from medieval to art nouveau; a well­-preserved Old Town; magnificent churches, including St. Mary’s Cathedral (the Dom), with its 6,789-pipe organ; and a lively arts scene. The afternoon is free; our well-located hotel offers easy access to Riga’s attractions.

Day 7

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Riga/Sigulda Today we travel east of Riga to Sigulda to visit Gauja National Park, Latvia’s premier nature preserve. Our excursion includes a visit to Gutmanis’ Cave, a 35-foot cavern bubbling with fresh spring water believed to have curative powers; and the ruins of Turaida Castle, whose round red brick tower rises above the forest canopy. We return to Riga mid-day and dine together tonight.

Day 8

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Riga/Parnu/Tallinn En route to the Estoni­an capital of Tallinn, we stop for lunch in sea­side Parnu, Estonia’s “summer capital.” We reach Tallinn late this afternoon; dinner is at a local restaurant.

Day 9

Meals: Breakfast

Tallinn This northernmost Baltic capital has endured a history similar to that of its cousins: ­ a favored port location often coveted by its more powerful neighbors; centuries of war with brief periods of independence; 20th-century an­nexing by Russia; and finally, again, in­dependence. We see layers of Tallinn’s tumultuous his­tory on this morning’s city tour featuring the surprisingly well-preserved medieval Old Town. Then the remainder of the day is free to enjoy this 800-year-old city as we wish. Green spaces abound, including vast Kadriorg Park, surrounding the palace and featuring a Japanese tea garden.

Day 10

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Tallinn This morning we visit the Estonian Open-Air Museum at Rocca-al-Mare, where 18th- and 19th-century life is recreated with authentic wooden farm houses, churches, and other structures from rural Estonia. We enjoy lunch together then have an afternoon at leisure to explore Tallinn independently. This evening is at leisure to dine on our own in this city with restaurants ranging from "nouveau Estonian" to American.

Day 11

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Tallinn/St. Petersburg We depart this morning by coach for St. Petersburg. After arriving late this afternoon we enjoy dinner together tonight.

Day 12

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

St. Petersburg Czar Peter the Great’s “window on the West,” St. Petersburg was built in the early 1700s on 44 islands, mostly swampland – a feat that took the lives of millions of workers. Today it is a beautiful city, laced with canals, graceful bridges, and Empire-style buildings. Our daylong tour includes a visit to awe-inspiring St. Isaac’s Cathedral, whose construction took more than 40 years. We see the Peter & Paul Fortress, the Bronze Horseman statue of city founder Peter the Great, and the main thorough­fare of Nevsky Prospekt. Then for a fascinating window on Russian life, we join a local family for lunch and conversation. This afternoon we take a guided tour of the world-renowned Hermitage Museum founded by Catherine the Great in 1764 and housing one ­of the world’s greatest fine arts collections. Dinner tonight is on our own.

Day 13

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

St. Petersburg/Peterhof This morning we travel to Peterhof, one of the many royal “summer” palaces built by the Romanovs during the last two centuries of their rule. Most of these palaces were virtually destroyed by retreating Germans during World War II and later rebuilt to their original designs, complete with gilding. Known for its elaborate fountains with gold statues and 142 jets, Peterhof sits in a huge park with a formal ­18th-century garden. Our tour includes both the Grand Royal Palace and the Upper and Lower gardens. Tonight we gather for dinner to bid “da svidniya” to St. Petersburg.

Day 14

Meals: Breakfast

Depart for U.S. We depart this morning for our connecting flight to the United States.