Arrive in Hamburg on suggested flights and make your way to the hotel. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including travel insurance (a condition of travel), accommodation before or after the tour and a room category upgrade.

In the late-afternoon, join your tour leader Kenneth Park and fellow travellers for a welcome briefing at the hotel followed by dinner at a nearby restaurant.

(D)

Following a morning talk by Kenneth, enjoy a visit to the pinnacle of Hamburg’s contemporary architectural design: the Elbphilharmonie. The superimposed, shimmering glass structure overlooks the River Elbe and features state-of-the-art philharmonic and chamber music halls.

Continue with a history-focused walking tour of Hamburg with lunch at leisure in the Old Town.

In the afternoon, visit the Hamburger Kunsthalle, one of the largest art museums in Germany with rare art collections spanning seven centuries of European art, from the Middle Ages to the present day. Its permanent exhibitions feature North German paintings of the 14th century, Dutch, Flemish and Italian artworks from the 16th and 17th centuries, French and German drawings and paintings from the 19th century, as well as a rich array of international modern and contemporary art.

(B)

This morning, visit Schwerin Castle, the prominent palace located on an island in Schwerin’s main lake, the Schweriner See. The castle is famous for its picturesque setting and stunning architecture, which blends Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles.

After lunch, continue to Lübeck and discover this charming town situated on the shores of the Baltic Sea, renowned for its well-preserved medieval architecture and status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Lübeck was a major trading hub of the Hanseatic League during the Middle Ages, known for its salt trade. Today, it remains a cultural and economic centre, particularly focused in sectors such as maritime logistics.

Upon return to Hamburg in the late-afternoon, enjoy the evening at leisure.

(BL)

Transfer to Hamburg Airport for an early-morning flight to Vilnius (flight included in tour price).

Vilnius, founded in 1323, is located at the confluence of the rivers Neris and Vilnia and its skyline is dominated by spires and Baroque architecture.

(BL)

After a morning talk, embark on a walking tour of Vilnius Old Town to appreciate the beauty of this Baltic jewel. Discover its numerous churches, including the Vilnius Cathedral and the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, as well as its historic university, which dates back to 1579, making it one of the oldest in Europe.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then continue exploring this charming city with its unique blend of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. These compositional styles unify in the Gate of Dawn and the Church of St. Theresa, which form a significant religious and architectural ensemble.

The evening is at leisure.

(BL)

Today visit Trakai, located about 28 kilometres west of Vilnius, and one of the medieval capitals of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Explore the Trakai Island Castle, situated on an island in Lake Galvė, which served as a major defensive structure and a residence for the Grand Dukes and represents a prime example of Gothic architecture in Lithuania.

Later, visit the Trakai History Museum, which provides a comprehensive overview of the region’s history, from its medieval past to its present-day cultural diversity. Enjoy some time at leisure in town before returning to Vilnius.

(BL)

This morning, depart Vilnius and visit Kaunas, the second largest city of Lithuania. Walk through the narrow streets of the Old Town and visit the M.K. Čiurlionis Museum of Art, named after the famous Lithuanian painter and composer.

After some time for lunch at leisure, continue on the so-called ‘Via Baltica’ towards the Hill of Crosses, a famous pilgrimage site located near the city of Šiauliai in northern Lithuania. This location is known for its unique display of thousands of crosses, crucifixes, statues and rosaries placed on a small hill.

Arrive in Riga in the evening and enjoy dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

(BD)

After a morning talk, set out on foot for a walking tour of Riga’s compact old town, ‘Vecrīga’. See the distinctive Dome Cathedral, the Riga Castle and the House of the Blackheads.

Visit the Latvian National Museum of Art, the country’s most significant museum, which displays a comprehensive collection of Latvian art from the 18th century to the present day.

Spend the afternoon exploring Riga’s Art Nouveau District. The city boasts one of the largest concentrations of Art Nouveau architecture in the world, with many buildings designed by notable architects like Mikhail Eisenstein, Konstantīns Pēkšēns and Eižens Laube.

After a tour of the Riga Art Nouveau Museum, enjoy a canal cruise before returning to the hotel for an evening at leisure.

(B)

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and travel northeast to Līgatne to visit the Soviet Secret Bunker, a Cold War-era underground military facility located in a forested area. The bunker was constructed during the Soviet era as a secret military facility intended to serve as a command centre in case of nuclear war and was equipped with stringent security measures to prevent unauthorised access, reflecting the heightened tensions and secrecy of the Cold War era.

Continue to Cēsis, the picturesque Latvian town renowned for its medieval castle. Cēsis Castle dates back to the early 13th century and played a crucial role in the defence against German crusaders, and later served as a residence for the Livonian Order, founded in 1237 to Christianise and conquer pagan lands in what is now modern-day Latvia and Estonia.

Arrive in Tartu, in southern Estonia, in the early evening and enjoy dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

(BD)

Start today with a morning talk followed by a tour of Tartu, considered to be the intellectual capital of Estonia. Admire the ‘Statue of the Kissing Students’, created by Estonian sculptor Mati Karmin, in the large classical town square and admire the neoclassical architecture of the university in Estonia’s oldest city.

Enjoy some time at leisure for lunch before visiting the Estonian National Museum, founded in 1909 to preserve and promote Estonian cultural heritage, history and identity, and now hosted in a new building designed by architect Dorell Ghotmeh, which integrates modern design with elements inspired by traditional Estonian architecture.

Return to the hotel for the evening at leisure.

(B)

Today depart for Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, via Pärnu, a resort town located on the Baltic Sea coast. One of Estonia’s oldest towns, Pärnu served as an important trading hub since medieval times and was a member of the Hanseatic League.

Enjoy lunch in the renowned Villa Ammende, built in 1905 in the Art Nouveau style under the direction of the German-Baltic architect Wilhelm Bockslaff.

Arrive in Tallin the late afternoon and enjoy the evening at leisure.

(BL)

This morning, explore the old town of Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia. In the Lower Town, admire the mediaeval town walls, the Gothic Town Hall and the Town Council Pharmacy, one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe, operating since the 15th century.

Continue to the Upper Town, located on Toompea Hill, and see the castle and its towers, among which the Tall Hermann Tower stands out as a symbol of Tallinn’s independence and resilience. The afternoon is at leisure to stroll through the streets and laneways of Tallinn and take in its stone-walled, terra cotta-roofed charm.

In the evening, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

(BD)

This morning, check out of the hotel and visit Kadriorg Art Museum, located in the Baroque palace of the same name built by Peter the Great of Russia.

Embark on a ferry to Helsinki, the capital of Finland founded in 1550 by King Gustav I of Sweden, who established it as a trading town to compete with Tallinn, then under the control of the Hanseatic League.

Upon arrival in Helsinki in the afternoon, check in to the hotel and enjoy some time at leisure before dinner at a local restaurant.

(BLD)

After a morning talk, walk to the Finnish National Gallery for a tour of the Ateneum Art Museum, considered one of Finland’s most important cultural institutions. The museum showcases a comprehensive collection of Finnish art from the 18th century to the modern era.

After lunch, visit the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, designed by American architect Steven Holl using curved forms and large glass windows. Explore the museum’s collection of contemporary art from Finland and around the world, spanning various mediums such as painting, sculpture, video art and photography.

The evening is at leisure.

(BL)

Today, depart by ferry to Suomenlinna, the historic sea fortress located on a group of islands off the coast of Helsinki. Founded in 1748 by Sweden during its period of control over Finland, it was built to defend against Russian expansion and to protect Sweden’s interests in the Baltic Sea region.

Explore the town on foot and get to know its history with a guided tour of the Suomenlinna Museum, which displays models and exhibitions related to its military past but also civilian life on the islands.

In the evening, celebrate the conclusion of the tour with a special farewell dinner with Kenneth and fellow travellers.

(BD)

Tour arrangements conclude after breakfast.

For those returning home today, make your way to Helsinki Airport for suggested flights to Australia or New Zealand. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including a private airport transfer, additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour and travel insurance (a condition of travel).

(B)