Arrive in Helsinki 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), a private hotel transfer, accommodation before or after the tour and a room category upgrade.

At 18:00, join your tour leader Christopher Lawrence and fellow travellers for a welcome briefing followed by dinner.

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This morning, take the ferry across the water to Tallinn in Estonia and continue by coach to Pärnu, arriving in the mid-afternoon. Each summer, the beloved resort town hosts the renowned Pärnu Music Festival, attracting classical music lovers from around the world.

In the evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

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The brainchild of world-renowned conductor Paavo Järvi, the Pärnu Music Festival was founded in 2011 to celebrate Estonia’s cultural heritage and nurture young talent. The festival features multiple orchestras, including the Estonian Festival Orchestra, Järvi’s resident ensemble comprising hand-picked international soloists and leading Estonian musicians, and the Järvi Academy Youth Symphony Orchestra. The festival’s programming is renowned for its innovative blend of orchestral, chamber and solo performances, and world premieres of new works by Estonian composers – including a dedicated initiative to commission music from female composers. Each July, world-class virtuosos such as Joshua Bell, Hilary Hahn, Pinchas Zukerman and Kirill Gerstein perform alongside emerging Estonian artists at the Pärnu Concert Hall and historic venues across the city.

The full, detailed concert program will be announced early 2026.
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Begin the day with a talk by Christopher on the coming days’ performances. Then, embark on a morning walking tour of Pärnu’s Old Town. See the Tallinn Gate and its moat, the 18th-century Town Hall and the stunning Baroque churches of St Elizabeth and St Catherine.

After lunch, the rest of the afternoon is at leisure to rest or walk along Pärnu’s sandy beach and lively promenade.

Tonight, the Pärnu Music Festival experience starts with a concert by the acclaimed Estonian Festival Orchestra under the baton of maestro Paavo Järvi.

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Today, explore Soomaa National Park, located between the Pärnu and Viljandi counties in southwestern Estonia. Known as the ‘land of mires’, this protected landscape of bogs, swamp forests and winding rivers showcases the distinctive ecosystem of the region. Soomaa’s spring floods, known as the ‘fifth season’, can transform up to 17,500 hectares of low-lying forests and meadows into natural ice rinks and waterways navigable by canoe.

Return to Pärnu after lunch and enjoy some time at leisure before this evening’s concert featuring the Järvi Academy Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Pärnu City Orchestra.

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After a talk by Christopher, visit a family-owned organic farm producing cider and wine from locally grown apples and grapes. Learn traditional cider-making methods on a tour of the orchards and vineyard and sample different varieties.

Following a free afternoon, enjoy an early dinner in the renowned Villa Ammende, a beautifully restored 1905 Art Nouveau mansion overlooking Pärnu Bay.

Then, return to the Pärnu Concert Hall for another performance with musicians of the Estonian Festival Orchestra.

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In the morning, enjoy a cruise along the tranquil Pärnu River. Glide past charming waterside parks, spot traditional boats moored along the shore and watch local fishermen at work.

The afternoon is at leisure to relax or further explore Pärnu at your own pace.

Tonight, attend a concert by the Estonian Festival Orchestra, performing once again under the masterful leadership of Paavo Järvi, joined by legendary Austrian pianist Rudolf Buchbinder.

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After breakfast, depart Pärnu and return to Tallinn, the charming Estonian capital.

After lunch, enjoy a walking tour of the historic Old Town, the best-preserved medieval town in Northern Europe. Explore the Upper Town 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. Gaze at the ornate onion domes of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, then stroll the Lower Town’s cobblestone lanes, amid terracotta rooftops and spires, to vibrant Town Hall Square.

The rest of the afternoon and evening is at leisure to enjoy Tallinn at your own pace.

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Depart Tallinn and drive to Kadriorg Palace, built in 1718 by Peter the Great for Catherine I. Discover the breathtaking Main Hall, celebrated as one of Northern Europe’s most exquisite Baroque concert halls.

Then, travel by 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.

Check in to the hotel upon arrival in the afternoon. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

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In the morning, enjoy a tour of this compact city, known as the ‘Daughter of the Baltics’. See the imposing Parliament House, Musiikkitalo (concert hall) and Alvar Aalto’s iconic white marble Finlandia Hall. Pass the Finnish National Opera House and the 1952 Olympic Stadium before visiting the Sibelius Monument, where 600 jagged steel pipes visually echo the symphonies of Finland’s greatest composer, Jean Sibelius. Conclude at Temppeliaukio Church to admire the stunning rock-hewn architecture and the church’s unique, natural acoustics.

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Leave the city for the serene lakeside forests of Järvenpää. Begin at Villa Kokkonen, Alvar Aalto’s modernist masterpiece designed for Joonas Kokkonen, one of Finland’s most distinguished 20th-century opera composers.

Continue to ‘Ainola’, the former home of Jean Sibelius and his family. The timber-built National Romantic building situated on the scenic shores of Lake Tuusula was designed by Lars Sonck.

After lunch, continue to Helsinki Airport for an afternoon flight to Savonlinna (flight included in tour price). Built on three islands and surrounded by water and forests, Savonlinna is famed for its medieval Olavinlinna Castle (1475) where the world-renowned Savonlinna Opera Festival has been held since 1912.

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Founded in 1912 by the celebrated Finnish soprano Aino Ackté, the Savonlinna Opera Festival is one of the world’s most distinctive cultural events, set amidst the labyrinthine lakes of eastern Finland. The festival’s stage is the courtyard of the 15th-century Olavinlinna Castle, the northernmost medieval fortress still standing.

Renowned for both its artistic excellence and its innovative logistical techniques, the festival transforms the island fortress into a world-class opera house each July, ferrying massive sets across the water. The repertoire blends beloved classics by Verdi and Puccini with bold Finnish premieres, drawing 70,000 visitors annually to witness internationally acclaimed soloists and visiting productions from legendary houses such as La Scala and the Semperoper Dresden.
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After a talk by Christopher, enjoy a walking tour of Savonlinna, culminating with a backstage visit to Olavinlinna Castle. Discover the “logistical magic” that transforms this 15th-century stronghold into a modern opera venue, from the massive sets ferried across the water to dressing rooms tucked within ancient towers.

The afternoon is at leisure before this evening’s performance of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, conducted by Andrea Sanguineti. In this celebrated Semperoper Dresden production, director Johannes Erath brings a dynamic opera buffa to life, balancing brilliant comedy with sharp social insight.

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Enjoy an excursion to the stunning Punkaharju Ridge, a national landscape of pine-covered eskers separating crystal-clear lakes that has inspired artists for centuries. Visit Lusto, The Finnish Forest Museum, a unique cultural centre that illustrates the vital importance of forests and explores the deep, historic bond between Finns and their “green gold”.

Return to Savonlinna in the mid-afternoon.

Tonight, return to Olavinlinna Castle for a performance of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, conducted by Piergiorgio Morandi and featuring Finnish soprano Silja Aalto as Cio-Cio-San.

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This morning, drive to the charming village of Oravi, nestled between two national parks. Embark on a private cruise and glide through the labyrinthine waters of Lake Saimaa, keeping a keen eye out for the rare Saimaa ringed seal occasionally spotted sunning on the rocks. Enjoy a special farewell lunch on board as the medieval towers of Olavinlinna Castle come into view.

Following a final pre-performance talk in the late-afternoon, attend a performance of Verdi’s Nabucco, conducted by Iván López Reynoso. Returning to Olavinlinna after its highly acclaimed premiere in 2024, this powerful production stars world-class soprano Marigona Qerkezi as the formidable Abigaille.

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Tour arrangements conclude with an included group transfer through the stunning Lake District to Helsinki Airport for flights departing from 17:00.

Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including any additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour and travel insurance (a condition of travel).

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