Itinerary
- Day 1
Vilnius
You'll arrive in Vilnius and check into your hotel. Before the welcome briefing this evening, there's time to walk around the baroque old town if you'd like, which happens to be the largest one in eastern Europe. The briefing gets everyone together to go over what's coming up on the trip.
Optional Activities
- Explore the baroque old town of Vilnius
Landmarks Vilnius Old Town - Day 2
Trakai - Vilnius
A 30-minute drive takes you to Trakai to see the island castle on Lake Galvė, a striking stone fort from centuries ago with a market area around it. After returning to Vilnius, you'll do a three-hour bus and walking tour of the UNESCO-listed Old Town, stopping at the cathedral, presidential palace, and Aurora Gate. If your departure timing allows, there's a chance to check out the Vilnius Christmas Market at Cathedral Square.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Trakai island castle
- Guided tour of Vilnius Old Town (Senamiestis) including cathedral, presidential palace, and Aurora Gate
Optional Activities
- Explore Vilnius Christmas Market at Cathedral Square (seasonal, dependent on departure date)
- Sample traditional holiday sweets and festive dishes at local cafes and restaurants
Landmarks Trakai Island Castle Lake Galvė Vilnius Cathedral Aurora Gate - Day 3
Vilnius - Kaunas - Hill of Crosses - Riga
This morning you head toward Riga with a stop in Kaunas for 2-3 hours to see Vytautas Church, Perkunas House, the baroque town hall, and Kaunas Cathedral. Then it's on to the Hill of Crosses, a UNESCO-recognized pilgrimage site with over 100,000 crosses. The drive to Riga takes about 2 hours, and once there you'll visit Laima Chocolate Museum to learn how chocolate gets made. The evening is open for exploring Riga and trying traditional Latvian foods.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Kaunas including Vytautas Church, Perkunas House, baroque town hall, and Kaunas Cathedral
- Visit to Hill of Crosses
- Visit Laima Chocolate Museum with chocolate-making education
Optional Activities
- Sample traditional Latvian foods such as grey peas with bacon, potato pancakes (kartupēļu pankūkas), and sauerkraut soup (skābeņu zupa) at local restaurants and cafes
Landmarks Vytautas Church Perkunas House Kaunas Cathedral Hill of Crosses Laima Chocolate Museum - Day 4
Riga
A two-hour walking tour covers Riga Castle, the Lutheran Cathedral Dome, St Peter's Church, and the Swedish Gate. After that, you're free to spend the rest of the day however you'd like, visiting the Latvian National Museum of Art, the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, or the Riga Art Nouveau Museum. During the Christmas season, the old town's cobbled streets are lit up nicely, and Dome Square has mulled wine and Latvian treats.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Riga including Riga Castle, Lutheran Cathedral Dome, St Peter's Church, and Swedish Gate
Optional Activities
- Visit Latvian National Museum of Art
- Visit Museum of the Occupation of Latvia
- Visit Riga Art Nouveau Museum
- Explore Dome Square Christmas stalls (seasonal)
Landmarks Riga Castle Riga Dome Cathedral St Peter's Church Swedish Gate Dome Square - Day 5
Riga - Tallinn
Start at Riga's Central Market in those enormous hangars that used to hold zeppelins, where your tour leader talks about Latvian cuisine and you can sample cheese, smoked products, pickled vegetables, fish, bread, and black balsam. Then it's roughly 4.5 hours to Tallinn. After grabbing lunch, you'll visit Estonia's oldest coffee shop to learn about marzipan painting and make your own piece. The rest of the evening is yours to explore, whether that's the Christmas Market, Kalamaja district, Balti Jaama market, or the Fotografiska Photography Museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Riga Central Market with local guide tour and Latvian cuisine education
- Visit oldest coffee shop in Estonia with marzipan painting experience and coffee
Optional Activities
- Sample local specialties at Riga Central Market: cheese, smoked products, pickled vegetables, fish, bread, and traditional black balsam
- Explore Tallinn Christmas Market (seasonal)
- Explore bohemian Kalamaja district
- Visit Balti Jaama market
- Visit Fotografiska Tallinn Photography Museum
Landmarks Riga Central Market Tallinn Old Town Kalamaja District Balti Jaama Market Fotografiska Tallinn - Day 6
Tallinn
A three-hour walking tour takes you through Tallinn's main spots: Toompea Palace, the medieval Toompea Fortress, Alexander Nevski Orthodox Cathedral, the Church of St Maria, Town Hall Square, and the 15th-century Pharmacy. You'll have free time afterward to explore more, maybe return to the Christmas market or try other wintery treats.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Tallinn landmarks including Toompea Palace, Toompea Fortress, Alexander Nevski Orthodox Cathedral, Church of St Maria, Town Hall Square, and 15th-century Pharmacy
Optional Activities
- Revisit Tallinn Christmas Market
- Explore other wintery treats in Tallinn
Landmarks Toompea Palace Toompea Fortress Alexander Nevski Orthodox Cathedral Church of St Maria Town Hall Square Tallinn Town Hall Pharmacy - Day 7
Tallinn - Helsinki
This morning you board a 1-hour-30-minute ferry across the Baltic Sea to Helsinki, with restaurants, cafes, and entertainment on board like live music or cinemas. After a 15-minute transfer to your hotel, there's a two-hour walking tour covering the harbours, central Mannerheim Street, the Parliament Building, Finlandia Hall, and market square (using public transport as needed). The evening leaves time to explore more, and your tour leader will share local recommendations.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Ferry transfer from Tallinn to Helsinki
- Guided walking tour of Helsinki including harbours, Mannerheim Street, Parliament Building, Finlandia Hall, and market square
Optional Activities
- Explore Helsinki's additional attractions during free time
Landmarks Helsinki Parliament Building Finlandia Hall Helsinki Market Square Mannerheim Street 
- Day 8
Helsinki - Stockholm
After checkout, you have the day to explore Helsinki with the option to store luggage at your hotel first. The Finnish capital has beautiful parks like Esplanadi and Kaivopuisto, especially nice in the snow. You could also try one of the public saunas, which is a Finnish tradition. At 5pm, you'll board an overnight ferry to Stockholm with restaurants, bars, and entertainment available.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Overnight ferry to Stockholm
Optional Activities
- Explore Helsinki's parks such as Esplanadi or Kaivopuisto
- Visit public saunas in Helsinki
Landmarks Esplanadi Kaivopuisto 
- Day 9
Stockholm
You'll have breakfast on the ferry before heading to your Stockholm hotel to drop off luggage. Then a three-hour guided tour by bus and on foot covers two squares on the islands and a walk through the Old Town. Afterwards, the day is yours. Try Swedish fika, a social tradition of coffee and snacks or pastries, or visit Centralbadet or Sturebadet for a sauna experience. Christmas markets have local crafts and treats, and you can try pea soup with pancakes, cinnamon buns, and mulled wine.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast on the ferry)
Included Activities
- Breakfast on ferry
- Transfer to hotel
- Three-hour city tour by bus and foot
- Visit to Riddarholmen squares
- Visit to Södermalm island
- Walk through Old Town
Optional Activities
- Experience Swedish fika
- Visit Centralbadet spa facility
- Visit Sturebadet spa facility
- Guided boat tour to Fjäderholmarna islands
- Explore Christmas markets
- Try Swedish cinnamon buns (kanelbullar)
- Try Swedish pea soup with pancakes (ärtsopp och pannkakor)
- Try mulled wine (glögg)
Landmarks Riddarholmen Södermalm Stockholm Old Town Fjäderholmarna Centralbadet Sturebadet - Day 10
Stockholm
After breakfast and checking out, it's time to head home. If you want more time in Stockholm, get in touch with your sales representative about staying longer.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Extend your stay in Stockholm
