Highlights
- Explore Tallinn's medieval Old Town and charming park
- Sample wines and tour manor homes in Lahemaa National Park
- See award-winning architecture and design in Helsinki
- View the world's second-largest art museum in St. Petersburg
- Tour the opulent Peterhof Palace
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Tallinn | Tallinn |
| Day 2 | Walking Tour of Tallinn | Tallinn |
| Day 3 | Lahemaa National Park Tour - Transfer to Helsinki | Helsinki |
| Day 4 | Walking Tour of Helsinki | Helsinki |
| Day 5 | Free Day in Helsinki | Helsinki |
| Day 6 | Transfer to St. Petersburg | Saint Petersburg |
| Day 7 | Tour of Tsarskoye Selo - Nikolaevsky Palace | Saint Petersburg |
| Day 8 | Free Day in St. Petersburg | Saint Petersburg |
| Day 9 | Depart St. Petersburg |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Tallinn
Once you arrive in Tallinn Airport (TLL), a driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in the city. Once you check in, you'll have the rest of the evening free to have dinner and explore the city at your leisure.
Day 2: Walking Tour of Tallinn
Today, you'll take a walking tour of Tallinn, the medieval capital of the Baltic States. You'll begin your walk in Tallinn's Old Town, where you will see cobblestones covering the streets, and ancient stone towers and walls surrounding the historic homes. Continue through the Old Town to see Toompea Hill, which houses the Toompea Castle (housing the Estonian Parliament), Cathedral of Saint Mary the Virgin, and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Next, you can visit the Town Hall Square to see the 15th-century Tallinn Town Hall and enter Europe's oldest continuously operating pharmacy (open since 1422) which also operates as a museum.
After the walking tour, we suggest you have an Estonian meal. You can also visit a marzipan museum with a resident artist who decorates marzipan figures.
In the afternoon, you'll visit the famous Kadriorg Park, which is home to Kadriorg Palace and the Estonian Art Museum. Kadriorg Park was established in 1781 by Peter the Great, and he built the baroque palace for his wife, Catherine I. The park showcases baroque design techniques characteristic of various European countries at the time, so you will see Italian terraces, Dutch canals, a French parterre garden, and a selection of Russian flowers.
After you finish exploring, you will be taken back to your hotel, and you will have the rest of the evening free.
Day 3: Lahemaa National Park Tour - Transfer to Helsinki
Today, you will be able to take a tour of Lahemma National Park, the largest and oldest nature conservation area in Estonia. It is a perfect place to go for a day trip as you can easily see the countryside, fisherman's houses and the larger manor homes. The Palmse Manor is especially worth a visit, as it's now a living museum of the Baltic German aristocracy. Inside, you can see the period details and art before sampling some of the manor’s house wines and local sweet berry wines.
After you finish walking the grounds of the park, you will continue to the port and take a ferry to Helsink. When your boat arrives in Helsinki, a driver will be waiting to drive you to your hotel.
Day 4: Walking Tour of Helsinki
Today, you'll be able to take in the landmarks of Helsinki, the lively Finnish capital uniquely situated at the crossroads of Western and Eastern culture. The sightseeing tour will take you around the harbors, to Senate Square with the Lutheran Cathedral, up the central Mannerheim Street, and by the Parliament Building, the Finlandia Hall, and the Sibelius Monument. Finish your tour off with a visit to the famous Temppeliaukio Church, a mid-century church that was built into solid rock.
In the afternoon, you can take an excursion to Suomenlinna Fortress, an 18th-century maritime fortress that sprawls across a series of six small islands. You'll have the rest of the evening free to spend as you'd like.
Day 5: Free Day in Helsinki
Today, you're free to explore the Helsinki on your own, or one of our specialists can help you book your own activities. Here are a few suggestions:
- Visit the Design Museum, the Military Museum, or the Architecture Museum
- Go shopping in Market Square
Day 6: Transfer to St. Petersburg
After breakfast, a driver will pick you up at your hotel in Helsinki and take you to the train station. You'll board the Allegro train to St. Petersburg, and a car will arrive and transfer you to the hotel.
Day 7: Tour of Tsarskoye Selo - Nikolaevsky Palace
After breakfast today, you'll start our day with an excursion to Tsarskoye Selo with the impressive Catherine Palace and the Amber Room, which vanished during World War II and was restored for St. Petersburg’s tri-centennial celebrations.
In the evening, you can enjoy a visit to the Nikolaevsky Palace and see an exciting Russian folklore show with Cossack songs, Orthodox hymns, lyrical dances of the Russian North, humorous choreographic miniatures of the Urals and Siberia, and the amazing stunts and famous cossack dance.
Day 8: Free Day in St. Petersburg
In the morning, you can take a visit to the world-famous State Hermitage Art Museum. No trip to St. Petersburg would be complete without a trip to the amazing State Hermitage Museum, which is arguably one of the most famous museums in the world. With three million works of art, it's fair to say there's enough to keep you busy for an hour or two.
After you finish at the museum, you can take a visit to Peterhof Palace, an uncontested masterpiece built during the reign of Peter the Great. You'll have the rest of the evening free to spend as you'd like.
Day 9: Depart St. Petersburg
It's time to say goodbye to the Baltics! After breakfast, a driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight home.
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