St. Petersburg's domes are the golden start to your sightseeing journey - an incredible eastern Europe trip including Moscow's Red Square, the Baltic capitals and Finland's cool capital. You'll also love meeting a Belarussian family for vodka tasting and accordion songs.
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Travel Style - Regional Explorer
Gain the insights into the diversity of two or more countries.
Welcome to Helsinki, the cool capital of Finland, whose sophisticated streets and laidback atmosphere are yours to enjoy, before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travel companions for an orientation drive to see the city's iconic sights followed by a Welcome Reception.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - Holiday Inn City Centre
Follow the beautiful shoreline along the Gulf of Finland, crossing the border into Russia. We journey through the lush forests of Karelia to the imperial city of St. Petersburg - our home for the next three nights. You will have the option of admiring the 'Venice of the North', taking to its waters and navigating the city's canals by boat, or perhaps indulge in the delicious flavours of a traditional pie at the Stolle bakery, while you wander through the city's narrow lanes and grand boulevards this evening. This evening, we dine at our hotel.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - Holiday Inn Moskovskie Vorota
Join a Local Specialist this morning to explore the city's iconic sights including the Tsar's Winter Palace, Nevsky Prospekt, St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Statue of Peter the Great, whose inspired vision for this city saw it evolve into an elegant metropolis to rival even the most sophisticated of European capitals. Then visit the Peter and Paul Fortress, built to protect the city against invading forces in the 18th century. Next, Dive into Culture during a Small Group Sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist to the spectacular Hermitage Museum, one of the world's largest and most valuable art collections. Admire the exquisite works of da Vinci, Rembrandt and Vermeer which hang proudly on its magnificent Baroque and Rococo walls.
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Day 4
St. Petersburg Your Way
Spend the day exploring St. Petersburg, admiring the ornate golden domes and colourful mosaics of cathedrals and churches. Consider joining an Optional Experience to a high-energy Russian folklore show.
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Day 5
Journey By High-Speed Train to Moscow
Board a high-speed Sapsan train that will take you across the vast Russian landscape to the capital city. Delve into the tumultuous and captivating history of Moscow, an ancient city that oozes grandeur. This evening, we dine at our hotel.
Join a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour of the imposing Red Square - the site of grand celebrations, fierce fighting and beautiful architecture. See the domes of St. Basil's Cathedral, before venturing beyond the red walls of the Kremlin for a memorable visit to the seat of Russian power.
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Day 7
Moscow Your Way
Immerse yourself in the kofe culture of Moscow, before taking to its streets to learn about the city's triumphs and defeats. You have a full day at leisure to explore the sights. Stroll along the flower-lined boulevards of Gorky Park, admire the exquisite underground art and history showcase that is the Moscow Metro, or consider an Optional Experience to the Tsar's Treasury Chamber or St. Sergius Monastery and its handicraft market.
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Day 8
Onwards to Minsk
Follow in the footsteps of Napoleon's retreating army of 1812, passing near the 'bloody battlefields' of Borodino, before stopping for a lunch in the Smolensk region. We cross the border and journey to Minsk, the cosmopolitan capital of Belarus and our home for the next two nights. This evening we dine on traditional cuisine at our hotel. Later, consider visiting the Old Town and indulging in the honey flavours of the local medovukha drink.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - Crowne Plaza
This morning, we join our Local Specialist to see the iconic sights of Minsk, including the Hero City Memorial, built to commemorate the city's status as one of the Hero Cities of the former Soviet Union. Consider a visit to the Saint Elizabeth Convent during your free afternoon to see its beautiful stained glass and religious icon workshop. This evening, Connect With Locals and join Anatolij and his family in their Belarus farmstead for a traditional dinner. Enjoy rousing accordion choruses and, of course, a few shots at this exclusive Be My Guest experience.
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast, Be My Guest
Day 10
Continue to Vilnius
We journey west and cross the border into Lithuania, arriving later in the capital Vilnius, renowned for its beautiful Baroque façades. Join a Local Specialist on a leisurely tour past the city's iconic sights. See the Bishop's Palace and the University, the oldest university in the Baltics, founded in 1579. Explore the 17th-century Baroque Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, built on the site of a temple to the pagan goddess of love. Walk to the Gates of Dawn, the Carmelite Church of St. Theresa and former Jewish Ghetto, passing the Cathedral on the way.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - Courtyard by Marriott City Center
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Day 11
Off to Šiauliai and Riga
Enjoy a leisurely morning in Vilnius, departing the city after lunch. Our first stop is the extraordinary Hill of Crosses at Šiauliai. This site features thousands of crosses, each mysteriously claiming its place since the mid-19th century. We arrive in the ancient city of Riga later, where we will spend the next two nights. This evening, after dinner, maybe take to the streets to explore the Latvian capital's inspiring Gothic spires.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - AC by Marriott
Stroll through the winding medieval streets of Riga's UNESCO-listed Old Town - with one of the world's finest collections of Art Nouveau buildings and a Hanseatic trade history we will have an opportunity to explore during a sightseeing and walking tour with a Local Specialist. Spend the rest of the day discovering the sights on your terms. Admire the skyline from the comfort of a canal boat, view the 14th-century House of the Blackheads or indulge in the herbal flavours of the city's favourite Black Balsam at a traditional city tavern - the choice is yours.
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Day 13
Journey to Coastal Tallinn
We follow the Gulf of Riga north into Estonia, and travel via Parnu, a popular beach resort for Tallinn residents. Explore the beautifully preserved streets of Tallinn's old Hanseatic Quarter with a Local Specialist. See its 15th-century Luhike Jalg Gate and visit the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, a symbol of Russian power, with its magnificent gold-plated dome. This evening, you'll check into our Stays With Stories accommodation, the Nordic Forum hotel offering marvellous views over Tallinn's UNESCO Old Town, and the first hotel to lead the way in urban beekeeping. Learn about the hotel's fascinating green initiatives, including its six rooftop beehives.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - Nordic Forum
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Day 14
Return to Helsinki
We board a ferry this morning, crossing the Baltic Sea to Helsinki where we'll meet a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour past the modern marble façades of Finlandia Hall, the Senate and Market Squares, and the café-lined Esplanadi. This evening, we toast to an unforgettable northern adventure, joining our fellow travellers for a special Farewell Dinner.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - Holiday Inn City Centre
Our time together has come to an end. We say a fond farewell to newfound friends at the end of a memorable trip. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.
14 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 7 dinners (including Be My Guest)
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On-trip Transport
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Included Highlights that will delight you
Connect with Locals
Anatolij and his family welcome you to their Belarus farmstead for a traditional Be My Guest dinner, rousing accordion choruses and, of course, a few shots of vodka. (Day 9)
Dive Into Culture
Admire the impressive collection of artefacts and art collected by Russia's tsars and tsarinas since the mid-18th century. (Day 3)
Stays with Stories
Check into the Nordic Forum Hotel and discover how it's leading the way in urban beekeeping, thanks to its six rooftop beehives, while marvelling at the views over the historic Old Town. (Day 13)
Sightseeing highlights
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Explore St. Petersburg, Moscow, Minsk, Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn and Helsinki with a Local Specialist
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Visit the Peter and Paul Fortress and Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, the Kremlin in Moscow, the Peter and Paul Church in Vilnius, the Hill of Crosses in Šiauliai and the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Tallinn
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View Red Square in Moscow, Nevsky Prospekt and St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Riga's Art Nouveau architecture and the Finlandia Hall in Helsinki
Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
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Ferry across the Gulf of Finland.
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Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
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Optional Experiences and free time
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All porterage and restaurant gratuities
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Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
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An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
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All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
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High-speed train between St. Petersburg and Moscow.
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Rail service is reserved in standard class.
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Handcrafted Highlights
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Best of Finland, Russia and The Baltic States Trip Reviews
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4
Hotels were excellent. Loved the Optional Tours. Great itinerary. Lovely hotels. Very disappointed though that the brand new coach didn't have USB or power outlets for charging electronics.
Superb Travel Director and Driver! The majority of Local Specialists were fantastic, though we did have one (out of 5) who, whilst in busy museums, didn't give specific directions (ie: "follow me", instead of "follow me to the left") for those who couldn't see the them...it caused some confusion.
Last tour (Russia and Baltic States) was organized in professional manner and guides were knowledgeable and personable. Travel director , driver and local guides were efficient and considering we saw six countries in two weeks organization was exceptional.
We (?my wife and I) have been travelling with Trafalgar (8th times), and I noticed that in this particular travel there's less lunch/dinner, included in the package and almost all of POINTS OF INTEREST are OPTIONALS. In our previous trips most of the goodies are included in the package. Is it because of the geographical locations of the area?. While overall experience with your staffs (tour director(s) local and drivers), are exceptional, I find it not fair for a NEW traveller (with Trafalgar) to be burdened with so many optionals, and therefore, left behind somewhere, and not part of the whole thing. I Understand, OPTIONAL trips, but I found it almost all, are, in this package.
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Trip Notes
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Travel to Europe often requires an overnight flight. Please arrange flights to arrive on or before Day 1.
Special Rate Solo Rooming: Departures 18 April, 4 July and 26 September 2021 include 20 - 100% discount on our standard single supplement. Please see trafalgar.com for pricing.
Important Visa Information: Visas are required for this trip. Please speak to your travel agent at the time of booking to assess your specific requirements. Visas cannot be issued at borders in Europe.
Unless otherwise stated, trip prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and reflect applicable discount. Discounts are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice.
Trip prices are correct at the time of the products going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. All trip information is correct at time of trips going live, however are subject to change - please confirm all details at time of booking.
Double-share option not available for trips to South America, Costa Rica, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, South Africa, Kenya & Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia or for any holiday & cruise combination, or in Asia and Eastern Mediterranean except Highlights of Turkey (without cruise) & Best of Turkey. It's also not available on Small Group trips. Guided Vacations included in this restriction are Newfoundland and Labrador (DNLA) as well as Panama, the Canal & Beyond (LPAN).
For trips that are part of our Guaranteed Room Share, please note that there is a no smoking policy in all shared rooms. Solo travel is not accepted on guided Family Experiences holidays unless traveling as part of a family group.
Travel to Europe often requires an overnight flight. Please arrange your flights to arrive on or before day 1.
Your selected dates have an enhanced itinerary.
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You’ll be traveling in Autumn, Winter or Spring, and this itinerary has been enhanced for you to enjoy the unique experiences these seasons offer.