Baltic Capitals - an Overland Adventure

Visit the capitals of Latvia and Lithuania on an overland adventure. Experience historic Riga in Latvia and see the one of the largest and glorious Art Nouveau places in Europe.

Then drive to Vilnius. The capital of Lithuania is famous for having the largest Old Town in Eastern Europe where almost every style of architecture can be found: from Gothic, Baroque, and Classicism to Post-Modernism. Both cities are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Day One: Riga/Vilnius

You will start off in Riga, the ancient Hanseatic city, founded in 1201 on the banks of the Daugava River. Until 1856 fortifications and earthen ramparts surrounded Riga. Since then the town has changed greatly and in early thirties acquired the name of "The little Paris" with a third of the buildings in the centre of Riga built in the beautiful Art Nouveau style.

Latvian history will be revealed as you pass Riga’s most famous architectural monuments: 13th century St. Peter's Church, St. John's Church, a part of the restored city wall and the medieval John's yard. The tour will take you to the heart of Old Riga - the Dome Square with its Dome Cathedral.

Enjoy a leisurely drive along the boulevards of Riga where the sights range from the 14th century Riga Castle to one of the finest collections of Art Nouveau architecture in Northern Europe.

Continue to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania and your overnight destination. The trip from Riga to Vilnius takes 4 hours. You will then settle into the hotel in the Old Town of Vilnius. Take a short walk through Vilnius by night or have dinner by yourself.

Day two: Vilnius/Klaipeda

On the morning of the second day, take part in the sightseeing tour of Vilnius. Feel the unique atmosphere of the historic Old Town and discover places to which you would like to come back again. See the Presidential Palace, a notable piece of Lithuanian Classicism. Nearby stands Vilnius University, one of the oldest in Eastern Europe with the campus composed of thirteen cosy courtyards.

Continue to the 15th century Cathedral which was the coronation site of the Grand Dukes and stands in the territory of the Lower Castle. There are about 40 other churches of different architectural styles in the Old Town, of which St. Anne’s Church is a superb example of flamboyant Gothic Architecture. You may also visit the church of St. Peter and St. Paul, one of the few restored examples of white Baroque in Europe.

We will invite you to visit the KGB museum, which represents the very worst side of the soviet era. The museum contains many documents and photographs as well as cells used for the imprisonment and interogation of dissidents and fighters for Lithuanian independence.

Then come to Pilies Street where you can meet the local people presenting their crafts at the market stalls and see a variety of amber and linen shops.