Sightseeing

TALLINN

Half day tour of Tallinn

City tour of Tallinn takes you to the surroundings of Tallinn and its Old Town. Among other attractions, it includes a visit of Catherine’s Valley Park and Palace, the Song Festival Amphitheatre, the venue of 120-years old song festival tradition. You’ll see Tallinn's number one attraction: Toompea Hill and the Parliament building, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Tall Hermann, Kiek in de Kök and Dome Cathedral. The tour ends in Town Hall Square with a view of the Town Hall, a Gothic masterpiece of the 13th-14th centuries.

Pirita, Kadriorg Castle and KUMU

A bit further out from Tallinn city centre is another district that provides an escape from the downtown bustle – Pirita, where you’re surrounded by dense forest, fresh air and, best of all, the blissful sound of silence. On the way to Pirita you will see the most prominent leftover of Pirita’s Olympic past - its Olympic Yachting Centrepart; the fascinating ruins of St. Bridget’s convent, the tallest structure in Tallinn - the 314m TV tower andTallinn’s most famous cemetery, Metsakalmistu (officially opened in 1939). Tour continues to Kadriorg, or "Catherine's Valley," Kadriorg is home to Peter's 18th-century Kadriorg Palace,  a splendid summer retreat set amid manicured gardens. The newest of Kadriorg's landmarks is the National Art Museum, or KUMU. The rooms of permanent exhibition are filled with the early classics of Estonian art from the 18th century until the end of the Second World War. The third floor has been occupied by Estonian art from the second half of the 20th century until re-independence.

Rocca-al-Mare Opn Air Museum Museum

Estonian Open Air Museum is located about 10 km from Tallinn center in the beautiful park by the sea, referred to by its old Italian name Rocca al Mare - Rock by the Sea. The museum gathers a fine collection of 17th/19th century rural architecture from all over the Estonia. Farmhouses, country pubs, windmills, and chapels will be on display and furnished according to period styles. In summer on Saturdays and Sundays a folk program in the courtyard of one of the farmsteads stages a merry folk-dance in which all the visitors are invited to join. You'll also be able to buy very fine Estonian handcrafts.

MODERN ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN IN TALLINN

Though Tallinn is best known for its medieval Old Town, there are also numerous examples of 20th century architecture. Architecture from the past inspires architects of tomorrow: harmony between old and new, a contrast of styles and materials, unity of form – we offer a tour to the most remarkable buildings of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Here are just a few examples of these impressive designs.
The Art Museum of Estonia KUMU was designed by Finnish architect Pekka Vapaavuori and opened to the public in February 2006. The construction is unique both for its concept and its architectural style.  The 5000 sq m exhibition space is comprised of a 19th century national gallery, a 20th century modern art museum and a centre of contemporary arts.
The building of Tallinn New Synagogue is one of the most unusual sacred constructions in the capital of Estonia. It has intertwined contemporary design and the traditions of synagogue architecture. Tallinn New Synagogue completes the ensemble of the Jewish Centre.
The Fahle Building, a former paper factory perched on one of the highest points in Tallinn, has become the city's first large-scale example of industrial rebirth. It has restaurants, office spaces and now, towering over all this, a new glass box with apartments.

LAHEMAA NATIONAL PARK

Full day tour  to the Lahemaa National Park

A full day excursion to Lahemaa. Estonia's largest national park is an interesting mix of coastal bluffs, dense forest, 7000 year old bogs, 18th century manor houses, and numerous lakes, rivers and waterfalls that cascade down some of the 56m (184ft). Palmse manor is the showpiece of Lahemaa. The 18th century baroque house, open to the public, is filled with period furniture, and you can wander the landscaped grounds to see the 17th century distillery, hotel and granary. A few kilometers north of Palmse, on Käsmu Bay, are the old Soviet Coast Guard barracks at Käsmu, which now house a maritime museum with excellent exhibits on the Soviet era and the history of the village. The 400-year-old fishing hamlet of Altja, in the north-western corner of the park, has been beautifully preserved.

PÄRNU

Sightseeing tour of Pärnu

Pärnu, the best known Estonian resort, is more than just a summer town. It is also a place for conferences, theatre performances and concerts. Besides being a resort, Pärnu is also a Hanseatic town, a harbour town and a university town. ca 2 hr tour features the Concert Hall, Endla Theatre and Rüütli Square with its fountain and clock tower (and even a steam engine!). One can enjow walk along the bustling high street, see the medieval Red Tower, numerous beautiful town houses which date back to the 17th century, the oldest garden and many parks in town. The tour takes youb in the Classicist Town Hall, Baroque churches of St. Catherine and Elizabeth and an area of the 17th century fortification system with a unique town gate. Along the way you will also see examples of Functionalist architecture Pärnu is famous for along with the many modern spa hotels and the white sandy beach which attracts thousands of people every summer.

SAAREMAA

Tour of Muhu Island and Western part of Saaremaa

Saaremaa - the biggest island of Estonia is known as a good recreation place with unique nature and a lot of sights. Saaremaa has retained its uniqueness due to its location and insulation.
In the villages there are still stone fences and houses with thatched roofs, beautiful national costumes and dialectal language are still used. Junipers, dolomite, windmills and the famous local home-brewed beer are considered the symbols of Saaremaa.Particularly remarkable is the western part of Saaremaa island, which has been influenced by its close contacts with Gotland and Courland.

FD Tour of Muhu Island and western part of Saaremaa includes visit of the Koguva Open-Air Museum. Among many attractions, tour features Eemu windmill, Angla village of windmills, Karja church, an ancient village and the greatest attraction of them all, a 2,500 year old meteorite crater at Lake Kaali.

Tour of Eastern part of Saaremaa

FD tour of Eastern part of Saaremaa includes visits to Järve Dunes, reaching 2 to 4 meters in height, Bear Lake - Saaremaa's oldest lake, dating its beginning to 8000 years ago, Sääre lighthouse, Pilguse Manor, Kihelkonna Church from 13 cent, Lihulinna Stronghold from 10-13 cent, and Panga Cliff.

Standing at the tip of the panga cliff, one can clearly see another half-circular cliff under water. This is especially noticeable during storms, when the waves break against the underwater rocks, while the inside of the half-circle is calm.

EASTERN ESTONIA

The coastal limestone cliff and Virumaa.

North-Eastern part of Estonia is so varied that you can find here all the features that are usually found over the whole of Estonia. Northeast Estonia is a region full of contrasts where beautiful landscapes are side by side with industrial locations. Undoubtedly the biggest attraction in the area is the Ontika coastal limestone cliff that runs for more than 20 km between Saka and Toila. At its highest the cliff is 56 metres and presents breathtaking views of the Gulf of Finland. Valaste boasts the highest waterfall in Estonia. One can admire it on a special viewing platform which also offers an excellent view on the 470 to 570 million-year-old amazing layers of rock. Limestone is Estonia’s national stone and the Ontika coastal limestone cliff is a candidate for inclusion in the UNESCO World World Heritage List.

Tour includes visits to Sillamae and Narva.
With its sea views and Sta¬li¬nist buildings, Sillamäe is a unique open air museum of the Soviet industrial heritage in Estonia. Narva was once called the baroque pearl of the Baltic Sea but was almost completely destroyed in 1944 by the Soviet air force, offers its visitors curious experiences. On the bank of the Narva River that has for centuries been regarded as the border between the Eastern and Western civilisations stands the powerful Hermann Fortress. Now a museum, it faces Ivangorod Fortress on the opposite side of the Narva River. A few kilometres upstream is the historical Kreenholm Manufacture, one of the largest textile factories in Europe in the second half of the 19th century.

VILNIUS

Tour of Vilnius

The tour of the historic city of Vilnius, listed as belonging to the UNESCO's World Heritage List, features Vilnius Cathedral and Town Hall Squares, Vilnius University, one of Europe's oldest, the Pilies street with beautifully restored 16th-18th century buildings now housing cosy cafes, bars, private art galleries and souvenir shops. The tour continues on to the Gothic corner of Vilnius with St Anne's and Bernardine churches, Gate of Dawn with a miraculous icon of Virgin Mary and ends with a visit to St Peter and Paul's church - a masperpiece of Baroque architecture in Lithuania.

KGB Museum

The cells in the basementof the former KGB building, where thousands of Lithuanians were interrogated before being deported to Siberia, have been left almost as they were when prisoners were packed into them 20 to a cell.

Exhibition christianity in lithuanian art

Exhibition features Lithuania's millenial history of Christian culture - paintings, sculpture, graphic, other works in the gothic, renaissance, baroque, neo classical styles, unique folk art works on religious themes. The treasures of the Vilnius Cathedral - a national relic lost for decades and found only in mid-1980s is for the first time at the centre of the exhibition.

TRAKAI

Half day tour to Trakai

Located 28 km from Vilnius, surrounded by lakes, the ancient capital of Lithuania is now famous for its 15th century Insular Castle housing a museum with displays of prehistoric findings and the 17th-18th century objects d'art.

Sculpture Park of The Centre of Europe (3 hours)

The park is located 20 km from Vilnius in a pictureque surroundings of Vilnius outskirts. Every year since 1993 artists from Lithuania all over the world (Japan, USA, Ireland, Greece, UK, Hungary, etc) have come here to create this park. The result is a collection of over 50 sculptures including the ones created by M. Abakonowitz, D.Oppenheim, and Sol deWitt. The sculptures are permanently exibited amidst rolling hills and woodlands dotted with natural springs.

KAUNAS

Kaunas City Tour

A tour includes: the Old Town of Kaunas with its St George's church, castle ruins, Theological seminary, the Town Hall Square, the Jesuit church, the Cathedral, the church of Vytautas and the Perkunas House (no visits inside); a walk on the central street- Freedom avenue - bustling with street vendors, musicians, full of cafes and souvenir shops.

M.K Ciurlionis Art Gallery

The gallery houses the works of the famous Lithuanian painter and composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis.

Devils' Museum

Open since 1966, the museum boasts over 2000 devil statuettes from different countries based on the personal devil collection of Lithuanian painter Antanas Zmuidzinavicius.

Pazaislis Monastery

Pazaislis monastery, one of the most impressive Baroque ensembles of Northern Europe was built in the 17th century for the Camaldolesian monks. Having survived the test of history monastic buildings are being restored to their former beauty. In 1990, the nuns of the order of Holy Casimir settled there again after more than 70 years. The courtyard of the monastery has become a site of classical music concerts.

Country Life Museum in Rumsiskes

Located 80 km from Vilnius the museum offers acquaintance with the 18th-19th century architecture, traditions, crafts and the way of life of farmers from the four ethnographic regions of Lithuania: Aukstaitija, Zemaitija, Suvalkija and Dzukija. Ethnographic folk music ensembles perform in the museum premises on weekends in summer. A typical Lithuania tavern offers national meals and local beer.

Grutas Park

A tour to the Grutas Park (140 km from Vilnius near Druskininkai), a unique park in which pompastic statues of soviet revolutionaries and political leaders, once dominating squares of town and villages, have found their shelter after beiing removed some 10 years ago.

KLAIPEDA

Klaipeda City Tour

It includes the Old Town of Klaipeda with the Theatre Square and the statue of a girl Ann from Tharau, numerous old streets and buildings, Linden street with the old post-office, Mazvydas Sculpture Park.

NIDA

A walk on the Hill of Witches located in Juodkrante village, 19 km away from Klaipeda, and decorated with numerous wooden sculptures based on Lithuanian legends and folk tales. Further drive to Nida (30 km), a small old fishermen village famous for its majestic sea-shore sand dunes, Thomas Mann's summer house, neo-gothic church and old ethnographic cemetary.

PALANGA

Lithuania's prime sea resort is 25 km away from Klaipeda. The tour offers a visit to the Amber Museum, a walk in the Botanical Park of Palanga with Birute's Hill - a 22 metre dune, the central street full of souvenir shops, open-air cafes, and leading to the beach and the pier.

Hill of Crosses

Located 12 km from Siauliai, this small hill covered with thousands of crosses has become a symbol of Lithuanian nationhood and deep religious faith. Since mid 19th century it has been the place of expressing gratitude to God for divine favours. In 1993, the Hill of Crosses was visited by Pope John Paul II.

KALININGRAD (KONIGSBERG)

Full day tour to Kaliningrad from Klaipeda

Drive along the Curonian Spit with a short stop in Nida to admire the sea shore dunes and visit the Thomas Mann House. A tour of Konigsberg features the Gothic Cathedral, the grave of Immanuel Kant, former city fortifications and the city gate, Hansa Square and Hansa Ring, the Zoo as well as new residential areas of the town. Drive back to Klaipeda via Sovetsk (Tilsit) or via Nida.

RIGA

Tour of Riga

It gives one a sense of going back into centuries: narrow cobbledstone streets of this Hanseatic city, grandeur of the Dome Cathedral, Lutheran spires dominating in the skyline, Jugendstyle city centre.

The Open Air Museum

The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum acquaints one with Latvia's cultural heritage. Situated 10 km from Riga centre in a pine forest on the banks of Jugla Lake, the museum consists of some 90 traditional rural buildings: farmhouses, windmills, fishermen's huts and churches that have been assembled here from the four provinces of Latvia: Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Latgale, Zemgale. During summer weekends folk dancing displays and concerts are held in the museum premises.

JURMALA

The Baltic Sea spa-resort Jurmala is located on the Gulf of Riga, at a distance of 20 km to the West from Riga. During this tour you will have a chance to see the charming wooden summer cottages, decorated with fascinating carvings dating back to the 1900-s and successfully harmonising with the more recently built cottages and spa health centres. You will have a stroll along the flat sea coast as well as a walk along the central pedestrian Jomas Street full of cafes and souvenir shops.

Gauja National Park

The park, located about 50 km from Riga in the Gauja River valley, is known as the most popular tourist and leisure destination. Tour enables one to experience a genuine whiff of the Middle Ages, a time of romantic legends, castles and heroic figures by visiting the ruins of the 13th c Turaida Castle, and a local History Museum, viewing ' the garden of Gods' from the 30 m high fortification tower, walking to the sandstone grottoes on the ancient river bank.

CESIS

A full day tour to the heart of Vidzeme - the beautiful medieval Hanseatic town, located about 90 km from Riga. In Cesis tour includes a stroll through narrow streets passing by the 13th century Order of Knight's Castle, the 13th century Church of St.John, a visit to the local History Museum displayed in the New Palace and a walk in the Palace park. After a short drive through the countryside another stop at the highest sandstone cliffs in Latvia - Erglu Klintis located on the picturesque Gauja River banks.

Rundale Palace (66 km from Riga)

A tour to one of the most beautiful Baroque palaces in Latvia designed and built by the famous Italian architect F.B.Rastrelli. Open to the visitors are fully restored to the authentic beauty the Golden Hall, the White Hall, private quarters of the Duke of Courland Johan Ernst Biron. Interiors are decorated with authentic 18th century furniture, paintings and china.