Compare Great Cities of Eastern Europe by SmarTours vs Baltic Capital Cities by Explore!

Day 1: Depart USA.

Your fascinating Eastern European tours begin this evening with an overnight flight to Warsaw.

Day 2: Arrive Warsaw (Poland).

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Sofitel Victoria Hotel

Arrive in Warsaw, Poland’s capital and cultural center. You’ll be met and escorted to your centrally located deluxe hotel. This evening your Tour Director hosts a welcome dinner and briefing.

Day 3:

Meals: Breakfast

Learn about Warsaw’s rich history on a morning tour. Visit both banks of the Vistula River as well as the Old Town with its colorful market square. Drive along the Royal Route lined with beautiful palaces, famous statues and historic churches. See historical sights including the Monument of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Day 4: Warsaw/Auschwitz/Krakow.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Mercure Krakow Old Town Hotel or similar

Drive southbound to Czestochowa where you’ll visit the magnificent 14th century monastery at Jasna Gora, known as the home of the Black Madonna icon. This afternoon, a somber visit to the concentration camp at Auschwitz, now a museum honoring the victims of the Holocaust. Later, arrive in ancient Krakow, former Royal capital. Tonight, enjoy a sumptuous dinner.

Day 5:

Meals: Breakfast

Krakow, the residence of Polish kings for centuries, boasts fine medieval architecture, virtually untouched by war. On this morning’s tour, see the Royal Wawel Castle and visit St. Mary’s Church and splendid Market Square. Balance of the day is at leisure to explore this charming and colorful town on your own.

Day 6: Krakow/Budapest (Hungary).

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Radisson Blu Beke or similar

Today enjoy a scenic drive through the wooded mountains of Slovakia, down the Danube River Valley to Budapest, the delightful Hungarian capital. Dinner tonight at your hotel, located in the heart of the city.

Day 7:

Meals: Breakfast

Budapest is one of Eastern Europe’s most lively cities. On your morning tour, your guide will introduce you to the history and sights of the city. Enjoy a panoramic view from Fishermen’s Bastion located on Castle Hill. You’ll also see the 13th century Matthias Coronation Church and the Citadel on Mount Gellert. Afternoon at leisure. Perhaps take a leisurely cruise on the romantic Danube River.

Day 8: Danube Bend Excursion.

Meals: Breakfast

Embark on a morning excursion to the scenic Hungarian countryside. Voyage to the charming artist’s town of Szentendre, a real gem at the gateway to the picturesque Danube Bend region. Free time to explore before returning to Budapest where you may revel in the fine arts and architecture at your own pace

Day 9: Budapest/Vienna (Austria).

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Radisson Blu Park Royal Palace Hotel or Parkhotel Schönbrunn or similar

Cross the border into Austria and drive to splendid Vienna, the center of the Hapsburg Empire. Experience the city’s glorious past on a panoramic tour taking you along the Ring Boulevard, past Emperor Franz Josef’s Hofburg Palace and the ornate State Opera to a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, the Cathedral of St. Stephen’s.

Day 10:

Meals: Breakfast

A full day at leisure to explore on your own and relax in a charming Viennese cafe. A must see is the magnificent Schonbrunn Palace, the baroque summer residence built for the Hapsburgs.

Day 11: Vienna/Prague (Czech Republic).

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Occidental Praha Five or similar

Journey across the Czech border through rich farmlands to Moravia. Visit the quaint towns of Duernstein and Telc en route to Prague, one of Europe’s most vibrant and colorful cities.

Day 12:

Meals: Breakfast

The beautiful city of Prague was built on seven hills and served as a former capital of the Roman Empire. On this morning’s tour, visit the impressive Hradcany Castle and the Old Royal Palace, former residence of Bohemian kings. See the 14th-century Charles Bridge and explore the charming Old Town.

Day 13:

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

A day at leisure to relax at an outdoor cafe, shop the bustling markets or explore the fascinating Jewish Quarter on your own. Tonight, celebrate with your fellow travelers at a festive dinner.

Day 14: Prague/Helsinki (Finland).

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Scandic Grand Marina Hotel

After breakfast, bid farewell to the glorious cities of Eastern Europe and board a short flight to Helsinki, the charming capital of Finland, situated on the Baltic Sea. Orientation tour is included on arrival.

Day 15: Helsinki/New York.

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy your leisure morning in Helsinki to explore on your own or try a real Finnish sauna! Later, transfer to the airport for your non-stop flight back to the USA. Your exciting Eastern European tours end as you touch down in New York.

Day 1 Join trip in Vilnius, Lithuania

Our tour begins in Lithuania's vibrant capital, Vilnius. With its blend of medieval and baroque architecture and its cosmopolitan nightlife, the city gives you a taste of the duality of the Baltic capitals. For those arriving in time, our tour leader will meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for a welcome meeting, followed by dinner for those who fancy it. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to arrive at any time. Should you miss the meeting, our tour leader will catch you up as soon as possible. If you'd like an airport transfer, you'll need to arrive into Vilnius International Airport (VNO), around a ten-minute drive away from our hotel. Arriving earlier in the day? You might like to get acquainted with Vilnius' Old Town, with its network of quaint, cobbled streets, or head for lunch in the trendy Naujamiestis (Uptown) neighbourhood. Food in the Baltic States is traditionally hearty, influenced by Russia and Germany, and favours comforting soups and casseroles. The capital cities are known for their thriving food and drink scenes, offering up dishes from around the world. There's a focus on homegrown cooking, using local produce, which doesn't stop at the food - you'll stumble upon locally brewed beer at every turn, too.

Meals Provided : None

Day 2 Walking tour of Vilnius and visit to the KGB Museum

Today, we'll get acquainted with the capital on a walking tour of its cobbled streets. The city has Catholic and Jewish heritage, which is evident in its architecture. Our walk will take us via the old university which was founded by the Jesuits and was at the centre of the counter reformation. We'll also stop by the cathedral - Vilnius' crown jewel - and the Gate of the Dawn chapel, home of the Black Madonna. Leaving the Old Town behind, we'll wander on to the city's cosmopolitan heart and its main shopping street, which houses the opera house, parliament building, and plenty of bustling cafes. Later in the afternoon, we'll delve into the darker side of Vilnius' history with a visit to the KGB Museum. Located in the former KGB Headquarters, the museum offers a sombre look at the city's past Soviet rule, documenting the crimes that were planned and committed in the very same spot.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 3 Drive to Pakruojis Manor via Trakai Castle and Kaunas

We have a full day's journey ahead of us today as we drive to Pakruojis. We'll make the most of it, with plenty of stops along the way. First, we'll visit Trakai Castle, set on an island in Lake Galve. The 14th-century Gothic castle was built by the Grand Duke of Lithuania and now houses various exhibits on Lithuania's history. We'll marvel at the stunning architecture and unique setting before heading inside (note, if there is a function taking place, we might not be able to go inside). We'll then continue to Kaunas for lunch. Kaunas was Lithuania's capital for 19 years, between 1920 and 1939, while Vilnius was annexed by the Poles. Right in the heart of the country, it's often regarded as Lithuania's most characteristic city with buildings dating back to the 17th century. Finally, in the afternoon, we'll arrive at Pakruojis Manor, our base for tonight. The manor is a living museum consisting of 34 buildings including a main house, stable block, mill, and perfumery, all set within a stunning park. It gives us a glimpse of how the residents and staff would have lived and worked in the 19th century. We'll have the opportunity to explore before sitting down to a traditional dinner followed by a tasting session of the beers that are brewed onsite.

Meals Provided : Breakfast and Dinner

Day 4 Visit the Hill of Crosses and walking tour of Riga, Latvia

Before leaving Lithuania today, we'll stop at the Hill of Crosses near Siauliai, where a vast number of rosaries and crosses adorn a small hill. In the past, both German and Soviet troops have tried to destroy the monument, but each time, thousands of crosses and images of the Virgin reappear. This afternoon, we'll continue to Latvia's capital, Riga. On arrival, we'll take a walking tour to get acquainted with the city. Riga is a very walkable destination, with most of its must-sees in one area - we'll take advantage of this and tick off the Freedom Monument, Gunpowder Tower, Saint Jacob's Church and the cathedral along the way.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 5 Visit Riga Central Market

This morning, we'll head into Riga's Central Market. The unique structure - a cluster of former Zeppelin hangers - sits on the banks of the River Daugava and houses stalls upon stalls of local produce such as smoked fish, sauerkraut, pickled garlic and crusty cheeses. The rest of the day is free to explore at your leisure. You might want to spend some time taking in the picturesque skyline - arguably one of the best in the Baltics - strewn with spires and towers. The Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum and Riga Castle are well worth a visit, and there are plenty of local restaurants in the old town to dig into a long lunch, washed down with a glass of Riga Black Balsam, a traditional herbal liqueur.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 6 Drive to Tallinn, Estonia via the seaside city of Parnu

Waving goodbye to Latvia, this morning we'll head for Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, which is around a five-hour drive away. After we've crossed the border, we'll stop in the seaside town of Parnu on the Gulf of Lavonia. This Baltic coast spa resort has been popular with tourists since the 1830s with people flocking to revitalise in the Parnu Mud Baths. After time here for lunch, we'll continue to Tallinn. The compact capital of Estonia is easy to explore on foot. From the Gothic town hall to the Kiek in de Kok (the 15th-century defence tower), Tallinn has charm and wonder at every turn. It's famed for its Medieval architecture and Old Town, which is one of the best-preserved Hanseatic city centres in the world. In the evening, there's a lively food and drink scene with plenty of modern as well as traditional eateries and wine bars.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 7 Walking tour of Tallinn and visit to the Bastion Tunnels

Today, we'll spend some time uncovering the enchanting streets of Tallinn. Less than 100 kilometres across the water from Helsinki and midway between St Petersburg and Stockholm, Tallinn has fallen under a multitude of cultural influences over the centuries. In 1561, it was seized by the Swedes and held until the Russians overtook it, industrialising much of the medieval town. The town itself has a sense of fairytale wonder, perched on a hill overlooking the sea. We'll begin to explore it on foot, starting in the picturesque Old Town. Walking through the cobbled streets, the colourful houses show off influence from the German, Scandinavian and Russian periods of Tallinn's history, we'll pass by them and wander towards the old merchants' quarter and the busy town square, which is always bustling with tourists and locals sipping coffee or beer at the many pavement cafes. We'll tick off all the highlights, from the Gothic town hall to the pink Parliament buildings and the Toompea Castle and yellow Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. This afternoon, we'll visit the Bastion Tunnels beneath the city. Constructed in the 1670s, these were used by the military as defensive tunnels. They lay unused until the start of World War II, when they were renovated to be used as bomb shelters. Please note that occasionally, if an event is taking place at the tunnels, we might have to alter our itinerary. Instead, we'll visit the Dominican Monastery to learn about the influence of the Dominican religious order in the Middle Ages. A monk at the monastery will take us on a candlelit tour and, of course, we'll have a chance to try the traditional monastery liqueur.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

Day 8 Trip ends in Tallinn, Estonia

Our tour of the Baltic capitals ends at our hotel in Tallinn. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight leaves later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like a hotel transfer, you'll need to depart from Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport (TLL), around a ten-minute drive from the hotel.

Meals Provided : Breakfast