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13 Day itinerary in Latvia, Europe

Self-drive tour in Latvia and Lithuania

Pick up a rental car in Riga airport and embark on a journey to dicover Latvia and Lithuania. On this 13 day self- drive tour get to know two Baltic capitals, Riga and Vilnius. Enjoy the tranquillity of the Baltic nature in towns like Sabile, and Kuldiga. Take the ferry to the Curonian Spit and go ... Read More

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Valdis

By Valdis

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Easy
help_outline

Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Riga

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Cycling

Visit markets

Meet local people

Outdoors & Nature

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

Vilnius University - the oldest university in the Baltics

2

Riga is the largest of the three Baltic capitals

3

Kuldiga is an architectural gem

4

The Curonian Spit is a long, and thin sand spit that runs 62 miles (100 km) between the Baltic Sea

Itinerary

Double room expand_more

Day 1

place ARRIVAL IN RĪGA

Pick up your rental car in the Riga airport, and check-in the hotel. Welcome package with all the tour documents awaits you at the reception.

Day 2

place DISCOVER RĪGA

Founded in 1201 by the German bishop Albert, Riga is the largest of the three Baltic capitals and boasts a real kaleidoscope of architectural styles. During a guided walking tour we will see the Art Nouveau most famous buildings on the streets of Alberta and Elizabeth.The old town with Riga’s Castle and the Three Brothers houses, which were built between the late 1400s and mid-1600s and are the oldest dwellings in the city. At lunchtime make a visit to the Riga Central Market. To try, such as smoked meats, pickled vegetables, Latvian bread, seasonal treats, and more. The market opened in 1930 and it consists of five former Zeppelin airship hangars and is one of the largest covered markets in Europe.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3

place ANCIENT TRADITIONS / RĪGA - GARKALNE (DRIVE 25 KM)

In the morning we will make a visit to the Latvian Ethnographic Open-air Museum. During the tour we will learn about the Latvian farmer’s life. We will have a degustation (light lunch) of local food like cottage cheese, house made bread and honey. In the afternoon visit to a household named “Carpenter’s workshop” to learn about the local wood sculpting traditions. Here we get to know typical Latvian trees, work along with experienced craftsmen, try out traditional toys and games. As well as enjoy a very special tea recipe brewed in a bonfire house. In the evening relax in a cosy guesthouse with sauna access. We stay overnight in a cosy guest house and enjoy the tranquillity that brings Latvian forest.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4

place LATVIA'S SEASIDE / GARKALNE – JŪRMALA (DRIVE 55 KM)

Nearby Riga is Latvia’s most famous resort town Jurmala that stretches 30 km along the seaside. Take a break from the city on the sandy Jurmala beach. Enjoy a peaceful walk along the pine first dunes without any rush. Do a guided tour and explore Jurmala. In the mid-19th-century holiday makers began escaping the city to relax in Jurmala and it developed as a resort, often called the ‘’Northern Riviera”. You will cycle along a pine-covered dune, see the expressive wooden architecture, modern villas, and endless sandy beaches. Stop for a swim at one of the 11 established swimming places.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5

place LATVIA’S FALVORS / JŪRMALA - KEMERI - SABILE (DRIVE 90 KM)

Drive from the splendour of Jurmala to the former resort of town Kemeri to discover the Kemeri National Park. The town Kemeri once was one of the most popular resorts in the whole Soviet Union nowadays, and has remained its charm in the old historical buildings. Kemeris is known for its Sulfur water springs and large bog territories. A wooden board trail leads you through the bog and on the viewing tower can be seen impressive landscapes. After a good walk in Kemeri you will drive to Sabile. Sabile has its own flavors, famous for its wines and ciders. Near Sabile is Pedvale Art Park where the sculpture Ojars Arvids Feldbergs has been creating art since 1991 and covers more than 100 hectares.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6

place MOST ROMANTIC TOWN IN LATVIA - KULDIGA / SABILE - KULDIGA (DRIVE 55 KM)

Kuldiga is an architectural gem. Have a guided walking tour to see the Romantic blend of architecture, small winding streets and channels. The heart of the town is Venta River and the Ventas Rumba, Europe's widest Waterfall. Discover this charming place at a slow pace.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7

place CITY WITH ITS OWN CHARACTER / KULDIGA - LIEPĀJA (DRIVE 90 KM)

Next stop is the coastal city Liepaja. Catch the Liepāja wind on a walking tour. Vibrant city with its own character, the city has proclaimed that it is the city where the wind is born. Liepaja is a proud port city with an artistic soul. It is known for its musicians and has created a valley of fame where many famous Latvian bands and musicians have placed their hand prints.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8

place ALONG THE AMBER WAY / LIEPĀJA – PALANGA – KLAIPEDA – NIDA (DRIVE 150 KM)

In the morning you'll leave Liepāja on a 1-hour drive south along the Baltic Sea coast and to Palanga, the Lithuania´s most popular seaside resort town. Besides its wide beaches, you will visit Palanga Amber Museum. Located in a 19th-century palace, it features a collection of about 28,000 amber pieces, many of which contain insects, spiders, and plants. Afterward, you'll continue to Klaipeda to do a guided walking tour in the port city Klaipėda. Before the check in you'll embark on the Klaipeda sightseeing tour. It begins in Klaipėda's Old Town, known for its old cobblestone streets lined with medieval guild houses. You'll then visit landmarks like Theatre Square and the Ann from Tharau Fountain, which is dedicated to Simon Dach, a famous German poet born in Klaipėda and which features a sculpture of his muse, Ann. After the tour you'll take a ferry to the Curonian Spit, a long, thin sand spit that runs 62 miles (100 km) between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. Dotting this narrow strip of land are sleepy fishing villages, isolated pine forests, and endless sand dunes.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9

place TOUR OF THE CURONIAN SPIT

In the morning you'll do a guided tour of the Curonian Spit. On this route will see several dunes and visit the Hill of Witches, located at the lagoon side village of Juodkrantė. Despite the spooky name, this landmark is actually a collection of wooden sculptures atop a forested sand dune. There are over 80 sculptures here done by local artists that depict themes of paganism and Lithuanian folklore. After that, you'll return back to Nida. To stroll around the town, enjoy local fish restaurants, and try different kinds of smoked fishes.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 10

place KAUNAS THE SECOND LAGEST CITY IN LITHUANIA (DRIVE 215 KM)

From Nida the tour continues to Kaunas, the second-largest city in Lithuania. Upon arrival, a guided walking tour takes you around the Old Town and visit landmarks like Town Hall Square and the House of Perkūnas, a Gothic merchant house that dates to the 15th century. You'll of course also visit Kaunas Castle, a Gothic fortress built on a hill overlooking the Nemunas River and which dates to the middle of the 14th century.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 11

place TRAKAI ISLAND CASTLE (DRIVE 115 KM)

In the morning you'll head to Trakai. Here to do a guided tour around the medieval Trakai Castle, the star landmark of the area. Afterwards you'll visit this handsome fortification, which was built in the latter half of the 14th century out of red brick and stone and is done in the Gothic style. Next, continue to Vilnius the capital of Lithuania.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 12

place CITY TOUR OF VILNIUS

Spend the morning on a guided walking tour of Old Town, the medieval heart of Vilnius. The highlight of Vilnius is the Cathedral square. The Cathedral is consecrated in 1783 and sitting on the expansive Cathedral Square, this is Lithuania's premier Roman-Catholic church. Moreover, its mausoleum is the final resting place of some notable figures throughout history including grand dukes of Lithuania and even King Alexander of Poland. We see on the tour the Gediminas Tower, the 15th-century St. Anne's Church and enter the Baroque gem; Vilnius University, which, having been founded in 1579, is the oldest university in the Baltics; and the Gate of Dawn, the city's medieval defensive fortification, which was built around a chapel that remains a major catholic pilgrimage site in Lithuania.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 13

place DEPARTURE FROM VILNIUS

Departure day, drop of the rental car at Vilnius airport.

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (12)
  • Lunch (1)

Transport expand_less

  • VW Golf or similar car rental for 13 days

Activities expand_less

  • Walking tour in Riga, Jūrmala, Kuldīga, Klaipeda, Kaunas, Trakai and Vilnius
  • Half-day Curonian Sipit Tour
  • Latvian open-air museum, tour and food degustation
  • Carpenter’s workshop

Extras expand_less

  • Entrances in Kaunas Castle and Vilnius University

Not Included expand_less

  • Gratitudes
  • Any drinks or meals not mentioned in the programm

About Valdis

TEAM LEAD

verified Baboo Certified

star_outline 5 (3 reviews)

7 years of experience in planning, leading, and guiding tours. I create tours which give guest emotions, knowledge, and understanding. The concept came from my time abroad and what I liked to do in my travels.

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FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$2,082.00 USD