Day 1: Arrive in Riga, Latvia's capital

Accommodations: Your choice!

You will be picked up at the Riga airport by your guide, and transported to your hotel in Old Riga. If you arrive early enough, you will have the rest of the day to relax and walk around the beautiful old town area at your leisure.

Day 2: A Taste of Riga

Accommodations: Your choice!

After breakfast at your hotel, you will go on a guided walking tour of beautiful Riga. Your guide will meet you at the hotel lobby, and you will depart by foot. You will learn about the historic areas, architecture, and history. Enjoy seeing old churches, government buildings, landmark restaurants and hotels, and more. Your tour then proceeds by the Freedom Monument, and continues into the newer parts of the city where you can enjoy more historical architecture as you explore the quaint streets and parks. There will be a stop for lunch (at your expense) at one of the many restaurants in the area. You will also have a chance to see some of the amazing garden parks throughout beautiful Riga. Your tour will conclude at the Riga Central Market, originally built as hangar for German Zeppelin aircraft in the 1920's and converted into a fabulous market where you can buy anything from clothing to strawberries to fresh seafood to hand knit woolen items, often for better prices than you'll find in other parts of Old Riga.

Day 3: Rundale Palace

Accommodations: Your choice!

You will venture outside of Riga and visit Rundale Palace, a royal palace that was constructed almost 300 years ago.  On the way to Rundale, visit the town of Bauska with its old castle ruins and small historical museum and have lunch at a small tavern restaurant where you can taste typical Latvian cuisine. 

At Rundale, your guided tour will provide information about the history of the palace and it's original ruling family (from Germany), to the eventual takeover of the palace by Russians.  After seeing the grand palace, you will have time to stroll around the gardens. At different times of the year, different plants are in bloom. At the end of the day, you will return to Riga.

Day 4: Jurmala and the beach

Accommodations: Your choice!

This will be a relaxing day at the beach. Jurmala is just a short drive from Riga. You will be shown the main pedestrian thoroughfare where you can explore various shops and restaurants, and you will also be shown the path to the beach. In Jurmala I show them streets with extravagant cottages and guest houses. Your tour will include a visit to a unique flower garden, Livu  Aqua Park, and the V. Yermolayev "Inner Light" picture gallery. 

*** Depending on the day of the week: In the evening, you will see a performance of Latvian dances from various regions of the country. This does not happen nightly so if you want to ensure the chance to see these performances, please let us know and we will arrange to go on the correct day of the week.

Day 5: Castles at Turaida and Sigulda

Accommodations: Your choice!

Drive through tree-lined roads to the countryside of Sigulda, where you will have a chance to see two historical defensive castles. Both started construction around 1200AD and were used for defensive purposes though the 1700s. Many artifacts are on display. Both castles offer wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. Learn what Latvia was like 1,000 years ago and about the first settlers that inhabited the region. You will also learn about the Rose of Turaida and her romantic, tragic history. You will enjoy beautiful landscapes of this region, also known as the "Latvian Switzerland."

Visit the Bobsled center and, if requested in advance, you can visit an amber workshop where a professional jeweler will demonstrate how to work with amber and where you will see the results of the hard work!

Day 6: Day trip to Lithuania

Accommodations: Your choice!

Visit the unique "Hill of Crosses" in Lithuania and walk along a promenade in Šiauliai, a city that has existed at least since the 1200's. The Hill of Crosses is said to contain about 100,000 crosses which were erected in the early 1800's to commemorate those who died in the rebellions of 1831 and 1863.

On the way, stop in the Latvian city of Jelgava and see the Rastrelli Palace and visit a small, colorful Russian Orthodox church.

Day 7: Ventspils

Accommodations: Your choice!

The city of Ventspils is located on the west coast of The Baltic sea. There are many beautiful parks and squares with flower beds, a nice beach, an old market square, a  digital planetarium (the only one in Latvia), a sightseeing ship and a sculpture garden. This is a popular destination for the summer months.

Day 8: Depart from Latvia

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and transported to the Riga International Airport with plenty of time to catch your return flight for your onward journey.

We hope you've had a wonderful stay in Latvia; please come again soon!