Latvia is the heart of the Baltic states. All the best is concentrated here, and this amazing region is rightfully proud of this. A small country, taken in a tight semicircle by Estonia, Lithuania, Belarus and Russia, for a long time remained for Soviet tourists something like "their own abroad", and even today it is still full of paradoxes. The refined elegance of urban architecture is combined with the modest charm of authentic villages. Business centres are growing in megacities, and centuries-old castles silently keep the secrets of the past. Nature (the Baltic sea coast, lakes, forests) is restrained in a Northern way, but that's why it is even more fascinating. People are tactful in a European way, but very hospitable. Latvians are already used to living in a Western rhythm, but they also carefully protect their own traditions.
Tour programme:
Day 1
Departure from Minsk at 4 a.m. (Druzhnaya station). Transit through the territory of Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia. Arrival in Riga at 1 p.m. Sightseeing walking tour (1.5 hours) around the Old Town: Riga Cathedral, St. Peter's Church, the Swedish Gate, the Powder Tower, the Convent Yard and House of the Blackheads, the Large and the Small Guild, the Town Hall Square, medieval dwelling houses "The Three brothers", "The Cat House", Riga Castle and other historical sites of the Old Town. At 3.30-4 p.m. – registration for the ferry. Departure to Stockholm. Dinner on the ferry (buffet for the extra charge ≈ 30 euros (without alcohol). Overnight on the ferry. Shower, WC and air conditioning are in the cabin. On the ferry, there is a huge selection of restaurants, casinos, night clubs, live music and a night show of international level, shopping in Tax Free stores.
Day 2
Breakfast (buffet for an additional fee of 11.5 euros). Arrival at 10.30 a.m. in Stockholm. Sightseeing bus and walking tour around the city (3 hours): the Royal Dramatic Theater, the monuments of Charles XII and Gustav Adolf II, Stockholm Palace (where the Nobel prizes are awarded), the merchant and Royal half of the Old Town, the Academy of Gustav III, the Old square, the monument to Bernadotte, the Old Church, the Royal Palace + changing of the guard, the Town Hall, St. Nicholas Cathedral. In your free time, you can visit the Museum of your choice, "Junibacken" - the Museum of Astrid Lindgren's fairy tales, the Vass Museum-the Museum of one ship, the Skansen Museum (Museum of culture and life) on the island of Djurgården (entrance tickets for an additional fee). Check-out and check-in for the ferry at 4 p.m. Dinner on the ferry (buffet for the extra charge ≈ 30 euros (without alcohol). Overnight on the ferry. Shower, WC and air conditioning are in the cabin.
Day 3
Breakfast (buffet for an additional fee of 11.5 euros). Arrival in Riga at 10:30 a.m. Transfer to Rundale (60 km). Excursion to the Palace and Park ensemble. Rundal Palace (tickets for an additional fee) is one of the outstanding monuments of Baroque and Rococo art in the Baltic states, a masterpiece of the great architect F. B. Rastrelli. The Palace was built for the Duke of Courland, famous in Russian history favorite of Anna Ioanovna-Ernst Biron. Moving to Vilnius. Arrival at 6 p.m. A visit to the supermarket "Akropolis". Departure to Minsk approximately at 8-9 p.m. Transit through the territory of Lithuania and Belarus. Arrival in Minsk at about 2 a.m. (Druzhnaya station).
Contact information:
Regional tourism centre
Grodno, 22 Ozheshko str.
+ 375 (152) 39 75 16
+ 375 (152) 39 74 49
+ 375 (29) 869 06 02
e-mail: regunivertur@mail.ru
Tags: riga, stockholm, rundale palace, recreation, tour, journey, rtc
