Day 1
Welcome to Riga!
Arrival in Riga, meeting by our guide at the airport and panoramic Riga City tour including famous Art Nouveau streets and Art Nouveau Museum, transfer to the hotel/hostel, check in.
Optional educational tour of Riga Airport. Further day program depends on the arrival flight time.
Further day program depends on the arrival flight time.
Dinner and overnight in Riga.
Day 2
The Capital of Latvia - Riga
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning half day guided Riga Old Town walking tour including entrances to National History Museum of Latvia, St.Peter's Church Panoramic viewing platform and the Dome Cathedral.
During the tour you will get acquainted with Old Riga and its most famous architectural monuments: the Freedom Monument - the symbol of Latvia's independence and strength, 13th century St.Peter's Church, St.George's Church, St. John's Church, a part of restored city wall and the medieval John's yard, the medieval dwelling houses "Three Brothers", 13th century St.Jacob's Church, 14th century Riga Castle, Convent Yard, the Philharmonic Square, the Saeima building, Jacob's Barracks, the Powder Tower and Smilsu street, the Swedish Gate with its inspired numerous myths and legends and the Latvian National Opera.
Optional: Riga quest; Latvian National Opera backstage tour; Pancakes tasting after 18th century recipes; Organ Music Concert; An education story about the Riga Black Balsam and its tasting in alchemical laboratory; panoramic tour of Riga from the boat.
Lunch at the Latvian style restaurant in Old Riga.
Afternoon half day guided Ethnographic Open Air Museum sightseeing tour.
The museum was founded in 1924 and now the Latvian Ethnographic Museum is one of the oldest open-air museums in Europe. Historical dwellings, peasants', fishermen's and artisans' homesteads, a tavern and windmills have been gathered here from all over Latvia. Masters of 18 different crafts demonstrate their work: spoon-carvers, bee-keepers, potters and others. The collection contains 100000 items.
Optional: Latvian folklore show with dancers and singers.
Dinner and overnight in Riga.
Day 3
Summer resort Jurmala
Breakfast at the hotel.
Half day guided Jurmala sightseeing tour.
Jurmala - the largest resort city in the Baltic States is well-known for its natural treasures-the mild climate, sea, healthy air, curative mud and mineral water and 33 km long white sand beach. In Jurmala you will discover a combination of charming unique wooden houses built in the beginning of the last century and modern resort buildings. During the sightseeing tour of Jurmala you will see Dzintari Concert Hall, Jurmala City Museum, Botanical garden and summer cottage of Kristaps Morbergs, former Swimming Establishment of E.Racene, sculpture "The Turtle", Sea Pavilion, Jurmalas "Globe", House of Aspazija. To feel the typical Jurmala atmosphere you will enjoy a walk along the central pedestrian Jomas Street with its numerous cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops and local amusements.
Optional: tasting of smoked fish and meditative painting.
Lunch at the restaurant located directly on the beach.
Optional afternoon activities: visit to Latvian bakery and opportunity to bake your own loaf or bread; visit to Film Studio and performing an educational activity.
Dinner and overnight in Riga.
Day 4
Beautiful Sigulda and Medieval Cesis
Breakfast at the hotel.
Full day guided tour to Sigulda and Cesis.
Sigulda pleases with long exciting journeys into the past. Situated on both banks of the ancient valley of the Gauja River, Sigulda is one of the most beautiful cities in Latvia. A great part of Sigulda area includes the Gauja National Park. It was established in 1973 in order to protect the flora and fauna biodiversity. During the Sigulda tour you will see three medieval castles (Medieval Sigulda Castle, Sigulda New Castle, Turaida Medieval Castle) and picturesque landscape down the slopes of the Primeval valley of the Gauja River which have inspired people to go and see the beauty with their own eyes for more than two centuries. You will visit a biggest internal erosion cave in the Baltic States - Gutman’s Cave which holds names of its guests. Optionally we will use a Sigulda aerial Cable-car to see one of the best beautiful sights of the River Gauja primeval valley.
Cesis is an ancient, little town placed 90 km from Riga and has unique medieval atmosphere, wonderful nature to be found around the town, interesting festivals and different recreation opportunities. Taking a walk along Cesis tiny streets, you will get a flavour of this medieval town, see St. John’s Church-the largest church in northern Latvia, Council House, Trader’s House, Harmony House and the Princesses House, discover the magic of the Livs and Rose Squares and visit Cesis Castle complex.
Optional: Latvian pottery master-class; Medieval activities at the Livonian Order Castle; Knights tournament by the Medieval Castle; Medieval feast at the Castle.
Dinner and overnight in Riga.
Day 5
Marvellous Rundale Palace and Bauska Castle
Breakfast at the hotel.
Full day guided Rundale Palace and Bauska Castle sightseeing tour.
Today you will drive to Southern Latvia and will visit the Rundale Palace - one of the most outstanding monuments of Baroque and Rococo art in Latvia. During the tour of the Palace you will see a set of the staterooms for receptions and festivies (the White Hall, Gold Hall, Grand Gallery), the Duke’s former living quarters and staterooms, the Duchess’ apartments and exhibition “Seventeenth to Nineteenth Century Fashion in Latvia”. Afterwards you will walk to the Rundale Palace Park, which is an essential part of the palace complex and has retained its original layout without any significant changes.
Together with the guide you will continue and visit the Bauska castle, located in Bauska town on the land strip between the rivers Musa and Memele, not far from the place where the rivers meet to form the river Lielupe.
Optional: theatrical program at the Palace.
Dinner and overnight in Riga.
Day 6
Departure from Riga
Breakfast at the hotel.
Check out and departure transfer to the airport.
