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Capital Cities of Finland, Estonia & Latvia

 
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20262027
Duration
8 days
From per person
£1,899 £1,799
Tour code
BES26
Mobility Rating 2
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Explore Helsinki, Tallinn and Riga, uncovering the long history and enchanting culture of three beautiful capital cities on the Baltic Sea

Fly to Helsinki to begin a discovery of three unique countries on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Discover the charms of innovative Helsinki before sailing to Tallinn to uncover the fairytale sights of Estonia's timeless capital.

This scenic exploration concludes amid the colourful cobbled streets of Riga, the picture-perfect capital of Latvia, before a flight back to the UK. Explore and experience the very best of this enchanting corner of Europe.

Unforgettable Experiences

Admiring Helsinki’s majestic architecture
Admiring Helsinki’s majestic architecture
Exuding style and inventiveness, Finland’s capital brims with interesting sights, from the historic Senate Square and elegant cathedral to the modern Rock Church and abstract art.
Exploring Tallinn’s medieval centre
Exploring Tallinn’s medieval centre
From hilltop Toompea’s onion domes to the lower city’s timeless squares ringed by picture-perfect historic buildings, uncover the enduring charm of Tallinn and gain an insight into life behind the Iron Curtain.
Discovering Riga’s idyllic Old Town
Discovering Riga’s idyllic Old Town
Soak up the eye-catching sights of Latvia’s historic capital on a guided tour, admiring the ornate medieval houses, grand halls and impressive churches that line the chocolate-box cobbled streets.

What’s included on the tour?

Itinerary

DAY1Flight to Finland’s capital, Helsinki

Your discovery of three countries on the Baltic Sea begins by meeting the Tour Manager at London Heathrow ahead of a flight to Helsinki.

The Finnish capital lies across an archipelago and is surrounded by more than 300 islands and, on arrival, we transfer to our four-star hotel in the city centre. Our accommodation is near to Helsinki's main shopping streets, as well as a number of art galleries and museums. Built for the cancelled 1940 Olympic Games, the Tennis Palace a short distance from our hotel now hosts the Helsinki Art Museum, where visitors can find an extensive collection of Finnish artworks.

This evening, we gather in the hotel restaurant for our first dinner together.

Includes
  • Dinner
DAY2Exploring stylish Helsinki

Helsinki is a wonderful blend of old and new and we set out to discover the sights after breakfast this morning.

Among the attractions we view is Senate Square - the oldest part of the city. Surrounded by noble neoclassical buildings, it is dominated by the green-domed cathedral. Finland eventually hosted the Olympic Games in 1952, and we view the stadium that hosted them before exploring the city's contemporary architecture. From Helsinki University Library and the modernist national opera house to the abstract steel pipe monument honouring composer Jean Sibelius, we uncover inventive and stylish design. One of the most astounding sights is the 1960s Temppeliaukio church - hewn out of solid rock with a copper dome.

After our city tour, we join a guided cruise of Helsinki's shoreline of Helsinki. On our journey, we view the famous Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, the impressive fleet of icebreakers and Korkeasaari island, home to the city's zoo. Later, the rest of the day is at leisure to explore further and dine independently this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast
DAY3Across the Gulf of Finland to Tallinn

We say hello to the Baltic countries after breakfast today as we board a ferry across the calm waters of the Gulf of Finland, bound for Estonia.

This short crossing of around 55 miles takes us to the country's fairytale capital, Tallinn. Although a picture-perfect huddle of cobblestone streets and medieval buildings in its historic centre, Tallinn is a thriving hub for digital companies and technological innovation. However, most visitors are beguiled by its quaint charm, and it is regularly considered one of Europe's most beautiful capitals. Both the hilltop Toompea district and the lower part of the Old Town are UNESCO World Heritage sites and reveal photogenic sights around every corner.

On arrival, we check in to our hotel, where we enjoy dinner in the on-site restaurant this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
DAY4Medieval sights of Tallinn

Setting out from our hotel after breakfast, we enjoy a guided sightseeing tour by coach. One of the city's most iconic sights is the Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral with flowing arches topped by five onion domes. Located in the Toompea district - on one of the country's few hills - we find more historic buildings here, including the Danish-German castle which now houses Estonia's parliament and the 13th-century St Mary's Cathedral, known as the Dome Church, which we enter.

In the Hanseatic-era lower city, we view northern Europe's oldest surviving town hall. The surrounding square is lined by cafés, restaurants and a historic pharmacy where it is claimed marzipan was invented. Before our tour concludes, we visit the mercantile House of the Blackheads - Tallinn's only preserved Renaissance building. We also gain an insight into life behind the Iron Curtain during a guided tour of the KGB Museum.

Tonight, you dine independently, and Tallinn has many appealing restaurants. From elk stews and wild boar to barley sausages with mulgipuder, Estonian cuisine caters for many tastes.

Includes
  • Breakfast
DAY5Tallinn’s maritime history

This morning, we head out to visit the Seaplane Harbour and Estonian Maritime museum. This innovative maritime complex is housed in a historic seaplane hangar and showcases Estonia's naval history through maritime artefacts, ship models, and real vessels. Here, we wander through its highlights which include a Russian submarine, a seaplane and various interactive displays.

The afternoon is free for you to explore more of Tallinn at your own pace. You could enjoy a coffee in one of the cafes overlooking the town square and stroll along the city walls for panoramic views. With the opportunity to dine independently, you might like to experience the unique Olde Hansa restaurant. Diners here can enjoy hearty medieval fare and performances - it is worth going in just for a look at the museum exhibits.

Includes
  • Breakfast
DAY6Embracing Latvian culture on the way to Riga

After breakfast this morning, we transfer to Tallinn's railway station for a scenic train journey through Estonia. Travelling to Valga, we discover a country with around half of its land covered with forests, occasionally dotted with quaint towns.

In the border town of Valga, we switch trains and enter our third and final country, Latvia. Arriving in the beautiful capital, Riga, we check in to our hotel on the edge of the Old Town. This evening, we visit a local restaurant for dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
DAY7Stepping into history on a tour of Old Riga

Home to around a third of Latvia's population, Riga has embraced its importance during its 900-year history. After breakfast at our hotel, we embark on a three-hour coach tour of the Old Town's beautiful sights.

Built in 1334, the ornate House of the Black Heads acted as a meeting point for the city's merchants and visiting traders. Today, it stands proud in front of the town hall square. One of the biggest delights of Riga's Old Town is its charming streets, where chocolate-box delights await at every winding turn - such as the painted houses of Jauniela or the iconic medieval buildings known as the Three Brothers. Our tour concludes with entry to Riga's 13th-century cathedral.

With a free afternoon, you could uncover why Riga is considered to have more Art Nouveau buildings that any other city. Albert Street is the best showcase of these spectacularly elaborate buildings. Riga's restaurants cater for all tastes, and you may be tempted to try Latvia's warming national dish - a hearty stew containing grey peas and smoked ham.

Includes
  • Breakfast
DAY8Homeward bound

From Helsinki's stylish architecture to the spellbinding medieval streets of Tallinn and Riga, our explorations have revealed the history and charm of these three capital cities. After a morning and afternoon at leisure, we transfer to Riga airport for our flight back to the UK. On landing at London Heathrow, your tour of Finland, Estonia and Latvia comes to an end, and you can make your way home independently.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Classic collection

Our Classic range is what we're known for. Enjoy curated moments with plenty of inclusions. Centrally located hotels, premium travel options and engaging group tours with a seasoned expert are included. You'll be in groups with an average of 20-25 travellers and a maximum of 30*. *Scandinavian and Worldwide tours are on average 30-35 and a maximum of 40.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Radisson Blu Latvija, Riga
Radisson Blu Latvija, Riga
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Original Sokos Hotel Presidentti, Helsinki
Original Sokos Hotel Presidentti, Helsinki
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Radisson Blu Olümpia, Tallinn
Radisson Blu Olümpia, Tallinn
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Enhance your holiday

Flight upgrades

Flight upgrades are available. For information regarding the types of upgrades offered by the various airlines we use, call our expert team for details.

Flight upgrades
London Hotels

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

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We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

London hotels
UK rail connections

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

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We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.

UK train tickets
Worldwide Holidays 2026

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