Extensive Baltic Exploration

Unique Uzupis

Take the opportunity to explore one of Vilnius’ most colorful neighborhoods, Uzupis. It goes back to 1995, when a group of artists erected a statue of Frank Zappa in the area and declared Uzupis an independent republic. Soon flags were being created and the energy of the place seemed to attract eccentrics from all over the country. Today the mayor of Vilnius actively supports the republic and often takes part in the many activities going on there. There’s plenty to do in the neighborhood, so don’t be afraid to explore, here you’re bound to find some very photogenic people and places.

Discover the Best of Vilnius

Today you’ll be getting in touch with the real Vilnius, with help from an expert local guide. Your guide will show you the ins and outs of the city, regaling you with stories from the past and present. You’ll learn more about Vilnius’ Jewish, Polish, Russian and Lithuanian heritage while discovering the city’s most impressive sites, including Old Town, St. Stanislovas and Vladislovas Cathedral, Vilnius University, the Presidential Palace and more. Your guide will pick you up and drop you off at your accommodation, or can suggest areas for further exploration after your tour concludes.

Soviet Vilnius and the KGB Museum

Communism is an important part of Lithuania’s history, even if it was a dark time. If you’re interested in learning more about this aspect of Lithuania’s recent past, the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights is a place you need to see. Today we recommend exploring it, combined with a 3-hour private walking tour led by a local guide who will show you the main places relevant to communism. You’ll get a better idea of what it was like to live under communism as the past comes alive for you. Your guide will pick you up and drop you off at your accommodation.

Trakai Private Tour

Trakai, a string of lakes within forests, is Lithuania's ancient capital, and the medieval home of its Grand Dukes, who ran a kingdom extending from the Baltic to the Black Sea. The town still draws visitors thanks to its picturesque castle on its own island, unique Karaite community (Crimean Tatars following their own form of Judaism), and its famous Kibinai meat pies. Explore this unusual combination with a walking tour, followed by sailing around a lake, exploring the castle, or learning to make your own Kibinai.

Food Tasting Private Tour

Let us invite you on this exceptional culinary adventure across the variety of some unique local venues. Lithuanian cuisine proves to be a mix of Italian, German, Polish, French, Greek, Jewish, Karaite, and Russian, not to mention far older traditions, and you're about to witness it(and try it of course!) firsthand. You'll visit five different places, so be sure to come with an appetite and be ready to dive into a full meal to experience the flavors of Vilnius with a friendly local private guide.

Modern Lithuanian Cuisine Private Cooking Class

This unique Modern Lithuanian Cuisine Cooking class is a perfect way to understand why Lithuania is so special. You will start your kitchen party in a modern cooking studio in capital’s center, preparing an appetizer, main course, and dessert with an expert chef.

Kaunas Private Walking Tour

Start your journey in the park by the confluence of the Neman and Neris rivers, next to the ruins of the Old Kaunas castle. You'll walk through Kaunas’ Old Town, seeing its Catholic churches, and roaming the narrow streets and cobbled squares. Continue the walk to the town hall, nicknamed the "White Swan." Your tour will continue to the St. Peter and St. Paul Cathedral. Continue along to Freedom Avenue, the city's main pedestrian boulevard, with its buildings that have changed little since before WWII, and end your tour at Sobor, a former Russian Orthodox church that is now Catholic.

Conquer the Curonian Spit

Today you'll be venturing with a driver guide to the Curonian Spit, a 100-kilometer sandbar stretching to Russia, whose beaches are the source of most of the world's amber. There, you will visit the scenic town of Nida, next to the tallest drifting sand dune in Europe, which provides a stunning vista of the Baltic Sea, the Curonian Lagoon, and Russia. Nearby is the Hill of Witches, which features wooden statues and WWII trenches. The town itself has had an artist's colony since the 19th century, which attracted Germany's brightest, including Thomas Mann, whose house you will be able to visit. This visit will also feature a stroll along a section of beach known for its amber. Who knows, you might find a unique souvenir!

Liepaja Private Walking Tour

Go beyond Liepaja's dazzling white beach, and explore "the place where the wind is born," delving into its culture and Art Nouveau architecture. While today known for its shore, this humble town played a major role in American history, as the port from which many Poles, Lithuanians, Jews, and Russians embarked for new lives in the New World.

Riga From On High

What better way to start your visit to a new city than admiring the view from above? From St. Peter's Church in the old town, the Stalinist Latvian Academy of Sciences, mountainous National Library (also known as the Mountain of Light), or the Riga Radio and TV Tower (the tallest structure in the EU), extraordinary views of Riga and even the sea are easy to find. If you'd like to accompany great views with excellent drinks, we can recommend the best rooftop bar in the city so you can kick back with cocktails.

Introducing Riga

Today you’ll be exploring the beautiful city of Riga and its UNESCO-listed Old Town. Historically an important trading port on the Baltic Sea, Riga had a strategic advantage for invaders, which resulted in periods of Polish, German, Swedish and Soviet rule all leaving their mark. You’ll walk through the winding streets of the Old Town to take in the sublime architecture as your guide makes the past come alive for you with stories. Your guide will meet you at your accommodation for this 2-hour tour, and will bring you back to your accommodation, or suggest places for further exploration.

Riga Canal Boat Group Tour

Back in the old days, before the Daugava rider was bridged, small boats used to transport locals across the river, and Riga's smaller waterways. The larger boats made up the "river tramway," while the smaller ones were "river taxis." Step aboard one of these historic vessels, and see boulevards, parks, squares, fountains, bridges, markets, and the old harbor as you cruise the canal that once formed the city's moat. For the tour's climax, you'll head down the river, taking in majestic panoramas of Old Riga’s spires and the modern and Soviet buildings of the left bank.

Artful Architecture: Art Nouveau Tour

Riga’s Old Town is protected by UNESCO, in large part because of the gorgeous Art Nouveau buildings in the center. We suggest taking a look at some of them today. The style accounts for about 40% of Riga’s buildings, so there’s plenty to see. Alberta Street and the so-called Quiet Center, where the embassies are located, are great places to start. If you would prefer the company of an expert local guide to make sure you don't miss any of the best and most impressive details, we can arrange that for you.

Curious About Latvian Food?

Riga’s Central Market is certainly unique, housed in old zeppelin hangars, which provide shelter and a quaint historic atmosphere. Today we recommend exploring the market with a guide, who will introduce you to some of the locals selling fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and more at the market, and provide some tastings along the way. Your guide and interpreter will also give you a few tips on haggling!

Cesis Private City and Castle Tour

Cesis, with the medieval castle ruins at its heart, is one of Latvia's most beautiful, and romantic, destinations. On this tour, you'll wander the Old Town, learning the stories behind its parks and buildings, the town's old traditions regarding jewelry, and its pivotal role in the Latvian War of Independence before heading to the castle. From the castle tour, you'll enjoy a view of the town, as you learn about the crusaders who built the castle, and the pagan hillfort it replaced. Carrying lanterns, you'll descend into the dungeon, to learn why the garrison of this Latvian Masada chose to blow themselves up rather than surrender to Ivan the Terrible's besieging army.

Karlova and Soup Town

Ponder the "City of Good Thoughts"

Explore Estonia's intellectual capital, as you stroll through its 18th century neoclassical Old Town, along the tranquil Emajõgi ("Mother River,"), and up Toomemagi ("Cathedral Hill"), getting to know the town's history through its historic buildings, some put to innovative uses, like the half-ruined cathedral, and the observatory, once home to cutting-edge research. Along the way, you'll take in charming views, whether from the riverbanks or the verdant hilltop park.

Fish, Onions, and Old Believers: Peep at Peipsiveere

Estonia's edges retain unique cultures, from the matriarchal society of Kihnu to the Kingdom of Setomaa, whose inhabitants retain unique traditions tied to their religion, fashion and song, to Lake Peipus, home to the schismatic Old Believers. The descendants of devout Russian Orthodox who fled 17th century reforms, the fishermen of Peipsiveere, the region running along Lake Peipus, are known for their fish and onions, but the stubbornness that pushed them to uproot their lives centuries ago has remained intact, preserving their traditions as well.

Narva Private Walking Tour

Estonia’s easternmost town boasts the a restored castle keep overlooking the Russian border, and the castle built on the opposite site. Although once known for its baroque architecture, little survived World War II and the Estonian War of Independence, when the town became known as the "Estonian Verdun," although there are some vestiges of the town's former prosperity amid its classic Soviet architecture (including the ultra-modern University of Tartu building, whose exterior is an homage to the ruined building that preceded it. From Peter's Square, you'll visit the town hall and its neighboring university building, the city's bastions, the Dark Garden and river promenade, Alexander's Cathedral, and more.

Go Bohemian in Kalamaja

Of all the neighborhoods in Tallinn, Kalamaja is one of the most exciting. This fast-growing area between Old Town and the scenic coast is known for its hip selection of cafes, shops, restaurants and bars. Once a closed-off Soviet border zone, it has seen a renaissance of development in recent years. Seaplane Harbour, the Estonian Maritime Museum, is very modern and quite interesting. It’s just one of the things worth seeing around here.

Discover Medieval Wonders

Baroque History: Kadriorg Palace and Park

Lahemaa National Park Private Tour

Lahemaa National Park is renowned for its diversity. It is home to the most beautiful manors in Estonia, unique, traditional fishing villages, and some of the country's most pristine natural landscapes. You'll visit everything from the country's largest natural waterfall, to hidden old manor homes in Kolga and Sagadi, from mesmerizing forests to romantic little coastal villages like Käsmu and Altja. Bring your sense of adventure and be ready to hike (or in summer even swim) through the Viru bog, on a 3.5 km boardwalk. Ethereal places full of berries, dark waters, and stunted trees, bogs occupy a strong place in Estonian folklore for a reason.

Bog-shoe Hiking Private Tour

For something a bit more unusual, walk across one of Estonia's largest bogs with special bog-shoes (otherwise, you would sink right in!) Bogs are very dear to Estonians, and have always been part of its culture, so a visit to Estonia is incomplete without a bog walk. Visiting an Estonian bog is a strangely unworldly experience, with their calm pools of black (but drinkable!) water, stunted trees, and endless berry bushes. With the help of equipment akin to snowshoes, you'll visit otherwise inaccessible places. This tour will take you beyond the boardwalks and observation towers to normally inaccessible areas, home to more wildlife. Have an unforgettable adventure in Estonia and come to a bog-shoe hike in the picturesque Kõnnu Suursoo, less than an hour east of Tallinn. This tour is available year-round, as the bog has a different face to show every season.

Coastal Cliffs and Soviet Paldiski Group Tour

Discover hidden wonders amidst the wilderness along the coast west of Tallinn, including the Soviet Union's main naval training base. On this tour, you'll see Estonia's most romantic waterfall, coastal cliffs, the former garrison town of Paldiski, the otherworldly prison quarry of Rummu, and much more, such as the interior of a Soviet aircraft. You'll find places and stories you'd never stumble across on your own while learning what it's like to grow up in this area.

Matsalu National Park and Haapsalu Private Day Tour

Enjoy a beautiful journey down Estonia's picturesque coast to the historic resort town of Haapsalu (a favorite of the czars). Along the way, you'll pass through towering pine forests, and visit mysterious castle ruins, finding stories and places you'd never stumble across on your own. You'll learn about the Coastal Swedes at Noarootsi, and discover Estonia's medieval history amid the ruins of the Padise Monastery. You'll better understand the Soviet era's influences by visiting Ungru, where an abandoned manor and air base sit side-by-side. You'll visit several other manor homes, some restored and offering drinks, some offering hidden stories instead. Haapsalu itself is probably Estonia's most romantic city, with its ruined medieval castle in the center, next to unique wooden villas, and a charming seaside promenade and quiet coastline. Before leaving, you'll visit the local train museum, and the world's longest covered platform, built to keep the czar's entire retinue dry as they disembarked from his personal train during summer visits.

Eat with the Locals

Tallinn has many excellent restaurants, but if you want to try some traditional food, head out to Vanaema Juures, where you can eat like at a local grandmother's home. If you want to try a modern twist on Estonian food, head to Lee Restoran (previously known as Leib) or Farm. Both restaurants have excellent chefs and tasty food. For a medieval pub experience, head to III Draakon on the ground floor of the medieval town hall. There, you'll find light snacks and local beers, and you can try your hand at pickle fishing, spearing them from a barrel. If you'd like to learn more about Estonian food while sampling some local dishes, we recommend a food tour in the bohemian district of Kalamaja.

Get Sandy in Kuressaare

Discover Kuressaare's Beauty

A walking tour around the charming small town of Kuressaare and its tall, rectangular castle and renaissance bastions is a trip back in time. Almost every building here is an architectural monument with a deep history. This town's restored 12th century castle is its main attraction, and naturally functions as a history museum. After an hour's walk in the town itself, you'll continue to the castle for another hour, after which you can remain at the castle, or have the guide return you to your accommodations.

Saaremaa Highlights Private Tour

Saaremaa makes for an ideal place for a visit while exploring Estonia. Beautiful nature, delicious food and idyllic atmosphere. A visit to this island isn't complete without venturing beyond Kuressaare to take in the countryside's classics!

Sõrve Peninsula Private Tour

Great views from the Sorve Lighthouse, a hike to the top of the peninsula, a pleasant stroll on the seashore. All this and more awaits you on this exciting trip outside the town. Fan fact; the tip of Sorve is commonly loved by birdwatchers.

Kihnu Island Private Day Tour

Take the chance to visit Kihnu Island, an hour from Parnu by ferry. For many years, the men of Kihnu have frequently gone to sea while the women ran the island and became the guardians of the island’s cultural heritage. Here, locals still wear traditional folk dress as a part of daily life. In addition to the island's main museum and church, you'll be able to climb its lighthouse and explore the old power station and its museum. Before you go, you'll be able to enjoy a delicious fish lunch. For an extra charge, we can add a home visit and/or folklore performance.

Get Sandy

Parnu's beach is likely the country's best, famed for its white sands, gentle nature, and various attractions. Whether you like to play mini-golf or try some windsurfing, there's always plenty to choose from. A curving path stretches along the sand, lined with fountains, park benches, and an excellent playground. Early 20th century buildings line Ranna puiestee, the avenue running between the beach and the formal gardens of Rannapark, an ideal spot for a summertime picnic.