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Day 1: Arrive Vilnius
Tour begins at 6 PM at Radisson SAS Astorija Hotel, Vilnius, Lithuania. Your transfer is included from Vilnius Airport to the Radisson SAS Astorija Hotel in the heart of Vilnius' Old Town, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meet your Tauck Director and travel companions at tonight's welcome dinner. Meals: Dinner Lodging: Radisson SAS Astorija Hotel, Vilnius, Lithuania
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Day 2: Old Town Vllnius and the castle of Trakai
Take a walking tour of Old Town Vilnius to appreciate its remarkable Baroque architecture. See Cathedral Square and the Renaissance-style Gates of Dawn, built in the 16th century as part of the town's fortifications. Wind your way along the Yellow Roads and go off-the-beaten path in Trakai, a picturesque town with a castle dating to the Middle Ages; return to Vilnius to explore as you please. Meals: Breakfast, lunch Lodging: Radisson SAS Astorija Hotel, Vilnius, Lithuania
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Day 3: Travel to Latvia
Depart Vilnius and travel the Yellow Roads through the pristine countryside of Lithuania; cross into Latvia and stop in seaside Jurmala on your way to the capital, Riga, an important trading center for Central and Eastern Europe from the 13th to the 15th centuries. Visit the city's opulent 19th-century Opera House, which was painstakingly rebuilt in the 1990s, and is a source of great national pride for the Latvian people. Your home for the next two nights is located in the heart of the old city. Meals: Breakfast, lunch Lodging: Grand Palace Hotel, Riga, Latvia
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Day 4: Discover historic Riga
After a drive through Riga's New Town, a walking tour along the cobbled streets of Old Town Riga reveals buildings dating back 800 years as you continue to travel Russia and the Baltics with Tauck. Check out the Art Nouveau architecture in the city, considered the best in Europe, and see Riga Castle, the Swedish Gate and medieval dwellings; this combination of period architecture has earned Riga's Old Town UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. For those who wish, join us to explore some of the somber reminders of the tragic years of the Holocaust at the Jewish Museum and old Jewish Cemetery (holidays permitting). Enjoy dinner at the hotel tonight. Meals: Breakfast, dinner Lodging: Grand Palace Hotel, Riga, Latvia
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Day 5: Journey to Tallinn, capital of Estonia
Depart Latvia and cross into Estonia this morning, stopping in seaside Parnu for an authentic taste of local life at an Estonian beachfront barbecue. Continue on to today's final destination, the capital city of Tallinn; its remarkably well-preserved medieval center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overnight at your recently opened contemporary hotel, ideally located just minutes from Tallinn's Old Town. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Swissotel Tallinn, Estonia
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Day 6: Cruise from Tallinn to Helsinki
Explore the walled city of Tallinn, an outstanding example of a medieval Northern European trading city. Take a guided walking tour along its narrow cobblestone streets and charming squares. View 13th-century Toompea Castle, which houses the Estonian Parliament. This afternoon, board the high-speed SuperSeaCat ferry and cross the Gulf of Finland to Helsinki for a two-night stay. Meals: Breakfast Lodging: Hotel Kämp, Helsinki, Finland
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Day 7: Helsinki highlights
Explore Finland's capital city of Helsinki, a mix of parks, waterways, and various architectural styles. See the Neo-Classical Senate Square, and the green cupolas and white columns of Helsinki Cathedral. Enjoy the colorful Market Square, and extraordinary Temppeliaukio (The Rock) Church, built into solid rock in the 1960s. Explore on your own in the afternoon. Meals: Breakfast, dinner Lodging: Hotel Kämp, Helsinki, Finland
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Day 8: To St. Petersburg by rail
From Helsinki, travel Russia on an early morning train ride to opulent St. Petersburg; the historic center of Russia's cultural capital and Peter the Great's "Window to the West" is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your home for the next four nights is the Hotel Astoria on St. Isaac's Square near St. Isaac's Cathedral. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Hotel Astoria, St. Petersburg, Russia
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Day 9: Treasures of St. Petersburg
Take a guided tour of key landmarks in St. Petersburg. Visit the imposing Peter and Paul Fortress, built in 1703; inside the fortress, Peter and Paul Cathedral, with a tall golden spire, contains the tombs of the Russian czars, including the city's founder Peter the Great. Spend the rest of the day exploring more of St. Petersburg on your own. Meals: Breakfast, dinner Lodging: Hotel Astoria, St. Petersburg, Russia
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Day 10: A great palace & a night at the ballet
Holidays permitting, visit the Grand Choral Synagogue and then journey to the opulent Palace of Peter the Great, located in Petrodvorets on the Gulf of Finland; enjoy the Summer Garden and fountain displays. Return to St. Petersburg by hydrofoil to pursue your own interests in the afternoon. In the evening, experience a long-standing Russian tradition when you attend a performance of the ballet. Note: schedule times and performances vary. Meals: Breakfast, lunch Lodging: Hotel Astoria, St. Petersburg, Russia
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Day 11: The State Hermitage Museum... with fewer crowds
Today, Tauck has arranged an early morning visit to The State Hermitage Museum, boasting one of the largest collections of art and artifacts in the world. Displays include prehistoric cultures, classical antiquities, and Western European art; you'll view celebrated ancient gold treasures on a special visit to the Gold Room. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure in glorious St. Petersburg. Meals: Breakfast Lodging: Hotel Astoria, St. Petersburg, Russia
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Day 12: Fly to Moscow and visit Stalin's Bunker
Fly to Russia's capital, Moscow, for a three-night stay in this ancient city. Upon arrival, enjoy an exclusive visit to Joseph Stalings hidden World War II bunker, which was closed to the public for decades. Your Tauck group has been granted access by special permission; check out the central command room, and Stalin's personal effects in his private office, then contemplate your experience over lunch. Spend the next three nights with views of the Kremlin, Red Square and St. Basil's Cathedral from your hotel room -- just one of many great reasons to travel Russia with Tauck! Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Lodging: Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow, Russia
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Day 13: Insider's tour of the Kremlin
Meet a Kremlin insider to learn about Moscow's past, and how the city has adjusted to the 21st century - another exclusive you'll enjoy when you travel Russia on this comprehensive Tauck journey. Get a guided tour inside the 64-acre Kremlin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with Red Square. Visit Cathedral Square, and the Armory Chambers to see the treasures of the Czars. Meals: Breakfast Lodging: Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow, Russia
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Day 14: Russian art & icons
Tour the Moscow Metro today; with stations built of wood, bronze, copper and marble and decorated with sculptures, reliefs and mosaics, it's as much underground art gallery as transportation system. Visit the State Tretyakov Gallery/National Museum of Russian Fine Art, featuring 11th- to 20th-century paintings and sculptures by Russian artists. Cap your Russia travel adventure with a festive farewell dinner this evening. Meals: Breakfast, dinner Lodging: Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow, Russia
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Day 15: Journey home
Tour ends: Moscow, Russia. Your memorable Baltics and Russia travel experience concludes today; a transfer is included from the Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow to Sheremetyevo or Domodedovo Airport. Meals: Breakfast