Witness the resurgence of folk culture as you travel through St. Petersburg and the Baltics. Admire the stunning views of St. Isaac's Cathedral, with its looming gold dome, along the river in St. Petersburg. Then sail the Baltic Sea aboard a cruise to the Finnish capital, Helsinki.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - St. Petersburg

Board your flight to St. Petersburg.

Day 2 - St. Petersburg

Arrive in St. Petersburg this morning. After clearing customs, meet your Go Ahead representative and transfer to your hotel. If you traveled on our pre-extension to Moscow, join the rest of your group today. Meet your fellow Baltic travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner. (B in flight, D)

Day 3 - St. Petersburg

Today’s guided sightseeing tour covers the amazing history, art and architecture of 300-year-old St. Petersburg, called the “Venice of the North” for its aesthetic beauty and 360 bridges that cross canals and waterways. See historic Palace Square, one of Europe’s great centers that saw both victory over Napoleon and all-night vigils for democracy; the Winter Palace; and the Nevsky Prospekt, St. Petersburg’s version of the Champs-Élysées. In the afternoon, visit Peter and Paul Fortress, once a prison that held the likes of Dostoevsky. Its interior is a fabulous example of baroque architecture. Finish with a look inside massive St. Isaac’s Cathedral, whose dome, covered in 220 pounds of gold leaf, dominates the city skyline. The marble and mosaic interior is perhaps even more impressive. (B, D)

Day 4 - St. Petersburg

Enjoy a full free day to stroll through St. Petersburg at your leisure. Spend a few hours in the Summer Garden, the city’s most elegant park; or check out the Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts, displaying handcrafted Russian furniture, tiled stoves and a Kremlin-style Terem Room. Or join a half-day optional excursion to Petrodvorets (Peter’s Palace), a testament to the Russian spirit that was fully rebuilt after the Nazis destroyed most of the palace and gardens during World War II. (B, D)

$99 USD

Petrodvorets Journey to the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland to visit Peter the Great’s Petrodvorets, summer residence of the czars.

Day 5 - St. Petersburg

Today’s highlight—and perhaps the highlight of your stay—is the town-sized Hermitage Museum. Enter the halls of four linked buildings for a look at one of the largest collections of European art in the world. Arranged and acquired mostly during the reign of Catherine the Great, the 3 million pieces of art on display include works by Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio and Leonardo; sculpture from ancient Greece and Italy; and exotic jewelry from Catherine’s Treasure Gallery. (B, D)

Day 6 - Tallinn

Travel through the Russian and Estonian countryside to Tallinn, capital of Estonia. The city’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best preserved medieval towns in Northern Europe. (B, D)

Day 7 - Tallinn

Go back in time today to the 14th and 15th centuries on your fully guided sightseeing tour of Tallinn. Navigating Toompea hill, you’ll see the castle and Toomkirik Cathedral. Journey to Kadriorg Park for a look at the baroque palace. Walk through the Old Town for an included visit to 19th-century Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, a Russian Orthodox church with a beautiful mosaic interior. You’ll also step inside the galleries of the Estonian Art Museum. Tonight, join an optional dinner in Tallinn. (B)

$89 USD

Dinner in Tallin Enjoy an evening's worth of Tallinn's history and culinary delights when you dine at a favorite local restaurant.

Day 8 - Tallinn

On a full-day optional excursion, cruise the Baltic Sea to nearby Helsinki, the Finnish capital. The excursion includes a guided sightseeing tour of the city, featuring the Parliament building, Senate Square and Sibelius Park, as well as a visit to the Helsinki Cathedral. Alternatively, stay in Tallinn for the day and explore the sights on your own. People-watch in the Old Town Square, the hub of Tallinn’s dining and café scene. (B)

$239 USD

Helsinki Tour & Cruise On this full-day land and sea tour, visit breathtaking Helsinki, Finland's seaside capital. You'll explore the city on a guided tour with a local guide.

Day 9 - Riga

Leaving Tallinn, stop in the resort city of Pärnu, situated on Estonia’s western coast. The port, founded in the 13th century by the German Teutonic Knights, has a fortified Old Town and wonderful spas. Then cross into Latvia and reach Riga, its historic capital. (B, D)

Day 10 - Riga

An expert local guide leads a walking tour of Riga. Divided into Vecriga (Old Riga) and the New Town, the city is ideal for walking. View Riga Castle and St. Peter’s Church, then tour New Town for a look at the Freedom Monument, erected in 1935. The rest of the afternoon is free to spend as you wish. (B)

Day 11 - Riga

With a free day in Riga, browse the stalls of the New Town central market, housed in several World War I zeppelin hangars. Or explore the Jewish quarter of Maskavas, home to the Jewish Museum and the fascinating Riga Motor Museum. Alternatively, opt to join a walking tour through Riga’s kaleidoscope of architecture, journeying through the Art Nouveau, Hansa and Russian periods. Later, join our special optional evening of Riga Opera. Enjoy a dinner and performance. (B)

$99 USD

Riga Opera Evening In the late 18th century, traveling opera troupes from all over Europe came to Riga to perform. Soon after, the official Riga Opera opened as the prestigious German Theater.

$39 USD

Walking tour of Riga's Historical Architecture This walking tour, directed by an expert local guide, takes you through three generations of Riga’s history, art and architecture and a major UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 12 - Riga

A Go Ahead representative escorts you to the airport for departure. (B)