Jim's Monday Tour from Vilnius To Riga (One Way)
ID: GYG1452140-2216857
Category:
Country: Lithuania
Duration:
11:00 hours
Description
Explore Scottish Merchant town Kėdainiai, the Hill of Crosses, and Riga on a day trip from Vilnius. Visit Rundāle Palace, climb Bauska Castle, and enjoy a small-group tour with a maximum of 6 people.
Begin your journey in Vilnius and travel to Riga in a comfortable minivan. Stop at Kėdainiai, a town on the Nevėžis River, and walk through its four medieval market squares. Learn how the Radvila dukes opened the town to Scottish merchants in 1627, creating one of the largest Scots communities in the Baltic.
Next, visit the Hill of Crosses, a site that was never commissioned but grew organically after the 1831 uprising. Families planted crosses on an old hillfort, and every visitor since has added one. Despite being bulldozed by the Soviets three times, the site always came back, and now there are over a hundred thousand crosses.
Continue to a field where the Samogitians and Semigallians defeated the Livonian Brothers of the Sword in 1236, marking the end of the order within a year. The survivors were absorbed into the Teutonic Order and returned, staying for six hundred years.
Cross into Latvia and visit Rundāle Palace, designed by Italian architect Rastrelli and built with Russian money. Spend eighty minutes exploring the state rooms of this grand palace, which was completed by the duke after his return from Siberia.
Finally, stop at Bauska Castle, a Livonian Order fortress from the 1440s with a Renaissance ducal palace added in the 1590s. Climb the tower for views of Zemgale, the flattest and richest farmland in Latvia. Finish your journey in Riga, a city with a rich history of German, Polish, Swedish, Russian, and Latvian influences.
Highlights
- Discover the history of the Hill of Crosses, a symbol of Lithuanian resistance
- Explore Kėdainiai, a town with a rich history and a love for cucumbers
- Visit Rundāle Palace, a stunning example of Baroque architecture
- Enjoy a small-group tour with a maximum of 6 people
- Visit the town of Bauska and see its beautiful restored castle on the riverbanks
Guiding languages
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The tour involves walking, so wear comfortable shoes.
The tour crosses international borders, so bring your passport.
The tour includes visits to historical sites, some of which may have uneven ground.
Will be at the city tour bus-stop from around 15-30 minutes before departure. We will whatsapp regarding pick up from your hotel if needed :) same applies to drop-off, not a problem.
INCLUDED
- Bottled water
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Coffee at Espresinė in the Žvėrynas neighbourhood
- Cucumber treat in Kėdainiai
- Rundāle Palace Museum is included
NOT INCLUDED
- Meals are at your own expense.
- Castle in Bauskas is €9.
When should I book?
To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.
Cancellations
This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.
