Around the Gulf of Finland.
Three countries, three cultures and three different views of the world, is what this tour involves. From young Estonia, to natural Finland and from there to flamboyant Russia, this tour has all the ingredients for an exciting week of culture, good food and great company.
This tour is available in: English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.
Itinerary
Around the Gulf of Finland.
8 DAYS & 7 NIGHTS
Day 1
ARRIVAL DAY
Overnight: Tallinn four-star hotel Radisson Blu.
Arrival to Tallinn airport TLL.
Day 2
TALLINN
Overnight: Tallinn four-star hotel Radisson Blu.
Morning: City tour of Tallinn.
Afternoon: Optional excursion.
Evening: Optional medieval dinner.
Tallinn is a city with two very distinctive accents. On the one hand, it is one of the best preserved medieval cities in the Baltic, with most of its walls and defensive towers still intact despite the past of centuries. On the other hand, Tallinn has worked its way to become a high-tech hub for the Baltic States and Scandinavia. It is here were Skype was born out of the brains of Estonian programmers and the pockets of Scandinavian investors.
Tallinn's old town is very busy, with lots of cafes and shops, many offering artworks by local artists, as well as the usual souvenirs. Along this tour we'll visit the most important landmarks, such as, Toompea Castle, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Dome Cathedral, the Gild's Hall and many more. In the afternoon, there is an optional excursion to Kadriorg Park and the Kumu Museum, an incredible modern building housing the art tresures of Estonia.
Day 3
TALLINN - HELSINKI
Overnight: Helsinki four-star hotel Glo Art.
Morning: Optional excursion.
Afternoon: Transfer to Helsinki.
In the morning you have the option to explore Tallinn furthermore or take the optional tour to the National Park of Lahemaa. Located at less than an hour drive from Tallinn, Lahemaa is one of the most beautiful parks in Estonia, as well as the oldest. Renowned for its bogs and virgin forests, the park contains a wealth of wildlife and history. In this tour we'll visit Vihula, Sagadi and Palmse manor houses as well. Once back in Tallinn, we will head to the port to take the ferry to our next destination: Helsinki.
Day 4
HELSINKI
Overnight: Helsinki four-star hotel Glo Art.
Morning: City tour of Helsinki.
Afternoon: Optional excursion.
Evening: Optional dinner.
Helsinki has been called the capital of design of Scandinavia (although some would debate is in Scandinavia at all). Due to its particular location, Helsinki is the axle that connects three different cultures: Russia, The Baltic States and Scandinavia itself. On this tour we will get to know more about this and visit the highlights of the city such as Senate Square, the Cathedral, Mannerheim, the Parliament Building, the Hall of Finlandia, the Sibelius monument, and of course, the Church in the Rock. In the afternoon we can choose to take an optional tour to the fortress on Suomenlinna island, an amazing location to explore and to know more about Finland.
Day 5
HELSINKI - ST. PETERSBURG
Overnight: St. Petersburg four-star hotel Sokos.
Morning: Transfer to St. Petersburg & visit to the town of Vyborg.
Today we take our coach and head on to the North road over the Gulf of Finland. Along the way we will pass the towns of Porvoo and Kotka until we finally reach Vyborg, just across the Russian border with Finland.
Vyborg is a picturesque town of the Leningrad Oblast, tucked in an appealing corner of the Gulf of Finland. Half Finnish, half Russian, Vyborg is peppered with beautiful Art Nouveau buildings and romantic cobblestone streets. An ideal place for great pictures, especially if you are into Instagram. We'll make a sightseeing tour of the town and stop at the castle for pictures. Then we'll head towards our final destination, St. Petersburg, some 170 Km away.
Day 6
ST. PETERSBURG
Overnight: St. Ptersburg four-star hotel Sokos.
Morning: St. Petersburg city tour.
Afternoon: Optional excursions.
Today we'll visit the Venice of the North: St. Petersburg. During this morning tour you will see the Fortress of Peter and Paul, the Winter Palace, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Church of the Saviour, the Nevsky Convent and more. In the afternoon you can take the optional excursion to Zarskoye Selo which includes Catherine's Palace and the famous Amber Hall. In the evening you can enjoy as well of an optional folklore performance with champagne and snacks.
Day 7
ST. PETERSBURG
Overnight: St. Ptersburg four-star hotel Sokos.
Morning: Optional excursion.
Afternoon: Optional excursion.
Today you can choose how would you like to spend your day in St. Petersburg. We offer three choices for you: a visit to Peterhof Palace, one of the most stunning buildings conceived in times of Peter the Great. In this tour you can see the Grand Palace, the Grand Cascade and the Water Avenue. In the afternoon you can enjoy an encounter with the arts at the world-famous Hermitage Museum. Finally in the evening you will enjoy an optional Russian dinner at one of the most remarkable restaurants in the city.
Day 8
DEPARTURE
Today we depart from the city of St. Petersburg SPB.
What's Included in the Tour
Services
-
7x Nights accommodation in four-star category hotels:
- 2x nights in Tallinn, Radisson Blu.
- 2x nights in Helsinki, Glo Art.
- 3x nights in St. Petersburg, Sokos Nikolaevsky.
- 7x Buffet-style breakfasts at hotels.
-
Entrances and visits:
- Great Guild Hall.
- Church in The Rock.
- Peter and Paul Fortress.
- Escort guide for the entire journey.
- This tour is available in English, Spanish, Italian and German languages.
- Comfort coach or minivan with climate control for the entire tour
- Ferry Tallinn-Helsinki
- Porterage service at hotels
Notes:
Hotel ratings are shown according to the date of this publication. Bear in mind customer reviews may vary.
Hotels
-
Hotel Radisson Blu
As seen on:
TripAdvisor: ⦿⦿⦿⦿ 4/5
1377 Reviews
-
Hotel Glo Art
As seen on:
TripAdvisor: ⦿⦿⦿⦿ 4/5
1924 Reviews
-
Hotel Sokos St. Petersburg
As seen on:
TripAdvisor: ⦿⦿⦿⦿⦾ 4.5/5
1616 Reviews
Around the Gulf of Finland Tour.
Every time I come to Tallinn I feel very excited. It's a feeling that hasn't changed despite the fact that I have been here many times before. It seems that Tallinn (and Estonia in general) always has a way to find new and exciting ways to surprise you. In the summer the streets of the old town are buzzing with activity. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants with very original foods and drinks in offer.
One day you can have a taste of authentic medieval food. The next you can adventure into the realms of contemporary food, or even better, treat yourself with a visit to some of the haute cuisine restaurants in the country.
But enough of Tallinn, how about Helsinki? Well, they call it the capital of design for a reason. Finns have a great taste and wherever you go you'll find examples of exquisite Finnish and Scandinavian designs. Helsinki is a city vibrant with a kind young enthusiasm and that permeates to all levels of life here. Finns are gloriously crazy and gorgeously honest. They are people of few words, but they make sure that whatever they say is something that matters.
St. Petersburg is the definition of "over-the-top". Boasting a collection of cathedrals, fortresses and museums, all treated in gold in one way or another, this is without a doubt the most flamboyant city in Europe. If you are fascinated by stories of royalty, there is no better place to be than Russia.
