Jewish Heritage tour to the Baltic states

Jewish history and heritage tour in Litnuania, Latvia and Estonia

Jewish history and heritage tour in short

Discover the beauty and wonder of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia on our full-guided tour program. Let us guide you through the rich history and heritage of these amazing countries. Be awed by the stunning architecture and local arts that abound in the cities you will visit. Take a deep breath of the fresh air on nature trails and feel the breeze on lake cruises. This engagement concentrated on a Jeiwsh history and heritage as well as a holocaust stories in these countries. It is a mixture of city walks with a lot of historical content and visiting nature sights and local highlighs.

Vilnius old city

Walk and talk in the old city of Vilnius, covering city highlights and Vilnius jewish area

Visit Kaunas

What does it mean to go Kaunastic? Learn about Slobodka yeshiva and the 9th fort atrocities.

Riga city tour

Asonishing visit to the architectural pearl of the Baltics and the story of latvian Jews.

Klaipeda and Curonian spit

Visit another UNESCO site - curonian lagoon

Tallinn city tour

Asonishing visit to the most medieval town in the Baltics and the story of estonian Jews.

11 days of a full guided experience

Our guides are raving to share their knowledge and passion to represent these countries to you.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1. Arrival to Vilnius
Welcome to Vilnius! We are so excited to have you here. Once you arrive, we will be happy to meet you at the airport and provide a comfortable transfer to your 4-star hotel in the heart of the city. We hope you enjoy your stay in Vilnius and please don’t hesitate to let us know if there is anything we can do to make your trip even more enjoyable!
Day 2. Vilnius city tour
We will start by walking along the main street of Vilnius – Gediminas Avenue. We will visit the KGB Museum and Independence Square. Then we will continue by walking to the Hill of Three Crosses to enjoy the fascinating panoramic view of the city. After that, we will visit the pearl of Vilnius Baroque – St. Peter and Paul Church. We will also visit the Old Vilnius University campus and the library from the 16th century. Next is a visit the Presidential Palace and Square. In the old Jewish quarter, we will walk along narrow streets and courtyards of the Middle Age Ghetto. We will visit the Great Vilna Synagogue and the Shulhoyf, where Vilna Gaon, a great Jewish scholar, once lived. We will learn about how Vilna was a center of the struggle between Mitnagdim and Hasidim. Additionally, we will visit the territory of the Large Ghetto and the courtyard of the Judenrat, where the Ghetto prisoners fought against the Nazis.
Day 3: Visit Trakai
Our next stop is Trakai, a place surrounded by beautiful water and trees. In the past, it was where important kings lived, but now it’s home to a cool museum located in their old castle! During our visit, you’ll also hear about the people from the Crimea who once came to Lithuania. We’ll even visit their special graveyard!
Day 3 - part 2: Baltic States tour departs to Kaunas
Later on, we’re heading to Kaunas (Kovna), the interim capital of pre-war Lithuania, includes visit to the Art Gallery of M. K. Ciurlionis, the outstanding Lithuanian artist and composer, Charming Old city with the St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, town Hall square, L. Zamenhoff and A. Mapu streets; Slobodka – a Jewish suburb of Kaunas and the ghetto during WWII, the Old Jewish cemetery. See the building of the famous Slobodka Yeshiva founded by Rabbi Nathan Zvi Finkel. The Musar movement and the influence of R’ Israel Salanter on Slobodka Yeshiva. The personality of Rav Itzhak Elchanan Spector. The Synagogue and the Children’s Memorial in its courtyard. Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese consul in Kaunas in 1940, who issued several thousands lifesaving visas for the Jewish refugees from Poland.
Day 4: Drive to Kedainiai and arrive at the Klaipeda Sea Port.
During this trip, you will visit the Ninth Fort which was the death site of thousands of Jews from Lithuania, France, and Germany. There you will explore the Holocaust museum and Memorial. Later, you will drive to the small town of Kedainiai where a once-thriving Jewish community was located. Today, one can see a nice old city with 3 standing synagogues and a market square. Additionally, you will also visit one of the oldest wooden churches in Lithuania. Following that, you will arrive in Klaipeda, a Lithuanian sea port where you can explore the Old Town of Klaipeda (Memel). The Old Town is distinguished for its German influenced medieval architecture and you will also visit Theatre square. Learn about the story of Simon Dach during this sightseeing trip.
Day 5: Day tour on the Baltic Sea coast
Morning drive to Nida on the Curonian Spit. Along the way, we will stop at Juodkrante for a walk on the Hill of Witches, which is an impressive showcase of Lithuanian folk wooden sculptures. Once in Nida, one can enjoy the lovely ambiance of the place, take in the 60-meter-high sand dunes, visit Thomas Mann’s summer home, and browse the Amber Gallery. After that, we will head to Palanga, a popular resort on the Baltic Sea. Palanga is widely known for its kilometer-long beaches and the beautiful Botanic Park, where we will visit the biggest Baltic Amber Museum. The museum is nested in the neo-renaissance style estate, which belonged to Count Feliksas Tiskevicius and was built in 1897.
Day 6: Baltic States Tour moves to Latvia
Visit Plunge to see Yaacov Bunka work. He is a folk-crafts sculptor who carves wooden pieces for Jewish sites in the area. En route, stop at the Hill of Crosses near Siauliai. It is a symbol of Lithuanians’ resistance against foreign rule with over 100,000 crosses. Another stop is at the wonderful Baroque highlight, Rundale Palace. It was built in the 18th century by the famous Italian architect B. Rastrelli. The final destination is the capital of Latvia, Riga.
Day 7: Tour of the Latvian capital - Riga
We will start our first day in Riga with a city tour of the Old Town. First, we will visit the Dome Cathedral to see its extraordinary organ with 6,781 pipes. Next, we will check out the Great and Small Guilds’ houses and learn about Riga’s economic history. As we walk through the narrow Brewers street, we will approach the Swedish gate and the Latvian Parliament. We will also see the Three Brothers architectural complex, consisting of three houses built over different centuries, and your guide will tell the legend of the Cats’ House. The highlight of Riga’s Old City is the Blackheads’ house, a single merchants’ guild competing with the Hanseatic Union. We will end our walk in the Old Town at St. Peter’s Church and its tower. Riga is famous for its Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) architecture on its streets. We will pay special attention to the architectural history of Riga during our tour.
Day 8: Jewish sights in Riga
continue to “Maskavas forstadt” a former suburb of Riga developed by foreign merchants coming to trade on the Market. Later on this are became a house for the first Jewish settlement in the area of Riga. Memorial – ruins of the Great Synagogue. Wall of Righteous among the Nations. Jewish School founded in the 19th cent. Ghetto territory – the Small Ghetto and Reich’s Juden Ghetto. Synagogue on Moscow street, Hospital Bikur Holim, Old Jewish Cemetery. Visit to Rumbula and Bikierniki Memorials, where Nazis murdered thousands of Jews from Latvia, Germany and Czechoslovakia. Salaspils – the memorial site of a concentration camp.
Day 9: From Latvia to Estonian
Are you ready for the third part of our Baltic States Tour? We have some exciting places to visit today! First, we will head to the most prominent food market in the Baltic States, which occupies five huge hangars that were once used to construct Zeppelin airships. Then, we will visit Sigulda, known as the “Switzerland of Latvia,” located in the beautiful Gauja National Park. You can tour the ancient castles, historic caves and spring water. I’m excited to take you to explore the romantic ruins of Sigulda Castle and hear legends about the Gutman caves. We’ll also wander the Turaida Castle museum and beautiful stone art park. Finally, we’ll head to Estonia, and along the way, we’ll stop in Parnu, a resort area and the cradle of Estonian independence.
Day 10: Tour of historic Tallinn's grand architectural wonders.
Today, we will be immersing ourselves in Tallinn’s Old Town, including its 15th-century Town Hall and fortifications with 27 towers. We will also visit Toompea Castle Hill, where you can see the seat of government, the Russian Orthodox Church of Alexander Nevsky, and Tallinn’s Protestant Cathedral. This location also offers panoramic views of other parts of the city. Next, we will go on a driving tour, visiting the impressive Kadriorg Park and Palace, as well as the art museum located within them. We will drive by the Rusalka Monument and the Pirita Olympic Village. Finally, we will end the tour with a visit to the “Rocca al Mare” open-air ethnographic museum. If you want to learn more about alternative ways to explore Tallinn, you can read an article about Tallinn City Walks. We will finish the tour by visiting the newly built Tallinn Synagogue and a Jewish museum.
Day 11: It's the end of the Baltic States tour.
Good morning! As you prepare to depart, I wanted to remind you of the additional options available for your travels. If you’re interested, we can explore an extension to beautiful St. Petersburg, or perhaps take a scenic ferry ride to Helsinki or Stockholm. Let me know how I can assist you in making the most of your travels. Safe journey home!
Contact Form JBS (#9)

Tour Pricing

This is a price estimation, the final price depends on the number of criterias and we will be glad to send you a chosen date proposal.

2 people
3500/person
  • Accommodation
  • Breakfast
  • Land Transportation
  • Guide for the whole tour
  • Entrance fees
4 people
2500/person
  • Accommodation
  • Breakfast
  • Land Transportation
  • Guide for the whole tour
  • Entrance fees
Contact Form JBS (#9)

from €2500

Contact Form JBS (#9)
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