East West Tours logo
  • Month
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December
  • Year
  • 2025
  • 2026
  • 2027
  • Type
  • Private Tours
  • Cruise
  • Self-Drive Package
  • Custom Package
  • Escorted Small Group (30 or less)
  • Escorted Group
  • Independent Package
  • Destination
  • BALTIC STATES
  • POLAND
  • CENTRAL ASIA - SILK ROAD
  • CAUCASUS
  • SIGNATURE TOURS
  • EUROPE
  • JEWISH HERITAGE

Baltics and Jewish Heritage

Baltics and Jewish Heritage
Baltics and Jewish Heritage

Tour Itinerary

Upon arrival, meet your driver and transfer to the hotel.

  • Narutis 5* or similar
  • Private Transfer

Vilnius, was once known as the “Jerusalem of the North", and today we will visit many sights related to its Jewish heritage.

We start the day with a walking tour of the Old Town, a UNESCO-listed space of cobblestoned streets and Baroque architecture. Pilies Street is the oldest and most vibrant street in the Old Town of Vilnius. It has preserved its old and unique look and you can see traces of old architecture everywhere: small yards, arches, arcades, original steps, and basements. Nowadays, it is also a place where you can find numerous cafés, restaurants, and souvenir shops. Here, you will see the former Jewish Quarter, where the Great Synagogue used to be, and visit the Vilna Gaon Monument, a tribute to one of Judaism’s most outstanding scholars. We will also visit Vilnius Choral Synagogue, the sole pre-World War II synagogue that has survived. 

Other landmarks we will see during Vilnius city tour are Gediminas  Square and Tower, named after the city’s founder, Gediminas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania. The impressive Vilnius University ensemble was established in 1579 and represents different architectural styles: Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Classicism. The churches of St. Anne and Bernardine are a fine Lithuanian Gothic ensemble located right next to each other.  The Užupis district is a self-declared republic of artists. Gediminas Avenue is the main street of Vilnius, where most of the governmental and cultural institutions of Lithuania are concentrated. Nowadays, it is also a very popular shopping and dining street. 

  • Breakfast
  • Narutis 5* or similar

In the morning, we drive to Paneriai Memorial (Ponar), one of the most solemn and haunting Holocaust sites in Lithuania, located just 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Vilnius. Hidden within a peaceful forest, this site was the location of a horrific massacre during World War II, where over 70,000 Jews—along with Poles, Soviet prisoners of war, and other victims—were murdered by Nazi forces and their Lithuanian collaborators between 1941 and 1944.

Continue to Trakai, the medieval Lithuanian capital famed for its beautiful island castle and a unique Jewish community with Turkic roots — the Karaites, a local ethnic group from Crimean peninsula which has been living here since XIV century. Visit the Karaim Ethnographic Museum and sample traditional Karaim food "kibinai".

  • Breakfast
  • Narutis 5* or similar
  • 30 km

Kaunas is Lithuania's second largest city and a former capital. Kaunas Old Town is a charming and historic district, where cobblestone streets, medieval architecture, and vibrant culture blend together to create one of Lithuania’s most picturesque areas. Situated at the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris Rivers, this well-preserved part of Kaunas is filled with architectural gems, lively squares, and centuries of history waiting to be explored. At the heart of the Old Town is Town Hall Square, a lively gathering place surrounded by colorful buildings and overlooked by the elegant Kaunas Town Hall, often called the "White Swan" due to its tall, graceful tower. Nearby, you’ll find Kaunas Castle, a 14th-century fortress that once defended the city from invaders. Today, its ruins and restored towers serve as a museum and a popular photo spot. 

We will visit Kaunas Synagogue, with its colourful stained-glass windows and striking blue dome. We will pay a visit to Sugihara House, where the Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara saved thousands of Jews by providing transit visas during World War II, Slobodka, a former Jewish ghetto and home to the world-renowned Slobodka Yeshiva.

Return to Vilnius for overnight.

 

 

 

  • Breakfast
  • Narutis 5* or similar
  • 220 km

Today we continue our trip to Latvia with a few stops enroute:

Our first stop is in Kėdainiai, one of Lithuania’s oldest towns, with a rich Jewish heritage that dates back to the 15th century. At its peak, Kėdainiai had several synagogues, including a unique surviving synagogue complex consisting of the Great Synagogue and the Small Synagogue, both built in the 19th century. These buildings, now restored, serve as cultural and historical landmarks. The Jewish cemetery, one of the oldest in Lithuania, also remains as a testament to the once-thriving community.

Next, we visit Chaim Frenkel Villa, a historic mansion in Šiauliai, Lithuania, built in the early 20th century. It was the residence of Chaim Frenkel, a wealthy Jewish industrialist who owned one of the largest leather factories in the Russian Empire. The villa is an elegant example of Art Nouveau architecture, featuring luxurious interiors with stained glass, intricate woodwork, and fine furnishings that reflect the sophistication of the Frenkel family. Today, the building serves as a museum, offering insight into Jewish heritage, the history of the Frenkel family, and the cultural life of Šiauliai. Surrounding the villa is a beautifully landscaped park with a fountain, adding to its charm and making it a peaceful place to visit.

Arrive in Riga in the evening.

  • Breakfast
  • Grand Poet by Seamarah 4*
  • 350 km

We spend the day exploring Riga's Old Town, Art Nouveau District, and Central Market , and Jewish heritage of Latvia.

The heart of Riga is its Old Town (Vecrīga), a maze of cobblestone streets, medieval buildings, and charming squares. This district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reflects Riga’s long and layered history, from its Hanseatic trading roots to its days under Swedish, Polish, and Russian rule.  Start at Riga Cathedral, the largest medieval church in the Baltics., continue to the Town Hall Square with Riga’s most striking landmarks: the House of the Blackheads.

Leaving the medieval charm of the Old Town behind, a short walk brings you to Alberta Street, the heart of Riga’s Art Nouveau District. Home to more than 800 Art Nouveau buildings, Riga is often called the "Art Nouveau capital of Europe." The facades here are unlike anything else in the city—ornate, elaborate, and filled with mythical creatures, sculpted faces, and flowing lines.

To experience Riga’s daily rhythm, we visit Riga Central Market. Housed in five former Zeppelin hangars, this market is one of the largest and oldest in Europe, offering an overwhelming variety of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods, and traditional Latvian specialties.

During the tour, we dedicate time to explore Riga’s Jewish history. We visit Riga Ghetto and Holocaust Museum, a somber tribute to victims of the Nazi occupation, Peitav Synagogue, the last remaining synagogue in Riga. Stroll through the Moscow District, the wartime Jewish ghetto. Visit Rumbula Memorial, memorializing the location where thousands of Latvian Jews were murdered in 1941.

 

 

  • Breakfast
  • Grand Palace 5*

In the morning, we drive to Salaspils Memorial, a haunting site constructed on the grounds of a former Nazi labor camp. Head back to Riga to visit the New Jewish Cemetery, where notable Jewish figures (including scholars and resistance fighters) are buried. Spend part of the day at leisure in Riga’s charming Old Town to discover its beautiful architecture and vibrant atmosphere.

  • Breakfast
  • Grand Palace 5*

Transfer to Estonia

Riga → Parnu: ~2 to 2.5 hours (183 km)

Stop in Pärnu: Usually 1 to 2 hours (for sightseeing, lunch, or a short beach visit)
Pärnu is Estonia’s summer capital, known for its sandy beaches, charming Old Town, and spa culture. A short stop here (1–2 hours)includes:  Pärnu Beach, Rüütli Street, Pärnu Mud Baths , Tallinn Gate, Pärnu River Promenade. It’s a relaxed town, ideal for a scenic break before continuing to Riga! 

Pärnu - Tallinn: ~1.5 to 2 hours (186 km)

  • Breakfast
  • Schlössle Hotel 5*
  • 370 km

Today we will explore Tallinn, the capital of Estonia,. The heart of the city is its Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with cobblestone streets, Gothic spires, and centuries-old buildings. Town Hall Square is the central gathering place, home to the imposing Gothic-style Town Hall and the historic Raeapteek, one of Europe’s oldest continuously operating pharmacies. Nearby, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral stands as a striking example of Russian Orthodox architecture, while Toompea Castle, with its pink baroque facade, serves as the seat of Estonia’s Parliament. 

For a touch of imperial elegance, the Kadriorg district features the magnificent Kadriorg Palace, built by Peter the Great, surrounded by a vast park with fountains and gardens. 

We also visit the Tallinn Synagogue, a modern synagogue for the country’s small but active Jewish community, the Jewish Community Center and hear about Estonia’s Jewish revival after the Soviet occupation, and the Klooga Memorial, dedicated to thousands of Jews who died in the labor camp.

  • Breakfast
  • Schlössle Hotel 5*

Free morning in Tallinn before transfer to the airport. You’ll go away with a richer appreciation of the Baltic region’s Jewish history, its tragedies and its resilience.

  • Breakfast
  • Private Transfer

Customer reviews

Recommended by Tripadvisor Travel Weekly TRA Frommers IATAN
Recommended by