Grand Tour of Eastern Europe & Russia

Typical of the hotels we use are the 4 star Leonardo Hotel in Cologne, the 3 star Ramada or Holiday Inn in Berlin, the 3 star Hotel Szydlowski in Gdansk, the Reval. Inn in Klaipeda, the 3 star Europa City in Riga, the 3 star Hotel Shnelli in Tallinn, the 3 star Pribaltiskaya in St. Petersburg, the 3 star Park Inn Veliky in Novgorod, the 4 star Hotel Aerostar in Moscow, the 3 star Hotel Yubileinaya in Minsk, the 3 star Hotel MDM in Warsaw, the 4 star Hotel Orbis Wroclaw in Wroclaw, the 4 star Leonardo Hotel in Weimar and the 4 star Hotel Thon in Brussels. All hotels have a bar and restaurant. All bedrooms feature private facilities, TV and telephone. Hotels will be confirmed in your final documents.

Day 1: London/Cologne

Morning departure from London for an afternoon crossing to Calais. Dinner is included at a local restaurant en route to your hotel in Cologne.

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Berlin

Travel east across Germany to Berlin for a two night stay on a bed and breakfast basis.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Berlin

The cosmopolitan capital of reunified Germany is a vibrant city packed with culture, history, fabulous attractions, bustling street life and superb shopping. A panoramic city tour will introduce you to such sights as the Reichstag, seat of the German government, and the impressive Potsdamerplatz. You’ll also see the Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden, the State Opera House, the famed border crossing site ‘Checkpoint Charlie’, Alexanderplatz, and the TV Tower. The afternoon is at leisure to explore further, go shopping along the Kurfürstendamm, or take an optional boat cruise to get a different perspective of Berlin from the River Spree.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Gdansk

A full day’s drive today to Gdansk in Poland and an overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Gdansk/Klaipeda

Today begins with an included guided walking tour of Gdansk’s main attractions featuring the medieval port crane, Neptune Fountain and the Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the largest brick church in the world. Ahead of us is an exciting journey through the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad to Klaipeda in Lithuania. Late evening arrival at the hotel this evening.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Riga

Set out on the drive to Riga in Latvia for an overnight stay. Situated at the mouth of the Daugava River on the Baltic Sea, the town became a major trading port between Central and Eastern Europe. A city tour will show you the historic town centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Attractions include the Castle, the Jewish Museum and St. Mary’s Dome Cathedral. Enjoy an included dinner at a local restaurant in the Old Town tonight.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 7: Tallinn

Continue to Tallinn for an overnight stay in the delightful Estonian capital. Centred around Toompea Castle, enjoy a walking tour through the winding cobbled streets of the old town past the well preserved Gothic buildings, then relax in one of the popular bars and cafés.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8: St. Petersburg

Enjoy the scenic drive to St. Petersburg for a three night stay in Peter the Great’s ‘Window on Europe’. Formerly Leningrad, it was the capital of Russia until the October Revolution in 1917. Dinner in your hotel this evening.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 9: St. Petersburg

Today, St. Petersburg is a city of beautiful baroque palaces, elaborate cathedrals, picturesque canals and home to one of the world’s greatest art collections. An included city tour will introduce you to such stunning buildings as the Hermitage, the Admiralty and St. Isaac’s Cathedral.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 10: St. Petersburg

Relax or see more on our optional excursions. You can visit The Hermitage, founded by Catherine the Great in 1764 at the Winter Palace. Reputed to be the largest museum in the world, you will see superb works of art, displayed in an absolutely wonderful building. You can also explore Peterhof, Peter the Great’s beautiful Summer Palace.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 11: Novgorod

Travel to the medieval town of Novgorod. Spend the night in the city known as the Russian Florence for its art, architecture and culture. An included guided tour of the highlights will take you to see the Kremlin dating back to 1044 and the Cathedral of Saint Sophia.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 12: Moscow

Early departure, drive to Moscow stopping for an included lunch on the way. Evening arrival for a two night stay. Founded in 1147 as a wooden fortress, which has developed into the Kremlin as it is known today, it has grown into a metropolis of immense contrasts - on the one hand a city with many great historical buildings, on the other a vibrant modern city of over ten million people. Dinner included at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 13: Moscow

Enjoy an included city tour featuring the major sights such as the Kremlin, Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The afternoon is at leisure or join an optional excursion to see the Moscow Metro, or the ‘People’s Palace’ as it is often referred to. The Metro is well known for the ornate design of many of its stations, which contain stunning examples of socialist art. On your tour you will be able to admire elegant marble mosaics, imposing statues and fantastic chandeliers.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 14: Minsk

Today’s drive takes you from Moscow to Minsk in Belarus, stopping in Smolensk for an included lunch. Overnight accommodation in Minsk, with dinner included at the hotel tonight.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 15: Minsk/Warsaw

This morning we include a city tour of Minsk, where you will see Independence Square, the Red Church of St. Simon and Helena, Victory Square, and the beautiful Yanka Kupala Park. Then we drive to Warsaw for a one night stay stopping at a local restaurant on route.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 16: Warsaw/Wroclaw

This morning, enjoy an included guided sightseeing tour of Warsaw which will take you along the ‘Royal Route’, passing beautiful buildings, famous statues and historic churches. The tour continues to Warsaw Old Town, where you will see the Royal Castle with Sigismund’s Column in front of it, St. John’s Cathedral and the Market Square, home to shops, restaurants, cafés and workshops. This afternoon we will take the drive to Wroclaw where we stay for the next two nights. Dinner is included at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 17: Wroclaw

Enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of Wroclaw’s Old Town with its historic buildings, restored to their former baroque glory, canals, shops, restaurants, bars, galleries and museums, centred around Rynek, the Main Market Square and the beautiful Plac Solny or Salt Market. Afternoon at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 18: Weimar

Your journey continues to Weimar, said to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, where you will stay overnight. Over the years, Weimar has become a cultural centre, and is home to many art galleries, museums and the German National Theatre. Enjoy an included dinner at the hotel tonight.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 19: Brussels

Drive on to Brussels, Belgium’s cosmopolitan capital for an overnight stay with dinner at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 20: London

Depart after breakfast for the crossing and return to London in the late afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast