Poland & the Baltics: Warsaw to Tallinn
12 days | 15 days with Helsinki extension |
Immerse yourself in history one river float, cider tasting, and Zeppelin hangar visit at a time.
In the Baltics, time travel is (almost) a real thing. The region’s present-day scene is as fascinating as its past, thanks to its rebirth at the end of Communist rule. Whether you’re strolling through UNESCO-listed centers in every capital or bar-hopping to taste 18th-century liquors, this small group Adventure Tour is full of moments that’ll make you say “wow.”
Your tour package includes
- 10 nights in handpicked hotels
- 10 breakfasts
- 5 dinners with beer or wine
- 1 cider tasting
- 1 liqueur tasting
- 1 beer tasting
- 1 food tasting
- 8 sightseeing tours
- Expert Tour Director & local guides
- Private deluxe motor coach
Included highlights
- Old Town Vilnius
- Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights
- Hill of Crosses
- Rundale Palace
- Riga Central Market
- Estonian cider tasting
- Tallinn’s Town Hall
Itinerary

Overnight Flight1 night
Day 1: Travel day
Board your overnight flight to Warsaw today.
Warsaw2 nights
Day 2: Arrival in Warsaw
Included meal: Welcome dinner
Welcome to Poland! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.
Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Warsaw
Included meals: Breakfast, Tasting
On a guided tour, get to know Warsaw, a city all but destroyed during World War II and painstakingly rebuilt since 1944.
- See the Chopin Monument at Lazienki Park
- View the Palace of Culture and Science, the tallest building in Poland commissioned by Stalin
- Visit the Jewish Ghetto and the Jewish Memorial
- Walk through the Old Town and pop into a local bakery for a paczki tasting
Enjoy a free afternoon to get to know Warsaw at your own pace.
Olsztyn 1 night
Day 4: Transfer to Olsztyn, sightseeing tour & Wolf's Lair
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Make your way north to Olsztyn, where your Tour Director will show you around the capital of Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship.
- Learn about how Olsztyn serves as a vital trade center with major rail and road connections in the picturesque Lakes District
- Visit the charming Old Town, known for its medieval architecture and vibrant atmosphere
- Pass by the historic Church of St Jacob Cathedral, a stunning example of Gothic architecture
- See the Copernicus Bench, a tribute to the famous astronomer who once lived in the city
- Enjoy some free time to explore the local shops, cafes, and scenic spots at your own pace
This afternoon, travel to Ketrzyn to enter the infamous Wolf's Lair, which served as Hitler's Eastern Front headquarters during World War II. Return to Olsztyn and sit down for an included dinner with your group this evening.
Vilnius2 nights
Day 5: Transfer to Vilnius
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Leave Poland behind as you travel to Vilnius, Lithuania.
In Vilnius, sit down to an included dinner with your group.
Day 6: Walking tour of Vilnius
Included meal: Breakfast
Embark on a guided tour of Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital.
- Discover the Baroque, UNESCO-listed Old Town on a walking tour with a local guide
- See Gediminas Castle, Vilnius Cathedral, St. Anne’s Church, and Vilnius University
- Hear about life during the time of the Soviet Union and how nonviolent protests paved the way to independence
- Enter the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, the former KGB headquarters, for a guided tour
Enjoy a free afternoon in Vilnius or add an excursion.
Riga3 nights
Day 7: Riga via the Hill of Crosses & Rundale Palace
Included meals: Breakfast, Tasting, Dinner
Travel to Riga, Latvia, stopping en route to visit the Hill of Crosses, a Lithuanian pilgrimage site. You’ll also stop for a guided tour of Rundale Palace and its gardens. The site is distinguished as the largest Baroque castle in the Baltics and is the former summer residence of the Duke of Courland.
In Riga, sit down to an included dinner with your group.
Day 8: Sightseeing tour of Riga
Included meals: Breakfast, Liqueur tasting
Get an insider’s perspective of Riga, the center of Latvian politics and culture, with a local guide leading the way.
- Explore the city’s striking, UNESCO-recognized Art Nouveau district
- View the Latvian Freedom Monument and the Latvian National Opera
- Enter Central Market, housed inside an old Zeppelin hanger, and learn about local favorites and specialties
- See the Gothic House of the Blackheads in Vecriga, Riga’s Old Town
- Enter Riga Cathedral, the city's massive medieval centerpiece, before continuing on to Riga Castle
- Drop into a local bar for a tasting of Riga Black Balsam liqueur, an herbal drink first created in 1752
Enjoy a free afternoon in Riga or add an excursion.
Day 9: Free day in Riga
Included meal: Breakfast
Spend the day exploring Riga on your own or add an excursion.
Tallinn2 nights
Day 10: Tallinn via Pärnu County
Included meals: Breakfast, Tasting
En route to Tallinn, stop in Pärnu County and visit a cider distillery where you’ll tour the orchard, learn about the production process, and enjoy a tasting of five hard ciders.
Enjoy a free evening in Tallinn or add an excursion.
Day 11: Walking tour of Tallinn
Included meals: Breakfast, Beer tasting, Farewell dinner
Uncover the charms of Tallinn on a guided sightseeing tour.
- Travel through the ancient stone gates of the Old Town
- See Town Hall Square and Toompea Castle, home of the Estonian Parliament
- Visit Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, once controversial for it’s location, now revered as the grandest orthodox church in Tallinn
- Walk through the Balti Jaama Turg Market, home to over 300 vendors across three floors
- Enjoy a tasting of an Estonian microbrew
Then, join your group at a farewell dinner this evening.
Flight Home
Day 12: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your trip to explore Helsinki, Finland.
Helsinki extension
What makes “the Pearl of the Baltic Sea” such a lustrous prize? Helsinki combines astounding architecture, stunning surroundings, and nation-defining culture in a tremendously livable, eminently visitable metropolis. If you aren’t ready to bid the Baltics farewell, spend some time in this Scandinavian hub. (Odds are, you might not want to go home after.)
Helsinki3 nights
Day 12: Ferry to Helsinki
Included meal: Breakfast
From Tallinn, board a ferry and cross the Gulf of Finland, making a straight shot for the Finnish capital of Helsinki.
Day 13: Sightseeing tour of Helsinki
Included meal: Breakfast
Sprawling across a peninsula and 315 islands, Helsinki is Finland's vibrant capital. Explore its highlights on a guided tour.
- Pass through Senate Square, anchored by Helsinki Cathedral and the Government Palace
- See the Olympic Stadium, marked by its white tower commemorating the 1932 Summer Olympics
- Enter Temppeliaukio Church, carved into a rocky hillside with exposed stone walls and a copper roof
- Visit Sibelius Park, home to a striking sculpture honoring Finland's most famous composer
Enjoy a free afternoon in the city or add an excursion.
Day 14: Free day in Helsinki
Included meal: Breakfast
Spend a free day exploring Helsinki on your own, or add an excursion.
This evening, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.
Flight Home
Day 15: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Reviews
Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.

Warsaw - Novotel Warszawa Centrum
This modern hotel is located in the Frascati neighborhood. Guests enjoy a restaurant, bar, and fitness center. Nearby you’ll find Ujazdowski Park, Polish Army Museum, and Warsaw Fotoplastikon.

Olsztyn - Hampton by Hilton Olsztyn
This modern hotel is located in the vibrant city of Olsztyn. Guests enjoy amenities such as a fitness center, a steam room, and an on-site restaurant. Nearby, you'll find the Olsztyn Planetarium, Central Park, and the Museum of...

Vilnius - Artis
This elegant and historic hotel is located in the center of Old Town in Vilnius. Guests enjoy the on-site restaurants, wellness center, and on-site coffee house. Nearby you’ll find Gediminas' Tower, the Gaon Jewish State Museum...
Riga - Hotel Wellton Riga & SPA
This contemporary hotel is located in the heart of Riga’s historic centre. Guests enjoy the Oasis spa, on-site restaurant, and convenient location. Nearby you’ll find the charming Jauniela (New Street), Riga Central Market, and...

Tallinn - Sokos Hotel Viru
This vibrant hotel is located in Tallinn. Guests enjoy a fitness center, an on-site restaurant, and a sauna. Nearby, you'll find the Tallinn Old Town, the KGB Museum, and Toompea Castle.
Helsinki - Radisson Blu Aleksanteri Hotel
This charming hotel is located in the Design District of Helsinki. Guests enjoy the sauna, fitness center, and on-site restaurant. Nearby you’ll find Old Church park, the Hietalahti Market, and several restaurants.
Flights
Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
Add our airfare and you’ll get:
- Round-trip flight for your tour
- Airport transfers at your destination
- A great price locked in today
- 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
- Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
- Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
FAQ
- This tour visits Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia (plus FInland on the tour extension).
- In order to enter these countries, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
- We recommend having at least two blank passport pages for entry stamps.
- Beginning in 2026, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must register for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to enter many European countries.
- Passport holders from over 60 visa-exempt countries (including the U.S. and Canada) will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to visit 30 European countries. That means that even if you’ve previously traveled to any of these European countries without a visa, starting in 2026, you’ll need to get ETIAS authorization to visit them again. If you’re traveling to multiple countries with this requirement, you only need to complete the form once. All Go Ahead travelers are responsible for obtaining their own ETIAS travel authorization before departure. For more details, please visit our Help Center.
- If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code WBL.
- Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Warsaw and depart from Tallinn (or Helsinki on the tour extension).
- Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who booked their own flights are responsible for securing their own airport transfers.
- When you arrive in Warsaw, a Go Ahead representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a Go Ahead sign or a sign with your name(s). If you don’t see a representative immediately, please be patient and stay in the arrivals area. They may be assisting another traveler who has also just arrived and will be back shortly.
Physical Activity Level
This is a very high physical activity-level tour. You can expect vigorous activity throughout the course of the tour.
Tour Pacing
This is a very fast-paced tour. The pace of a tour itinerary considers how often you’ll switch hotels, the amount of planned daily activities, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:
- One 1-night stay
- Most days full of included activities in a row (more if you add excursions)
- Most transportation by motor coach
- Daily drive time varies and can be lengthy
Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements
- Travelers should be prepared to walk 3-5 miles per day on city streets, cobblestones, stairs, and hills.
- Stone pathways and cobblestone streets can become slick when wet.
- Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included hikes and walks without assistance.
- Please note: Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on tour.
Climate Considerations
- In the summer months (June-September), travelers can expect mild to warm temperatures, with highs generally ranging from 65°F to 75°F. However, occasional heatwaves can push temperatures above 85°F, particularly in inland areas.
Physical Activity & Tour Pace Questions
- Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special mobility or luggage handling assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group enjoys a smooth and informative journey, and they can’t be relied on to provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- This tour moves at a reasonable pace to avoid missing scheduled stops. The rest of the group cannot miss any scheduled activities because of the needs of an individual.
- Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers will be difficult to use and are not recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring these on tour with you.
- If you have mobility concerns or tour pacing questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team.
- Most transportation on this tour is by private motor coach. Private motor coaches have steps required to board and often do not provide access to ramps or lifts.
- Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and boats.
- Some airlines may impose additional charges if you exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you’re responsible for any baggage fees incurred.
- Contact your airline(s) for the baggage size and weight restrictions on your flights.
- Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
- Travelers must be able to manage their luggage throughout tour; porters aren’t guaranteed at hotels, airports, and boarding water taxis.
- We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
- A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
- We recommend packing a reusable water bottle.
- You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
- It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
- We recommend packing your Insurance Card (from your primary insurance provider) in your carry on luggage.
- Go Ahead handpicks every hotel you’ll stay at, striking a balance between comfort, location, and local charm.
- Specific properties will vary based on your departure date, but are typically three-to-four-star hotels; always include private bathrooms; and usually have in-room safes for valuables. Additionally, your hotels will have Wi-Fi, but access may be limited to common areas. There may also not be elevators.
- Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that your accommodations will have laundry services or facilities. We recommend checking directly with your hotels once they’ve been confirmed, about 30 days prior to departure.
- Some hotels on this tour are situated on narrow streets; as such, our buses can’t drop you off right out front. In these instances, you’ll have to walk your luggage to the property, no more than a few blocks.
- Please be advised that the air conditioning in European hotels and buildings is often not as strong or cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada.
- All destinations operate on the European standard 220-240 volts and use Types C or F plugs with two small, round pins.
- Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date.
- Excursions are available for purchase prior to departure, and most excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour directly through your mobile app for an additional $10 USD.
- We recommend purchasing excursions at least 3 days prior to your tour departure. Please note some excursions have advance booking deadlines. Check your tour itinerary for more information to ensure you don’t miss the deadline to add them.
- Optional excursions may be canceled on tour due to reasons like low enrollment, weather or unexpected closures. If an excursion you signed up for is canceled by Go Ahead Tours, you will be refunded the full cost of the excursion. Please note it may take up to 60 days for your refund to be processed.
- Your Tour Director may offer their own optional excursions which can only be purchased on tour via cash (in local currency).
- At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
- If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies, please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
- If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
- Most of our itineraries include headsets used during certain sightseeing tours so travelers can hear their guides or Tour Director. If you use an assisted listening device, such as a hearing aid or cochlear implant, please visit our Help Center or contact our customer experience team. Please note that at this time not all our destinations offer headsets due to supplier limitations.
- The water is safe to drink throughout your tour unless posted otherwise.
- This tour includes five dinners: They may be set menus, buffets, or family-style meals, depending on the location. Dinners also include one glass of beer, wine, or a soft drink.
- Breakfast each morning is also included at the hotel and is typically buffet style with hot and cold options.
- When in Poland, fill up on favorites like kielbasa and pierogi. Don't miss out on trying the bagels—they were born here.
- When in Lithuania, be sure to try to some brightly-colored borscht, lingonberry-filled saltnosiukai dumplings, and kibinai, a savory puff-pastry dish of onions and mutton.
- Latvian staples include sausages, soups, and a variety of smoked foods like herring, eel, and flounder. The country’s cuisine is quite heavy, relying on cabbage, eggs, pork, and potatoes, with little seasoning or spice.
- In Estonia, meat and potatoes anchor most meals, but smoked trout and blood sausages are considered specialties. Local liqueurs are quite popular and strong, particularly the sweet Vana Tallinn.
- On the tour extension, fish, meat, potatoes, and bread are staples in Finnish cuisine. Some typical Finnish foods include grillimakkara (grilled sausages), ruisleipä (rye bread), leipäjuusto (mild cheese, often served with jam) and korvapuusti (cinnamon buns).
- At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
- We recommend tipping $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and $4USD per person per day for your driver.
- If applicable, we also recommend $2USD per local guide.
- Tips can only be paid in cash.
- If you are traveling to multiple countries with different currencies and the same Tour Director, ask them what currency they prefer for their tip.
- The cost of porterage is included in your tour price, and it is not necessary to tip baggage handlers.
- You will use the Polish złoty in Poland and the euro in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia (and Helsinki on the tour extension).
- Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
- We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
- You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
- International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
- Plan ahead and bring cash to tip your tour director, local guides, and bus drivers.
- To help you feel prepared before traveling on tour, we strongly recommend downloading the EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app. It’s free and provides information about important deadlines and entry requirements, as well as your detailed itinerary, packing tips, and more. You can also connect with fellow travelers through the app’s chat feature.
- Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
- There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
- Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
- Your Tour Director will be leading your group throughout your journey. You will have the same Tour Director throughout your tour.
- The role of the Tour Director is not only to provide information and context on the destinations you visit, but also to confirm services, coordinate inclusions, prepare each days’ activities and support travelers while on tour. As such, they must focus on the success of the group, and cannot provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- One of the benefits of traveling with EF Go Ahead Tours is our on tour emergency support team.
- Our extensive network of offices around the world, and our integration of ISO 31000: Risk Management Guidelines, help our dedicated 24/7 Emergency Service teams anticipate and address on-tour challenges in a flexible and iterative way.
- This team supports travelers and Tour Directors using a combination of extensive training, simulations, incident response planning, and decades of experience to help manage emergencies if they arise, ranging from personal health concerns or injuries to major world events.
- As needed, On Tour Support can facilitate additional support for travelers on tour, arrange assistance from outside specialists, and liaise with local and international authorities to help solve on-the-ground issues. In addition, the team is dedicated to supporting and facilitating communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency while on the road or at home.
- Poland is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
- Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia (and Finland on the tour extension) are two hours ahead of GMT.
- When it’s noon in New York, it's 6pm in Poland, and 7pm in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland.
- When you travel with Go Ahead Tours, you’ll make a positive impact on the places you visit and the people and animals you meet along the way. That’s because our three core Responsible Travel commitments—protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and promoting animal welfare—are at the heart of every tour we offer.
- Travel, when done responsibly, can have an enormous socioeconomic impact on communities. To maximize your impact, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at small businesses. Ask your Tour Director to point out restaurants they recommend.
- Prepare for your trip: Be aware of monetary norms such as tipping and negotiating in a market; learn about the destination’s forms of etiquette; and take some time to learn a few words in the local language.
- When interacting with locals, make sure to ask people for permission before you take their picture, and approach cultural differences with empathy and an open mind.
- Go Ahead Tours encourages travelers to limit their waste while on the road, especially single-use plastics. You can cut back on generating plastic waste by packing your own toiletries, using electronic documents, and bringing a reusable water bottle and shopping bag. If you need to use plastics or paper, please recycle.
















































































