Become acquainted with Helsinki’s imposing architecture and fascinating history before taking a brief foray out into the countryside. You will pass Helsinki’s colorful open-air market, the Presidential Palace, Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral and the icebreakers docked for the summer, the Bank of Finland and the House of Estates to pause at Senate Square to learn about the city’s history and admire the neoclassical-style buildings dating from the mid-1800s.  Next, head out to the farming community of Sipoo, which although close to the city is typically representative of the Finnish countryside. On arrival you will view St. Sigfrid’s, which was built in the 1400s and is the community’s oldest church. Then continue your drive through the forest to a Finnish countryside home nestled beside a beautiful lake.  You will have time to stroll the grounds as your charming hosts describe life in Finland. Later, refreshments of coffee or tea with seasonal berry pie and ice cream will be served. A leisurely drive back to the city will take you along Mannerheim Street, Helsinki’s main thoroughfare. Here you see Parliament House, Finlandia Hall, the National Museum, Kiasma and the Olympic Stadium.  

Please note: When special functions are being held at St. Sigfrid’s Church or the Rock Church, an interior visit is not possible. St. Sigfrid’s Church is closed on Sundays. 

Experience the bustling city harbor of Helsinki with its large ferries and picturesque islands. Take a short motor coach ride to the city center – a fascinating mix of East and West, old and new. Stop in the historic heart of Helsinki, Senate Square which dates back to 1778. Visit the famous Rock Church – an intriguing modern-day structure built entirely into bedrock and quarried stone. You’ll pass City Hall, the President’s Palace, Olympic Stadium, Opera House, and the Parliament House. In Sibelius Park, photograph the monument of over 600 steel pipes which honors the great Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Take note of the location of Esplanade Street, famous for its fine shops and open-air restaurants. At the end of the tour, you’ll have the option of shopping independently in town or returning to the yacht.

Please note: In the event that a special function is being held at the Rock Church, an inside visit will not be possible. 

One of the finest ways to explore Helsinki’s tree-lined avenues, graceful parks, and distinctive architecture is on foot. From the pier, a coach will transport you directly to Senate Square, with its imposing Lutheran Church, Senate Building, and University, in neo-classical style. From here, your walk passes the Eliel Saarinen Central Railway Station, National Theater and Sanoma Talo. Then view several formidable buildings which dominate the city skyline, such as the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, Finlandia Hall, the National Museum, and Parliament House.  A welcome cup of coffee or tea will be served with a pastry at a waterfront café near the Opera House, before ascending to the Töölö residential area, through Hesperia Park. Ahead lies the famous Rock Church, a magnificent modern-day structure built entirely into bedrock and quarried stone. As your walk concludes here, a coach will return you directly to the pier. Guests on morning departures have the option of staying in the downtown area before returning independently to the ship.

Please note: Audio headsets are provided. As the walk covers approximately 4 miles, comfortable walking shoes are recommended. When special functions are being held at the Rock Church, an interior visit is not possible. The order of sites visited may be altered.

Tallinn was first mentioned in written records in 1154. The medieval part of Tallinn is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of the best–preserved medieval town centers in Europe. 

Start your trip with a drive from the cruise port to Noblessner district, situated close to the center of Tallinn.  In developing the Noblessner district, the aim has been to create a distinguished environment that sets great store by its historical heritage and picturesque seaside setting. Redevelopment will include the completion of a waterfront promenade and the reconstruction of the Foundry and yacht club. A photostop will be made at the seaside Noblessner. Rejoin the coach and drive to famous local market with hundreds of shopping and food tasting possibilities. The most modern market of its kind in Estonia, it brings an extraordinary range of items together under one roof, with everything from farm-fresh produce to tasty street food. The new market is something of a community center too, drawing in locals to do their everyday shopping, but its unique atmosphere, fascinating selection of antiques, and brewery also make it a great place for tourists to explore. Taste Estonian rye bread and cheese at the market. From  the market walk to Lower Old Town. The Lower Town was a free Hanseatic city of craftspeople and merchants and its history is evident in its guild houses, merchants’ homes and warehouses. During your walking tour in Tallinn’s Lower Town, you will be able to admire one of the highest buildings in the world in the 16th century St. Olaf’s church. Pass the Great Guild House, White Bread Passage, and the House of the Brotherhood of the Blackheads, on your way to the Town Council’s Apothecary (1422) and the Town Hall (1404). Built in the heart of Tallinn next to a marketplace, the Town Hall has been used over the centuries as a site for fairs and celebrations. Next you will have lunch in an Old Town restaurant Rado (or similar), where you can try the local flavor. After lunch walk through the city center to Rotermann Quarter. Rotermann City is a cozy and friendly urban environment characterized by historical atmosphere, outstanding and tantalizing architecture, openness, uniqueness, and obviously the excellent location – right in the heart of the city. Rotermann Quarter celebrates its 185th anniversary and can be compared to Tallinn’s Old Town in terms of the number of historically valuable buildings. Enjoy a short cider break in one of Rotermann Quarter cafes. 

 

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes.

 

 

 

The tourist coach will take you to Rottermann Quarter where you can learn all about chocolate in a chocolate-making workshop. It is here that the famous Estonian Kalev Producer has opened its newest shop, which not only sells chocolate, marzipan and confectionery products to sweet tooth’s but also organizes workshops on truffles. Your tour will include a 2-hour workshop on chocolate. You will have an extraordinary opportunity to make delicious fillings for your truffles and cover them with chocolate under the supervision of an experienced Master Confectioner. After the workshop you will be welcome to use your shopping privilege in the Kalev store and receive a discount on your purchase. The coach will take you back to the ship. 

Please note: There are 20 steps to enter the workshop.

Your motor coach will transport you from the port  to Tallinn Lower Town. In the ancient Three Sisters building you will enjoy refreshments and snacks while meeting with an Estonian Diplomat. The Three Sisters is Estonian´s only boutique hotel that is a member of the prestigious Relais & Chateux group. In 2003, three of Tallinn´s merchant houses, built in 1362, were renovated and united to create The Three Sisters, which now offers modern amenities with great design and a backdrop of medieval history. After the meeting continue your walking tour by Pikk Street and pay attention to Great Guild House and the House of the Brotherhood of Blackheads. You will also see a  former KGB house. The Lower Town was a free Hanseatic city of craftspeople and merchants and its history is evident in its guild houses, merchants’ homes, and warehouses. Reach Town Hall Square, the hub of Lower Town, after passing the Church of the Holy Spirit and White Bread Passage. Here you will see Tallinn Town Hall, the only surviving Gothic town hall in northern Europe and former home of the town council. Also, notice the Town Hall Pharmacy across the square, which has been in business since 1422. Rejoin your coach at Nunne Street and drive back to port.

Please note:  There are 10 steps to enter the Three Sisters building.  Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

On the pier, you’ll meet your Estonian guide, a freedom fighter who will take you back to 1991-1992 when Estonia became independant. In the Soviet bus, the guide will be talking about absurd Soviet propaganda, the Soviet leaders and of course offering vodka shots with pickles. The guide will be focusing on his/her personal stories: how people lived and become free 30 years ago, what Soviet life was like, the transition period and what the situation was in the USSR. You will learn more about Estonia in the style of histotainment/edutainment. Enjoy a picnic of sausage rolls, a beverage, mustard and vodka near the seashore. The guide will talk about new life since the 1990s but still have funny Soviet background stories about when they see capitalists coming to their bus.
 
Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes.
 
 

 

 

 

Tallinn’s Old Town has earned a place in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Capture views of its must-see highlights and gain an appreciation of Estonia’s rich musical traditions. Your coach will travel past the Old Town Wall, the National Opera, and Freedom Square.  You will ascend Dome Hill (Toompea), for enchanting views of the Parliament of Estonia, the Tall Hermann Tower and the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Alexander Nevski. Other sites include the Lutheran Dome Church (St. Mary’s Cathedral) and the House of the Estonian Knighthood.  Then take a stroll along narrow cobblestone lanes and alleys for sweeping panoramas of the Lower Town with its red rooftops and slender church steeples framed by beautiful sea views.  Enter a restaurant and meet a folk musician, learn about Estonian music traditions and see the playing of various musical instruments. Refreshments of Estonian snacks will be served before your walk continues to Town Hall Square, past the Great Guild House, House of the Brotherhood of the Blackheads and the Church of the Holy Spirit. Beyond lies the Town Council’s 15th century Apothecary and Town Hall. After traversing Apteegi (Pharmacy) Lane you will continue to the Katariina (Catherine’s) Passage lined with handicraft workshops. Reboard the coach and return to the ship.

 

Please note: Comfortable shoes are recommended as some of the walk is along cobblestone streets and there are 20 steps to climb to enter the churches.

 

 

 

Your tour will take you to one of the largest and most glorious Art Nouveau places in Europe, with more than a third of the buildings of its Central District built in this style. The Art Nouveau movement reached its peak in the early 20th century, which is when the majority of Riga’s Art Nouveau houses were built. Drive to Alberta Street which is considered the epitome of Art Nouveau in Riga. Each house is a different and unique construction achievement. Nowhere else in Riga will you observe such a concentration of expression and architectural fantasy. You will be invited to visit a typical Art Nouveau family apartment. This is a unique apartment which represents the true nature of Art Nouveau living – from authentic planning of the rooms and original paintings of walls to the tiniest details – stained-glass windows, kitchen tiles and even handles of doors and windows. The collection of the museum accounts for more than 500 authentic objects – original Art Nouveau furniture, tableware, needleworks, clothes and many other items of interior design on display. Your experience of Riga would not be complete without a delightful boat trip. Riga Old Town is surrounded by water as a part of the old fortification system. Now it is a beautiful water route surrounded with green parks and flowerbeds. Enjoy the tour from the new wooden boats and see the Freedom Monument, the National Opera House, Latvian State University and many other great architectural monuments. Enjoy the scenery of Riga while tasting traditional Latvian cookies and soft drinks.

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes and comfortable clothing. The sequence of stops may vary in order to avoid congestion.

Start your day with a leisurely drive along the boulevards of Riga. Riga has around 800 art nouveau buildings, the majority of which are concentrated in the central part of Riga and are recognized as UNESCO Heritage Sites. Walk through Old Riga and get acquainted with its most famous architectural monuments: 13th century St. Peter's Church, St. George's Church, St. John's Church, a part of the restored city wall and the medieval John's yard. The tour will take you to the heart of Old Riga - the Dome Square. You will see the Dome Cathedral and the famous Riga Stock Exchange building. Finally, you'll cross the River Daugava for a magnificent panoramic view of the Old Town before your tour ends back at the pier.
 
Please note: Wear comfortable clothing and footwear. The sequence of venues visited may be different to avoid congestion. This tour involves a large amount of walking over uneven surfaces.
 
 

 

 

 

Spend your day out of the hustle and bustle of the city. Just 30 miles west from busy and fast going Riga you will find a peaceful nature sanctuary - Kemeri National Park. The Park covers the area of 38,165 hectares and is the 3rd largest national park in Latvia. This park is special for its great biological diversity, mineral waters and therapeutic mud. The park also stands out with its diverse world of wetlands: raised bogs, fens, and transitional bogs can be found here. You will walk in the largest bog of the national park – The Great Kemeri Bog, which was formed 8,000 years ago and covers an area of 5,000 hectares. Kemeri Bog is home to many bird species such as black storks, sea eagles, small eagles and corncrakes. In the wet forest of the bog you can spot the white-backed woodpecker or the grey woodpecker. The bog is home not only for birds, but also for rare plant species such as yellow cuckoo, wild fawn and Loessel’s leopard, which thrive in the bog. A guide will lead you through unmarked trails through the bogs and take you to the world of moss, small pine trees, deep pools, tiny dark lakes, and the smell of wild rosemary.

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes and comfortable clothing.  Bring a change of clothes as you may get dirty on this tour. Walking distance is estimated, depending on bog condition.

Start your day with a leisurely drive along the boulevards of Riga where sights range from the 14th century Riga Castle to one of the finest collections of Art Nouveau architecture. Stop at the National Opera House, considered to be one of the most beautiful opera buildings in Europe. Nearby stands the Freedom Monument, erected in 1935, which became the hub of Latvian independence movement in 1990s. Walk through the Old Riga and get acquainted with its most famous architectural monuments: St. George's Church, St. John's Church, a part of the restored city wall and the medieval John's yard. The tour will take you to the heart of Old Riga - the Dome Square. You will see the Dome Cathedral and the famous Riga Stock Exchange building. Take a break in one of the Old Town restaurants and enjoy Latvian Black balsam together with traditional Latvian cake. Continue your walk through the Old Riga and see the medieval dwelling houses "Three Brothers", 13th century St. Jacob's Church. Enjoy a a wonderful panorama of the Old Town of Riga from the St. Peter’s Church spire which rises 400 feet above the city.

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes and comfortable clothing. The sequence of stops may vary in order to avoid congestion. This tour involves a large amount of walking over uneven surfaces. 

Riga, the capital of Latvia, is the largest city in the Baltic States. Founded in 1201 on the banks of Daugava River, Riga is known as the ancient Hanseatic city and is even named as "The little Paris." During the bus trip along the boulevards of Riga you will see the exceptionally beautiful examples of Art Nouveau architecture of the late 19th and early 20th century. You will stop by one of the lovely Art Nouveau buildings in the center of Riga. To the very same building, which you are about to visit, the secret Soviet state police, known as KGB moved in in 1940. In 1941 they left for 3 years, but in 1944 they took over the building again and left only when Latvia regained its independence in 1991. KGB imprisoned, tortured, killed and morally humiliated its victims in this building. Now this stark reminder of the Soviet regime opens its grim corridors and cells for guided visits. Re-join your bus and drive to the Academy of Science. On the way pass by outstanding Freedom Monument, which symbolizes the struggle of Latvian people for independence and Riga’s Central Market, which is included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Latvian Academy of Sciences is considered to be the first high-rise in Latvia. It is one of the most notable examples of so-called Socialist Realism in Latvia. The 351-foot (107-meter) high building was originally intended to serve as a “kolkhoznik house” – a hotel for the workers from Soviet collective farms who visited Riga. However, since its construction in 1958, it has never served that function. Now scientists, researchers and historians occupy all 776 rooms. Take a ride on the vintage soviet elevator to the 17th floor and enjoy breath-taking views of Riga Old Town and the Daugava River.

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes and comfortable clothing. There are many flights of stairs in the KGB Museum. For guests with walking difficulties assistance is recommended. Sequence of stops may vary in order to avoid congestion.

Growing your own food is the Latvian way of life. You are invited to visit Riga Central Market – where people shop, meet, talk and spend their daily time. Board your bus and drive to Riga’s Central Market, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the Central Market you will meet with a Latvian Chef for a guided walk of the Market. The market includes five pavilions each with its own category – vegetables, dairy, meat, fish and gastronomy products. Here you will see not only Latvian-grown and homemade products, but also exotic fruit and spices. You will be welcomed to taste some of the local specialties. Then continue your exploration of Riga and drive to the Old Town. A walking tour through the labyrinth of cobblestone streets will reveal the flavors of Riga. There will be plenty of architectural examples to please your eye along the way and something uniquely Latvian for your palate. Visit the mysterious alchemic laboratory of Abraham Kunze, the home of Riga Black Balsam since the 18th century. The entrance to the laboratory is hidden behind a secret door. Once inside you will be surrounded by the authentic atmosphere of a medieval alchemic laboratory which will make you believe in the reality of miracles and the secret of Riga Black Balsam. You will see the pride of Riga, Dome Cathedral, famous for one of the biggest organs in Europe. Your guided tour continues to St. Peter's Church, St. George's Church, St. John's Church, a part of the restored city wall and the medieval John's yard. You will also have an opportunity to see the medieval dwelling houses "Three Brothers," 13th century St. Jacob's Church and 14th century Riga castle which now houses the President’s palace. Before heading back to the ship see the outstanding Freedom Monument (1935) which symbolizes the struggle of Latvian people for independence.

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes and comfortable clothing. This tour involves over 1 mile of walking and several flights of stairs. Tour is not wheelchair accessible. The sequence of stops may vary in order to avoid congestion.

 

Discover the Old World beauty and architecture of Copenhagen during a scenic, debarkation tour of this historic Danish capital, concluding with a transfer to the airport for your flight home.  After disembarking the ship, your sightseeing tour will begin with a photo stop at the Little Mermaid, the famous bronze sculpture which is considered to be the “Symbol of Copenhagen.”  From here, a visit will be made to the courtyard of the Amalienborg Palace which consists of four identical rococo palaces surrounding the spacious octagonal Palace Square.  You will drive through the colorful canal area of Nyhavn, a trendy area of Copenhagen, with many cafés and restaurants along the canal.  From here, continue on for a photo stop at the Christiansborg Palace, home of the Danish Parliament and the Queen's Reception rooms. Your tour will conclude with a scenic sightseeing drive through the city.  Along the way, pass by the City Hall and Square, Strøget Pedestrian Street, which is filled with shops, boutiques and cafés, and the world-famous Tivoli Garden, home to a wealth of flowers, restaurants and entertainment.  Afterward, drive by the Glyptotek Art Museum and the Old Stock Exchange, then through Christianshavn before taking the beautiful coastal road of Amager Island to the airport for your flight home.

Please note: This tour is offered to guests disembarking the ship with flights at 2:00 p.m. or later and will end at the airport.  It requires a moderate amount of walking and most areas visited are wheelchair accessible.  This tour is suitable for guests with limited mobility and those who utilize a wheelchair; however, guests must be able to embark and disembark the coach via the coach steps.  The tour sequence may vary. 

The tour is a must-do for every first-time visitor to Copenhagen and provides an excellent orientation for further exploration on your own.  Your first stop will be at the Copenhagen Landmark, the Little Mermaid Statue where a photo stop will be made.  Then continue on your tour and drive by Rosenborg Castle, a fairy-tale castle housing the crown jewels and a collection of royal memorabilia such as Christian IV's pearl-studded saddle.  Next, visit the courtyard of Amalienborg Palace, the royal winter residence.  Drive through the colorful canal area of Nyhavn, now a trendy area of Copenhagen with many cafés and restaurants along the canal.  Continue to Christiansborg Palace, home of the Danish Parliament and the Queen's Reception rooms.  Enjoy the view of the City Hall and Square.  One side is the mile-long pedestrian street Strøget filled with shops, boutiques and cafés.  Opposite is the world famous Tivoli Gardens, founded back in 1843 and offering a wealth of flowers, restaurants and entertainment.  Next, pass the Glyptotek Art Museum with an impressive collection of art and then on to the old Stock Exchange - a building in Dutch renaissance style with its spire of entwined dragon tails.  Drive through the area of Christianshavn and leave the island of Zealand.  After this scenic overview of the Danish capital, your coach and guide will transfer you to your post cruise Windstar hotel.

Please note: This tour is offered to guests staying in Copenhagen at the conclusion of their cruise.  It requires a moderate amount of walking and most areas visited are wheelchair accessible.  This tour is suitable for guests with limited mobility and those who utilize a wheelchair; however, guests must be able to embark and disembark the coach via the coach steps.  Order of sites may vary.  Guests staying at other hotel properties in Copenhagen, may take this tour and take a taxi on their own from the Phoenix Copenhagen Hotel.