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Private Trip from Vilnius to Riga: Exploring Hill of Crosses, Rundale Palace and Bauska Castle
4.6
12 Ratings
Jurgaiciai
Embark on a private trip from Vilnius to Riga and explore the captivating Hill of Crosses, magnificent Rundale Palace, and historic Bauska Castle. Discover the rich history and culture of Lithuania and Latvia with a knowledgeable guide.
Duration:
9 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Kryziu Kalnas - The Hill of Crosses has about 100,000 crosses and is an historical architectural monument, it is a unique composition of folk art. It is said that first crosses were erected here by the next-of-kin of the rebels that fell in the 1831 rebellion. The Hill of crosses attracts people with it’s peace, spirituality, authenticity and sacred nature and was visited by Pope John Paul II.
After exploring this site, you will head to Rundale Palace, which is an approximately 40-minute drive. Rundale Palace is one of the two major baroque palaces built for the Dukes of Courland in what is now Latvia. In 1735 Duke of Courland Ernst Johann von Biron bought land in Rundale with an old medieval castle in the territory of a planned summer residence. The old castle was demolished and construction after the design of Bartolomeo Rastrelli started in 1736.
Your drive to Riga after your visit to the palace is approximately 1 hour.
What's Included
- Bottled water included
- Expert driver/guide at your service
- Comfortable car transportation
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Entrance tickets for Rundale castle
Additional Information
Experience a complete day excursion to the Northeast Lithuania landmarks such as the Hill of the Crosses and Latvia’s splendid Baroque Rundale Palace. Enjoy the company of a private tour guide who will accompany you, elucidating the historic significance and contemporary lifestyle of both Lithuania and Latvia during the journey. Post tour, you have the option to extend your stay in Riga or return to Vilnius.
- Dress code is formal
Location
Kryziu Kalnas
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.6
(12 Ratings)
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Danielle_r
Jul 16, 2024
Fantastic trip! - What an amazing way to travel between the cities and see some amazing sights along the way! Bruno was a fantastic guide - drove safely, had so many facts to share along the ride and was such a gentleman. He gave me all the time I needed at each stop and also chose the cutest restaurant to have lunch. I couldn’t recommend this tour more highly!
Review provided by Viator
Sarah_c
Jul 3, 2024
Excellent way to go from Vilnius to Riga - Excellent driver and trip. The ride was very pleasant and informative. We had plenty of time at each stop and never felt rushed. Lunch was at a traditional Lithuanian restaurant and we appreciated the Driver ordering for us and letting us experience some traditional foods. We highly recommend this experience.
Review provided by Viator
Tanis_d
May 27, 2024
Beautiful drive through the countryside with amazing sites. - Our driver Bruno was knowledgeable and explained all the sites - it was a beautiful drive though the countryside and Rundale Palace and Hill of Crosses are extraordinary. I would recommend this trip to anyone interested in history.
Review provided by Viator
Fggp
Feb 7, 2024
You cannot miss these wonderful experiences when you visit Lithuania or Latvia - I had the opportunity to visit incredibly interesting places that I had never heard of, such as the Hill of Crosses, with an interesting story of struggle and sacrifice of a people over many years that was totally ignored by many other cultures and yet it should have international significance. Rundale Palace, baroque style with exquisite interior and exterior ornamentation, in addition to possessing an innumerable amount of historical objects from the 18th and 19th centuries belonging to the German Emperor William I and his family 👪. Then, Bauska Castle, although observed from a distance, represents an important building in the fight against the Russian empire for the freedom of the Latvian, Estonian and Lithuanian peoples. The excursion was really very interesting from the beginning, getting to know both Lithuania and Latvia and a journey of indescribable beauty of landscapes. I recommend it to you
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amanda_b
Jan 7, 2024
Great Transfer From Vilnius to Riga - This was my third excursion with Giedrius and I would absolutely recommend this transfer experience from Vilnius, Lithuania to Riga, Latvia led by him. He met me at my accommodations and handled loading my luggage for me. From there, we headed to the three destinations included on the itinerary on our way to Riga. I had plenty of time at each location to take tours and experience the sites, never feeling rushed. The Hill of Crosses was a moving experience and I had an opportunity to learn so much new history at Runsdale Palace. The trip was comfortable and we stopped along the way for restrooms and snacks. Despite ample time at each location, we still arrived on time in Riga, where Giedrius once again dropped me off directly at my accommodations. This transfer excursion allowed me to see areas of Lithuania and Latvia that I otherwise wouldn't have been able to see without a car and with the limited time I had to visit.
Review provided by Viator
Anthony_s
Dec 26, 2023
Vilnius - Riga Transfer - A nice way to mix up a transfer from Vilnius to Riga with some sights along the way. The Hill of Crosses is something very different but spiritual in its own way. Rundale palace was very beautiful and reminiscent of the palaces in St Petersburg. The driver was also very good.
Review provided by Viator
Mariko_h
Jul 27, 2023
Vilnius to Riga Private Tour from Solo Female Traveler - I really enjoyed taking this private tour and recommend everyone to sign up should they find themselves traveling between Vilnius/Riga! As a solo female traveler, I felt completely safe and loved learning about the history of both Riga and Vilnius. I especially loved the ample amount of time to visit the three stops to take as many photos and explore without feeling rushed. If you take a tour with Giedrius you're in for a treat as he's a great conversationalist. Enjoyed the convenience of being picked up from my hotel in Vilnius and dropped off at my hotel in Riga.
Review provided by Viator
Iris_c
Jun 2, 2023
Private Vilnius to Riga transfer - Beautiful day. Comfortable way to get to Riga unfortunately not much to see along the way other than the 3 main stops
Review provided by Viator
Cheryl_b
Dec 18, 2023
Okay, but not amazing. - The car was very small for the 3 of us on the tour. The driver was very nice, but we were packed in. We had the perfect amount of time at the Hill of Crosses and Rundale Palace. The driver told us that Bauska Castle was closed for renovations so we can only take pictures. After looking online the Castle website says it’s open???
For the amount we spent on the tour, I don’t feel it was a good value.
Review provided by Viator
Lovecruises1
Jun 22, 2024
Unsafe driver - The places seen were interesting particularly the Hills of Crosses. The driver though was on his phone the whole time, texting continuously that we feared for our safety. Think twice about booking him.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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