Following the overwhelming popularity of our Christmas Markets tour to Tallinn and Riga, we are now offering you the chance to visit both cities in summer along with the third ‘Baltic city’, Vilnius. Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city. The architecture in the largest baroque Old Town in Eastern Europe is well known and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. We’ll take a sightseeing tour of the city and visit the National Museum, where we’ll learn about the homemade fabrics and traditions of the everyday clothing worn by the local population. Riga is the largest city in the Baltics and is a fascinating mixture of proud Latvian traditions and influences of the various countries that have occupied it. The Old Town’s architecture is stunning. We’ll visit the highlights of the city with our local guide and explore the rich heritage of Latvian costume, taking part in a mitten knitting workshop with a local expert. Tallinn is one of Europe’s newest capitals and boasts a rich mix of architecture and culture. The Old Town was almost untouched by war and remains perfectly preserved. We’ll visit the highlights of the city with our local guide, learn about Estonian handicrafts and take part in a workshop with local experts. The tour is accompanied by our Arena Travel expert, Carol Meldrum, who has designed a project especially for this tour.
To use our NEW itinerary, simply click a day below and a detailed overview will appear.
Meet Carol & your Tour Manager at London Gatwick airport for your flight to Tallinn.
Includes Dinner
Today we tour Tallinn by coach and on foot. The Old Town is divided into two areas, the Lower Town and the Upper Town. During our exploration of the Upper Town, we will visit the St Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral, Toompea Castle and the Dome Church, Tallinn’s oldest church. We will also capture excellent views from the Kohtuosa viewing platform. In the Lower Town we will see the Danish King’s Garden, the Town Hall Square and the picturesque Viru Gates. The walking tour continues to the Estonian Handicraft House, Eesti Käsitöö Kodu, and the Katarina Guild Open Studios. Eesti Käsitöö Kodu is the largest handicraft centre in Estonia where you can buy beautiful and high-quality crafted items. At Katariina Lane we’ll see the various open studios of the Katarina Guild craftswomen. After some time at leisure for lunch visit Kadriorg Park and Palace, the grandest example of palace and park design in Estonian architectural history and the Tallinn TV Tower, home to the highest viewpoint in Estonia. Our day ends with a visit to the Jolleri Handicraft Chamber, a family-run shop and studio which sells yarns and unique knitwear to children and adults. This evening you’ll have dinner in the Old Town of Tallinn.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
This morning we leave Tallinn and make our way to Riga. On route we will stop at Tostamaa Crafts Centre handicraft shop. This authentic handicraft shop brings the stories of their ances-tors to life through traditional prepared handicrafts, exhibitions, and hands-on workshops. You’ll have the opportunity to meet Anu here, a well-known knitter in Estonia who specializes in knitting of ethnographic gloves. Next stop is Limbazi for lunch and a visit to its wool factory which was founded in 1914. It has a long tradition of wool production and home textile design. The company produces woollen yarn, woollen and linen fabrics, blankets, rugs, plaids and tablecloths. The company is especially proud to be amongst just a handful of producers of ethnographic fabrics based on authentic examples from the rich cultural heritage of the Baltic region. We’ll watch the wool being process using historical equipment. Before reaching Riga, we will stop at Aģes Dzirnavas. Here we will discover herbal colouring of wool using local plants like flowers, herbs, roots, and bark. Dinner is included this evening in the Old Town of Riga.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
This morning we’ll enjoy a guided walking tour of the Old Town. Explore the narrow-cobbled streets and old buildings that date back to the 15th -century. See the Town Hall Square, House of the Blackheads, Dome Square, Riga Cathedral and Riga Castle. In the very heart of the city experience Riga Central Market, one of the most unique markets in Europe. After the walking tour we’ll visit Tines, a Latvian handmade knitwear company. Tines is a family run business and offers a wide range of high-quality knitwear. Only natural materials are used, 100% wool and linen. After some free time for lunch, you’ll return to the hotel for a workshop with Carol.
Includes Breakfast
Today, we’ll visit the National Costume Centre, the storehouse for the magnificently rich heritage of Latvian national costumes. Every item here has been lovingly handmade by Latvian craftspeople. Latvia was founded nearly 100 years ago, but the history of the national costume is many centuries older. Archaeological findings and costumes restored from 1000-year-old fragments have allowed them to recreate the traditional costumes that are worn today. Mittens are a very important part of several Latvian tradi-tions. Probably the most popular role played by mittens was at a wedding. Tradition says that before an unmarried girl entered marriage, she had to fill a hope chest and mittens were an important part of the chest. A bride would knit between 100 and 300 pairs of mittens and no pair could be identical to another. After we will enjoy a knitting workshop of Latvian traditional gloves. This afternoon we will visit the Latvian Ethnographic Museum, one of the oldest and largest open-air museums in Europe. Enjoy an evening at leisure.
Includes Breakfast
Today we leave Riga and travel to Vilnius. On route we will stop in Bauska, once a centre of trade between the two cities. Visit the Folk Applied Art Studio in Bauska Town, the studios aim is to preserve, promote, revive, practice, strengthen and transmit to fu-ture generations the intangible cultural heritage. We will arrive in Vilnius late afternoon and enjoy dinner this evening in the Old Town.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
This morning we will spending exploring the charming city of Vilnius. Our local guide will lead us through the narrow streets and squares of the Old Town highlighting the most significant and interesting sites from the Gates of Dawn, St Anne’s Church, the Dome Cathedral, the Town Hall Square and Vilnius University. After we’ll have some time at leisure for lunch before returning to the hotel for an afternoon workshop with Carol.
Includes Breakfast
We will begin today with a visit to the National Museum of Lithuania where we’ll learn all about the homemade fabrics and cloth-ing of everything Lithuanians. Discover weaving techniques, colour combinations and patterns. Examples include skirts, aprons, blouses, shawls, overcoats, and headwear as well as mittens, socks, wristlets and shawls. This afternoon includes a visit to Megino Zona, a yarn shop and knitting studio. Enjoy some time to browse and shop before re-turning to the hotel. This evening dinner is included.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Today after a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, we will be transferred to Vilnius for our afternoon flight to London Gatwick.
Includes Breakfast
Single Room Supplement from £370.00 (9 days).
Specially designed for knitters, this Stitchtopia knitting holiday is the ideal opportunity to meet like-minded knitters and indulge in your favourite hobby. Our talented knitting expert will be on hand throughout the holiday and host inspirational workshops with a beautifully designed project to get those needles clicking!
You will be staying at the 4-star Nordic Forum Hotel in Tallinn for 3 Nights, the 5-star Pullman Riga Old Town Hotel in Riga for 3 Nights, and the 4-star Congress Avenue Hotel in Vilnius for 2 Nights
Need further information? Fill in our enquiry form and we'll get back to you as soon as we can
Need further information? Fill in our enquiry form and we'll get back to you as soon as we can
Need further information? Fill in our enquiry form and we'll get back to you as soon as we can