Day Trips from Siauliai

This full-day tour starts at 09.00 AM when you’re picked up at your centrally located Vilnius Hotel. After about an hour’s drive you’ll reach the Ukmergė District, stopping at a park established to remember those who fought against the Soviet regime. You’ll see crosses dedicated to the partisans, to the most important dates of Lithuanian history and to famous individuals, such as Pope John Paul II and US President Ronald Reagan. Learn about the symbolism of the cross in Lithuanian culture and history. Continue to the Siauliai area, where you’ll visit the Hill of Crosses, one of the most popular sightseeing attractions in Lithuania. Enjoy lunch at local restaurant and taste traditional Lithuanian dishes. After lunch you’ll head back to Vilnius arriving at around 5:00-6:00 PM.

This full-day day tour is the best choice for those who want to save time, money, and see the most important sights along the trip from Riga to Vilnius. Visit Bauska Castle, which is surrounded by a picturesque scenery and represents an example of military architecture (XV - XVII century). The castle consists of two parts: the fortress built especially for the use of firearms and the residential castle fortified with bastions, protective walls and earthen ramparts. About two hours is reserved to explore Rundale Palace, one of the most outstanding monuments of Baroque and Rococo architecture in Latvia, which sometimes is called as ‘The Versailles of Latvia’. Rundale Palace is built in the mid-18th-Century by the Russian court architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, it was the summer residence of the Duke of Courland. The two-story castle contains 138 elaborate rooms, a lovely French garden and a museum dedicated to the history of Latvia. Last but not least is a unique ensemble of Lithuanian folk art - The Hill of Crosses. The monument with more than 200.000 crosses in various sizes and materials stands on Jurgaiciai - Domantai mound. During your visit at The Hill of Crosses, you will learn more about the legendary stories why the Hill appeared. In the evening finish your drive and arrive in Vilnius city.

Enjoy a complimentary hotel pick-up and transfer from your centrally located Vilnius hotel or accommodation to Riga through the Hill of Crosses in Siauliai and Rundale palace in Latvia, with a possible stop at Bauska castle in Latvia. The drive to the Hill of Crosses will be about 2.5 hours from Vilnius. The Hill of Crosses has about 100,000 crosses and is an historical architectural monument and 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 its 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.

Starting from any location in Siauliai, you will be collected and driven to the famous Hill of Crosses. Explore this striking religious site and see more than 200,000 crosses, crucifixes, statues of the Virgin Mary, tiny effigies, rosaries and carvings of Lithuanian patriots that have been brought to the hill by Catholic pilgrims.  Enjoy a small group experience and the knowledge of your local, English-speaking guide.

Start with pickup from any location within Siauliai. Enjoy a small-group experience and the knowledge of your local, English-speaking guide. First you will visit the Hill of Crosses pilgrimage site. Marvel at over 200,000 crosses, effigies and statues brought by Catholic pilgrims over many centuries. See statues of the Virgin Mary, tiny effigies, rosaries, and carvings of Lithuanian patriots that have been brought to the hill.  Next, cross over into Latvia to visit the Rundale Palace, the most beautiful baroque palace in Latvia. The palace was built in 18th century is an outstanding example of the early work of Italian-Russian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, who also designed the famous Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. The professionally renovated palace interiors are decorated with authentic 18th century furniture, paintings. The most impressive features include the Golden Hall, the White Hall, and the bedroom of the Duke of Courtland, Johan Ernst Biron.

This full-day day tour is the best choice for those who want to save time, money, and see the most important sights along the trip from Vilnius to Riga. The trip visits of a unique ensemble of Lithuanian folk art - The Hill of Crosses; one of the most outstanding monuments of Baroque and Rococo architecture in Latvia - The Rundale palace and Bauska Castle, which is surrounded by picturesque scenery.  Start from Vilnius at 8:00 AM in the morning with more than two hours of drive to the Siauliai area. There, take an excursion to a unique ensemble of folk art known as the ‘The Hill of Crosses’ with more than 200,000 standing crosses of various sizes and materials. Learn more about the legendary stories of why the Hill appeared.  On the way to Rundale palace, stop at a regional restaurant for lunch. At about 01:00 PM arrive Rundale palace, one of the most outstanding monuments of Baroque and Rococo architecture in Latvia, which sometimes is called as 'The Versailles of Latvia'.  Last but not least go sightseeing at Bauska Castle, which is surrounded by picturesque scenery and represents an example of military architecture (XV - XVII century). The castle consists of two parts: the fortress built especially for the use of firearms and residential castle fortified with bastions, protective walls, and earthen ramparts. Finally, at about 04:00 PM, depart to Riga with an approximate arrival time between 05:00 PM and 06:00 PM.

Discover Anykščiai town! This day tour starts with a pick-up from your centrally-located Vilnius hotel.  Firstly, visit the highest Lithuanian Church. Explore the Domantai Hill Fortress, which is covered with more than 200,000 crosses, crucifixes, effigies, statues of saints and patriots. Then gain insight into Lithuania's engineering history on the narrow-gauge railway.  Afterwards, go to the Ethnographic Horse Museum and discover traditional crafts. The tour continues with a visit to the famous "devil" stone of Lithuania - Puntukas. Last but not least is an exclusive treetop walking path - the only one to be found in the Baltic countries and even in the Eastern Europe. The path curves 300m through treetops, leading to a 35m high viewing tower, from which you can look over the fabled Anykščai woods, admire bend of Šventoji river and take a walk through the tree canopy.

During this private day tour you will be able to explore the most interesting sites, which Pope John Paul II visited. Pope John Paul II was the first Roman pontiff who visited Lithuania in September 1993. His pontificate is related with Lithuanian religious and national revival, and the re-establishment of the Lithuanian Republic in 1990. In the very beginning of his pontificate, John Paul II spontaneously pronounced his famous phrase: “Half of my heart is in Lithuania”.  The tour will include two sites which were visited by the Pope: Siluva Shrine of Our Lady and Hill of the Crosses, and one extra site of the beautiful monastery of Tytuvenai. The tour starts from Vilnius and heads to Siluva. Since the beginning of the 16th century, Siluva has been famous for the indulgenced Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Siluva is famous for the first widely known apparition of the Mother of God in Europe. Today Siluva is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Lithuania with its ancient tradition of the indulgenced Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.   Next stop will be Tytuvenai monastery. Tytuvėnai’s Church of Our Lady of the Angels and Bernardine monastery complex are among Lithuania’s largest and most significant specimens of 17th and 18th century sacred architecture, reflecting as they do a multi-layered harmony of the Gothic, Mannerist and Baroque styles. The last stop of the tour is the Hill of Crosses. The Hill of Crosses has about 100,000 crosses, it is a historical architectural monument and a unique composition of folk art. The Hill of Crosses in Lithuania left a deep impression on Pope John Paul II. After the tour, head back to Vilnius.

The journey will start with a pick-up from your centrally located hotel. Then, drive to the pilgrim shrine of Siluva town, where The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared four centuries ago.  Here, visit the Basilica of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is one the finest examples of late Baroque architecture in Lithuania and famous by miraculous altar painting. Another sightseeing spot - The Chapel of Apparition marks the exact place of the apparition – its altar is constructed upon the same rock where, according to tradition, the Marian apparition took place. Then the trip continues to Tytuvėnai’s Church of Our Lady of the Angels and the Bernardine monastery complex, which is one of Lithuania’s largest and most important religious architecture ensembles from the 17th and 18th-centuries. The ensemble consists of a church, a courtyard with the Holy Steps Chapel, and the stone wall of a two-story monastery. The main altar of the church features a famous and beautiful painting of the Mother of God and her Child. Last but definitely not the least stop is at The Hill of Crosses -  a mysterious and authentic monument to the suffering, endurance and love of Lithuanians for their freedom, both political and spiritual. After this, the tour ends and you will return to Vilnius.