The Baltics The new heart of Europe

Day 1: Switzerland - Potsdam

Journey via St. Gallen, Nuremberg and Leipzig to Potsdam. (Hotel Dorint Sanssouci****).

Day 2: Potsdam - Gdansk

Drive to the lovingly restored, 1,000-year-old Hanseatic city of Gdansk on the Polish Baltic coast. Gdansk is the city of amber and Goldwasser. St Mary's Church (Bazylika Mariacka) is one of the largest brick churches in the world. It is even said to be the largest of all. At 105 metres long and 66 metres wide, it is definitely in the top league. (Hotel Puro****).

Day 3: Gdansk - Kaliningrad

Stay and city tour in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad (formerly Königsberg), which lies over 1,000 kilometres from Moscow and is surrounded by EU countries. Traces of its German heritage can be found at the intact Brandenburg Gate and in the Fishermen's Village by the river, with restaurants and shops in reconstructed medieval-style buildings. Particularly worth seeing is Cathedral Island with its striking brick cathedral. From the 1990s onwards, the ruined cathedral was rebuilt by a German-Russian consortium. The bells ring out again every quarter of an hour, and on the hour the opening of Beethoven's 5th Symphony is played. The permanent exhibition "Immanuel Kant and his city" is housed on the upper floor. (Hotel Mercure****).

Day 4: Curonian Spit

You will explore the dreamlike nature reserve of the Curonian Spit, the cosy village of Nida with the Thomas Mann House, and the largest moving dunes in Europe. The Curonian Spit is a sand peninsula almost 100 kilometres long that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea and measures just 380 metres at its narrowest point. The narrow strip of land was once covered in coniferous forest, but over the centuries these were partly cleared and mighty sand dunes formed. Sand hills up to 60 metres high now rise here, creating a picturesque contrast with the deep blue of the Baltic Sea and the dense forests in the middle of the spit. (Hotel Amber Palanga****).

Day 5: Klaipeda - Vilnius

Short city tour of Klaipeda. Among other sights, you will see the oldest pharmacy in Lithuania. On the way to Vilnius, photo stop at the impressive island castle of Trakai. Picturesquely situated on an island, the castle is set in a lake landscape and surrounded by Lake Galvė. Sightseeing in Vilnius with a walking tour of the old town. Vilnius's historic old town is considered the largest in Eastern Europe. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, because of its many churches, is also known as the Rome of the East. (Hotel Vilnia****).

Day 6: Vilnius - Riga

Visit to the legendary Hill of Crosses and a stop at Rundale Palace. The Baroque palace in the Latvian region of Semigallia is often described as the Versailles of the Baltics. On the way you will stop at a farming family and taste local peppermint products. (2 nights at the Grand Hotel Poet****).

Day 7: Riga (optional)

Riga is regarded as the pearl of the Baltics and is often called the "Paris of the East". After the guided walking tour of the old town, including Riga Castle, the Swedish Gate, the Cathedral and the House of the Blackheads, you will know why. Every century has left its own particular mark over time, which is easy to see in the architecture of the old town. In 1997 Riga was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list because of its outstanding Art Nouveau architecture. In the afternoon you will also see the Art Nouveau streets of the new town and the Spikeri quarter.

Day 8: Saaremaa Island

Via Pärnu (with a short walk along the beach) you first reach the island of Muhu, where you will visit the village of Koguva. From here you continue to the next island: Saaremaa. Here you will see the Kaali meteorite crater. In the ranking of the world's giant craters, the Kaali crater comes in eighth place. The Kaali meteorite crater field is Estonia's rarest natural monument and at the same time the most impressive crater field in Eurasia. (Hotel Georg Ots****).

Day 9: Saaremaa - Tallinn

Before you leave Saaremaa, you will visit the town of Kuressaare with its castle of the same name. You will reach Tallinn in the late afternoon. (2 nights at the Hotel Radisson Blu Sky****)

Day 10: Tallinn

Fascinating walking tour of the old town, including Toompea Hill, all the major sights and the Lower Town. St Catherine's Passage is particularly authentic, a narrow lane with numerous studios and shops belonging to local artists. The "new Tallinn" will not be withheld from you either. Here you will see the modern Rotermann quarter and the Telliskivi Creative City.

Day 11: Tallinn - Helsinki - At sea

In the morning, ferry crossing to the Finnish capital, which you reach around midday. You will then be met for a short city tour. In the late afternoon, embarkation on a ferry to Travemünde. (Overnight on board).

Day 12: Travemünde - Lübeck

Enjoy the fresh Baltic breeze on board. In the evening, arrival in Travemünde and a short onward drive to the Hanseatic city of Lübeck. The city's landmark is the brick-built Holstentor.

(Hotel Atlantic****).

Day 13: Lübeck - Hildesheim

Drive to the attractive city of Hildesheim with its many half-timbered buildings, the picturesque market square and the cathedral, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Van der Valk Hotel****).

Day 14: Hildesheim - Switzerland

Return journey to Switzerland.