Tour from Vilnius - Riga via The Hill of Crosses, Rundale, Bauska
Description
Save time and money traveling from Vilnius to Riga!! Guaranteed departure Travel from Vilnius to Riga with ease and explore the world famous attractions under your own steam. This Baltic road trip will take you to the small, grey Jurgaiciai (Domantai) hillock, located in the North of Lithuania, which houses the thousands of crosses of every shape and size and has became the symbol of hope and persistence. The Rundale Palace, built in the eighteenth century as a summer residence of the Duke of Courland, will be another break of the Vilnius – Riga bus trip. This bright Baroque style building, surrounded by the extensive and splendid garden, is often referred to as the Versailles of Latvia and is a well worth visiting. Before reaching your destination you’ll make a stopover at the Bauska Castle complex, consisting of the ruins of an earlier castle and a newer palace.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Hill of Crosses, located sixteen kilometers from Siauliai city, is an authentic monument of history and religious folk art. This small hill with a collection of over 200 000 crosses is the best repository of Lithuanian cross making art and the representation of unshakable faith and a symbol of resistance against occupation.
The Rundale Palace, located just 15 kilometres from Lithuania – Latvia border, was built in the 18th century by Ernst Johann von Biron, as the summer residence of the Duke of Courland. The palace was designed by Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, an author of the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg. In the course of time and political rush the Palace has changed many owners and purposes – it was used as a hospital, elementary school or even a grain storage facility. Nowadays, after extensive and successful renovation process, The Rundale Palace Museum and Garden attracts masses of tourists and is deservingly called a „Versailles of Latvia“.
The Bauska Castle sits on a scenery land between two rivers Musa and Memele in the territory of Bauska town. The Bauska Castle complex consits of two parts: the older, the Livonian Order Castle, build in the middle of the 15th century, and a newer, a residence for the Duke of Courland, constructed at the end of the 16th century. During the Great Northern War the Bauska Castle ensemble was blew up by the Russian military. Nowadays the residence of the Duke of Courland is fully restored and is home the Castle Museum, while only ruins remain from the seat of the Livonian Order.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Trip runs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in season time
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
- A guranteed departured tour
Reviews(77)
Plan a snack for lunch, very short stops for the visits. Get well informed about the arrival point.
An exceptional way to make the most of your time.
This is the perfect way to get to Riga and see Hill of Crosses, the castle and the palace. Done separately would be more money and time.
Took the sightseeing transfer from Vilnius and Riga. The driver is friendly and gave a few points on the sites we visited, including the Hill of Crosses. I would recommend this tour with this company for those looking for a way to see more while also getting to where you need to go! Booking was easy as you can go on their website and pay with card.
The best way to travel from Vilnius to Riga and do sightseeing in between. It ended up being ‘private’ tour as it was just my husband and I on that booked that day therefore grateful that it still went ahead. The ride was comfortable, our driver Alex was very nice and knowledgeable and delivered us safely to Riga. We did all the three stops and definitely worth paying in to go to Rundale Palace - it was stunning and there’s a nice little cafe on the way to get lunch. The Hills of Crosses is such a unique place, you can walk down and purchase a cross near the car park to add to the site. Would definitely recommend this tour over just taking a bus if you’re moving in between cities!
Good way to travel from Vilnius to Riga and see some sights along the way. Alex did a good job. Ple tybof stops. Lunch available at Rundale Palace.
I booked this tour because it seemed like a great way to get from Vilnius to Riga while seeing a few places along the way. Instead, it turned into one of the worst travel experiences I’ve had. The pickup instructions were confusing from the start. My ticket said “Cathedral Square” as the pickup point. Then, buried in an email sent two days earlier, it clarified the pickup was actually at a bus stop opposite the bell tower. To make things even more confusing, there were multiple other buses and vans moving through the area at the same time, which made it even harder to work out which vehicle I was actually looking for. I arrived in the area at 7:57am with two large suitcases, but was trying to work out exactly where the bus stop was. At 8:05am I messaged the operator saying I was in the area but couldn’t see anyone. At 8:10am I called the driver via WhatsApp. From there, the driver/tour guide became immediately aggressive on the phone, repeatedly telling me I “was not at the location at 8am.” Fair enough — I wasn’t standing at the exact bus stop. But I was literally across the road in the square with two massive suitcases. If he had made even the slightest effort to look around, he would have seen me. What amazed me most was that they had my phone number the entire time, yet never once tried calling me. When I asked why, I was told: “Like trains, buses and airlines we are not responsible to call the travelers.” That response pretty much sums up the attitude of this company. I then asked about a refund. They refused to even discuss it. I actually tried to be reasonable and suggested a partial refund, acknowledging that I wasn’t standing at the exact spot mentioned in the email. Instead, the operator sent me a photo of an empty van asking where I was in the picture (time stamped 8:00am and 20 seconds). I explained I was nearby trying to locate the bus stop. He then sent a voice message saying the others on the tour were “smiling” at the whole situation — essentially implying I was making it up or being dishonest about where I had been standing. I travel a lot and have done tours all over the world. Mistakes and misunderstandings happen. But good operators try to help. This company did the opposite — defensive, rude, dismissive, and completely uninterested in finding a reasonable solution. A really disappointing way to end an otherwise fantastic time in Vilnius. I’d strongly recommend thinking twice before booking with this company.
Had a really nice experience with Alex. He was super friendly and informative. The trip did not feel rushed but still we managed to reach Riga on time.
Great experience! An excellent way to travel from Vilnius to Riga making stops with three magnificent visits: the mystical and touching Hill of Crosses, the wonderful and unmissable Rundule Palace with its breathtaking sumptuous interior, the beautiful and interesting Bauska Castle! Alex is a very kind and professional driver and guide. Everything perfect!
This is a great way to transport from Vilnius to Riga with three highlights along the way. The drive is mostly flat along farm lands and woods. Our guide says knowledgeable and very familiar with the route, he would point out the croisés erected by farmers and small communities as we pass them and explain the significance. The Hill of Crosses alone is worth the trip. It’s unassuming from the outside but poignant once inside. The Rundale Palace is worth the visit too especially if you like palace grandeur. This is the mini Versailles. The least overwhelming was Bauska Castle and fortress. It needs renovation, but the history is rich so just have to read about it and be imaginative. The tour dropped us off right by Riga’s Town Hall square, very convenient to keep sightseeing or grab food and drinks in the Old Town.
