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Cultural Capitals of Eastern Europe Tour


This 10-day experience includes visits to several top destinations within three countries including Minsk, Brest, Kyiv, Odessa and Chisinau.
Overview
Visit three countries in one go with this fascinating tour of Eastern European capitals. Explore the breath-taking landscapes, scenic hotspots and unique culture of Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine over the course of 10 days. If you are looking for a culturally immersive experience that includes a mix of scenic sites and city life, then this is the tour for you.
Brest Hero Fortress
City tours in three capital cities: Chisinau, Minsk and Kyiv
Orheiul Vechi Archeological Museum Complex
Panoramic views from High Castle Mountain
St Sophia Cathedral
UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nesvizh Palace
Itinerary


Minsk
Minsk is the official capital of Belarus, situated on the Svislač and the Niamiha rivers. The city has origins dating to the 11th century and has formed part of several kingdoms over its lifetime including the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, before becoming the capital of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. The city has around 11 theatres and 16 museums, including the Belarusian State Museum of History which is home to exhibits from World War II.
Day 1
Arrival in Minsk
Welcome to Minsk! Your driver will meet you at your scheduled arrival point (airport or railway station) before taking you to your hotel where you will check in and spend the evening.
Arrival Transfer
Free Time
Prominent Landscape
Scenic Surrounds
Souvenir Shopping
Day 2
Visiting the UNESCO sites Nesvizh Palace and Mir Castle
After a good night’s sleep enjoy a buffet breakfast, before checking out and setting out on an early sightseeing tour of Minsk. On the tour, you will get to stroll the wide streets, and enjoy the fountains, shady parks and green boulevards, as well as see many of Minsk’s famous destinations including the “Red” Krasny Roman Catholic Church, the Afgan Monument on the Island of Tears, St. Peter and Paul’s Cathedral, and Liberty Square with the 17th century Orthodox Holy Spirit Cathedral.
Next, you will visit the National Historical Museum before being taken to Nesvizh to see the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nesvizh Palace, home of the influential Radzivill family who gathered the best European architects, painters, woodcarvers, gardeners, decorators and jewellers. Here, you will see many of the wonderful monuments which gave the city the name “Paris of the North”, “the uncrowned capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania”.
Your tour will continue onto Mir where you will get to see the spectacular Mir Castle – one of the country’s most famous sites erected by Ilyiniches in 1540 in the Belarusian Gothic style, it amazes with its greatness even today with no less than five towers up to 27m in height are connected by thick defensive walls.
Your day will end with a final transfer to Brest. On arrival at your hotel, you will check-in and enjoy a splendid evening meal at the hotel restaurant.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Expert Guide
The Red Roman Catholic Church
St. Peter and Paul’s Cathedral
Liberty Square
17th century Orthodox Holy Spirit Cathedral
UNESCO Word Heritage Nesvizh Palace
UNESCO Word Heritage Mir Castle
City Tour by car
Travel to


Brest
Situated on the Polish-Belorussian border, Brest is the capital of the Brest region in Belarus and one of its oldest cities. Founded as a town in the 11th century by the Kievan Rus, Brest has been the site of many historic events, including the Union of Brest and Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. The city is known for its Hero Fortress, commemorating the city’s spectacular defence during the first weeks of the German-Soviet War in 1941 – 1945.
Day 3
Day trip to Belovezhskaya Puscha National Park
You will start your day with a buffet breakfast at your hotel before meeting your guide in the hotel lobby for the journey to Belovezhskaya Puscha National Park.
The Park has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is the largest and the oldest forest in Europe protected by UNESCO and is even the site where the agreement to dissolve the Soviet Union was signed. Here, you can go for a stroll, ride a bike, feed a bison and go see the 700-year-old Kamyanetz Tower. The Belovezhskaya Pushcha is also home to a museum complex found in a 17th century farmhouse. The Museum of Nature is the most visited museum in Brest, and you can see plenty of animals and predators as well as meet the Kingdom of Birds which is home to around 250 species.
After your tour of the Nature Museum and park, you will stop for lunch at a local restaurant before heading back to Brest for a short excursion along the popular Sovetskaya Street. Afterwards, you will visit a local restaurant for dinner before heading back to your hotel where you will have some free time to relax or explore Brest for yourself.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Belovezhskaya Puscha National Park
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Expert Guide
Free Time
Tower of Kamyenyets
Nature Museum and park
Sovetskaya Street
City Tour
Travel to


Lviv
Situated in Western Ukraine close to the border with Poland, Lviv is a historic city with a unique heritage. Over the centuries, the city has been inspired by Polish and Austro-Hungarian styles which can be found within the architecture dotted around the city. The city is best known for the 14th century mountaintop castle ruins in High Castle Park, providing panoramic views over the city and surrounding countryside.
Day 4
Excursion to Brest Hero Fortress
After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel in Brest and embark on an excursion of Brest where you will see its universities, shopping malls and complexes, followed by a visit to the Brest Hero Fortress.
Brest Hero Fortress is a majestic Soviet-style war memorial constructed on the site of the 1941 battle to commemorate the defenders of the Hero-Fortress. This war memorial is the largest tourist attraction of the city. After spending time at the memorial, you will visit the local archaeological museum of Berestye located on the southern island of the Hero-Fortress.
After your visit to the Hero Fortress, your driver will pick you up and take you to your next destination, Lviv. You will stop for lunch in Kovel on the way and arrive in Lviv in the evening. You will stop for an evening meal at a local restaurant in the city, before being taken to your hotel where you will check-in and have some free time.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Expert Guide
Brest Hero Fortress
Berestye Archeological Museum
Food & Drink Experience
Scenic Surrounds
Free Time
Souvenir Shopping
Travel to


Rivne
A historic city in Western Ukraine, Rivne is the administrative centre of Rivne Oblast and an important transportation hub, connecting many major cities including Brest, Kyiv and Lviv. The city is first mentioned in the 13th century and spent the first few centuries under the rule of the Great Duchy of Lithuania. Between World War I and World War II, the city was in the domain of Poland and was later occupied by the Soviet Red Army. During the German occupation of 1941–44, the city was designated as the capital of German Ukraine.
Day 5
City Tour of Lviv
Today you will experience a city tour of Lviv. After breakfast you will check out of the hotel. Your tour will then begin with visits to the St. Lurii Cathedral, Boim’s Chapel and Opera theatre building, followed by an excursion to the High Castle mountain where you can enjoy spectacular views of the area.
Your tour will continue with a visit to the striking St. Yura Cathedral – the former main Greek Catholic church in Ukraine, Rynok Square, various churches and cathedrals, the city defences including the arsenal and powder tower, and the cultural quarter.
After your tour, you will stop for lunch at a local restaurant before heading back on the road to Rivne. You will get a chance to stop at the popular destination, “Love Tunnel”, on the way before enjoying dinner at a local restaurant on arrival in Rivne and checking into your hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
City Tour of Lviv
Expert Guide
Religious Buildings & Monuments
High Castle mountain
St. Yura Cathedral
Food & Drink Experience
Love Tunnel
Scenic Surrounds
Travel to


Kyiv
Ukraine’s official capital and most populous city, Kyiv, is situated north of the country along the Dnieper River and is the pinnacle of arts and culture in Ukraine. It is one of the oldest cities in Europe, with its origins dating to the 5th century. It is home to many famous landmarks including the St. Sophia Cathedral and the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves), both of which are considered UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Day 6
Visit to the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra and St Sophia’s Cathedral
After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel before meeting your driver for the 5-hour journey to Kyiv.
On arrival in Kyiv, you will stop for lunch at a local restaurant before heading over to one of Kyiv’s most popular attractions, the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.
The Lavra is home to many churches and relics, ancient monuments, magnificent architecture and beautiful natural landscapes. The complex has several catacombs, the Near-by and the Far-off caves, where holy imperishable relics of Pechersk monks are kept, a popular attraction for those visiting the Lavra.
In the afternoon, you will visit Ukraine’s greatest national shrine, St. Sophia Cathedral. For centuries, the cathedral has remained the spiritual core, and the guardian of Rus-Ukraine. It was said to have been built during the reign of the Kyiv prince Yaroslav the Wise in 1017 or 1037. However, comprehensive study of the architecture and paintings has challenged this and sheds new light on the events that unfolded in Kyiv in the first third of the 11th century. The cathedral contains the world’s most complete ensemble of frescoes and mosaics of the 11th century and has since been hailed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After visiting St Sophia’s Cathedral, you will embark on a fascinating city tour of St Andrew’s Cathedral and St Andrew’s Descent before heading to your hotel to check-in and enjoy an evening meal. You will have some free time in the evening to rest and relax or do some more exploring.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Food & Drink Experience
Kyiv Pechersk Lavra
Religious Buildings & Monuments
St. Sophia’s Cathedral
UNESCO World Heritage Site
St. Andrew’s Church
St Andrew’s Descent
Free Time
Travel to


Odessa
A port city situated on the Black Sea in southern Ukraine, Odessa is best known for its splendid architecture and amazing beaches. The city is home to many famous attractions including the Potemkin Stairs, leading down to the waterfront, and the Primorsky Boulevard, a promenade dotted with beautiful mansions and dedicated to many monuments from Ukranian history. In 1794, the city of Odessa was founded by a decree of the Russian empress Catherine the Great. During the Soviet era, it was the most important trade port in the Soviet Union and an influential Soviet naval base.
Day 7
City Tour of Odessa by Car
After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel in Kyiv and meet your driver for the transfer to Boryspil Airport where tour will embark on a flight to Odessa.
You will arrive in Odessa around 12pm and stop for lunch at a local restaurant before heading out on a city tour by car. On the tour, you will see many of the city’s famous attractions including the Bridge of Love, Primorskyi Boulevard, the Potemkin Stairs, French Boulevard, Arcadia district and more.
After your tour, you will be taken for dinner in a local restaurant before checking-in to your hotel. You will then have some free time to rest after your journey or explore the city for yourself.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Departure Transfer
Flight to Odessa
City Tour by car
Bridge of Love
Prymorskyi Boulevard
Potemkin Stairs
Free Time
Souvenir Shopping
Travel to


Chisinau
The capital of Moldova, Chisinau is the country’s largest city and main industrial and commercial centre situated on the River Bac. The city is best known for its inspiring architecture from the neoclassical Nativity Cathedral to the Soviet-style buildings that are a testament to the city’s past. The city is home to several parks including the Stephen the Great Central Park which is named after the Moldovan prince who resisted the Ottoman empire, and the Alley of Classics featuring monuments to the greats of Moldovan Literature, such as Mihai Eminescu and Grigore Vieru.
Day 8
City tour of Tiraspol
Today you will leave Odessa behind and head into Transnistria heartlands.
After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel and meet your driver who will take you to Tiraspol. You will enjoy a short sightseeing tour of the city before stopping for lunch at a local restaurant.
Tiraspol is the second largest city in Moldova and is located on the Eastern bank of the Dniester River. It was founded by the Russian general Alexandr Suvorov in 1792 whose statue appears on the central square in the city. During this tour, you’ll see the Drama and Comedy theatre, the Lenin and Suvorov Monuments, the Parliament, the House of Soviets and have a walking tour along the river Dniestr.
After lunch, your driver will pick you up and take you to the medieval fortress of Tighina. The fortress was first built in the 15-16th Centuries by the princes of Moldavia. Occupied by the Ottomans in 1538 (in a campaign lead by the Sultan Soliman the Magnificent), the fort was strengthened in 1541 and became the centre of an Ottoman “raya” (in which were included the surrounding Moldavian villages). Its walls and rounded towers still stand today.
After your tour of the fortress, you will continue to Chisinau where you will enjoy a bit of leisure time before stopping for dinner at a local restaurant and checking into your hotel for the evening.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Transnistria heartlands
Expert Guide
City Tour
Dniester River
Drama and Comedy Theatre
Lenin and Suvorov Monuments
Medieval fortress of Tighina
Day 9
Visiting the Orheiul Vechi Archeological Museum Complex
After breakfast, your driver will take you on a leisurely tour of Chisinau before your journey to Orheiul Vechi Archaeological Museum Complex.
Situated between the villages of Butuceni and Trebujeni, the complex presents artefacts of various civilizations established between the Nistru and Prut rivers. It offers incomparable landscapes, historical monuments and grottoes, as well as the medieval fortress Shehr-al-Jedid, old town ruins, and Turkish baths. The highlight for many is the unique orthodox cave monastery belonging to a lone monk isolated from the outer world.
Next, you will stop for a traditional lunch at Butuceni Guest House before being taken to the Cricova winery for an exclusive wine tasting session.
In Cricova’s underground galleries you will see over seventy streets covering an area of nearly 53 hectares, each bearing Bacchic names from Sauvignon to Cabernet. Here you can admire one of the oldest bottles of wine in Moldova, dating from 1902. You will also visit the unique production of sparkling wine, where a professional guide will tell you about all the process of producing sparkling wines using the famous French Méthode Champenoise.
Afterwards, you will head back to Chisinau and have some free time to relax and explore the city at leisure.
Your day will end with an evening meal at your hotel where you will spend the evening.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
City Tour by car
Expert Guide
Orheiul Vechi Archaeological Museum Complex
Prominent Landscape
Unique orthodox cave monastery
Exclusive wine tasting session
Free Time
Souvenir Shopping
Breakfast
Departure Transfer
Where you can stay
A hotel can be the make or break of any experience, and we understand that choosing the right hotel is important to our travellers. Check out our range of hotels ahead of time, and learn more about our standard 3-star options and the luxury 5-star upgrades that are available in the destinations you will be visiting.
Please note that the selection of hotels included here are examples of where you may stay on your tour, we will pick the best option for you based on your travel requirements.
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Dates & Rates
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*This tour’s total cost is an estimate, based on travel costs prior to tickets being released. The price is subject to fluctation of up to 10%.† Based on 2 people sharing a twin room.
More information
What’s included
Accommodation as part of the tour
Activities (as specified in the tour itinerary)
All tours are COVID-19 secure and offer flexible booking options. Visit our Covid-19 information page to find out more
English speaking guide (other options available)
Food and drink (as mentioned in the tour itinerary)
Transport (as specified in the tour itinerary)
What’s not included
International train / plane tickets
Kyiv-Odessa flight
Optional excursions and activities
Personal costs (souvenirs, additional snacks etc)
Tips for drivers/guides/in restaurants
Travel / medical insurance
Travel Tips
All travellers are asked to check the vaccination requirements before travel. Visit our Vaccines and Health page to find out more
Any dietary or allergy requirements will need to be disclosed before the start of the tour
Carrying a water bottle with you is recommended
Medication should always be taken with you and kept on your person
Please ensure that you keep any personal documents and valuables on your person at all times
WIFI will be available at most of the hotels, although mobile coverage may vary in rural areas
Your local guides will recommend stops where you can go souvenir shopping during your tour
Special notes
There are no special notes for this tour
Suggested reading
Enrich your travel experience with our list of top recommended books from specialist travel guides to compelling novels. Whether you are looking for something to pass the time on the train, or want to get to grips with the local history, reading is essential to turning your trip into a fully-fledged experience.
Borderland: A journey Through the History of Ukraine
A fascinating glance into the history of Ukraine, Reid’s Borderland delves deep into the complex history of this great Eastern European country from the days of the Slav civilization in the 10th century to the country’s independence from the Soviet Union after its eventual collapse. Ukraine can be considered the true no-man’s land of Europe, with Russian aggression an ever-present threat and little understanding from the nations of Western Europe. Reid is masterful in unpicking the difficulties of the Ukranian people from the perspective of a tenuous borderland state.
Ukraine
The ultimate guidebook to Ukraine that no tourist can go without! Lonely Planet’s Ukraine is packed full of almost everything you need when travelling to any destination from how to get around the country, the best places to eat in its most popular cities, what you need to see while you are there, cultural highlights and more. In addition to its noteworthy insider tips about key attractions such as St Sophia’s Cathedral and the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, this guide includes detailed maps that are invaluable to even the most seasoned traveller.
Moldova
The ultimate guidebook to Moldova that no tourist can go without! Lonely Planet’s Moldova is packed full of almost everything you need when travelling to this lesser-known region from how to get around the country, the best places to eat in its most popular cities, what you need to see while you are there, cultural highlights and more. In addition to its noteworthy insider tips about key attractions such as Orheiul Vechi and the Cricova Winery, this guide includes detailed maps that are invaluable to even the most seasoned traveller.
Moldova: A History
Dive into the lesser-known history of one of Europe’s most remote countries, Moldova: A History is one of the first to offer a full interpretation of the region. Despite its recent nationhood born out of the collapse of the Soviet Union, Moldova has a long history stretching back to the 14th century Principality of Moldavia. The country has been subject much larger powers for most of its existence, from the Ottomans and, most recently, the Russians, which remain a source of tension for the national identity today. Haynes examines these issues in historical perspective to argue that the Moldovans’ complex relations with the Russians and the West are not simply the product of the Soviet era but have their roots in earlier centuries.
Understanding Ukraine and Belarus: A Memoir
A detailed study of the dramatic changes of the late Soviet and post-Soviet periods, Understanding Ukraine and Belarus explores the history and lasting legacy of the Stalinist era. Marple’s uses his own travel stories and experiences to enlighten readers to life in these countries, focusing on some of the most country defining events including personal visits to Chernobyl and the contaminated zone in the late 1980s and 1990s, as well as a summer working with indigenous groups in eastern Siberia. In the case of Ukraine, Marple’s illustrates the increasing role of scholarship and politics, and social media.
Extras & Upgrades
Extras
Sorry, we currently do not have any extras readily available for this tour. However, if you are interested in customising your travel experience, please contact our Sales team at travel@realrussia.co.uk for assistance.
Upgrades
Sorry, we currently do not have any upgrades readily available for this tour. However, if you are interested in customising your travel experience, please contact our Sales team at travel@realrussia.co.uk for assistance.
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