9-Day Jewish Heritage Tours Lithuania & Latvia

Discover the deep Jewish roots of the Baltic region on this 9-day Jewish Heritage Tour of Lithuania and Latvia, exploring historic synagogues, centuries-old Jewish communities, Holocaust memorial sites, and cultural landmarks that shaped Ashkenazi history. This private itinerary follows the remarkable Jewish stories of Vilnius, Kaunas, Kedainiai, Šiauliai, Riga, and several preserved shtetls along the way.

Day 1: Arrival in Vilnius

Arrive in Vilnius and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy an orientation tour to get acquainted with Lithuania’s historic capital, once known as the “Jerusalem of the North.”

Day 2: Jewish Heritage of Vilnius

Begin with a guided tour of Old Vilnius, including Gediminas Castle, Cathedral Square, the President’s Palace, and Vilnius University. Explore the old Jewish quarter, medieval ghettos, the site of the Great Vilna Synagogue, and the Shulhoyf courtyards. Learn about the legacy of the Vilna Gaon, the Romm printing house, and the Strashun Library. Visit the Jewish State Museum, historic cemeteries, and the gravesite of the Vilna Gaon. See the “Cheap Houses,” built by Baron Hirsch for impoverished Jewish families.

Day 3: Vilnius – Ponar – Trakai – Vilnius

Visit the Taharat HaKodesh Synagogue, the only functioning synagogue in Vilnius. Continue to the Ponar (Paneriai) Memorial, where tens of thousands of Lithuanian Jews were murdered during the Holocaust. Travel onward to Trakai, the medieval capital of Lithuania, known for its island castle and for the Karaite Jewish community brought from Crimea in the 14th century.

Day 4: Vilnius – Rumsiskes – Kaunas

Travel to Kaunas with a stop in Ziezmariai, home to a beautifully preserved wooden synagogue. Visit the Rumsiskes Open-Air Ethnographic Museum showcasing traditional Lithuanian life. Upon arrival in Kaunas, enjoy an evening walk through the Old Town with its Gothic and Baroque architecture, art galleries, and charming cafés.

Day 5: Jewish Kaunas

Explore Slobodka, the historic Jewish suburb and WWII ghetto area. Visit the Old Jewish Cemetery, the sites of the Great Action, and the Seventh and Ninth Forts, where thousands of Jews were executed. See the Kaunas Synagogue, Children’s Memorial, Holocaust Museum, and the home of Leah Goldberg. Visit museums dedicated to M.K. Čiurlionis, the Devil’s Museum, and walk along Laisvės Alėja, the city’s famous boulevard. Stop by the pre-war Jewish Real and Shvabe gymnasiums.

Day 6: Kaunas – Kedainiai – Šiauliai

Continue to Kedainiai, home to three surviving synagogues and a center of Jewish learning once associated with the Vilna Gaon. In Šiauliai, tour the former Trakai and Caucasus ghettos, the Frenkel Synagogue and tannery complex, and the exhibition “Jewish Life in Shavli.” Enjoy an evening meeting with members of the local Jewish community.

Day 7: Šiauliai – Joniskis – Rundale – Bauska – Riga

Visit the Hill of Crosses, a powerful symbol of Lithuanian resistance. Continue to Joniskis, an excellent example of a pre-war shtetl. Travel into Latvia through Bauska, birthplace of Rav Kook, and tour the exquisite Rundale Palace, designed by architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli. Arrive in Riga by late afternoon.

Day 8: Jewish Riga & Old Town

Explore the Jewish quarter, the Great Synagogue Memorial, the Jewish school of Rav Dr. Max Liliental, the museum “Jews in Latvia,” and the community center. Visit the powerful memorials at Rumbula and Bikernieki, and the Salaspils concentration camp site. Continue with a guided city tour of Riga’s Old Town, including the Castle of Riga, Dome Cathedral, Swedish Gate, the Guilds, Cat House, Three Brothers, St. Peter’s Church, and more.

Day 9: Riga & Departure

Visit the only functioning synagogue in Riga, followed by a tour of the impressive Art Nouveau district designed by Mikhail Eisenstein. Explore the Central Market before enjoying leisure time prior to departure.

Customized Private Jewish Heritage Tours

This is a fully customizable private tour, crafted for travelers seeking meaningful Jewish heritage experiences in Lithuania and Latvia. A minimum of three nights’ accommodations, sightseeing, and transfers is required. Contact us to design your personalized itinerary.