Full-Day Tour to the Hill of Crosses and Rundale Palace in Latvia from Vilnius
Description
During this full-day private tour, you’ll discover two of the most iconic landmarks in the Baltic region. The journey begins with a visit to the Hill of Crosses in northern Lithuania — a unique and moving site that has become a symbol of hope, faith, and national spirit. Afterwards, you’ll cross into Latvia to explore the stunning Rundāle Palace, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture surrounded by beautifully restored gardens. As you travel between sites, you’ll enjoy a comfortable ride with opportunities to learn more about local history, culture, and everyday life in Lithuania and Latvia. This experience offers a flexible and personal way to see two remarkable destinations in one day.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Enjoy a complimentary hotel pickup and transfer from your centrally located Vilnius accommodations to the Siauliai and Rundale. You will be driving for 2.5 hours to the Hill of Crosses. The Hill of Crosses has about 100,000 crosses. 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 ia an historical architectural monument, it is a unique composition of folk art. The Hill of crosses attracts people with it's peace, spirituality, authenticity and sacred nature. The hill of crosses was visited by Pope John Paul II.
After exploring the site, you’ll head to the Rundale palace, its 40 minutes 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. After the palace it is an approximately 3-hour drive back to Vilnius
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Guest accommodation in Vilnius
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Dress code is formal
Reviews(6)
This is a private driver to the Hill of Crosses and Rundale Palace. The driver is not an English speaker so he just gets you to these locations. Frank was very nice and patient as I went to each site. I just was on my own to learn about the sites and what I was seeing on the way. The ride to the Hill of Crosses is 2.5 hours so it would have been a long time for a guide to talk, to be fair. This private driver was perfect for me coming off the midsummer festival in Kernave that was all night. I don't think I could have absorbed an information anyway. If I had been traveling with more people, I think this also would have been a deal.
Thank you for your review! We’re glad the private transfer suited your travel style and that you enjoyed your visit to the Hill of Crosses and Rundāle Palace. We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back in the future!
Too much travel for the experiences on the trip. Our driver /guide informed us immediately that he didn’t speak English. He was kind and accommodating, but we spent six hours in the car without hearing anything about Lithuania or the tourist sites.
Dear Rod, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re genuinely sorry to hear that the tour did not meet your expectations. However, we would like to kindly clarify that the tour description clearly states that a guide is not included—it is a driver service only, and this has always been communicated transparently in our listing. The full itinerary was completed as promised, covering nearly 800 km across two countries, which involved considerable time and effort on our side to ensure a smooth experience. Given that all program points were fully fulfilled, we feel it is a bit unfair to evaluate the service based on expectations that were not part of the original offer. We sincerely value your feedback, and we hope this clarification helps provide a better understanding of the service you booked.
Really well run trip. On time pick up and safe driver. The Hill of Crosses is a unique experience and a wonder to behold. It’s only a 5 minute walk from the drop off point and there was a shop/toilets on site. The trip over the border to Rundale Palace was also enjoyable (the day we visited was very busy, so would recommend buying tickets online upfront). Both stops are self exploration, so worth doing your historical research upfront. Our driver made an additional stop at Bauskas Pils castle, which we really appreciated given its picturesque nature. It’s a long day so be prepared for that if you book, but one I would recommend with this company (note: vs other trips that only go to The Hill of Crosses this is really good value for money)
Dear GAB056, Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the full-day tour to the Hill of Crosses and Rundale Palace. It’s great that you found the trip well organized and appreciated the safe and punctual service. You’re absolutely right—both the Hill of Crosses and Rundale Palace are unique and enriching destinations, and doing a bit of historical research beforehand can definitely enhance the experience. We’re also happy to hear you enjoyed the surprise stop at Bauskas Castle—it’s one of our favorite hidden gems! Thank you for recommending us and highlighting the value of this extended itinerary. We hope to welcome you on another tour in the future! Warm regards,
Enjoyable day trip taking in the Hill of Crosses and Rundale Palace (plus a few other surprise stops). The driving was long but roads good and driver very safe. Rundale Palace was our highlight - absolutely stunning! Driver let us have as much as time as we needed - spent about 1.15 hr at Hill of Crosses and more like 2.5 hrs at Rundale Palace - never felt rushed. Recommended trip
Dear baxterj2025, Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the full-day tour and that Rundale Palace left such a strong impression—it truly is a gem of Baltic architecture. We’re also happy that you appreciated the flexibility and safe driving of our guide, as we always aim to make our guests feel comfortable and unhurried throughout the day. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to welcome you back on another Baltia Tour adventure soon! Warm regards, The Baltia Tour Team
Visiting the Hill of Crosses in Lithuania can evoke a deep sense of reflection and awe. The sheer number of crosses, placed by generations of pilgrims, creates a powerful atmosphere of spiritual resilience and quiet devotion. Rundāle Palace in Latvia offers a sense of grandeur and elegance. Walking through its lavishly decorated halls and manicured gardens transports visitors into the opulence of 18th-century aristocratic life.
Dear Jerzy_S, Thank you for such a beautifully written and heartfelt review. Your words truly capture the spirit of the tour—from the moving solemnity of the Hill of Crosses to the refined elegance of Rundāle Palace. We’re honored that our journey could offer you a glimpse into the Baltic soul and its rich layers of history, faith, and art. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to welcome you back for more discoveries in the future! Warm regards
The tour guide was very informative and nice. I learned a lot from him and had a great time traveling. Even though it rained but the whole trip was quite an adventure. I recommend this tour if you like a quick tour to Latvia and a taste of Lithuania.
