Sunrise at the Hill of Crosses - 2 countries in 1 day
Description
Visit one of the most popular sites in Lithuania! Visited by Pope John Paul II, this place has become an important pilgrimage site for Catholics. But please don't be intimidated by the fact that it is a religious site - everyone is welcome to visit this unique site - just as long as you respect the place and crosses that carry different stories with them! You will have a guided tour of the place - hear the story behind it, how it all started! We'll point out some traditional Lithuanian crosses, explain some symbols that can be seen there and give you overall information about the country, culture and its history. After the guided tour you will have free time to explore the place by yourselves - take some beautiful photos and just to take it all in as it really is breathtaking! Going there for the sunrise time will allow you to enjoy the place with no tourists around. And save a lot of time as you will be back in Riga by noon if not earlier!
Tour Options
Itinerary
A guided tour of the Hill of Crosses - stories and legends of how it all started, traditional Lithuanian crosses, symbols that travel through times and overall information bout the country!
Free time to explore the place by yourselves! Take some beautiful photos, plant your cross on the hill if you wish to participate in this growing monumental site and the most important - take your time to take it all in. It really is a breathtaking place!
Optional stop on Latvia - Lithuania border for a photo.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We will pick you up from any central location in Riga ~2 hours before the sunrise time.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(19)
I wholeheartedly recommend Latvian Gem, especially after the fantastic experience with Krista (pre-tour communication) and Janis (guide)! Krista was a star from the start. I contacted her months ago, and she remained consistently in touch, always keeping my interests in mind. Her excellent communication, including offering me a choice between two excursions closer to my travel date, made the planning seamless and warm. The Sunrise Hill of Crosses and Jelgava Highlights Tour was great. While the sunrise failed to appear, the heavy mist created an incredibly eerie and spiritual atmosphere. Being there early, just my fellow traveler and me, allowed us to experience the moving site in peace and quiet. I took countless photos! Our guide, Janis, was fantastic, so friendly and full of interesting stories about Latvia and the Hill of Crosses. He set the scene perfectly with the site's history before letting us explore. He was also very thoughtful, always pointing out upcoming gas stations for quick coffee and rest stops. On the way back, stopping at the old palace in Jelgava (now a University) was a lovely highlight, with beautiful grounds perfect for photos. A huge thank you to Krista for the great organization and Janis for being such a brilliant guide. This tour was truly a memorable highlight of my trip!
Really cool site to see, I highly recommend it. The amount of crosses is shocking. We loved our guide Janus, he was a wealth of information and a super chill, nice guy.
Matiss was very nice and pleasant. He provided a wealth of insights on Latvian and Lithuanian culture. We wandered around the Hill of Crosses and he also gave tips on my Riga trip. Thanks to Matiss for the great tour and to Krista for helping organize.
My guide Jānis made the two hour trip in each direction informative and engaging. Due to the arrival of snow, there was no sunrise effect at the site. With an early winter arrival you avoid all crowds. We were the only ones there.
While, yes, it's very early in the morning, Krista was a great driver and I enjoyed the drive as much as the visit to the hill. We got there at the perfect time and it was definitely more impressive than the pictures. Very peaceful as we were the only ones there. I definitely recommend this unique experience!
It was a beautiful trip to Hill of Crosses. Watch the sunrise was unforgettable. Also, to take pictures and videos of that moment make it more special. Last but not least, Krista was very profesional, o pick me up at the Hotel according schedule, gave me the information about this spectacular place and was very friendly. Totally recommended!
We had a wonderful tour with Armands. Experiencing the sunrise at the Hill of Crosses really is special and we didn't regret booking the trip. Going there early in the morning also means that you have the place to yourself, meaning no other people in the photos you take ;) Armands is a fascinating person and had lots of interesting stories to tell. He's also a very good driver and we felt safe with him, which isn't the least important feature when you spend four hours in the car.
This tour was fabulous and the driver for this experience was Janis and he was even better. He arrived at the hotel on time. He was very personable and easy to talk to. Gave a lot of information about life in the region. The Hill of Crosses is an out of the way place in Lithuania but a short drive from where we were staying in Riga, Latvia. As you might expect, it was very windy and chilly on the hill. When you look at all of the crosses, though, you can see so many stories that are surely captured there. Highly recommend taking this tour.
Krista was absolutely amazing. Felt completely at ease was soon as we meet her. Also her knowledge was second to none.
I had an amazing time exploring the beautiful place with Krista. She made my trip very comfortable and gave lots of information about the place and also about Latvia and Lithuania. I would highly recommend booking this trip.
