• SAMPLE PACKAGE: ScanTours has three-, four- and six-day trips to Riga, from $585, not including airfare. Longer trips (from $995) cover the capital, the caves and castles of Sigulda, Rundale's baroque palace and the mineral springs of Jurmala, among other visits. Airfare can be arranged by the company; round-trip fares from D.C. typically range from $850 to $1,000. Info: 800-223-7226, www.scantours.com.
• INFO: Latvian Embassy, 202-726-8213, www.latvia-usa.org or Latvian Tourism Development Agency, www.latviaourism.lv.
The open market in Ljubljana is more than just shopping, it's also about the architecture in Slovenia's capital.
(J. Skok - Slovenian Tourist Board)
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On a Tour of the New EU, Take Two or More
Those trying to tick off the new EU members before the next crop is added on should consider a combination trip that visits several of the countries in one big swoop. Examples:
• A Baltic capitals tour is a popular option, and Nordique Tours (800-995-7997, www.nordiquetours.com) offers eight days in Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia for $799, including first-class lodging, guided tours and breakfast. Air extra. Depart Fridays May 28-Sept. 24. Company can also arrange airfare, with round-trip fares from Dulles costing $826 to $910.
• Crown Travel (800-853-6453, www.crown-travel.com) lets travelers experience Hungary and Slovenia with a six-night, $1,338 package that includes round-trip air from New York to Ljubljana (add $30 for Philly or $125 from Dulles); first-class train between the two countries; three nights each in a four-star property in Budapest and the Slovenian capital; and breakfast. Book by June 28 for midweek November-December travel. Taxes of $135 additional.
• Summit International (800-527-8664, www.summittours.com) can pair Prague with a new EU state, such as Poland (Warsaw, Krakow) or Hungary (Budapest). Prices start at $752 and include international and inter-city flights, three nights' lodging in each city, breakfasts and a tour in each destination.
• Odysseys Unlimited has a Discover Eastern Europe package that covers Poland, Hungary, the Czech Replublic and (oldie but goodie) Austria from $3,395. The 17-day trip includes round-trip air from Washington to Warsaw (arrival) and Prague (departure); 15 nights' accommodations; some meals; and a full plate of excursions, such as the Danube Bend, dinner with a Polish family and a night at a restored Jesuit school in Cesky Krumlov. Departures are in May, July, September and October; add $122 in taxes. Info: 888-370-6765, www.odysseys-unlimited.com.
• Rail Europe is offering multi-country train passes (as well as single countries, such as Czech Republic or Hungary flexipasses from $48 for three days and $76 for five days, respectively) that crisscross many of the new EU countries. The European East Pass, for one, chugs through the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Austria for $158 (second class) to $225 (first class) for five days of travel within a month. Info: 888-382-7245, www.raileurope.com.
-- Andrea Sachs
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Lithuania
• WHERE: Northern Europe, bordering Latvia, Belarus, Poland and Russia.
• WHY GO: The Old Town of Vilnius, the capital city, is one of Europe's most attractive town centers. With its medley of architectural styles (Gothic to classical), cobblestone streets and brown-brick facades, it offers a near-perfect glimpse into the past. Kaunas, the country's second-largest city, is an alluring enclave of well-preserved buildings dating to the 14th century. The coastal town of Palanga, with friendly locals and the lovely Amber Museum, offers a great entree to provincial Baltic culture.
• DON'T MISS: The intriguing cultural attractions of Vilnius, such as the Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum, which documents the extermination of the city's vibrant Jewish community during WWII; the KGB Museum, where thousands of Lithuanians were interrogated and tortured during the Soviet occupation; and Paneriai, a small museum with a memorial to WWII victims outside the capital in a beautiful forest . . . the TV Tower, former site of a Soviet standoff but now a great panoramic perch . . . the stebuklas tile between the Vilnius cathedral and bell tower, which marks the beginning of a human chain that some 2 million Baltic citizens formed between Vilnius and Tallinn in 1989 to protest the Soviet occupation . . . A meal of smoked fish in one of the coastal settlements on the Curonian Spit . . . the Hill of Crosses, near Siauliai, blanketed in thousands of crosses . . . Gruto Parkas, near Druskininkai, an outdoor museum of notorious Soviet political figures . . . The sea resort of Palanga and its Amber Museum, with thousands of examples of "Baltic Gold" . . . The Hill of Witches in Juodkrante, site of wooden sculptures based on legends and folk tales.
• SAMPLE PACKAGE: Visit Lithuania has a host of land-only packages that range from a weekend in Vilnius to a week traveling from city to sea resort. The "Lithuanian Experience," a 10-day escorted tour, includes the Dzukija National Park, a drive along Panemune castle road and a climb up the Hill of Witches, and centers on a cultural event, such as May's international folk festival or July's state celebration of the crowning of King Mindaugas. Price of $1,460 includes accommodations, some meals, transfers, tours and more. Depart May 28, June 18, July 2, Aug. 6 or Sept. 10. Round-trip flights from Dulles to Vilnius, with at least one connection, start at about $770 on such carriers as SAS, United and US Airways. Info: 011-370-5-2625-241, www.visitlithuania.net.
• INFO: Lithuanian Embassy, 202-234-5860, www.ltembassyus.org, or Lithuanian Tourist Information Center, 718-281-1623, www.tourism.lt.
Malta
• WHERE: In the Mediterranean Sea, off the southern coast of Sicily.
• WHY GO: It's the best of Europe spread over three tiny islands (Malta, Gozo, Comino), due to the fact that the nation has been occupied repeatedly over the centuries -- and with each subsequent culture leaving a fingerprint. Today, visitors encounter English phone booths and Italian trattorias, ancient ruins and baroque churches. Malta's walled capital of Valletta is an exquisite warren of finely preserved buildings, including the Co-Cathedral of St. John and the Grand Masters Palace, seat of Malta's parliament. The country's intimate size and top-notch bus system make it possible to see everything in a week and still have time for leisurely meals.
• DON'T MISS: The Siege Bell Memorial in Valletta, offering a spectacular view of Grand Harbour . . . The walled city of Mdina, with its Norman and baroque buildings and cobblestone streets . . . The Blue Grotto, spectacular caves and cliffs on Malta's southern edge, and the nearby Hagar Qim temple . . . On Gozo, the 6,000-year-old Ggantija Temples, among the world's oldest free-standing buildings, and the pretty city of Victoria.
• SAMPLE PACKAGE: Academic Tours is offering nine-day packages to Malta, including air from Washington, seven nights' accommodations, breakfasts and transfers, starting at $899. On June 14, the deal jumps to $1,220, and creeps up more during high season before it starts to drop in September. About $115 in taxes additional. Info: 800-875-9171, www.academictours.com.
• INFO: Malta Tourism Authority, 212-430-3799, www.visitmalta.com.
Poland
• WHERE: Eastern Europe, between Germany and Russia.
• WHY GO: The city of Krakow, untouched by the devastation of war, is home to spired churches, stately homes and other magnificent structures from the Gothic, baroque and medieval eras. The Auschwitz concentration camp is the most moving Holocaust memorial in Europe. Rustic, well-preserved towns scattered throughout the country make for a great foray into Old Europe. And for adventure enthusiasts, the Great Masurian Lakes in the northeastern corner are a perfect setting for water sports or cycling.
