Cruises To The Baltics

Built by Peter the Great, St Petersburg offers a glimpse into the extravagant grandeur of imperial Russia. Must-sees include the Hermitage art collection, extravagant Romanov palaces, and opulent Russian Museum. The Winter Palace is a highlight of these! Take in a folk show or world-renowned ballet performance at night, and spend your day cruising down the city’s network of canals to view it from a different angle.

Do you fancy strolling along a canal-side promenade, viewing Rococo architecture or visiting Renaissance palaces? Then Copenhagen is the place for you! This Danish city offers plenty of charming landscapes, with 18th-century buildings and outdoor cafes. Don’t miss the chance to see the pretty landscaping at Tivoli Gardens or the iconic Little Mermaid sculpture dedicated to famous storyteller Hans Christian Andersen.

Built up on 14 islands with over 50 bridges to cross, Stockholm’s cityscape blends gracefully into its natural Baltic Sea surroundings. If you’re in the mood to explore its heritage, head to Gamla Stan Old Town with its cobbled streets, 13th-century buildings, and Royal Palace. Get onboard a ship whether it’s the Vasa maritime museum or a ferry. For vintage shopping and independent cafes, visit trendy Sodermalm.

A historic Baltic Sea port city, Kiel is a must-visit destination for fans of maritime history! Start at the Maritime Museum with its model ships and nautical curiosities, all housed in a fish auction hall. Stroll along the Kiel Canal, a key shipping route for centuries. The city centre was bombed during WWII, but many buildings like the St Nikolai Church and Kieler Castle have been restored to their former glory.

Norway’s capital city boasts a newly developed waterfront lined with bustling shops and eateries. Take a seat in one of the outdoor cafes to watch the street musicians, or visit the Norwegian Maritime Museum and Viking Ship Museum. Art fans won’t want to miss a visit to the Munch Museum, home to ‘The Scream’ and other masterworks. Oslo also boasts the Nobel Peace Centre, along with an abundance of green spaces!

Tallinn’s Old Town is one of the best preserved in Europe. You’ll feel like you’ve entered a portal to the 1400s as you stroll along its cobblestone streets, passing the old city walls and defensive towers along the way. The main square is dominated by the Gothic Town Hall, while St Nicholas Church features stunning medieval artworks inside its stone walls. For a photo finish, trek up Toompea hill and enjoy the view!

A mishmash of architecture spans the centuries in beautiful Riga. This Latvian capital is a hotspot for classical culture with its concert halls. It’s easy to spend the better part of a day wandering through the twisting cobbled streets in medieval Old Town, while former WWII barracks now house trendy cafes and shops. Don’t miss a peek at the soaring Freedom Monument and magnificent House of the Blackheads.

Positioned at the point where the Dane River joins the Baltic Sea, Klaipeda blends sandy beaches with red-brick castles. Although it’s Lithuania’s third-largest city, you may feel like you’ve entered Germany when wandering about this former Prussian capital. You’ll spy wood-framed houses, cobbled streets and neoclassical theatres. Don’t forget to stop off at the Lithuanian Sea Museum, with its lively dolphin shows!

Germany may not be the first country that comes to mind when you’re envisioning sunny beaches, but Warnemunde has all this and more! It offers stretches of white sands, a pretty beachfront promenade and bustling seafood restaurants. This Baltic Sea port town also offers plenty of cultural highlights with its seaside recreation, including the Edvard Munch Haus, Alter Strom canal, and a historic lighthouse to explore.

Sleek and contemporary, Gdynia offers a scenic, colourful marina and lengthy promenade leading to sandy beaches and wooden piers. Learn all about its maritime history in the Dar Pomorza Tall Ship Museum, or get up close and personal with sharks and piranhas at the Gdynia Aquarium! From the 13th-cenutry St Michael Archangel’s Church to the modern Museum of the City of Gdynia, this city easily bridges old with new.