Absolutely Baltic!

No, not just the weather! I’m talking of the Baltics of course! A Baltics cruise is high on my list of must do cruises! Many of the destinations you visit on this cruise are expensive to visit as a city break option so a cruise is a much more affordable and interesting option!

Let’s take a look at some of the destinations you can expect to visit on a Baltics cruise!

St Petersburg

The port city of St Petersburg is without a doubt the highlight of any Baltics itinerary. St Petersburg was the imperial capital of Russia for 2 centuries having been founded in 1703 by Peter the Great.

This beautiful city remains the cultural centre of Russia. Perhaps visit the legendary Peterhof Palace; a series of palaces and gardens commissioned by Peter the Great as a direct response to the Palace of Versailles by Louis XIV of France. Many Baltics cruises include an overnight in St Petersburg to ensure you have enough time to see this stunning city.

From late May to early July the nights are bright in St. Petersburg, with the brightest period, the White Nights, normally lasting from June 11^th to July 2^nd. The White Nights (Beliye Nochi) are a curious phenomenon caused by St. Petersburg’s very northerly geographical location – at 59 degrees 57′ North (roughly on the same latitude as Oslo, Norway, the southern tip of Greenland and Seward, Alaska). St. Petersburg is the world’s most northern city with a population over 1 million, and its stands at such a high latitude that the sun does not descend below the horizon enough for the sky to grow dark. In fact night becomes curiously indistinguishable from day, so much so that the authorities never need to turn the city’s streetlights on!

Helsinki

Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is a vibrant seaside city encompassing more than 300 beautiful islands. Helsinki’s boulevards and backstreets overflow with magnificent architecture, intriguing drinking and dining venues and groundbreaking design.

Did you know that Finland is the most sparsely populated country in the European Union with only 16 inhabitants per km² or that Finland has also only been an independent country since 1918.. before that it belonged to Russia or Sweden?

Perhaps visit Esplanadi, known to locals as “Espa”, a green space right in the middle of the city, a place where tourists and Helsinki residents come to enjoy picnics, relax and be entertained in summer.

Copenhagen

I have been wanting to visit Copenhagen for as long as I can remember but unfortunately haven’t got round to it yet! The capital of Denmark is home to the Tivoli Gardens amusement park; located just a few minutes walk from City Hill. Founded in 1843, Tivoli Gardens has become a Danish national treasure as well as a international attraction. Fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen visited many times, as did Walt Disney who even found the inspiration to his own Disney World here.

Part of Tivoli Gardens’ secret is that there is something for everyone. The scenery is beautiful with exotic architecture, historic buildings and lush gardens. At night, thousands of coloured lights create a fairy tale atmosphere that is completely unique. Tivoli’s oldest and most popular ride, the wooden Roller Coaster from 1914, is one of only seven roller coasters worldwide which have a brakeman on board every train.

If amusement parks are not your thing, perhaps do some shopping at The Stroget – Scandinavia’s longest car free shopping zone.The mile long pedestrian shopping street is famous for tax free luxury goods shopping, dining, street entertainment and other popular shopping merchandise.

Stockholm

Stockholm was built on 14 island, connected by 57 bridges, earning the Swedish capital the nickname “Beauty on the Water.” The city is located on Sweden’s east coast, where the freshwater Lake Mälaren — Sweden’s third largest lake — flows out into the Baltic Sea. The central parts of the city consist of fourteen islands that are continuous with the Stockholm archipelago.

Perhaps visit the Royal Palace, the official residence and major royal palace of the Swedish monarch located in Gamla stan. Alternatively perhaps visit The Royal National City Park ; Stockholm is the only capital in the world with a national urban park, more than 6 miles long, stretching around and through the city. You can encounter deer and hares, even foxes and moose, and spot rare birds, butterflies, and insects, right inside the city. How amazing does that sound?!

If you’d like me to check availability & prices on a Baltics cruise, please do not hesitate to contact me for a no obligation quotation by phone on 0330 041 7419 or by email at [email protected]

Until next time, Daniel x