 | About Copenhagen Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen was the adopted home of Hans Christian Andersen - commemorated in the waterfront sculpture of his Little Mermaid. And, true to the spirit of its most famous resident, this popular Danish cruise port has a fairytale magic all of its own.
Discover it in the delightful Tivoli Gardens, where you can soar above the city in a hot air balloon suspended from a Ferris Wheel, and stroll down leafy byways as dusk falls and hundreds of lights twinkle through the trees. Or in the shops and cafés of Stroget, Europes longest pedestrianised shopping street.
Enjoy another stroll along the Nyhavn Canal, browsing the market stalls and looking at the fine old sailing ships moored near its banks. You will find more history at the magnificent Christiansborg Palace, the National Museum - home to fascinating Viking relics – and at Kronberg Castle – the former Elsinore of Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’. |
 | About Stockholm One of the most beautiful cities in Scandinavia, Sweden’s capital and cruise port Stockholm – where the Baltic meets lovely Lake Malaren - is approached through a necklace of 14 islands and myriad small islets set in sparkling seas.
The heart of this famous city is its medieval quarter, Gamla Stan, which dates from the 13th Century. Here you can stroll through narrow cobbled streets lined with quirky shops and atmospheric cafés, explore the spooky Gothic cathedral of Storkyran, discover the elaborate 17th Century Nessin Palace and visit Sweden’s oldest museum, the Livrustkammaren – home to five centuries’ worth of royal carriages, clothes and weaponry (its most unusual exhibit is Streiff - the stuffed stallion which once carried King Gustav II into battle).
Don’t dally too long, though - make time to explore the city’s many waterways in a glass-topped sightseeing boat, which will give you the best views of Stockholm’s dazzling architecture and some of the 40 elaborate bridges which link its islands. |
 | About Helsinki Surrounded by the sea and its own archipelago, Helsinki, the Finnish capital, retains its nautical feel with many sailing events during the summer but it is also the country’s main cultural focus, offering dance, ballet, opera, and other festivals.
The striking onion-shaped cupolas of the Uspensky Cathedral (modelled on the one in Odessa) are also just one example of the Soviet influence on a country which achieved independence less than 100 years ago.
Helsinki is a compact city - ‘a pocket-sized metropolis’, as it was once described – so it is easy to get around, especially in the historical centre. Or you can take the touring ‘pub tram’ and drink in the views, including the colourful flower market near the harbourfront.
After months of dark, cold winter, it is hardly surprising that the Finns pull out all the stops to celebrate the genuine warmth of their summers with outdoor events all around the city such as the Coming of Spring, Midsummer, the Helsinki Festival, and the Annual Night of the Arts. |
 | About St Petersburg Ships usually stay overnight in St. Petersburg; after all the jewel in the Baltic’s crown deserves no less, for here – on the broad banks of the River Neva and in the magnificent palaces and churches which characterise the city’s skyline - you will find Russia at its most dramatic, flamboyant and captivating.
Put the Hermitage Museum right at the top of your sightseeing list; its magnificent buildings and palaces contain the world’s most comprehensive collection of art and sculpture, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Gaugin, Rembrandt and Matisse.
The city’s other treasures include the Yusupov Palace (where ‘the mad monk’ Gregori Rasputin was dramatically murdered in 1916); Catherine the Great’s palace (with its breathtaking 978-foot white, gold and blue façade); St Isaac’s Cathedral (which has marble walls studded with semi-precious stones); the onion-spired Church of Spilled Blood and the battleship Aurora, whose guns signalled the start of the Russian Revolution. |
 | About Tallinn Estonia’s cruise port Tallinn is also a fascinating medieval capital. This multi-faceted jewel of a city and its architecture – a legacy of Teutonic, Polish and Russian rule – will have your eyes on stalks, from the spectacular onion domes of the Nevski Russian Orthodox Cathedral to the Baroque Toompea Castle (home of the Estonian Parliament) and the elaborate Gothic façade of the 13th century Raekoda, Europe’s oldest town hall.
The magnificent St Mary’s Cathedral, with its display of more than 100 coats of arms, is also worth a visit – but do take time out just to stroll the winding streets and cobbled squares of the city’s atmospheric old town, where you will find exquisite amber jewellery, fine lacework and gorgeous woollen jackets at bargain prices.
Visit the workshops in Catherine’s Passage to watch artisans creating leatherwork, jewellery and ceramics, or simply retire to a pavement café and relax while enjoying alfresco performances from brass bands, string quartets and strolling players. |
 | About Oslo Ships sail along the tranquil Nordfjord to reach the Norwegian cruise port and capital Oslo; a spectacular city surrounded by snow-capped mountains and rolling green hills, it was founded in 1050 and has been Norway’s capital since the end of the 11th century.
The modern city, an eclectic mix of ancient castles, frescoed 18th century houses, vast parks and glittering lakes, is a delight. Must-sees include the Viking House Museum with its display of 9th century longboats, the Munch-museet, which houses works by Edvard Munch, and the medieval Akershus Castle - a warren of secret passages, crypts, dungeons and magnificent halls.
Near the castle, in Aker Brygge, you will find some of Norway’s best restaurants serving classic dishes like fiskesuppe (fish soup), fenalar (cured leg of mutton) and multer med krem (cloudberries with cream). Make time, too, for a stroll through verdant Frogner Park, home to more than 190 masterpieces by the famous sculptor Gustav Vigeland. |
 | About Kristiansand Norways most southerly city and cruise port Kristiansand is also its sunniest and that - with its beaches, superb scenery, fascinating history and range of attractions - makes it the most popular holiday spot for Norwegians as well as a big hit with cruise visitors.
A renaissance city founded in 1641, Kristiansands history is laid out in one of Norways largest open-air museums - Vest Agder. It is also apparent in the 17th century Christiansholm Fortress and the rows of attractive old wooden houses in the city centre.
Just outside the city are the 960-year-old Oddernes Church and the Kristiansand Cannon Museum, with the worlds second largest gun. Other tours take in a recreated Bronze Age settlement with its own fertility maze and the Setesdalsbanen Vintage Steam Railway |