 | About Riga Latvia’s capital and cruise port Riga dates back to the 1100’s, and its long-suffering inhabitants have endured long periods of occupation ever since, controlled by the Swedes, the Poles and most recently the Russians.
Now they have regained independence, they are embracing western culture with enthusiasm and visitors will find Riga full of excellent restaurants, lively bars and Internet cafés, while its historic heart has remained unchanged for centuries.
A stroll through the narrow streets of its walled Old City is a must; take time to view the magnificent organ and medieval wall mountings of the Dome Cathedral.
Shop for fabulous amber jewellery, fine linen and beautifully made wooden toys at the shops and street markets and look out for the city’s Freedom Monument, which depicts Milda, the spirit of Riga, reaching for the stars.
You can learn more about the country’s troubled past at the War Museum, housed in a well-preserved 18th century defence tower. |
 | 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 Bornholm The 587 square kilometre Danish island of Bornholm lies in the middle of the Baltic Sea. Its geologically diverse landscape combines features found on close neighbours Sweden, Finland and Denmark; from craggy bedrocks in the north, to white sand beaches and sand dunes in the south.
Amongst farms and forests, fortresses and fishing villages sit Bornholm’s four ‘round churches’, which are an integral part of the island’s image and on the northwestern tip stands 13th century fortress Hammershus, the largest medieval castle ruins in northern Europe. Numerous bronze-age monoliths and rock carvings and the castle-like tower of A-Kirke church also hold historic interest.
Visit the small but lively capital of Ronne for its many shops and several interesting museums, and be charmed by the many small fishing villages, famous for their fresh-smoked herring, that slumber peacefully for most of the year, but come alive during the summer months with live music and entertainment. |
 | 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 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. |