Travel and leisure
Destinations
Ports of call - the best of the Baltic
The beauty of a Baltic cruise is that you get to experience some of the world’s most vibrant cities all in one trip. But with only a short time to spend in each one, it can be hard to know where to start. Nicola Iseard picks her top five and highlights the best places to see and things to do in each
Stockholm
While the narrow, winding streets of the old town, Gamla Stan, offer an insight into medieval Stockholm, if you're blessed with sunshine you should escape the crowds and head to the Royal Park of Djurgarden. Wander along shaded walkways through lushly wooded areas and past canals where ducks glide peacefully on the water. While you're there, visit the Vasa Museum to see the remarkable restoration of the Vasa warship, which sank in Stockholm harbour on her maiden voyage in 1628. The City Hall, on the eastern tip of Kungsholmen, is a must-see too, with stunning cityscape views from its tower.
Beyond the city: The grand estate of Drottningholm - the residence of the Swedish royal family since 1981 - makes for a great excursion. See the changing of the guards, walk through the formal gardens and visit one of the best preserved baroque theatres in Europe.
Helsinki
The best way to soak up Helsinki is on foot. Start in Katajanokka, a district that displays Finnish Art Nouveau architecture at its peak. Standing proudly on a hill, you'll see the Uspensky Cathedral with its gold striking onion dome, and pass the Russian Orthodox Church and grand Presidential Residence. Soon you'll find yourself at the Market Place, brimming with food and craft stalls - perfect for a mid-morning pitstop. Fancy an ice stroll? The sea around Kaivopuisto park usually freezes in the winter, and for a spell it’s quite safe - and fun - to walk on the frozen water.
Beyond the city: Visit the home of Finland's most famous composer, Sibelius. Located at Lake Tuusula, the house, called Ainola (named after his wife, Aino, it means "Place of Aino") has been converted to a museum, but is still as it was during Sibelius' time, filled with original furnishings.
Tallinn
The charm of Tallinn lies in it's Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend time exploring its web of cobblestone streets: while in the Upper Town you'll pass the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral - Tallinn's grandest cupola cathedral - in the Lower Town you'll see the wonderful Town Hall and Great Guild Hall. You'll also find the House of the Brotherhood of Black Heads here, which is one of the only preserved Renaissance buildings in Tallinn and is famous for its eye-catching colourful front doors that date back to 1640.
Beyond the city: The Open Air Museum at Rocca al Mare makes for a fascination excursion. Spanning 80 hectares, it's a life-sized reconstruction of an 18th century rural village, complete with farmhouses, chapels and country pubs.
St Petersburg
No visit to St Petersburg is complete without stepping foot on its wonderful Palace Square, home to the sky-high Alexander Column, the tallest free standing monument in the world. From here, you can visit the Winter Palace, one of the most splendid buildings in the city. It holds the Hermitage museum, which showcases over 2.7 million exhibits from all over the world. Another superb building can be found in Pushkin, just outside the city - the baroque Catherine Palace, where Empress Catherine the Great lived and died. Its opulent interiors are quite something.
Beyond the city: Explore nearby Novgorod, one of Russia's most ancient cities dating back to the mid 9th century. One of the highlights is the five-domed Cathedral of St Sophia.
Copenhagen
One of the best ways to experience Copenhagen is by cruising its waterways and harbour. Get your camera ready – en route you'll pass the stunning Christiansborg Palace, the picturesque Nyhavn canal area and the Little Mermaid statue, which, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale, sits on a rock in the harbour at Langelinie. On land, make sure you visit the City Hall - its tower is a massive 350ft high and the building is adorned with intricate sculptures and paintings. For a breath of fresh air, take a stroll through the Tivoli Gardens, filled with thousands of flowers.
Beyond the city: Take a trip to Dragoer, a medieval fishing village located on Amager Island. Wonderfully quaint, you can lose yourself among its winding, cobbled backstreets, and stroll its colourful harbour. Here you'll find the Dragoer Museum, which holds furniture from old skipper houses and model ships.
* Nicola Iseard is a travel writer for The Observer.
