Travel
Baltic bliss: cruising through Northern Europe's coastal gems
Voyage through the Baltic sea where every port of call takes you into Northern Europe’s fascinating history.
By Margaret McKay
People often ask me my favourite cruise destination and my answer is always the same – the Baltic Sea. I took a 14-day round trip from Southampton in Britain and this is my diary of adventures.
Our first stop was Bruges in Belgium, which is a beautiful city of canals, cobblestones and medieval architecture. Bruges is known as the “Venice of the North” because of its intricate network of waterways built to combat flooding from the North Sea.
Exploring canals in Bruges
My 3-part wish-list for Bruges was to explore the canals, nibble on pastries in the ancient market square, and investigate the hand-woven lace which has made the area famous for centuries.
Achieving all 3 was very doable and I even had time to purchase a traditional lace garter for my bride-to-be friend.
Oslo’s unmissable museums and art
Next up was Norway’s capital Oslo, an ultra-modern, arty city on the picturesque Oslofjord. We found it was best viewed from a bus tour where we learned about all the many museums the city has to offer.
The Museum of the Viking Age is a must-see and houses the world’s best original examples of Viking ships, including the Oseberg, a burial ship for the ancient Nord upper echelon to facilitate their safe passage into the next world. Do note that the famous Oseberg ship exhibit is currently closed for maintenance and isn’t scheduled to reopen until 2027.
The Kon-Tiki Museum, however, will also satisfy your Viking history requirements as you marvel at Thor Heyerdahl’s small ocean-crossing balsa wood raft.
Even after absorbing all the history of the museums, the highlight of Oslo for me was Vigeland Sculpture Park. I was so moved by the beauty of humanity captured in larger-than-life sculptures.
Cosy canals in Copenhagen
After we waved goodbye to Oslo, we arrived in the Danish capital Copenhagen, which was a charming mix of the old and shiny new. The manmade Copenhagen Harbour features modern urban architecture, while the cosy canals of Nyhavn offer buzzing cafes and plenty of hygge (translation: enjoying the good things in life with good people).
The Little Mermaid statue on the coastline is cute but surprisingly small in person. Jostling with tourists to get a vantage point can be a challenge, so I strongly suggest arriving early or even skipping this one if it’s not on your must-see list.
I was much more excited to see the castles and fortresses. Our first stop was Amalienborg for the changing of the guard, and then on to the exquisite Renaissance Frederiksborg, where I could picture myself living in its grand luxury.
Stockholm and the largest royal palace in Europe
Our next stop was Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. It’s known locally as beauty on water, and as we approached from the sea, we could easily see why.
In the old city of Gamla Stan we visited the Nobel Prize Museum, Renaissance churches and Baroque palaces, including Kungliga Slottet, the largest royal palace in Europe.
Finding Fedoskino boxes in Helsinki
When we arrived in Helsinki, Finland, I was on a quest to find a vintage Fedoskino box. Although crafting these boxes was originally an ancient Russian miniature art form, I’d learned that I would find the genuine article in Helsinki. Mission accomplished in a tucked-away antique bazaar off the delightful old Market Hall.
We continued exploring the city and I found that Helsinki had much more to offer than these little boxes. One of our favourite stops was Temppeliaukio Kirkko or the “Church of the Rock”, which is a church carved directly into solid granite rock.
It’s famous for its unique architectural design, particularly the circular shape of the building and the domed ceiling that’s responsible for the church’s remarkable acoustics.
St Petersburg in all its beauty
Next we sailed on to St Petersburg. The famous Russian city has so much to see and, after racing around, I’d say it needs at least 2 full days to explore. Expect to be busy!
The Hermitage museum absolutely must be on your list. It was founded by Catherine the Great and boasts over 3 million items in its collection. This enormous art museum is a complex of 6 historic buildings, including the former residence of the Russian tsars.
There are so many beautiful architectural sights to explore but make sure you add these standouts to your list: the intricately decorated Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood; the Peterhof Palace, modelled after Versailles; and the Peter and Paul Fortress, which ultimately a became a prison during the Bolshevik revolution.
Tallinn and its fairytale charm
Our next port was Tallinn in Estonia, which is a charming spot with an overload of fairytale charm, and a brave story to tell. You would think the clock stopped several centuries ago when you visit the St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and The Old Town Hall Square.
Estonia has a rich history – after years of Soviet rule the impoverished country was left with little in the way of weapons, but a lot in the way of hope.
They effectively had nothing left but their voices, so from 1987 to 1991, hundreds of thousands of Estonians gathered in Tallinn to sing their banned patriotic songs and wave their banned Estonian flags in front of Soviet tanks.
The Singing Revolution, as it became known, finally culminated in the restoration of Estonia’s sovereignty.
Keepsakes and craftsmanship in Gdańsk
Gdańsk (formerly Danzig) was the first invasion point of Poland in 1939. The locals are very proud to call Gdańsk home and claim their city as the most beautiful in Poland. I was swept away by their emotion, and decided I must have a talisman of this beautiful place.
Lucky for me, Gdańsk is also known as the amber capital of Europe for its long history of amber trade and craftsmanship.
Upon learning this, I decided to go on a quest to buy some amber for my family and friends back home. I loaded up on pendants, earrings, keyrings, you name it. I’m sure Gdańsk was very happy I had visited.
On a cruise through the Baltic, the scenic views are just the beginning. The fascinating history and culture at every stop will ignite your curiosity to keep exploring. I already can’t wait to go back!
Feature image: Canva/RicoK69
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