With a welcome so warm and so gay
Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen
Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen
Friendly old girl of a town
'Neath her tavern light
On this merry night
Let us clink and drink one down
To wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen
Salty old queen of the sea
Once I sailed away
But I'm home today
Singing Copenhagen, wonderful, wonderful
Copenhagen for me

-Danny Kaye

Be it Denmark’s consistently high rankings in the happiest countries chart and excellent crime dramas; Sweden’s flat pack furniture giant; Finland’s claim to Father Christmas himself; Estonia’s medieval architecture; Latvia’s amber and jewelry; or Russia’s premium vodka, there’s something for everyone in the Nordic and Baltic countries.

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Getting Around

One of the greatest and rarest perks of visiting this part of the world is that you can do it all by ship. Avoid folding yourself awkwardly into a plane, stressing about missing the last train and worrying that you’ll lose the deposit on the hire car and, instead, relax and recline on a tranquil vessel, soaking up every minute of the enthralling views. And summertime is perfect, as the weather will be on your side.

The big question: ferry or cruise ship? Ferries give you more flexibility if you decide you want to spend a little more time in one place and less in another. They are also extremely comfortable and whisk you away with ease from country to country. But, if you’re looking for an extravagant trip, the amenities on ferries are pretty basic, so you may want to splash out for a cruise.

Tour ships have better on-board facilities than the ferries and have a set itinerary, if you enjoy having some guidance or structure from local experts. Cruise ships, on the other hand, provide a unique experience entirely. An opportunity came up for me to take a trip on Seabourn’s latest ship, Ovation. This 600-passenger ship is on the smaller end of the scale from cruise ships, but by no means holds back in terms of on-board entertainment: numerous restaurants, casinos, boutiques, lecture theaters – it has it all.

Want to know more about the different ships? Get in touch and we’ll pick the perfect one.

Currencies

You’ll have to be prepared when visiting these countries, as they all have their own. Russia has the Ruble, Finland has the Euro, and Norway and Denmark have the Kroner. You can also rely on credit cards - Visa and MasterCard are accepted everywhere - and everyone speaks English (cue sigh of relief).

Copenhagen

The joy of Copenhagen is the canals. The 17th century waterway, Nyhavn (meaning 'New Harbor') is lined with a row of fantastically colorful townhouses, hosting an array of exciting and vibrant bars, cafés and restaurants in which to relax and soak up the Scandinavian spirit.

The people are warm and inviting – and have excellent English. Their Viking roots are ingrained in their history museums and exhibitions, which provide a fascinating and offer little-known insights into such an exciting and enthralling period of their Scandinavian heritage. Such a distant historical past is fantastically contrasted with the modernity of Danish design, fashion, furniture, shops, boutiques, and urban lifestyle, so you really do get the best of both worlds in this fabulously diverse metropolis.

Christiana in Copenhagen

The borough of Christianshavn has an air of the 70s untamed and the only adjective to describe it is ‘funky’. Photography is prohibited inside, so the only way to really experience it is in person. It is a community like no other and is entirely self-sufficient – it even has its own laws and rules. Tourists are strongly encouraged to visit and, despite it being a residential community, there are plenty of unique cafés and restaurants to visit.

Finland

Helsinki is often considered the runt of the litter in comparison with the sexy, cosmopolitan capitals of Copenhagen and Stockholm, but I can assure you that this gorgeous, understated city has a lot to offer.

The Helsinki Concert Hall is home to the Sibelius Academy, the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. The hall has sophisticated restaurants that serve delicious cocktails and sumptuous dinners to indulge in just paces away from the magnificent performance theatre.

Strolling through the city is not just easy; it is a pleasure. Whilst meandering through the central Kruununhaka neighbourhood, you can’t help but stumble upon the resplendent nineteenth-century Helsinki Cathedral, which is, unsurprisingly, one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations.

A couple of logistical perks in Finland include: the currency (they use the euro); getting around couldn’t be easier (including the famous Helsinki Central Railway); the language is fascinating, but their English is also very good; and there are some great department stores if you need to pick up a few things.

Saint Petersburg

Since the fall of the USSR, Russia has poured an enormous amount of time, money and effort into making this fabulous country beautiful again and, my goodness, they’ve done a good job!

The metro stations resemble classical art museums more than a train station. The Narvskaya station was constructed in 1955 and was almost unveiled as 'Stalinskaya', until Stalin's death in 1953, when it was named after the Narva Triumphal Gate. Rather than concrete, there’s white marble and bronze. Rather than grubby tiles, there’s red stone and granite. Rather than building a station, they’ve constructed a neoclassical masterpiece that makes those morning commutes a pleasure, not a pain.

The best piece of advice I would give when traveling to Russia is to brush up on some Russian history prior to your visit, as the tour guides will inundate you with facts, figures, and inspiring historical gems, which is difficult to take in when you don’t know your Romanovs from your Rasputins!

Indulge in some traditional Russian vodka and caviar or sample some delicious Georgian wine, which is easily sourced in St. Petersburg.

Peterhof Palace

If you’re yet to visit Versailles, you can visit Russia’s very own version, Peterhof Palace, which takes grandeur, opulence, and spectacle to a new niveau! The Grand Cascade was modelled on a fountain built for Louis XIV at his Château de Marly and the water is sourced from natural springs and reservoirs shoots through a total of 64 fountains into the semicircular pool, which then flows into the sea just 100 meters away. This magnificent palace is a symbol of power, status, and majesty and a definitive must-see!

Tallin, Estonia

Although St. Petersburg, Stockholm and Copenhagen are often the key players in a tour of the Baltic, Tallinn is the underdog of the pack that emerges as a favorite destination for its surprising charm and charisma.

Estonia's capital is a true gem, boasting of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: its rustic cobblestoned Old Town, which is celebrated for its beautifully-preserved medieval architecture and its stunning location on the Baltic Sea; less well-known is the Struve Geodetic Arc, which is shared between Belarus, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Moldova, Russia, Sweden and Ukraine. The arc is a chain of survey triangulations that took the first accurate reading of a meridian.

The Tallinn Linnatheater is an absolute must when you’re visiting Estonia. What distinguishes this theatre from any other in the world is its incredible building – a network of sixteen interconnected medieval houses in Tallinn’s enchanting Old Town. The origins of the oldest buildings can be traced back as far as the fifteenth century!

Having a private tour of the theatre is great because you can go at your own pace, ask as many questions as you like, without having to wait on other people or share your tour-guide with anyone.

If you want to catch a performance, you need to book ahead, as they book up quick. Try visiting www.piletilevi.ee on 1st of the month at 11am (or visit their main website http://www.linnateater.ee/). You can also contact their sales manager, Ms Greete Uustal, when visiting from abroad at g.uustal@linnateater.ee to secure tickets. The performances are in Estonian, except for those at the Midwinter’s Night’s Dream Festival.

A wide array of the excursions on offer in the city take you on whirlwind tours of the region’s Medieval heritage, varying from walking and castle tours to craft beer tours. The Mestiti Hoov (“Master’s Courtyard”), located in the heart of the Old Town, has been transformed into an artisans quarter with the objective of rebuilding and restoring the original medieval site. Master artisans, craftsmen and apprentices host showcases where visitors can observe the artisans craft their trade and even give it a go themselves! Visit their website, http://www.hoov.ee/, for more details.

Ventspils, Latvia

If you are looking for an utterly enchanting, little port town, Latvia’s Ventspils is the place for you. Its name literally meaning ‘Castle on the Venta’, which refers to the Livonian Order's castle built on the banks of the Venta river. Scattered throughout the town are charming markets and charismatic little shops, run by locals. There are also very few tourists in Ventspils, so you are guaranteed to get an authentic experience of Latvia.

Stockholm

Sweden is so much more than Ikea and meatballs! The show-stopper in Stockholm has to be its beautiful archipelagos. The Stockholm Archipelago alone (“skärgården” to the locals), comprises 30,000. When visiting these fascinating islands, there is a whole assortment of activities you can get stuck into. You can sail, hike, go fishing, kayak, cycle, swim, or, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can even ice yacht! In the autumn, you can forage for mushrooms and wild berries, then cook your own fish on BBQs at camp sites or opt for a gourmet dinner at some of the best-loved restaurants on Grind, Fläderholmarna and Värmdö.

Back on the mainland, there are historical districts, such as, Stockholm’s Old Town, along with maritime museums (including the Vasa Museum), picturesque canals, the home of the Nobel Prize, the King’s Palace, and plenty of shopping opportunities.

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The traditional way to cruise the Baltic Sea…

The modern way has much better amenities…

A slice of life on Copenhagen’s canals showcases a few of the city’s excellent transportation options. Besides the usual metro, bicycles and ferries, kayaks are also an option!

Photography is prohibited in Christiania - here’s a Copenhagen street performance instead!

An immaculately designed coffee shop - the ultimate Scandinavian escape

There’s a reason no one’s heard of Russian minimalism.

Think this is a fancy museum or hotel? Think again - it’s just a regular St. Petersburg Metro station

Cruising the Baltics used to be a riskier affair

Denmark’s Louisiana Museum of Modern Art offers plenty of opportunities to discover art and contemplate the sea