Discover the Baltic cities

From Viking raiders setting out throughout its frigid waters, to medieval merchants carrying items between Hanseatic ports and epic clashes between Russian, German and British fleets, the Baltic has lengthy been on the centre of Europe’s altering fortunes.

Sandwiched between their former grasp, Russia, and the often-icy waters of the Baltic Sea, the nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania won’t be everybody’s go-to vacation locations. However this unlikely trio, and their vibrant, vibrant, café-strewn capitals – Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius – are making some severe waves. For many who love their historical past and tradition, a cruise to this area opens up a world of prospects, with itineraries that, in the principle, go to way over simply these three fascinating locations.

Actually, from the fragile spires and pastel-hued townhouses of Copenhagen to the grandiose palaces, iconic onion-domed buildings and landmark museums of imperial St Petersburg – a metropolis extensively considered some of the architecturally spectacular on earth – this exceptional area’s listing of cities reads like an historic document.

UNESCO-listed Tallinn’s points of interest, for instance, embody a pleasant medieval Outdated City and the equally enchanting Kadriorg district: a throwback to the time when Estonia was dominated from afar by Russia’s Tsars. In neighbouring Latvia, Riga’s quaint streets reveal myriad cafes and beer cellars framed by a few of Europe’s most spectacular artwork nouveau structure. It’s additionally house to a number of fascinating museums and excellent galleries, all of which helped to make it one among Europe’s Capitals of Tradition in 2014.

One other basic Baltic metropolis is Gdansk on Poland’s north coast; a metropolis with a exceptional historical past and a few distinctly un-Polish structure, a lot of which takes its affect from the multitude of sailors and rich retailers who, over the centuries, have plied their commerce alongside the busy delivery lanes that join Poland’s Baltic coast with Russia and the remainder of Northern Europe.

Then, lastly, there are the three Scandinavian capitals: Stockholm in Sweden, Finland’s Helsinki and Copenhagen in Denmark, the place cutting-edge design and a few of Europe’s trendiest bars and eating places mix seamlessly with historic harbours and sophisticated coastlines which can be house to peaceable inlets, idyllic islands and secluded bays.

When to go

The Baltic area is usually finest explored through the European summer season, from Might to September, when the times are lengthy and temperatures heat. Within the winter, giant swathes of the Baltic are frozen and temperatures plummet to properly beneath zero.

Who to cruise with

A number of of the world’s main cruise traces go to the Baltic, together with Regent Seven Cruises, Silversea, Oceania Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Azamara and Superstar Cruises.

Scott Anderson is Common Supervisor at The Luxurious Cruise Firm. The Luxurious Cruise Firm is your port of name for unimaginable cruise holidays.

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