7 Days - Scandinavia & Baltic Spectacular [Copenhagen to Stockholm]
Itinerary
Day Copenhagen, DenmarkDeparts 05:00 PM
"Copenhagen is one of the easiest European capitals to fall in love with. The sights of old buildings, cobbled streets and the tower- and turret-dotted skyline lend fairy-tale charmthis was, after all, the home of author Hans Christian Andersen. But make no mistake: This is a thoroughly modern city with international clout. Restaurants around the world draw inspiration from the New Nordic cuisine pioneered by Noma and other Copenhagen restaurants, while Danish design from this century and the last is universally admired and coveted. Urban planners flock here to try to work out just how the city remains so livable and yet so functional, and despite its wealth of old buildings, Copenhagens not locked in the past; there are also thrilling examples of modern architecture. Copenhagen is a city thats easy to find things to do and explore on foot or by excellent public transport, where everyone speaks perfect English, the food is fresh and innovative, and theres plenty of locally brewed beerwhich, of course, is best enjoyed sitting by the water on a sunny day. "
"Copenhagen is one of the easiest European capitals to fall in love with. The sights of old buildings, cobbled streets and the tower- and turret-dotted skyline lend fairy-tale charmthis was, after all, the home of author Hans Christian Andersen. But make no mistake: This is a thoroughly modern city with international clout. Restaurants around the world draw inspiration from the New Nordic cuisine pioneered by Noma and other Copenhagen restaurants, while Danish design from this century and the last is universally admired and coveted. Urban planners flock here to try to work out just how the city remains so livable and yet so functional, and despite its wealth of old buildings, Copenhagens not locked in the past; there are also thrilling examples of modern architecture. Copenhagen is a city thats easy to find things to do and explore on foot or by excellent public transport, where everyone speaks perfect English, the food is fresh and innovative, and theres plenty of locally brewed beerwhich, of course, is best enjoyed sitting by the water on a sunny day. "
Day At Sea
Day Tallinn, EstoniaArrives 08:00 AM Departs 04:00 PM
"On the shores of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn, Estonias largest city, is impossibly charming. Northern Europes oldest capitalit dates back to the 12th centuryis also one of its best preserved, with much of its Old Town constructed when it was a bustling port in the Hanseatic League. Explore the upper portion on Toompea Hill, where there is an impressive castle and the 19th-century Alexander Nevsky cathedral, a vestige from the Russian Empire, then head to the lower section for churches and merchants homes off twisting medieval streets. Tallinn isnt, however, simply a historic showpiece. Just a short walk from the UNESCO World Heritage-designated core is a dynamic, future-facing city of glass buildings and trendy restaurants and boutiques catering to the citys young professionalsas well as visiting travelers. "
"On the shores of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn, Estonias largest city, is impossibly charming. Northern Europes oldest capitalit dates back to the 12th centuryis also one of its best preserved, with much of its Old Town constructed when it was a bustling port in the Hanseatic League. Explore the upper portion on Toompea Hill, where there is an impressive castle and the 19th-century Alexander Nevsky cathedral, a vestige from the Russian Empire, then head to the lower section for churches and merchants homes off twisting medieval streets. Tallinn isnt, however, simply a historic showpiece. Just a short walk from the UNESCO World Heritage-designated core is a dynamic, future-facing city of glass buildings and trendy restaurants and boutiques catering to the citys young professionalsas well as visiting travelers. "
Day St. Petersburg, RussiaArrives 09:00 AM
"St. Petersburg, Russia, emerged from the vision of one man, Czar Peter the Great, at the beginning of the 18th century and was the countrys capital for 200 years, until the Russian Revolution. Pushkin called it Russia's ""window to Europe,"" and like Venice and Amsterdam, two cities that inspired Peter, the city was built on a network of canals. Among the city's tourist attractions, the Hermitage is its most famous. It is one of the worlds greatest art museums, and the largest museum in the worldwith almost three million objects collected in five buildings. Performing arts, too, abound: Many of Russias greatest ballets, plays and operas have premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre. Nearby, the summer residences of the czars, including Peterhof, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are dazzling gilded Baroque palaces for sightseeing in St. Petersburg."
"St. Petersburg, Russia, emerged from the vision of one man, Czar Peter the Great, at the beginning of the 18th century and was the countrys capital for 200 years, until the Russian Revolution. Pushkin called it Russia's ""window to Europe,"" and like Venice and Amsterdam, two cities that inspired Peter, the city was built on a network of canals. Among the city's tourist attractions, the Hermitage is its most famous. It is one of the worlds greatest art museums, and the largest museum in the worldwith almost three million objects collected in five buildings. Performing arts, too, abound: Many of Russias greatest ballets, plays and operas have premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre. Nearby, the summer residences of the czars, including Peterhof, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are dazzling gilded Baroque palaces for sightseeing in St. Petersburg."
Day St. Petersburg, RussiaDeparts 06:00 PM
"St. Petersburg, Russia, emerged from the vision of one man, Czar Peter the Great, at the beginning of the 18th century and was the countrys capital for 200 years, until the Russian Revolution. Pushkin called it Russia's ""window to Europe,"" and like Venice and Amsterdam, two cities that inspired Peter, the city was built on a network of canals. Among the city's tourist attractions, the Hermitage is its most famous. It is one of the worlds greatest art museums, and the largest museum in the worldwith almost three million objects collected in five buildings. Performing arts, too, abound: Many of Russias greatest ballets, plays and operas have premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre. Nearby, the summer residences of the czars, including Peterhof, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are dazzling gilded Baroque palaces for sightseeing in St. Petersburg."
"St. Petersburg, Russia, emerged from the vision of one man, Czar Peter the Great, at the beginning of the 18th century and was the countrys capital for 200 years, until the Russian Revolution. Pushkin called it Russia's ""window to Europe,"" and like Venice and Amsterdam, two cities that inspired Peter, the city was built on a network of canals. Among the city's tourist attractions, the Hermitage is its most famous. It is one of the worlds greatest art museums, and the largest museum in the worldwith almost three million objects collected in five buildings. Performing arts, too, abound: Many of Russias greatest ballets, plays and operas have premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre. Nearby, the summer residences of the czars, including Peterhof, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are dazzling gilded Baroque palaces for sightseeing in St. Petersburg."
Day Helsinki, FinlandArrives 10:00 AM Departs 06:00 PM
"Finlands capital, Helsinki, is sometimes overshadowed by its larger Scandinavian counterparts, Copenhagen and Stockholm, but the city has its own singular style and appeal. A lively arts and music scene thrives amid splendid Art Nouveau buildings and classic cafés. The city's modern architecture is especially exciting: Buildings by Alvar Aalto and Eero Saarinen should be at the top of your must-see list. Finlands design output, too, goes far beyond familiar Marimekko prints. Wander into the shops in the citys Design District or check out the exhibits at the Design Museum (Designmuseo). If the weather is good, youll want to hop a ferry to a nearby island or enjoy the catch of the day at a harbor-facing restaurant. If you are lucky enough to be here in the summer, it's a magical time of the year, when the days last for up to 19 hours and the entire city sparkles from the sun reflecting off the water. "
"Finlands capital, Helsinki, is sometimes overshadowed by its larger Scandinavian counterparts, Copenhagen and Stockholm, but the city has its own singular style and appeal. A lively arts and music scene thrives amid splendid Art Nouveau buildings and classic cafés. The city's modern architecture is especially exciting: Buildings by Alvar Aalto and Eero Saarinen should be at the top of your must-see list. Finlands design output, too, goes far beyond familiar Marimekko prints. Wander into the shops in the citys Design District or check out the exhibits at the Design Museum (Designmuseo). If the weather is good, youll want to hop a ferry to a nearby island or enjoy the catch of the day at a harbor-facing restaurant. If you are lucky enough to be here in the summer, it's a magical time of the year, when the days last for up to 19 hours and the entire city sparkles from the sun reflecting off the water. "
Day Mariehamn, FinlandArrives 11:00 AM Departs 07:00 PM
Celebrate the colorful center of this isolated archipelago as you join other gleaming boats in a postcard-perfect marina. Halfway between Sweden and Finland, this is the only part of Finland that speaks Swedish. Wander down the nearby Esplanade, an avenue of stately trees stretching from harbor to harbor. Explore the city's shipbuilding history at the Aland Maritime Museum. You'll feel at home here - Mariehamn was the home of the designer of our beautiful Windstar sailing ships.
Celebrate the colorful center of this isolated archipelago as you join other gleaming boats in a postcard-perfect marina. Halfway between Sweden and Finland, this is the only part of Finland that speaks Swedish. Wander down the nearby Esplanade, an avenue of stately trees stretching from harbor to harbor. Explore the city's shipbuilding history at the Aland Maritime Museum. You'll feel at home here - Mariehamn was the home of the designer of our beautiful Windstar sailing ships.
Day Stockholm, SwedenArrives 07:00 AM
Spread over more than a dozen islands linked by bridges, the Swedish capital of Stockholm is one of the most effortlessly enjoyable cities in Europe. Go sightseeing in Stockholm's elegant Östermalm with its chic interior design stores; verdant Djurgården with its museums, cultural sights and acres of rolling parkland; ancient Gamla Stan with its cobbled streets that surround the Royal Palace; and trendy Södermalm with its cool neighborhoods and even cooler inhabitants. Stockholm is easy to navigate on foot or by public transport, and wherever you roam, youre never far from water or parkland attractions in Stockholm.
Spread over more than a dozen islands linked by bridges, the Swedish capital of Stockholm is one of the most effortlessly enjoyable cities in Europe. Go sightseeing in Stockholm's elegant Östermalm with its chic interior design stores; verdant Djurgården with its museums, cultural sights and acres of rolling parkland; ancient Gamla Stan with its cobbled streets that surround the Royal Palace; and trendy Södermalm with its cool neighborhoods and even cooler inhabitants. Stockholm is easy to navigate on foot or by public transport, and wherever you roam, youre never far from water or parkland attractions in Stockholm.