Explora Journeys Baltic Capitals: 13 nights from Southampton with Explora V
May 6, 2028

Bruges

Bruges in French, or Brugge in Dutch, (Brügge in German, in Italian anciently Bruggia) is a city in Belgium, capital and largest city of West Flanders, in the Flemish Community.

The medieval historic center of Bruges was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. In 2002, the city was the European Capital of Culture together with the Spanish city of Salamanca. Bruges is the permanent home of the College of Europe and of a Catholic diocese.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a charming city with a particularly relaxing and serene atmosphere, despite its large size. The city has been a World Heritage Site since 2010 and has buildings dating back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It is no coincidence that it is one of the most visited cities in the world.

The structure of the city is determined by a network of charming waterways. The historic center, which dates back to the 13th century, is surrounded by five concentric canals - the Grachtengordel - built in the 17th century as part of a perfectly successful expansion project designed to create a unique and refined urban environment.

It is here that the city's mercantile class built its characteristic gabled houses, with bright, gracefully decorated colors, whose romantic features are reflected in the olive-green waters of the picturesque canals.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a charming city with a particularly relaxing and serene atmosphere, despite its large size. The city has been a World Heritage Site since 2010 and has buildings dating back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It is no coincidence that it is one of the most visited cities in the world.

The structure of the city is determined by a network of charming waterways. The historic center, which dates back to the 13th century, is surrounded by five concentric canals - the Grachtengordel - built in the 17th century as part of a perfectly successful expansion project designed to create a unique and refined urban environment.

It is here that the city's mercantile class built its characteristic gabled houses, with bright, gracefully decorated colors, whose romantic features are reflected in the olive-green waters of the picturesque canals.

Hamburg

Hamburg is without a doubt the best city in Europe for seeing unique bridges. Its tourist sites are characterised by the typical bohemian style of the sailors and its port.

Just behind Berlin in terms of size and population, the city of Hamburg is home to one of the largest ports in Europe. You will understand why it is know as the 'Venice of the North', when you explore its many canals and waterways. Do not forget to take a trip to the fish market and to the merchants' district, where you will find unique architecture and impressive red brick buildings. Having a delicious dinner by the river or spending a night in the university district is a must.
Hamburg is a destination with many tourist attractions, especially its ancient port and the exclusive lake located in the city centre.
You should also be sure to visit the renowned Kunsthalle (north of the Hauptbahnhof). The Kunsthalle houses an art collection of international importance, covering everything from medieval portraits to 20th century minimalism.
The Rathaus, a neo-Renaissance style building, is home to Hamburg's city hall. When Parliament is not in session, several guided tours are available.
There are also big exhibitions and historical events that are great for tourists.

Aarhus

Aarhus is a dynamic city on the peninsula of Jutland in Denmark. From here, the beach, the harbor and the forest are all within a 15-minute bike ride. 315,000 people live in Aarhus and 1.2 million people live in the metropolitan area of ​​Aarhus Area.

Aarhus is a dynamic city on the peninsula of Jutland in Denmark. The beach, the port and the forest can be reached in 15 minutes by bycicle. 315.000 inhabitants live in Aarhus and 1,2 million people live in the metropolitan area of Aarhus Area. Aarhus has been selected ar European Capital of Culture for the year 2017 and is a combination of innovation, media and communications with architecture and design and has a wide variety of cultural institutions. In Aarhus you can find gatherings of highly specialised companies, research and educational structures guided by a desire of collaboration and innovation. Aarhus stands out in renewable energy, food, health and productivity. As it is a university city, the atmosphere is a vibrating mixture of young energy. Welcome to Aarhus.

Copenaghen

Copenhagen, literally "port of the merchants", is the capital of Denmark and one of the country's most densely populated cities. Originally a city mainly inhabited by fishermen, it became a fundamentally important port for trade.
Copenhagen is a year-round tourist destination and in summer the flow of tourists increases considerably thanks to Northern Europe cruises.

It is very common to add a stay in the city before a cruise, to take in its distinguishing relaxing atmosphere and see what it has to offer. Among its famous attractions you cannot miss the statue of the Mermaid which is located right at the entrance to the port and the Tivoli Gardens, one of the world's largest amusement parks, opened in 1843 and loved by everyone.

Copenhagen (København in Danish and 'Copenaga' in Italian [no source]) is the capital and the most populous city of Denmark with 518,574 inhabitants in the municipality (1,167,569 in the urban area). The city stretches across the islands of Sjælland and Amager and is separated from the city of Malmö in Sweden by the strait of Øresund.

Kiel

Kiel is a city in Eder River and it is near the Baltic Sea. Hamburg and Lübeck are the nearest cities and are about 90 kilometres far from Kiel.
The origins of Kiel are dated back to XII Century. The city was established by Schauenburg Family and it was the farthest north city of the Holy Roman Empire. Among the noteworthy structures, the University is one of the most ancient and was founded in 1665.
During the years, Kiel was subjected to the influence of the neighbouring countries and has been property of Denmark and Sweden. Germany took it back in 1815. At the end of XIX Century, Kiel Canal was opened. It is about 100 kilometres long, and it links the Baltic Sea with the North Sea and it’s been so far one of the most congested canals in the world. Kiel is an important port for the cruises to Northern Europe and has all summer long many departures for the Baltic Capitals and the Norwegian Fjords.

Kiel is an important port of the cruise market: many of the cruises to Northern Europe depart from Kiel. It is no coincidence that it is the most important port in Germany.

Ronne

Rønne is the main city of the small rocky island of Bornholm, it is also a port metropolis that connects Bornholm in Denmark (Køge, south of Copenhagen), Sweden, Germany, and Poland. The city of Ronne and Nexø were bombed after the end of the Second World War. Despite this, there are still many old buildings rich in history. The Swedish State donated 175 particular red wooden houses to help rebuild the city, which are still visible today. Cultural capital of the island: it has the oldest theater in Denmark, the Bornholm Concert Hall. Considered as a starting point for excursions around the island, it has been given the name of Pearl of the Baltic. With its beautiful countryside, rocky coasts and sandy beaches, the place is a popular tourist destination. Discover the medieval fortress of Hammershus, the largest in Northern Europe, a round church from the Middle Ages, a traditional mill, herring smoke, and much more. The easternmost point of Denmark is the island of Christiansø, characterized by the absence of cars. The island mainly lives on fishing, handicrafts, agriculture, and summer tourism, but is also committed to the growth and development of renewable energy.

Tallinn

Tallinn is the capital of Estonia as well as its main port, it is located on the northern coast of the country, overlooking the Baltic Sea, 80 kilometers south of Helsinki and is also the most populous city and major economic and commercial center of the country.

Helsinki

Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is a lively port city surrounded by beautiful small islands and beautiful green spaces. The atmosphere here is both relaxing and stimulating thanks to the city's large number of top quality restaurants, bars and discotheques.

Winter temperatures are relatively high due to the latitude, averaging around -5°C in January and February. The average temperature from June to August varies from 19 °C and 21°C.

The Finns have long been admired for their graceful design and typically immaginative architecture. Lots of past and present styles are represented in this metropolis, ranging from the medieval and the neoclassical ones to the beautiful ultra-modern creations. The beauty of the surrounding nature harmoniously blends with the high-tech and the contemorary ways of the city. In this lively city you will find kind people, a welcoming and relaxed lifestyle and beautiful gardens and parks.
Tourism in Helsinki is largely dominated by culture. The city has lots of museums including the National museum (Kansallis Museum), the Museum of Contemporary Art (Kiasma), the Museum of Classic Art
(Ateneum) and the Natural History Museum. Suomenlina is a beautiful island off the coast of Helsinki, its special feature being the presence of ancient fortifications. The landscape is beautiful, the island is quiet and it is perfect for walking (it takes only 2 hours to walk around the island).

Finally, try the Esplanade Park, which has been open since 1812 and has numerous statues honouring poets and writers. The walk is very pleasant and numerous concerts are organised during the summer.

Winter temperatures are relatively high given the latitude, with an average of around -5°C in January and February. The average maximum from June to August, in turn, fluctuates between 19 and 21°C.

The Finns have long been admired for their graceful design and typically imaginative architecture. Many past and present styles are represented in this metropolis, from medieval to neoclassical, to superb ultra-modern creations. The beauty of the surrounding nature blends harmoniously with high-tech and the contemporary modes of the city.
In this sparkling city you will find friendly people, the welcoming and relaxing lifestyle, embellished by beautiful gardens and parks.

Tourism in Helsinki is largely dominated by culture. The city has many museums, including the National Museum (Kansallis museum), the Museum of Contemporary Art (Kiasma), the museum of classical art (Ateneum) or the Museum of Natural History.
Suomenlina is a beautiful island off the coast of Helsinki, its particularity is the presence of ancient fortifications. The landscape is beautiful, the island is quiet and it's perfect for walking (it only takes 2 hours to go around the island).
Finally, try the Esplanade Park open since 1812, there are numerous statues in honor of poets and writers. The walk is very pleasant and during the summer many concerts are organized.

Stockholm

The capital of Sweden is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world, a mirage of buildings in saffron colors and iridescent terracottas between the blue of the water and the even bluer skies of the Swedish summer, or candid, covered with snow and dotted with winter lights. It is also a lively, modern city, famous for the production of elegant design, cutting-edge fashion and world-class nightclubs.

The old town, Gamla Stan, is a compact little labyrinth seemingly built for small, thin people. The red, orange, and vanilla stucco walls of the buildings that seem to curve in towards each other house countless souvenir shops and ice cream parlors.

Just south of Gamla Stan is another island-neighborhood, Södermalm, where hills high waterfront are embellished by beautiful residences and the main avenues are lined with bohemian shops, art galleries, and Clubs. On the other side of Gamla Stan is the main city center, a bustling metropolis where boutiques and restaurants enliven the cool Swedish evenings.