What We Love
Regional Flavors: From Stockholm’s fresh shrimp salad to Copenhagen’s pork sausages and smorrebrod open-face sandwiches, and Helsinki’s rye sourdough bread to Tallinn’s honey beer, the Baltic is filled with must-try local favorites. Meanwhile, the British Isles serve up culinary specialties that may be more familiar — yes, fish ‘n chips in England but also scrambled eggs with smoked salmon in Scotland and lamb stew in Ireland.
Literary and Music Culture: Some of the world’s most respected writers from the 1800s to today resided in the United Kingdom and Ireland, including Charles Dickens, James Joyce, and William Wordsworth. Many of their homes are open to visitors or have been made into museums. In Scandinavia, Copenhagen’s colorful Nyhavn district was where fairytale author Hans Christian Andersen once lived and modern Stockholm was the setting for 20th-century novelist Stig Larssen’s popular Millennium Trilogy (which began with “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”). Music lovers can also delve into the lives of their favorite bands, with a U2 walking tour in Dublin, a visit to the ABBA Museum in Stockholm, or the monument to composer Jean Sibelius in Helsinki.
World-Class Golf: If you love the sport, you may be able to play some of the world’s best golf courses in the British Isles, including famed St. Andrews in Scotland and Royal County Down in Northern Ireland.
Best Known For
Historic Old Towns: All the Baltic capitals, from Stockholm to Copenhagen, Helsinki to Oslo, have well-preserved old quarters to explore. Castles, forts, and grand buildings date back to the 17th and 18th centuries, and even earlier. In the British Isles, Dublin charms with historic squares and parks as well as Christ Church Cathedral with its 1,000-year history and Trinity College, home to the 9th-century Book of Kells, while Edinburgh boasts both 18th-century Georgian architecture as well as a medieval Old Town.
Gorgeous Coastlines: In the British Isles, rolling green farmland leads to dramatic rocky bluffs above crashing surf and arcs of beach along the coasts of Ireland, England, and the Channel Islands. Choose an itinerary that visits ports in Norway, such as Geiranger and Stavanger, and you’ll be treated to views of stunning fjords that cut into the country’s long coastline. For otherworldly volcanic landscapes, opt for a sailing that calls on Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland.
Antiquities: From Roman ruins to ancient Neolithic and Celtic Christian sites, there’s a lot of history to absorb in the British Isles — including Stonehenge in the south of England and Skara Brae and the Standing Stones of Stenness in Scotland’s Orkney Islands.
Best Ports
Stockholm, Sweden: Spend time in the picturesque Stockholm’s 13th-century Old Town to check out the Royal Palace and ancient churches. And don’t miss the Vasa Museum. The massive warship sank on its maiden voyage in 1628, just minutes after it left the docks, and was excavated and restored about 60 years ago.
Copenhagen, Denmark: This walkable city is a delight, from its broad boulevards to the narrow cobblestone streets. Check out the daily changing of the guard at Copenhagen’s Amalienborg royal palace, famous statues (including Danish Writer Hans Christian Andersen and the "Little Mermaid"), and the mid-19th-century amusement park at Tivoli Gardens.
Tallinn, Estonia: For charm, it’s hard to top Tallinn with its fairytale-like red-roofed Old Town encircled by centuries-old turrets. The architecture here is truly memorable, notably the steeples of five churches, including onion-domed St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the medieval-meets-Baroque Cathedral of St. Mary the Virgin, and the soaring black spire of Gothic-style St. Olav’s.
Edinburgh, Scotland: The city’s 12th-century hilltop castle is the top draw in legendary Edinburgh, but there's much more to behold, from beautiful old churches and palaces to museums and galleries. Both the medieval Old Town and the Georgian New Town are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Dublin, Ireland: With beautiful architecture and historic places, Dublin is a city with plenty to see and do. History lovers generally head for Trinity College, while shoppers hunt for purchases on Grafton Street and beer aficionados can see the brewing process and sample the goods at the Guinness Storehouse.
Amsterdam, Netherlands: Walkable Amsterdam with its picturesque canals and Dutch architecture is a visual delight — although keeping an eye out for oncoming bicyclists can be an annoyance. This city also offers ample history, art, and culture at top sites such as the Rijksmuseum (home to Vermeer and Rembrandt masterpieces), the Van Gogh Museum, and the Anne Frank House.
Don't Say We Didn't Warn You
The Weather Can be Cool and Cloudy: Even in the summer, it can get nippy in Northern Europe — in Stockholm and Helsinki especially. Temperatures may be in the 70s and low 80s but also routinely dip down into the 50s, so bring layers you can peel off and put on. And although the British Isles are enchanting, the frequently dreary and rainy weather can be a downer. With luck, you may enjoy a string of sunny days.
