Copenhagen started as an obscure fishing village. Today it is the thriving modern capital of Denmark. Filled with historic sites and museums, vibrant cafes and excellent shopping, it is a city perfectly in tune with its past and its present.

Estonia’s engaging capital Tallinn reveals an eclectic mix of Scandinavian, Russian and German influences. The overwhelming aura of its 14th and 15th Century heritage still remains amongst central Tallinn's medieval streets and picturesque houses, many of which have been beautifully restored to provide us with a fascinating insight into its remarkable past.

Helsinki was originally built to rival the Hanseatic port of Reval (Tallinn). With its breathtaking fusion of eclectic architectural styles, Helsinki is a truly breathtaking city of wide boulevards and verdant parks and gardens, where Art Nouveau design and the sumptuous majesty of its neoclassical cathedrals go hand in hand with such structures as the city’s 19th century railway station.

Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany. It was once the most important harbor of the powerful Hanseatic League, whose proximity to the trade routes to the North Sea and the Baltic assured its steady rise to prominence.

Belfast
Belfast has the world’s largest dry dock and the shipyard’s giant cranes still tower over the port. This is where the Titanic was built and even today the modern city still retains something of its Victorian and Edwardian past.

Dublin, Ireland
Historical and contemporary Dublin is the cultural center of southern Ireland as well as a modern centre for education and the arts, economy and industry. With its mix of urban cool, lush parkland and sweeping coastline, Dublin pulsates with an energy that belies its genteel ambience.

Cork, Ireland
The town of Cork has enjoyed a varied history over the years, including a reputation as a health resort. But it is as the country’s main emigration port in the 19th century that the city is probably best known.

Peter the Great described St. Petersburg as his “Window on the West”. Many believe St. Petersburg to be the most beautiful city in Europe. A living monument to its creator, St Petersburg can boast over 1,000 architectural and historic monuments, including the former imperial palace, which houses the collected treasures of the Tsars. A haven for the artistic and the affluent, culture has always flourished in St. Petersburg and the influences of such luminaries as Pushkin, Dostoyevsky, Pavlova, Nijinsky and Fabergé are still very much in evidence.

Hurtigruten recommends an excursion to the city of Santiago de Compostela, the stunning capital of the Galacia region that has long been one of Christendom’s holiest shrines. The port of La Coruña, where the harbor facing buildings, whose glass and white frame facades have earned the place its poetic moniker of “The Crystal City,” make for a captivating night stop.

Dover
Dover is a town whose maritime traditions stretch back centuries. Modern and vibrant, the town still retains something of its rustic charm. Dover is famous for its chalky White Cliffs. We recommend that you take some time to explore a little of this historic port.