Denmark

The home of Lego, childrens author Hans Christian Andersen and legendary comedian Victor Borge, the setting of one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays, Hamlet, and the place where you’ll find the world’s longest pedestrian street, Denmark has a lot to offer. To the north of Copenhagen you’ll find a wide choice of castles and palaces, including Kronborg Castle in Elsinore (the setting of Hamlet). To the east is the stunning Øresund Bridge. The longest road and rail bridge in Europe, it connects Denmark to Sweden. No visit to Denmark would be complete without a visit to the Carlsberg Factory and stocking up on an item of cutting-edge design. Check out Illums Bolighus, GUBI, Bodum or CasaShop in Copenhagen to enhance your home’s interiors. Read more about our Baltic cruises.

Norway

Norway’s natural landscape is awe-inspiring. Fjord Cruises allow you enjoy thundering waterfalls, towering snow capped peaks, bottomless pools and crystal clear lakes, terrifying cliffs, sharp valleys and the most amazing natural phenomenon of all, the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). Add to this the gentle welcome of the friendly Norwegian people, an enchanting history where myth intertwines with fact to enhance the story of the Vikings, and the elegant architecture of the colourful Hanseatic timbered houses and you can be sure of a real treat. Make sure you add Tromsø, Molde and Bergen to your list of must sees and don’t forget your camera, you will definitely be needing it.

Belgium

Famed for chocolate, beer and chips, what is there not to love about Belgium? Aficionados would add art, lace and mussels to the list, all of which are definitely worth trying in this small, friendly country. The bi-lingual capital, Brussels, plays host to the European Union and NATO which sit comfortably alongside sights such as the impressive Grand Place and famed bronze statue, Manneken Pis. No visit to Belgium would be complete without a trip to Bruges. Often hailed the Venice of the north thanks to its stunning architecture and maze of canals, this medieval city is one of Europe’s real treasures.

Netherlands

A visit to the Netherlands is a foray into a friendly, cultured and artistic land. This low lying country is shored up from the sea and rivers with great escarpments of dykes. Charming windmills dot the landscape, as do the greenhouses and fields of colour that host thousands of tulips. The Netherlands is not short on culture and can claim Rembrandt, Vermeer, van Gogh, Mondriaan and Escher among its noted artists. Much of their work can be seen in the wonderful art galleries of the capital, Amsterdam. The city is also the location of the Anne Frank Museum, set in the house where the girl wrote her diary while in hiding during Nazi occupation.

Poland

For many, Poland’s shipbuilding culture, which centres around Gdansk, also forms the heart of Polish culture and the birth of its Solidarity Movement. Although WWII hammered many of Gdansk’s old buildings, a restoration programme has successfully returned much of the Old Town to its former glory. Must sees include the medieval Gdansk Crane, the Town Hall and the Golden Gate. Poland is famed for its fine glass and amber jewellery and Gdansk’s Old Town provides plenty of quaint shops specialising in beautiful examples of exquisite craftsmanship.