Northern cruise has everything – culture, castles and Abba!

A Saga cruise delivers just as many delights on dry land.

Last week I described the joys of the cruise ship Saga Sapphire, on which I sailed last summer in the Baltic and on to St Petersburg, Russia. The ship was great, but what about the ports of call?

Well if Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Russia and Estonia have ever appealed . . . read on.

I joined the ship in pretty Aarhus in Denmark. Regarded by many as the country’s cultural capital, Aarhus was established in Viking times and, with its sheltered bay and harbour dating back to the 15th Century, has long been an important centre for trade with Germany and the Baltic countries.

Today you find a small, compact and pretty university city with a bustling atmosphere and the Old Town reveals rows of quaint medieval houses.

When we were there our stay coincided with the first leg of the Tall Ships Race 2013, so we could marvel at this gathering of beautiful vessels as the ships cruised out of Denmark and headed for Sweden.

Aarhus was for a long time an important centre for trade with Germany and the Baltic countries. The many architectural sites of interest include the City Hall, and a visit to the Old Town introduces you to an open-air museum of medieval houses gathered from all over Denmark.

Our next port of call was beautiful Stockholm a capital city set across 14 islands and surrounded by unspoilt, lush countryside. Its rich history is reflected in its ornate architecture, churches, castles, cobbled streets and elegant open squares.

I stayed central and enjoyed a trip to somewhere very special the Abba Museum! As a huge fan of this Swedish phenomenon I just HAD to visit the new museum that tells their story, showing their crazy costumes and even allowing you the chance to become the fifth member of the band. It was a blast.

While in this lovely city I also came across a superb restaurant (outdoor seating in summer also available). Called Ulla Winbladh, it’s a 19th Century former steam bakery and the Swedish traditional cuisine is excellent.

It’s located next to Skansen the extremely impressive outdoor museum of Sweden. Stockholm is the Baltic’s largest seaport and it’s a wonderful city to sail in and out of, with all its islands and 40 bridges.

The Old Town (Gamla Stan) is located on the island of Stadsholmen, and is characterised by narrow medieval streets. Here you can see the majestic 18th Century Royal Palace and Stockholm Cathedral.

Stockholm, incredibly, has more than 100 museums that are visited by millions of people every year. The ‘Nationalmuseum’ is the most renowned, with more than 16,000 paintings and 30,000 items of art handicraft.

This amazing collection is Sweden’s largest, with works by Rembrandt and many other artists. Between April and October, it’s possible to rent a bicycle by purchasing a bike card online or through one of many retailers. The card allows you to rent, and return, a bike from many of the bike stands spread throughout the city.

Next on the itinerary was Helsinki. Finland’s capital is the most northerly in all of Europe, and has a sophisticated air with its grand architecture and open-air cafes. The cobblestone streets lead to well-tended parks, numerous galleries and museums.

This is also the home of Jean Sibelius, Finland’s finest composer. His home near Lake Tuusula has been preserved as it was during his lifetime and is an interesting visit. Helsinki has no high-rise buildings and an intimate small-town feel, with spacious streets interspersed with gardens and parks.

Founded by King Gustavus Vasa of Sweden, the city’s grand architecture reveals a mixture of Swedish, Russian and international influences and is often called the ‘white city of the north’ as many of its buildings are made from a local light-coloured granite.

On the next morning we woke up in Russia and beautiful St Petersburg. No Baltic cruise would be complete without a visit here, and it’s easy to see why the city is such an astounding destination, and not just for first-time visitors. Saga Sapphire spent three days there, so we had plenty time to enjoy the attractions without rushing.

I visited the Peter and Paul Fortress, saw the glinting treasures inside the Hermitage State Museum and headed for the lavish Rococo Catherine’s Palace in Pushkin. There were also evening excursions, such as a visit to the Bolshoi Ballet and a folklore show.

This relatively young city has packed a lot into its 300 years, and is brimming with historic treasures including ornate palaces, splendid gardens and world-renowned museums.

You can learn about the revolution of 1917 and chart the periods of change faced by Russia in the 20th Century as it forged a new path in the Soviet era. The city is often referred to as the ‘Venice of the North’ as it has many bridges over the River Neva, an important part of the city.

In 1991, a referendum took place for the renaming of the city. It had been named Leningrad since 1924, but the city voted for St Petersburg.

Our last port of call was the fabulous city of Tallinn. Regular readers will know I loved it as I wrote about it in this supplement recently.

If you missed the article, you’ll find it on our website.