Cruise to the Baltic

Cruise to the Baltic For a Helsinki Stay

Cruise and stay holidays offer a fantastic opportunity to explore a particular region before taking a traditional break in one destination.

The Baltic is one area that is well-suited to such holidays, thanks to its many magnificent port stops - such as Copenhagen, St Petersburg and Gothenburg.

One idea for a Baltic holiday might be to take a cruise through the region before stopping for a two-week stay in one of the most interesting cities in Scandinavia - Helsinki.

With a past going back to 1550, the Finnish capital is old enough to house numerous interesting museums and historical attractions, while also being young enough to boast a lively, dynamic atmosphere.

The main museums in Helsinki include the Ateneum Art Museum, which has some significant art collections from the 1750s through to the 1960s, while the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma's exhibits are more modern.

Elsewhere, the National Museum of Finland offers a fascinating insight into the country's history, with displays dating back to the prehistoric era. The Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, meanwhile, explores the typical Finnish home as it was in the 18th to the 20th century.

Child-friendly attractions in Helsinki include Sea Life for lovers of all things watery and nature-related, while Linnanmaki Amusement Park is a fairground providing some old-fashioned but fun rides for all the family.

If architecture is more your thing, make sure you check out Helsinki's main religious buildings. The Helsinki Cathedral is a neoclassical wonder built in the mid-19th century, while the awe-inspiring Temppeliaukio Church is constructed directly from natural bedrock and is a popular music venue thanks to its amazing acoustics.

The Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral is also a perfect example of how eastern and western influences combine in Finland, thanks to its Russian cupola-based design.

Food lovers will want to make sure they sample as much as possible of Finland's exquisite cuisine, which is very much focused on simple, pure tastes and is reliant on key ingredients such as berries, fish, mushrooms and various vegetables.

Other potential holiday activities in Helsinki include shopping, playing golf, going cycling and taking tours and excursions to destinations near the city - such as Tallinn and St Petersburg.

By Dipika Patel