Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn is a favourite with cruise ships, and a big draw for tourists looking for a mix of old and new. The Old Town, which is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is a curious hotchpotch of twisting cobblestone lanes and dramatic spires, framed with old-fashioned iron streetlamps and home to bustling mediaeval markets. The old-fashioned ambience of this beautiful part of the city is juxtaposed by the coffee shops with free Wi-Fi, perfect for a spot of people watching after wandering the Old Town.

Tallinn, Estonia by XisPics

Also part of the Old Town is the Cathedral of Saint Mary the Virgin and the bell tower, which you can climb if you are up to ascending the steps. It’s well worth it if you do manage the climb; the view across the city is spectacular and it’s absolutely free.

Out of the Old Town, Tallinn has plenty to offer in the autumn. If it’s warm, a wander around the Japanese Garden at Kadriog Park is a must, or a visit to The Estonian Open Air Museum in the Rocca al Mare part of the city, where you’ll find a fascinating chunk of Estonian history complete with thatched cottages and traditional Estonian crafts. It’s also a good place for eating al fresco. If a bit of retail therapy is on the cards, Rocca al Mare also houses a huge shopping mall. Art lovers will love the Kumu Art Museum – don’t expect Old Masters though, as this gallery is more for the modern art connoisseur.

To get around the city and see as much as you can, it’s advisable to invest in a Tallinn Card that gives you access to all of the city’s public transport network; buses, trolleybuses or trams. The card also gives you free entry to many of the city’s attractions, including the Open Air Museum and Tallinn zoo.

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Autumn and Edinburgh are the perfect combination, offering a period of calm between the frenetic Festival shenanigans and the joyful revelry of Hogmanay. The atmospheric streets of the city lend themselves perfectly to cooler, darker months, and the bounty of pubs and restaurants make Edinburgh the perfect hiding place if the clouds should burst.

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK by a_marga

Edinburgh has no fewer than five Michelin-starred restaurants if you want to indulge your foodie leanings, including Restaurant Martin Wishart in cosmopolitan Leith, which serves beautifully presented and exquisitely tasteful French cuisine… but the prices are eye-watering, so it’s definitely a treat.

When the weather is good, make the most of a walk to Arthur’s Seat and the amazing views across the city. For rainy days, there are galleries galore, or the offbeat shopping streets of Stockbridge, which are perfect for finding one-off boutiques, quirky shops and delis. Grassmarket, in the Old Town, is a great place for anyone looking for vintage clothes or individual fashion shops.

Edinburgh Castle has to be top of everyone’s tourist agenda, with its Stone of Destiny and the Scottish crown jewels to see. If you love your art, take your pick from the Scottish Galleries that offer everything from modern art to old masters.

Not into culture? You don’t have to be! You can play at being a spy and head up to the famous Camera Obscura – see what people are up to down below from the vantage point of the rooftop periscope, which was actually Edinburgh’s first ever official tourist attraction. The Edinburgh Pass will get you admission to the galleries, zoo and many other tours and attractions, from just £30, which is well worth it considering that admission to the Camera Obscura alone is £11.50. When you’ve filled yourself full of sightseeing and you just want to put your feet up with a coffee, the Elephant House is famous for being where J.K. Rowling wrote a rather famous first novel…

Stockholm, Sweden

Another must-see for any autumn tour of Europe worth its salt is Stockholm, ‘The Green and Blue City’. Stockholm is actually 14 islands connected by 57 bridges, a little like a Nordic version of Venice. Wherever you go in Stockholm you’re never too far away from water. Although Sweden starts to cool down after August, early autumn in Stockholm is beautiful; the lush green landscape changes to browns, reds and oranges, and although it can feel chilly, the skies are clear.

Stockholm, Sweden by Mark Doliner

If you’re looking for a culture-infused autumn city break, this one’s for you. Not only is the city packed with world-class museums and attractions, but they are mostly accessible on foot, so you can get around a fair few of them on an average short break. The Stockholm Card is amazing value for money and gives you free admission to 80 of the city’s top attractions, as well as free travel on all public transport.

For one of the best views of the city, head to the City Hall and take one of the scheduled guided tours. The view from the tower is worth the effort of the climb. If you’re in the city at the right time, and love vintage, there’s a vintage street market in Stockholm city every two weeks, and a classically designed hidden gem – the Birger Jarlspassagen – is a haven for designer label aficionados and luxury beauty emporia. Take in the picturesque Old Town too, where you can wander the streets hunting for photo opportunities.

For a taste of Swedish history, it’s almost obligatory to pay a visit to the Swedish Royal Palace in Gamla Stan, close to the Old Town. You might just catch a change of the guard! Take in some of the museums too – the amazing Vasa Museum with its preserved shipwreck, the Nordic Museum, which is a museum of cultural history by day and a centre for music and events by night, or the National Museum of Art.

City breaks in the autumn are perfect if you like to explore without trampling other tourists, or get into attractions without heaving queues. The heat is off and you can tour some of Europe’s loveliest cities at your leisure.

Written by Katharina Kraetzer, a blogger who loves to travel in Europe. This summer she will visit Italy and Slovenia.

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Helsinki for a Weekend | Finland

If you can spend several days in Helsinki, make sure to visit the Helsinki Cathedral and take a photo sitting on its steps, like masses of people do. This beautiful piece of architecture, built in the 19^th century, is an Evangelic Lutheran church, but it is also a symbol of Helsinki, so missing it could make your trip feel incomplete. For the ones interested in military architecture – or for the ones interested in UNESCO World Heritage sites – the Suomenlinna Sea Fortress is something not to be missed. Built to guard the entrance to Helsinki, this fortress dates back to the beginning of the 18^th century and attracts many visitors every year. Finally, if you still have time, try to visit the Seurasaari museum, which is on an island a couple of kilometres outside Helsinki. It is an open-air ethnographic museum with a scenic route leading to it. There are special events at Seurasaari during Christmas, Easter, and Midsummer, so make sure to put it on your list if you happen to be in Helsinki around those times.

Helsinki Orthodox Cathedral, Finland by Adrián Pérez

Destination: Stockholm | Sweden

If you are in Stockholm, Gamla Stan is something that is impossible to miss, and for a good reason. It is one of the biggest and best-preserved city centres in Europe, dating back to medieval times. With narrow streets that are home to lovely shops of handicrafts and souvenirs, cosy bars and cafés, what else can you ask for in a weekend escape? A royal palace, perhaps? The Royal Palace of Stockholm is the official residence of His Majesty the King of Sweden and is open to public. This lovely Italian Baroque-style building has more than 600 rooms and five museums, so you can spend quite some time there admiring the building and its treasures. If you have time left, definitely go to Skansen, the oldest open-air museum in the world, which also has a zoo.

Skansen, Stockholm, Sweden by Jack Torcello

Reykjavik for the Weekend | Iceland

A weekend in Iceland can be one of the most incredible weekends of your life. If you feel like taking a half-day break after your trip, go to the Laugardalslaug Geothermal Pool, which is the largest pool in Iceland. It also has the best facilities, including an outdoor pool, an Olympic-size indoor pool, a steam bath, and even a 86-metre water slide. Enjoy the water temperature, which is kept at a nice 29°C by the volcanic water. After your relaxing time in the pool, definitely hit the museums. There is the National Museum and the Saga Museum, so you can learn more about the Vikings and how people used to live in the older days in the Reykjavik City Museum (Arbaejarsafn), which is the biggest open-air museum in the country.

Reykjavik, Iceland by Daniel

Scandinavia Awaits

With all these attractions waiting, wonder no more. Although perhaps not the sunniest places, these destinations have their charm, and so does the UK city breaks. Ready. Steady. Go.

This is an article written by Lilly Sheperd, a freelance writer and gastro-blogger who shares her experiences on various blogs.

The post City Breaks in Northern Europe: Three Top Destinations to Consider appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Jimmy Harris

Romantic places for an evening stroll

Monteliusvägen

Promenade Monteliusvägen runs through the hills of Södermalm. It offers picturesque view of the bay Riddarferden, the island of Kungsholmen, City Hall and the Old Town. A true Mecca for romantic travel fans.

Kina slot

Secluded Chinese Pavilion was built in the Drottningholm Palace park by order of King Adolf Fredrik in the 1750s. All the construction works were kept in secret as this pavilion was meant to be a birthday present to Queen Lovisa Ulrike.

Stadshusets gård

Leave behind the noise of big city and step behind the massive walls of this park. Magnificent garden, sculptures and water views will surely set up a romantic mood.

Sandhamn

A small island with scenic maritime terrain of the outer archipelago. This island is a true romantic hide away thanks to its idyllic village, yacht port and The Sandhamn Sailing Hotel with hot baths at the open air. A perfect place for romantic weekend or at least a romantic day out.

Djurgarden

A romantic green oasis, a must-visit place if you are a fan of slow travel and leisurely strolls. A walk along the canal can be combined with a visit to various museums followed by a relaxation in one of park’s cozy cafeterias.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Mispahn

Restaurants

Cloud Nine

Restaurant is renowned for its exquisite French cuisine. But the best part is that a dinner can be followed by excellent desert in a cozy Cloud Nine desserts and drinks hall, where tables are enclosed by black tulle curtains.

Brasserie Le Rouge

A burlesque-themed café inspired by Amsterdam’s Red District with romantic and a bit ironic atmosphere. Classic French and Italian menu guarantees a great culinary experience.

Gondolen

An elegant restaurant with an exclusive menu of Swedish and international cuisine is situated high above Stockholm’s port and offers breathtaking panoramic views over the Old Town. What could be more romantic? Ensure to book your table in advance as this is an extremely popular place.

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One thing that makes Stockholm so unique is that the large city is actually comprised of 14 separate islands, connected by a network of bridges. There are currently 50 bridges keeping Stockholm’s different areas within easy reach of each other, and many of these are attractions in their own right.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Mispahn

Despite the fact it is made up of islands, Stockholm has an enviably good public transport network, comprising trains, buses and underground subway trains. You can buy day passes that allow you to get around using any combination of these, as with most major European cities.

The climate in Stockholm is surprisingly mild for a Scandinavian country, though you will find that if you visit in December the days are incredibly short, with only 6 hours of daylight on the shortest day. By contrast, there are 18 hours of daylight at the mid point of summer.

There are so many things to see and do in Stockholm’s many thriving districts that there is certainly something for every traveller. You can check out the historical sights in the old town, or shop and socialise in the trendy districts of Norrmalm and Ostermalm. The nightlife is great, but be aware that drinks are very expensive in Sweden.

Stockholm is a truly great European destination for a city break, and with plenty of transport links and hotels it is easy to find a well priced deal for a trip there.

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Sweden, officially the Kingdom of Sweden, is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy of government with the current king Carl XVI Gustaf. The country has highly developed economy. The capital city is Stockholm, which has about 800,000 inhabitants. The whole kingdom covers 449,964 km² with approximately 9,856,000 inhabitants (of which about 1.5 million are immigrants). The largest cities after Stockholm are Göteborg, Malmö and Uppsala. Three main areas of Sweden, basically corresponding to the southern, central and northern parts of the country are Götaland (south), Svealand (central part) and Norrland (north).

The best time for visiting Sweden is Winter or Summer when you can see the polar night (in Winter) and have the daylight only for a few hours, or polar day (in Summer) with the sun above you almost for 24 hours.

Typical cuisine is Smorgåsbord (a buffet of savoury delicacies), Baltic herring, pea soup and pancakes.

Among the best know people from Sweden you will find actress Greta Garbo or music group ABBA.

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Latvia’s surface is mainly lowland. The highest point is Gaizinkalns hill with an elevation of 311 meters. There are more than 12.000 rivers in Latvia. The largest are the Daugava, Lielupe, Gauja and Venta. The country has over 3.000 lakes.

The capital city of Latvia is Riga which is very interesting for tourists. For lots of tourists Baltic coast is here interesting as well. The most famous tourist resort on the Baltic Sea is a town of Jurmala, situated about 20 km from Riga. Be sure to visit the beautiful Latvian countryside with beautiful pine and mixed forests. The center of Riga is full of historical buildings.

View Latvia – a heart of the Baltic States in a larger map

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