Once infamous, these waters were known to be some of the fiercest in the entire Atlantic Ocean. Today however, improved ships and more accurate weather forecasting have made the crossing the Bay of Biscay somewhat easier. Look out for whales, dolphins and seabirds!

Copenhagen
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.

Bornholm
Bornholm is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea located to the east of Denmark, the south of Sweden, and the north of Poland.

Gudhjem, Bornholm
For centuries the small cliff coves at offered shelter to the fishermen landing their catches on shore. Today the fishing industry in this area has withered to a shadow of its former self, but Gudhjem’s charms have attracted a new catch to the area, tourists, who are fast becoming the town’s principal form of revenue.

Tallinn
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
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.

Bordeaux
The Bordeaux region produces some of the world’s greatest wines. Visit some of the vineyards and châteaux that pepper this rich and beautiful region, of which the Margaux and Lafitte-Rothschild brands are the most famed. The city Bordeaux also presents a fascinating destination, with its wide avenues, beautiful parks and neo-classical architecture affording it a distinctly 18th century air.

Bordeaux has been officially included on the list of UNESCO World Heritage. This distinction recognizes the beauty and unity of style of Bordeaux's architectural heritage. In Bordeaux you can see the WWII German submarine base, the Chartrons river front where the wine trade started, the 18th century Place de la Bourse, the Cailhau Gate and the Big Bell. Stop at the Palais Rohan, and walk to the 13th-century Cathedral of St. Andrew, where Alienor d'Aquitaine married Louis VII plus enjoy a "Canele" cake tasting. You may continue by coach through the Gambetta and Tourny squares. Stop at the monument to the Girondins of the French Revolution at the Quinconces square. From here you can walk to the close by Grand Theatre. The theatre was built by Victor Louis in 1773, and is one of the most beautiful in Europe; a pure work of art from the 18th century. After this you stroll through the Old Bordeaux area with the Parliament and St. Pierre squares.

Honfleur
The small town of Honfleur on the Normandy coast boasts one of the most picturesque ports in Europe.  Beloved by tourist from all across the world, the town has nonetheless managed to retain its timeless character and unspoiled charm.

Hamburg
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.

Trondheim
Trondheim is well known for its rich cultural life. The city's concert hall, Olavshallen, has excellent acoustics and features top-line performers throughout the year. Ringve Museum of musical history is housed in beautiful old buildings. The impressive Nidaros Catherdral is a national monument. Trondheim is a large city by Norwegian standards, though it has still managed to preserve both the charm and intimacy of a small town. Tourists will appreciate Trondheim as a town full of contrasts, with monastery ruins, impressive wooden buildings, colorful wharfs, and a beautiful red-painted city bridge dating back to 1861.

Stavanger
Commonly referred to as Norway’s “Petroleum Capital,” Stavanger became the on-shore center of operations for the North Sea oil industry in 1969. The city today is an interesting blend of the old and the new, where you can find Norway’s oldest cathedral taking pride of place in the heart of the modern city center.

Lysefjord and Rosendal
The famous walls of Preikestolen tower an impressive 1,982 feet above the Lysefjord, providing a spectacular backdrop as you cruise through the area en route to Rosendal, a town renowned for its Barony manor house and home to one of the most important museums in Western Norway.


Ulvik
Visit Ulvik, a settlement of just 600 inhabitants. From here you continue into the Eidfjord, famed for the cascading Vøringfossen Falls, whose waters free fall over 597 ft into the waters below.

Flåm, Nærøyfjord, Gudvangen in Sognefjord
Flåm is home to the spectacular Flåmsbana railway, one of the steepest railway tracks in the world and a hugely popular attraction for visitors to the area. From Flåm you sail to the very end of the Nærøyfjord to reach the village of Gudvangen.

Ålesund, Geiranger, Geirangerfjord
Surrounded by water, Ålesund is a colorful coastal town that is renowned for its Art Nouveau architecture. From here you enter the famous Geiranger fjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s longest fjords. We recommend visiting Geiranger.

More on Norwegian Fjords here

Olden, Nordfjord
When we sail into Nordfjord you gaze out towards the Jostedalsbreen glacier, before carrying on to enter the Utfjord and Innviksfjord en route to Olden. On your way back out to sea you make a late evening cruise in the Hyenfjord.

Oslo
On Bygdøy, a short ferry ride from the city center, you can find the Fram museum, where the original explorer ship Fram is located. Fram (meaning "Forward") is a ship that was used in expeditions of the Arctic and Antarctic regions by the Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen, Otto Sverdrup, Oscar Wisting, and Roald Amundsen between 1893 and 1912.

We recommend a visit to this historic relic and perhaps a tour of Oslo itself before you check in to your comfortable cabin for the journey ahead.

Bergen
Surrounded by seven mountains and founded in the 11th century, the picturesque city of Bergen is Norway’s cultural capital. A stroll through its charming streets affords an opportunity to discover one of Norway’s most vibrant cities and we recommend a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the famous houses of “Bryggen.”

Lisbon
Built on seven hills along the shores of the River Tejo, the Portuguese capital Lisbon is a city filled with legend and history.

Porto
The port of Leixoes is situated across the River Douro, close to the ancient city of Porto, who’s name originates from the large vats used to store its famous port wine. Proud of its ancient roots, the city has retained much of its old charm, while an infusion of lively commerce has engendered it with an air of bustling conviviality.

St. Petersburg
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.

Santiago de Compostela and La Coruña
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.

Isle of Lewis and Isle of Harris, UK
Remote and wild, these islands can trace their history of human habitation back thousands of years. Home to the largest Gaelic speaking community in Scotland, their landscapes are home to some of the most staunchly held traditions in the islands. Beautiful and unforgiving, this is nature at its rawest.

Oban, Scotland, UK
Oban, situated on the west coast of Scotland was a former fishing village, that today it is known as “the Gateway to the Highlands.” A busy port - it boasts a surprising eclectic collection of shops and attractions.

Sark and Guernsey, UK
Lying off the coast of northern France, amidst the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, the Channel Islands present a charming taste of old world charm. We’ll call in at the tiny and picturesque setting of Sark, the smallest of the main islands and an idyllic setting uncluttered by cars, or indeed any of the other usual trappings of modern life. Then it is on to Guernsey, where we take some time to enjoy its lovely capital, the bustling harbor town of St Peter’s Port.

Isles of Scilly, UK
Off the southwest tip of Britain lies the small and beautiful archipelago that makes up the Isles of Scilly. Here we can find mile after mile of white sandy beaches, natural rolling landscapes and a rich and fascinating history. The islands have been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), testament indeed to the unique natural beauty that exists here.

Portsmouth, UK
Steeped in a rich naval heritage, Portsmouth is home to a collection of fascinating museums that cover all aspects of the city’s past. Its modern accomplishments are best highlighted by the award-winning Gunwharf Quays, a thriving commercial centre that boasts over 20 cosmopolitan bars, designer outlet shopping, nightclubs, a multiplex cinema and a bowling alley.

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