The Gulf of Bothnia, at the Gateway to the Arctic

From this genuine and well-preserved city in the Great North of Sweden, you will make your way to the medieval village of Gammelstad. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site notable for its stonebuilt church, the only surviving relic from the 15th Century giving us some idea of the region’s cultural wealth in those days. The Arctic Circle is a stone’s throw from here with its stunning landscapes and almost uninhabited territory where the indigenous nomadic Sami people still herd their reindeer.

With some 600 wooden houses from the 18th Century the old district of Rauma is the main attraction of this ancient maritime city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy a promenade round the heart of the town with its delightful cafés, antique shops and lace boutiques, a Rauma speciality.

The capital of Sweden occupies an archipelago in the east of the country at the junction of Mälar Lake and the Baltic sea. In Gamla stan, meaning “old town” in Swedish, you can stroll at your leisure in picturesque medieval streets until you reach the majestic Royal Palace. On the green island of Djurgården, you can visit several very different kinds of cultural centres: the Vasa museum is dedicated to a 17th century three-mast, the ecomuseum of Skansen presents traditional customs, and the ABBA museum is dedicated to the legendary pop group. For a fantastic, all-encompassing view of Stockholm, you can take a ride in SkyView, a glass-encased sphere gondola that takes you to the top of the world’s largest building, the Ericsson Globe, a Stockholm landmark.

Seated in the southern peninsula of Finland, Helsinki offers the buzz of a cosmopolitan city that has opted for both elegance and beauty. Explore its historical centre where the soft hues of neoclassical buildings are juxtaposed with spectacular modern constructions. The bustling Kallio district is teeming with boutiques and restaurants where you can taste some local specialities like graavilohi – a sweet, marinated, aromatic salmon dish. Keskuspuisto park, a stone’s throw from the centre, is a good place to sit and unwind.