BALTIC: GERMANY, SWEDEN & POLAND

With preserved medieval walls, cobbled squares and towering spires, Tallinn is a fairytale city. Walk the walls and view the towers with fanciful names like "Fat Margaret" and "Peek in the Kitchen." See a colourful folk dance and perhaps shop for fine leather-bound books - a speciality.

With a certain unforgettable Baltic allure, the Old Town is like a picture postcard with charming side streets, fashionable shops and the Royal Palace all humming with the buzz of this vibrant city. Scattered pleasantly over 14 bridge-linked isles, this capital is a true delight, especially around the dreamy cobbled streets of an old town squeezed onto a small shard of land.

Sitting on the Baltic Sea at the mouth of the River Daugava, Riga is the enchanting capital of Latvia, and the largest city among the Baltic States. You can visit on certain cruise itineraries around Baltic shores. The House of the Blackheads is probably Riga's most emblematic postcard-friendly landmark, and its ornate red-brick faade will no doubt make it into many of your photos too. Inside is just as lavishly spectacular with banqueting rooms and conference halls that are unforgettably opulent.

Standing on the coast of the Baltic Sea, Klaipeda is Lithuania's third largest city and its largest port. Klaipeda sits on the northern end of the Curonian Spit, a 98-kilometre long peninsula less than 4 kilometres wide, and narrower than half a kilometre in places. The spit separates the Baltic Sea from the Curonian Lagoon and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its fragile ecosystem. As well as dunes, it has swathes of pine forest, replanted to stabilise the spit, that are populated by deer, elk and wild boar, and just a handful of villages.

Gdynia is one of the youngest Polish cities. Its port is the gateway to Poland and a landmark of Gdynia. The port of Gdynia ranks among the best in the Baltic region. Gdynia offers beautiful, sandy beaches and is the largest is in the city centre - close to the Marina, Skwer Ko_ciuszki, and Kamienna Gra.

Glimpse into this resort's fishing village origins at the Warnemunde Local History Museum housed in an 18th century cottage, or admire its beautiful brick lighthouse.

Established by Charlemagne, Hamburg owes much of its architecture to the rebuilding done in the late 19th and early 20th centuries after a massive fire. World War II also inflicted severe damage, but the city's medieval character is still evident thanks to post-war restorations. Water is a wonderful feature here - as you'll notice when you arrive along the River Elbe, investigate quirky historic districts by canal and glide past highly desirable addresses lining the Alster lakes.

Copenhagen was founded during the 12th century. So much is new and striking, so much richly traditional - from the ramparts of Hamlet's Elsinore to the very latest examples of Scandinavian design. Copenhagen literally takes your breath away. Be wowed by the Amalienborg Palace, Christiana's hippy commune and the delightfully relaxing Tivoli Gardens.

Copenhagen was founded during the 12th century. So much is new and striking, so much richly traditional - from the ramparts of Hamlet's Elsinore to the very latest examples of Scandinavian design. Copenhagen literally takes your breath away. Be wowed by the Amalienborg Palace, Christiana's hippy commune and the delightfully relaxing Tivoli Gardens.