The Amazing Northern Europe

Informacje o miejscu docelowym: A decade ago, visitors came to Copenhagen just for its canals, cobbled squares, charming streets and pastel painted houses. Now this city is most known for its innovative design, cutting edge architecture and its top-rated restaurants. This historic city of canals has become trendy, cosmopolitan and exciting, without losing its old charms. The fairytalelike port of Nyhavn, the city’s legendary waterfront, is the most traditional sight of Copenhagen, where visitors enjoy the cobbled streets and colorful houses that contrasts with Langelinje quay, where the city’s most famous attraction, The Little Mermaid, is located. Walking along the Langelinje quay, the modern opera house appears on the horizon bringing tourists back into the 21st century. Another of the city’s new waterfront landmarks is the Black Diamond entertainment complex, an additional reason to travel beyond the tiny tourist-focussed centre. The building itself is stunning and provides a unique opportunity to lounge in a deckchair overlooking the water. Two of the coolest areas of the city are Veesterbro and Norrebro, away from the herds of tourists. These vibrant neighbourhoods will allow the most adventurous travelers to mix with the locals and experience the buzzing atmosphere of places like the Norrebro Food Hall, a covered foodie market, or the Ralea, the restaurant where local chefs go to get food after work. Copenhagen’s coolest borough of trendy bars, design stores and eateries, where visitors can experience the culinary revolution the city has to offer, it's just a metro ride from the city centre. The less-travelled island neighbourhood of Christianshavn offers a tranquil glimpse of residential life and canal-side strolls. It’s also home to the “free town” of Christiana, a colourful alternative community built by hippies in the 1970s, which shines with galleries and cafés, and has its own, strict set of rules. Copenhagen is clean, safe and easy to get to know. It is also one of Europe’s greenest cities and its public transport would make New York green with envy. Its centre is reserved for pedestrians and strict anti-pollution laws enforced. It’s an environmentally idyllic spot with plenty of green space and bicycles often outnumber cars, so be careful of stepping out into bike lanes. Wander carefree to the world-famous Tivoli amusement park and the city’s delightful botanical garden, or take to the pavement cafés and restaurants in the summer alongside the locals. Whatever you decide to do in the Danish capital, whether you dig design and dine, or wander in wonder, Copenhagen will keep calling you back like a siren.

Informacje o miejscu docelowym: Oslo jest tętniące życiem i nowoczesne z eklektyczną architekturą, ostrym życiem nocnym i światowej klasy muzeami. Położona między Oslofjordem a lasami, przyroda zajmuje centralne miejsce w stolicy, gdzie można żeglować, jeździć na nartach i wędrować do woli, w niewielkiej odległości od centrum miasta. Jest to zdecydowanie miejsce dla miłośników przyrody i przyrody. Gdy przepływasz obok soczystych zielonych wysp i wysokich skalistych wychodni, miasto rozwija się przed twoimi oczami - rozciągając się od zwartego centrum wokół nabrzeży do zalesionych zboczy okolicznych wzgórz. Tym piękniejsze dzięki swojej różnorodności, Oslo szczyci się mieszanką nowoczesnych i starożytnych budynków, które nadają miastu eklektyczny charakter, ze stalowo-szklanym Muzeum Muncha ustępującym miejsca staromodnym urokom Muzeum Miejskiego i skalistych średniowiecznych murach twierdzy Akershus, która świeci nad fiordem. Większość odwiedzających będzie miała trudności z wyborem między licznymi muzeami w Oslo, które oferują coś dla prawie każdego gustu: twarzą w twarz z nawiedzającym obrazem Krzyku Edvarda Muncha w Galerii Narodowej, szansą stanięcia w butach olimpijskiego skoczka narciarskiego w Muzeum Narciarstwa Holmenkollen lub oknem na historię i kulturę na niezapomnianym statku Wikingów, Polarship Fram lub muzea ludowe na Bygdøy. A Oslo jest z pewnością kosmopolitycznym sercem Norwegii, z szybko rozwijającą się kulturą kawiarni i barów, najwyższej klasy restauracjami i klubami nocnymi, od światowej klasy opery i jazzu po indie rock. Kwitnąca scena restauracyjna stolicy została nagrodzona czterema gwiazdkami Michelin. Dzielnica Grünerløkka znajduje się w pobliżu Muzeum Muncha i tętni życiem małych kawiarni na chodniku i eleganckich barów. Kwitnące, naprawdę tętniące życiem miasto, kosmopolityczne serce Norwegii naprawdę ma coś dla każdego.

Informacje o miejscu docelowym: Słynna stolica Szwecji - nordycka wizja dróg wodnych, parków i szklarni - jest słusznie uznawana za jedną z najbardziej atrakcyjnych miast w Europie. Sztokholm jest miastem rozsianym na nie mniej niż 14 wysp otoczonych dosłownie tysiącami mniejszych, skalistych wysepek, łącząc przepiękne widoki z dynamizmem tego miejsca. Miasto to szczyci się 70 muzeami i aż trzema obiektami wpisanymi na listę światowego dziedzictwa UNESCO - rezydencję królewską, czyli Drottningholmm, zabytkowym cmentarzem Skogkyrkogarden i najstarszą szwedzką osadą - Hovgarden. Sztokhom ma wiele do zaoferowania zarówno wiosną/latem - gdzie organizowane są liczne koncerty, a bujna przyroda rodzi się do życia, jak i w okresie zimowym, gdzie dzięki lokalizacji tego miejsca (woda zajmuje ⅓ powierzchni) jeziora pokrywają fragmenty lodu tworzące na ich powierzchni fantazyjne kształty, a wąskie, brukowe uliczki Starego Miasta pozbawione są tłumów charakterystycznych dla miesięcy letnich.

Informacje o miejscu docelowym: Helsinki is situated on a little peninsula on the southern tip of Finland. Approach Helsinki from the sea and you’ll see neoclassical buildings of elegant lines and pastel colours, and a marketplace overflowing with strawberries and salmon. The city has grown with attention to harmony. In summer many residents abandon urban tranquillity for their country cottages, but in winter the capital comes alive with theatre, political institutes and over 20,000 university students. Architecture buffs will love Helsinki. The handsome neoclassical buildings surrounding Senate Square were designed almost singlehandedly by German architect Carl Ludwig Engel in the early 19th century, just after Helsinki replaced Turku as Finland’s capital. The crowning piece is the Lutheran Cathedral, which has recently been refurbished and looks better than ever, with the 12 apostles on the roof once again looking down at the world below. Elsewhere in the city, the bold, simple creations of the city’s great 20th century architects, notably Aalto and Saarinen, blend with the clean neoclassical lines. The stunning Jean Sibelius Monument, dedicated to Finland’s most famous composer, consists of hundreds of steel pipes sculpted by Elia Hiltunen. The monument is in Sibelius Park. The Kansallimuseo, National Museum, has wonderful displays of Finnish culture. The exhibits of the City Museum illustrates the history of the city. The islands surrounding Helsinki make excellent daytrips. The sandy beaches and smooth rocks of Pihlajasaari make it a popular summer spot for tanning Finns. Every summer there are many free outdoor concerts in one of the city’s numerous parks. Afternoons, all kinds of music resound on the leafy Esplanadi. Helsinki is a small city if you compare it to those gigantic cities around the world but the spirit is still quite cosmopolitan. Helsinki is a beautiful city, especially in the summer. The streets are clean and you can always find a peaceful spot, in case you need one. Some say that Helsinki is "the biggest village in the world" and it is a great place for tourism, history, museums, galleries, theatre, music, shopping, restaurants, clubs, etc. all environmentally friendly, free of pollution and traffic congestion.

Informacje o miejscu docelowym: Inextricably linked to the major events of Soviet Union, St. Petersburg cannot escape its imperial past. Physically, at least, St. Petersburg has been the city of the tsars since Peter the Great founded the city in a swamp and moved the capital here from Moscow in 1712 to provide greater contact with the West. Many of the major baroque and neoclassical buildings and well-designed streets and landscaped parks are the work of imperial French and Italian architects. St. Petersburg, Russia’s second largest city, is often called Russia’s Western Gate, and the City of White Nights. For a splendid overview of the city, climb the dome of St. Isaac’s Cathedral on Isaakievskaya square, a massive example of 19th century civic-religious architecture; its dome is covered in pure gold. Nearby, on Senate Square overlooking the Neva, is Falconet’s Monument to Peter the Great. Peter and Paul Fortress was founded by Peter the Great and was erected in just one year between 1703 and 1704 during the Great Northern War against Sweden. The fortress was never used to defend the city but it was used as a political prison under the Tsar. Inside the fortress is the main attraction for visitors: the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul containing the tombs of Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Nicholas II and other tsars. Nevsky Prospect is St. Petersburg’s main avenue and one of the best-known streets in Russia. The buildings along Nevsky Prospekt are a treasure house for art-nouveau-fans. Nevsky Prospect is also the city’s central shopping street and the hub of the city’s entertainment and nightlife. Even if the rest of the city were non-existent, the Hermitage alone would merit a week-long visit to St. Petersburg. Located in the magnificent, luxurious Winter Place, former residence of the tsars, this collection of art unquestionably ranks among the world’s finest. But before you immerse yourself in the art, take in the main halls where the tsar reigned and entertained, especially the awesome Malachite Hall, where the provisional Government held its last meeting before the revolution exploded around it. Cool and aristocratic St. Petersburg is a magnificent city with beautiful architecture everywhere. Often described as the Venice of the North, St Petersburg is a city defined by water. Whether you’re cruising the elegant canals, crossing one of the 342 bridges in the city, or just watching them being raised over the mighty Neva River at night to allow ships to pass through, you’re never far from water in St Petersburg.