Denmark Cruise from Copenhagen to City of London — 11 Days

Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen is best explored at street level, where royal history meets modern design. At Nyhavn, colorful harbor-front houses frame canal tours; nearby Amalienborg Palace is the monarch’s winter residence. Christiansborg Palace combines Denmark’s parliament with historic royal rooms, while Christianshavn’s canals reveal a quieter side. Pause for smørrebrød, the open-faced rye-bread staple, and explore the city’s design shops before returning to port.

Bornholm Island Denmark, Denmark

Bornholm lies in the Baltic Sea, closer to Sweden than mainland Denmark. Rønne, its principal port, opens onto an island of granite cliffs, sandy beaches and quiet farmland. Visit Hammershus, northern Europe’s largest medieval castle ruin, or seek out Bornholm’s distinctive round churches. In Gudhjem, smokehouses serve the local specialty: smoked herring. Bornholm rewards unhurried exploration, with striking coastlines and Danish character within easy reach.

Visby, Sweden

On Gotland’s western shore, Visby makes a striking first impression with its medieval walls and Baltic setting. Inside the ring wall, cobbled lanes lead past merchants’ houses, church ruins and rose-filled gardens. Once a powerful Hanseatic port, the town is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, best explored on foot. Pause at St Mary’s Cathedral, then follow the ramparts for broad views over rooftops and sea. Visby rewards a slow walk, with island scenery just beyond the walls.

Ystad, Sweden

Walk from Ystad’s harbour into a medieval centre of cobbled streets and pastel half-timbered houses. At St Mary’s Church, listen for the night watchman’s horn, a centuries-old local tradition. Then visit Greyfriars monastery, one of Sweden’s best-preserved medieval monastic buildings. Ystad is also the setting for Henning Mankell’s Wallander novels, adding a literary thread to its quiet, lived-in streets. Beyond town, Skåne’s open coastline and sandy beaches invite a longer pause.

Skagen, Denmark

At Denmark’s northernmost town, the distinctive light has drawn artists and travellers for generations. Skagen’s ochre houses with white trim line quiet streets, while its fishing harbour remains central to local life. A short journey leads to Grenen, where the Skagerrak and Kattegat meet in shifting waves. At Skagens Museum, discover works by the Skagen Painters, then browse local galleries or linger over fresh seafood.

Lysekil, Sweden

Lysekil sits on Sweden’s Bohuslän coast, where smooth pink granite meets the Skagerrak. From the harbour, explore the old town’s lanes, then follow the shore to Stångehuvud Nature Reserve. Its bare granite headland opens onto wide sea views. Havets Hus aquarium introduces the marine life of Gullmar Fjord, Sweden’s only true fjord. Try local seafood beside the harbour, where working boats keep Lysekil’s fishing heritage in view.

At Sea (At Sea)

Oudeschild-Texel Island, Netherlands

Oudeschild is Texel’s working harbor, where fishing boats meet the wide waters of the Wadden Sea. Visit Kaap Skil to explore the island’s maritime history and see objects recovered from nearby shipwrecks. Beyond the quay, cycle past open fields and dunes to Texel’s broad beaches. As the largest Dutch Wadden Island, Texel rewards a little time beyond the harbor.

Ostend, Belgium

Ostend offers a bracing North Sea welcome, with a broad beach and lively seafront promenade. Its harbour serves fishing and trade, while seafood restaurants bring the catch close to the table. Art lovers can explore the former home of local painter James Ensor, now a museum. Direct trains link Ostend with Bruges and Brussels, making inland excursions straightforward.

Dunkirk, France

Dunkirk is a working port with a story that reaches far beyond its busy quays. Its broad beaches witnessed Operation Dynamo, the 1940 evacuation of Allied troops. The Dunkirk 1940 Museum tells that story with clarity and memorable detail. In town, explore the rebuilt centre, Flemish-influenced architecture and the 58-metre belfry, a UNESCO-listed landmark. Allow time for the waterfront and a plate of local seafood before returning to the ship.

London-Greenwich

Begin at St Paul’s Cathedral, whose dome has defined London’s skyline since the 18th century. The City is the capital’s ancient Square Mile, where Roman Londinium meets one of the world’s great financial centres. Walk its lanes to Guildhall, the historic heart of civic London, then explore Leadenhall Market beneath its ornate Victorian roof. Between glass towers and churchyards, history remains part of a working city.