Top 10 Northern European Cities to Visit on a Cruise Ship
Northern Europe is a region of Europe that can have a different definition depending on who you talk to and where you live but when it comes to cruising, it is a bit easier as Northern Europe comes down to ships visiting the North Sea, the British Isles and Ireland, Scandinavia, Jutland and the Benelux nations.
That includes some of the most stunning scenery in Europe for places such as Iceland and Norway, places with a unique culture such as Estonia but most importantly for the purposes of this list, it is also home to many of the continent’s greatest cities.
With so many to choose from, I use my experience of visiting many of the biggest and best cities across the region both on cruise and non-cruise holidays to take you through the cities that are believe are the very best ones to visit in Northern Europe.
For the purposes of this list, I will take into account things such as the number of ships and lines that visit there and the excursions that are on offer but they will only be a small part of the reasoning why I choose somewhere as I will mostly focus on what is on offer to those that visit there and stay there on a cruise.
So, with all of that said, just which are the top 10 Northern European cities to visit on a cruise ship? That is just what I will answer in this list.
Our Top 10 Northern European Cities to Visit on a Cruise Ship
Oslo, Norway
Oslo is an incredible city with lots awaiting visitors including some impressive parks, world class museums, impressive art galleries, great shopping opportunities and from a cruising point of view, it offers an incredible entrance as you sail along the Oslofjord, through as narrow channel and past several islands including one with the beautiful Steilene Lighthouse on it.
It is one of those entrances that really becomes part of your visit to a place as you head up to the top deck well in advance of your arrival to take it all in, which continues as you dock right in the downtown area which gives you a great overview of the city right from your ship.
Just like most Scandinavian cities, Oslo is easy to explore on your own via public transport, it is very clean and safe but all of that does come at a literal cost, as it is one of the most expensive cities in Europe.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is a city that often gets overlooked by tourists, but it really should be somewhere that is on your list if you are cruising in Northern Europe.
To is lots to enjoy whilst on shore including some funky cubed houses, that is now a museum, an impressive zoo and an incredible food hall/market.
It is also home to a large shopping area, numerous parks and public realm areas and all in all it is just an interesting place to walk around and take it all in.
It is another port with a great entrance as you leave the North Sea at Hoek Van Holland, sail past one of the largest port in the continent and dock right in the centre of the city at Nieuwe Mass and just a short stroll from a metro station making it easy to explore the whole of Rotterdam and the nearby Den Hague on your own.
Amsterdam
The Dutch capital city of Amsterdam is one of the worlds leading tourist cities and is somewhere I have been fortunate enough to visit a few times including in the middle of winter and in the summer.
Some places have a best time to visit there and whilst it does depend on what you want to do whilst on shore, Amsterdam is somewhere you can have a great time no matter what the weather is like.
If its dry, there is nothing better than simply walking around the city’s canals, taking in the incredible architecture of its gable houses and doing a spot of shopping.
If the weather isn’t great, there is still lots to do as it home to numerous museums, indoor attractions and iconic art galleries or you can take a boat ride around its canals.
Starting late November or early December, the city also comes alive with huge Christmas Markets and whilst it a bit of walk from the cruise terminal into the city, a tram does link the two and Amsterdam is one of the most popular ports of call in the region and one of its leading turnaround ports.
Stockholm
Stockholm has everything that I want from a cruise port including an incredible entrance, a city centre location and lots to enjoy whilst on shore but the reason its sits in the middle of this list is fact that so many ships dock in Nynashamn and still call it Stockholm.
For those sailing into the capital of Sweden, you will sail past 1000’s islands before arriving in Stockholm, which itself is an archipelago encompassing 14 islands itself.
The city offers a couple of cruise terminals that offer turnaround facilites and that put right in the centre of the city, close to a couple of metro lines and with great views of what awaits you on your day of exploration.
The cobble streets of the Gamla Stan (old town) district are just a short walk away and the majority of the city’s leading attractions can be visited on foot.
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is somewhere I have visited a few times and have always enjoyed my time there as there is just so much to see and do whilst there.
Even if you are not a fan of rollercoasters and white-knuckle rides, a visit to the historic Tivoli Gardens is a must as its lakes, gardens and building make for a fun and relaxing time, with its rides a bonus for those wanting some excitement.
The city centre offers lots of impressive buildings, including many Nordic Noir fans will recognise and as a major European city, it has a vast public transport network making it easy to explore on your own from its main cruise terminal just on the outskirts of the city centre.
London
London is one of the worlds greatest cities, it is home to many of the most iconic tourist attractions on the global scale and it offers a theatre scene only matched by New York.
As a true global city, no matter what you want to do, what you want to eat and what you want to see, you can do in the city.
There are many things that get overlooked by people who may not be too familiar with London including the fact that many of its attractions are free, it has one of the biggest and best metro cities in the world and it is also a relatively green city with many vast parks.
When you mix in its long history, its place as a leading filming location for films and tv programmes and its iconic sporting venues and teams and London is somewhere everybody should visit.
Sadly, that is something that is a bit more difficult than it should be for those wanting to do so on a cruise holiday as whilst a few luxury ships with dock in the city centre, the vast majority will dock at the port of Tilbury in the nearby Essex.
For a city the size of London, the port has poor facilites and links to the centre of town and that is the only reason it sits relatively lowly on this list.
Helsinki
Helsinki is another Scandinavian city that just is a great place to visit, where you can simply stroll around and take in the impressive architecture, visit a magnificent park or simply take in the coastal views.
There are a couple of things that take away from your visit to Helsinki and that is the port location some way from the city centre, although there is a tramline in walking distance, but its biggest issue is the relatively short cruise season for ships visiting there.
With most visiting during the summer cruise season, it does give visitors the best chance to enjoy the city at its best as it is very much an outdoor city with a large, pedestrianised city centre and numerous parklands.
Bergen
Bergen is the 2nd city of Norway and is one of its most beautiful but perhaps most importantly for a list such as this one, it is also one of the most popular for cruise ships, with many lines offering Norwegian fjords itineraries calling in there and the iconic Norwegian coastal cruise ferries all depart from the city.
Bergen itself offers all that you could want from a Norwegian port of call including an historic Bryggen, a funicular taking you up into the mountains for stunning views and the chance to take boat trips out into a fjord.
It is also a very walkable city where you can stroll from the central cruise port and take in all that is has to offer and just like so many on this list, it has a great entry where you sail along a narrow channel and under an impressive bridge.
Tallinn
Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is an historic city that has kept much of its charm despite the turbulent nature of the region.
Visitors can expect a day of walking around small, cobbled streets, taking in views of the city from its large defensive walls and enjoying local dishes at its many independent cafes and restaurants.
The centre of Tallinn is very compact and easy to explore on foot and its cruise terminal is within walking distance of the old town, but it does have a relatively short cruise season and much fewer ships visiting there due to issues in the region.
Hamburg
Hamburg is another cruise port in Northern Europe that offers a great entrance as you sail down the river Elbe, past a massive container port but where it does get let down is its main cruise terminal is located a long walk from the city centre.
One terminal the Altona terminal, is located just a short walk from a main tourist area of the city and if every ship docked there, it would be higher on this list, but with the bulk of visitors needing an hour or so walk to get into the city centre, it drops it down this list.
There are of course shuttles offered, either for free or at a cost, and those who do take the walk are rewarded by a walk from the historic Elbe tunnel, but it would be so much better if cities vast metro system was extended to the terminal.
Upon reaching the city centre, there is lots on offer including one of the largest model railways in the world, impressive parks, rebuilt historic buildings and a number of sights of interest for fans of the Beetles, who made their name in the city.
