Helsinki

Helsinki's skyline comes into view as your ship threads through the archipelago: the white dome of the cathedral, the red-brick Uspenski Cathedral, and the clean lines of Alvar Aalto's Finlandia Hall. Most ships dock at South Harbour, putting you a few minutes' walk from Senate Square and the Market Hall. West Harbour is farther out but connected by tram. Suomenlinna, the sea fortress on a cluster of islands in the harbour, is a short ferry ride away and worth a couple of hours walking the ramparts. Back on the mainland, the Design District covers several blocks of shops, studios, and galleries. Temppeliaukio Church, carved into solid rock, is one of the city's more unusual buildings. The Market Square sells fresh berries and smoked fish in summer. Helsinki is flat and walkable, and the tram network fills in the gaps. Try a cinnamon-cardamom pulla from one of the bakeries.