NEUR

Guernsey is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, and one of the Channel Islands in the English Channel close to the French coast. The handsome town of Regency-style buildings is a short walk up from the pier and a delight to explore. Visit Castle Cornet, a fortress that has guarded the harbor for eight centuries. After visiting the five museums housed within, you’ll become an expert on Guernsey history. Another popular attraction is Hauteville House, the former home of the exiled 19th-century French literary giant and author of Les Miserables, Victor Hugo.

Located on the northeast coast of Brittany, Saint-Malo has long been an important French port and today keeps busy receiving ferries arriving from the UK. This walled city is ringed with mighty ramparts and towers built to protect its inhabitants from intruders long ago, and a walk along the ramparts makes for a pleasant tour. The most famous attraction and one of the most popular in France is nearby Mont St. Michel, a rocky tidal island that has been one of the top pilgrimage sites for Christians through the ages.

Your yacht docks in Warnemünde, a charming resort town with a popular beach, a pretty promenade and gabled fishermen’s houses. Nearby Rostock enchants with its university established in 1419, St. Mary’s Church with its famous astronomical clock, the 13th-century Town Hall and the quaint Old Town. You might also travel inland to the quintessential fairy-tale castle of Schwerin Palace.

Picturesque half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets, Denmark’s highest waterfall and third largest forest, historic round churches, castle ruins and photo ops everywhere you go – welcome to Bornholm, a Danish treasure that lies closer to Sweden than Denmark. With the island’s comparatively mild climate, beaches are the main attraction for the hardy Swedes, but visitors from everywhere are enchanted by medieval Rønne and the unique round churches that were used as fortresses as well as places of worship during the Middle Ages.

To get an overview of this charming town on Norway’s southern coast, make the trek up to Risørflekken, the famous landmark used by sailors to navigate their way into the harbor. It can be seen 12 nautical miles from land. Risør is known as a town of wooden houses thanks to its preservation of these quaint and historic structures. Wood also figures prominently in the town’s main industry, the building of wooden boats, which you can learn about on a visit to their cultural center.

Reykjavik is Europe’s most northern capital and a delight to visit. Modern public buildings of steel and glass contrast with the preserved colorful wooden houses of the old quarter. However, it is outside of Reykjavik that the rugged beauty of the country reveals itself. The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa where the mineral-rich water is believed to have therapeutic benefits.

Oslo, Norway’s capital, lies on the country’s southern coast at the head of the Oslofjord. It is at this headland that you’ll find the famous Oslo Opera House, its roof sloping toward the waterfront. Two parks not to be missed are Vigeland Park, the world’s largest sculpture park made by a single artist, and Ekebergparken, a sculpture and heritage park surrounded by beautiful scenery and spectacular lookout points.

You’ll want to be on deck when sailing in and out of the Åland Islands, as this Finnish archipelago of more than 6,500 islands is simply spectacular. Mariehamn is the capital, a picturesque, laid-back town of 11,000 residents with a hospitable islander lifestyle and a strong maritime culture. Mariehamn was once the home of the world’s largest fleet of oceanic sailing ships, and a stroll through the Maritime Quarter reveals boat building workshops and smithy and craft shops. Named Finland’s best museum in 2016, the Maritime Museum offers excellent insight into Aland’s maritime heritage.

Lysekil, just north of Gothenburg and at the mouth of the Gullmar Fjord, started life as a small fishing village but became famous as a spa town. Today it is a popular holiday destination for Swedes in the summer months. Don’t miss the Havets Hus aquarium, where hundreds of species of fish are displayed in saltwater tanks. Then visit Lysekil Church, which was built in 1901 from the local granite. Its 300-foot spire has long been a navigation aid to local sailors.

Portugal’s capital on the Atlantic Ocean is comprised of several key districts built on seven hills. A good place to begin is the historic Alfama district, a maze of medieval streets and alleyways leading to a hilltop on which you will find the Castelo de São Jorge. One of Lisbon’s most popular attractions, the castle provides sweeping views over the city. Descend to the riverfront Baixa district to enjoy its shopping, restaurants and neoclassical architecture.