North Europe from Hamburg

The biggest port of Germany, a notorious red-light-district and elegant mansions along the Elbe River – it’s all in Hamburg! You can get to know the vibrant city of Hamburg during this great tour! On your way there is much to see: you will pass the downtown Alster Lake and the city’s exclusive residential areas, the Jungfernstieg with its luxury shops and shopping malls, the Renaissance-style City Hall and Stock Exchange, modern downtown architecture, parks and gardens, the TV tower, the exhibition centre, 19th century court buildings and plenty more. Time and traffic permitting, you will have the chance to hop off the bus for photo-stops. You will complete your tour of Hamburg with an outside visit of the city’s famous landmark “Michel” – St. Michaelis Church. The “Kramer Amtsstuben”, a well preserved complex of restored buildings, presenting the living conditions in the early 18th century will be also shown in detail.

We are in the Outer Hebrides, islands also known as Na h-Eileanan Siar in Gaelic, off the north-western coast of Scotland. Around 170 km in length, the Outer Hebrides archipelago is also known as “Long Island”. The island of Lewis, Leòdhas in Gaelic, is the most northerly of the Outer Hebrides and was probably inhabited as far back as 5000 years ago. The monoliths and stone circles, probably tombs, are evidence of these ancient settlements, as are the forts and defensive structures dating back to the Iron Age. One of the islands most fascinating megalith complexes is Callanish on the western coast of the island – also one of the most important in Europe.

Our Costa cruise around the northern capitals takes us to Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, and a splendid example of a town perfectly immersed in nature. Reykjavik is an absolute “must” when you visit Iceland. It was once called the “smoky bay”, owing to the hot springs located near to the port of Reykjavik. You can admire Lake Tjörnin, right in the centre of the city, an emblem of harmony with nature which is typical of this locality. Spend some time visiting the Icelandic capitals sculpture garden, then explore the park within it, where nature reigns supreme. Here, you will find an outdoor museum with the reconstruction of a small ancient village.

On a Northern European Costa cruise to the heart of the Viking land, discover the glacial beauty of Grundarfjordur, adorned by the picturesque Kirkjufell mountain. Iceland and its black-sand beaches are at your disposal as soon as we dock in the port of Grundarfjordur. The town has become famous thanks to its particular shape and the famous mountain Kirkjufell, which stands proudly skyward. Remember to admire the puffin colony the island is home to, and to visit the Viking village, built by one of the associations of the city.

In the north-western outpost of Europe, where the names sound reminiscent of Tolkiens pages, the Earth and the sea merge in a landscape that defies the imagination.Nestled at the mouth of the fjord between the Engidalur and Eyrarfjall valleys and protected by Mount Tungudalur, rising 724 m above sea level behind it, Isafjordur is the capital of the Westfjords, the most isolated region of Iceland.Stroll around the town and marvel at the architecture of the houses. Then enjoy the show of the light reflections on the water of the fjord, surrounded by the breath-taking nature of the wind, ice, dolphins and whales, a short hop from the Arctic circle.

In the north-western outpost of Europe, where the names sound reminiscent of Tolkiens pages, the Earth and the sea merge in a landscape that defies the imagination.Nestled at the mouth of the fjord between the Engidalur and Eyrarfjall valleys and protected by Mount Tungudalur, rising 724 m above sea level behind it, Isafjordur is the capital of the Westfjords, the most isolated region of Iceland.Stroll around the town and marvel at the architecture of the houses. Then enjoy the show of the light reflections on the water of the fjord, surrounded by the breath-taking nature of the wind, ice, dolphins and whales, a short hop from the Arctic circle.

Seyðisfjörður is a town and municipality in the Eastern Region of Iceland at the innermost point of the fjord of the same name. A road over Fjarðarheiði mountain pass connects Seyðisfjörður to the rest of Iceland; 27 kilometres to the ring road and Egilsstaðir.

Kirkwall is the largest town of Orkney, an archipelago to the north of mainland Scotland. The name Kirkwall comes from the Norse name Kirkjuvágr, which later changed to Kirkvoe, Kirkwaa and Kirkwall.

The biggest port of Germany, a notorious red-light-district and elegant mansions along the Elbe River – it’s all in Hamburg! You can get to know the vibrant city of Hamburg during this great tour! On your way there is much to see: you will pass the downtown Alster Lake and the city’s exclusive residential areas, the Jungfernstieg with its luxury shops and shopping malls, the Renaissance-style City Hall and Stock Exchange, modern downtown architecture, parks and gardens, the TV tower, the exhibition centre, 19th century court buildings and plenty more. Time and traffic permitting, you will have the chance to hop off the bus for photo-stops. You will complete your tour of Hamburg with an outside visit of the city’s famous landmark “Michel” – St. Michaelis Church. The “Kramer Amtsstuben”, a well preserved complex of restored buildings, presenting the living conditions in the early 18th century will be also shown in detail.