Hamina

The port of Kotka, an MSC Northern Europe Cruises destination, lies on the coastline of the Gulf of Finland, at the mouth of the Kymi River. This cultural city has plenty to offer including parks, churches, sculptural displays, and museums. To the east stands the vibrant capital Helsinki, full of stylish restaurants, bars, and parks. Use Kotka as a base for a fascinating range of tours.

MSC Cruises excursions offer plenty of exciting things to see including:

• Helsinki’s Art Nouveau 

• Porvoo

• Kotka Archipelago Discovery by Boat

Helsinki is home to a wealth of attractive 18th and 19th-century Art Nouveau buildings including the Central Railway Station, the National Theatre, and the National Museum of Finland. An MSC Cruises excursion will see you walking around this fascinating city – awarded the ‘Design Capital’ title in 2012. Discover the Neoclassical Senate Square, Uspenski Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, and the Swedish Theatre. Finally, stop by Helsinki’s Parliament House – a modern architectural masterpiece!

Porvoo is an ancient medieval city on the shores of the Porvoonjoki River, dating back to the 14th-century. On an MSC Cruises excursion, you'll stroll among its red wooden storage houses, before visiting the 15th-century Porvoo Cathedral. The Old Town is a site of historical and cultural relevance, a recognised ‘National landscape of Finland’. Once a haunt of poets and painters, Porvoo is not to be missed.

The Kotka archipelago, comprising of more than 400 isles, is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Here, charming fishing villages showcase deep red houses, while gardens and boatyards dot the shorelines. On a splendid MSC Cruises excursion, you’ll embark on a wooden boat for a leisurely cruise on the water. Visiting Fort Slava and Fort Elisabeth, where you’ll take a stroll along the shoreline.