The capitals of the Baltic still retain an imperial air about them and combine old-world charm with a thriving contemporary arts and entertainment scene. Each with their own distinctive allure, these remarkable cities have architectural styles that span the ages. The jewel in the Baltic crown, St. Petersburg with its treasure-fi lled Hermitage is an undeniable highlight, though many other riches lie elsewhere; in Tallinn’s medieval architecture, Stockholm’s smattering of islands and perhaps, most surprising of all, in Kristiansand’s great beaches.