ARC Baltic 2026 - Route Highlights
The rally starts in Germany in Kiel at the entrance of the Kiel Canal (Nord Ostsee Kanal), convenient for anyone coming direct from the North Sea or English Channel.
From Kiel the rally sails up the coast to Stralsund (Germany), a Hanseatic trading port and UNESCO World Heritage site, then offshore to the Danish island of Bornholm with its rolling landscape and picturesque fishing villages. We will be based in the charming town of Rønne, where you can visit Hammershus Castle, the medieval round churches and try the famous smoked Baltic herring.
The next stop is the Swedish town of Visby (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) situated on the island of Gotland. A former Viking site, Visby was an important town of the Hanseatic League in the Baltic from the 12th to the 14th century. Its historic ramparts and more than 200 warehouses and wealthy merchants’ dwellings make it the best-preserved fortified commercial city in northern Europe.
A short hop from Visby is Gotska Sandön, where if the weather is right, the fleet will have the option to anchor off the island and enjoy the sandy beaches.
On the entrance of the Gulf of Finland is the Estonian capital Tallinn situated with its old town - another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The famous old town dating from the 13th to 16th centuries with its twisting cobblestone lanes, iron street lamps, gothic spires and medieval markets is well worth exploring.
After Tallinn the rally visits the Finnish capital Helsinki, with its interesting blend of Swedish, Finnish and Russian influences. From Helsinki the boats will cruise through the Finnish archipelago to the of Åland islands, which are Finnish but have a special independent status. The capital is the Swedish speaking Mariehamn and home of one of the last existing sailing grain ships in the world - the square rigger Pommern.
From Mariehamn it is not far to the Swedish capital Stockholm and traditional 'wild anchoring' in the Stockholm archipelago is a highlight. We finish in the welcoming and well-appointed Bullando Marina on Varmdo island, just outside the city of Stockholm.
You are then in an ideal location to continue your Baltic adventure through Sweden and Denmark before returning east, or maybe plan to overwinter in the region and explore the Swedish west coast and on to Norway in a subsequent year.