Head to Norway to discover pristine natural beauty, from the deep blue fjords and vast wilderness of the Jostedalsbreen glacier in the southwest to the sparsely-populated Arctic islands. Cosmopolitan Oslo is packed with museums and eclectic bars, but escape the capital to find remote villages of wooden houses nestled deep in the mountains. Visit in summer to make the most of never-ending days under the midnight sun.
If you love nature, you'll find it hard to resist Norway's dramatic mountains and crystal clear waters. A quarter of the population live in and around Oslo in the southeast, which means lots of wide open spaces elsewhere. The capital is miles away - both in distance and character - from southwestern Bergen with its brightly-coloured waterfront houses, or the Arctic cities of Bodø and Tromsø. Stavanger presides over fjords, mountains and sandy beaches in the southwest. Norway is a wealthy, progressive society, which shines through in its clean, well-organised cities and open-minded people.
Start your trip in elegant Oslo for a walk along the lively harbourside to medieval Akershus Fortress. Cross the water to the Viking Ship Museum to see beautifully preserved Viking boats. Bergen's UNESCO-listed harbour is the starting point for fjord cruises, while the historic pilgrimage centre, Trondheim, boasts one of Northern Europe's finest cathedrals. In the far north, Tromsø has a spectacular waterside setting, along with 24-hour daylight in the summer months.
Rural Norway is a land of mountains, lakes, deep valleys and isolated farmsteads, ideal in summer for getting away from it all. In winter, skiing is a great way to enjoy the countryside. The rugged peaks and waters of the world-famous fjords in the southwest draw cruise ships in their droves. Head for the North Cape to see the midnight sun and meet the reindeer-herding Sami people.
