Norway

Everything about Norway screams pure, natural beauty.  Immaculate green spaces, towering mountains, sparkling glaciers and deep coastal fjords characterise this remarkable Scandinavian country… in which you’ll also discover an eclectic collection of unusual places to stay.

Even the sky is beautiful here. No other country offers a better opportunity to see the dancing Northern Lights than Norway, no matter where you’re staying. The Northern Lights belt runs above the dramatic Lofoten Islands, then follows the Norwegian coast right up to the North Cape – Europe’s northernmost point.

Head for Arctic Tromsø or Kirkenes, and you might also catch a glimpse of the gleaming red midnight sun.

Culture and tradition are particularly evident in the cities, of course. Feast your eyes upon expertly preserved ninth-century Viking longships and Munch masterpieces in the green capital city of Oslo, while Trondheim is home to the 11th-century Nidarosdomen Cathedral, an intricate structure built over the grave of St. Olaf, a former king and the country’s patron saint.

The Sami capital of Norway, Karasjok, is home to the country’s indigenous people, and a must-visit if you really want to immerse yourself in their authentic, reindeer-herding culture.

In the mood for some outdoor adventure? Head for the Olympic resort of Lillehammer for some of the best hiking, fishing and skiing you’ll ever indulge in – you can even make like an Olympic champion at the famous Lysgårdsbakkene Ski Jumping Arena!

Wildlife enthusiasts are in for a treat too, with moose, deer and lynx all roaming freely throughout the country. Røst and Runde are two of the world’s best bird cliffs, and Vesterålen is an ideal spot for whale-watching…perhaps accompanied by a steaming mug of hot lingonberry juice.

Fjord Norway is a crystal-clear, soul-soothing visual pleasure that has made the country justly famous, with the fjords named by the National Geographic Magazine as "the best unspoiled travel destinations in the world". The Geirangerfjord and the Nærøyfjord have both made it onto the UNESCO World Heritage list, and the apple and cherry tree-strewn Hardangerfjord is ever-popular with visitors.

If you’re looking for the best time to visit Norway, the magical run-up to Christmas can’t be beaten, with festive markets, concerts and festivals dotted throughout the country. Travel to Bergen, famous for its Gingerbread Town, with glowing candles lighting your way.

But if you can’t make it in December, don’t worry – the fairy-lit Tregaarden’s Christmas House in Drøbak is open all year round, with regular buses from nearby Oslo.

A far larger and more fascinating country than many people realise, the food, culture and scenery Norway has to offer are both unspoilt and unrivalled. We recommend you take your time drinking it all in, because with so much jaw-dropping beauty all around you, the journey is as good as the destination itself.