Destination:
Norway

Legends of heroes, trolls and princesses roaming the countryside outside this charming city attract many travellers looking for a Scandinavian holiday. Oslo, situated at the end of a 70-mile (110km) long fjord, is Norway's capital and its largest city, rich in culture and folklore with a fascinating Viking history.

Oslo is an eclectic mix of old medieval buildings, churches and modern architecture, sitting among the green trees and extending forests that form the natural balance of nature and civilization. Around the city there are numerous museums, art galleries and places of interest, especially the Edvard Munch Museum and the Norwegian Folk Museum on the sought after Bygdøy Peninsula. Other attractions include Vigeland Park with its interesting collection of sculptures, and the medieval Akershus Fortress dominating the seafront.

Although Oslo has small population compared to other European capital cities, it retains a true vibrancy about it. The city centre is filled with restaurants, bars, cafes, clubs and theatres and has a very cosmopolitan feel to it with street artists hanging around the main street, Karl Johans Gate. Oslo is renowned as a city of culture and the City Hall hosts the annual awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Fjordland is Norway's most important tourist destination with its breathtaking scenery of high mountains, spectacular fjords and glaciers. These are the alluring images of Norway, a wild and rugged landscape and deep, peaceful waters.

Carved by glacial ice in river valleys, the fjords are diverse in character, each with individual qualities and attractions as they wind their way inland, some with lush green fields alongside and others with steep mountains plunging straight down into the deep water. Geirangerfjorden is a tiny S-shaped fjord with magnificent waterfalls, sheer, rugged sides and striking scenery. Sognefjord is the best known of the fjords, the longest and deepest, with several charming villages such as Balestrand and Flåm ,and old stave churches along its shores. Surrounded by towering mountains is the narrowest and most impressive branch of the Sognefjord, the beautiful Nærøyfjord. To the north lies the Nordfjord, dominated by the vast ice plateau of the Jostedalsbreen glacier that trickles down into the surrounding valleys, giving the water its distinctive blue-green colour.

A highlight of the region's attractions is the Flåm Railway, with the steepest track gradient in the world that took 20 years to build. In a masterful piece of engineering the railway twists and turns its slow way down through numerous tunnels, dropping 2,952 feet (900m) to the valley below and ending at a tiny arm of the Sognefjord. Along the way the train passes magnificent mountain scenery and is regarded as one of the most exciting train rides in all of Europe.

Bergen is the gateway to the Fjords, an attractive city with a delightful natural setting and is a superb base from which to explore the area.

The historic city of Bergen was medieval Norway's capital, and is today an international tourist centre and gateway to the Fjords. It has a spectacular setting on a sheltered harbour of the North Sea, situated among seven hills that form a delightful backdrop to the brightly painted wooden houses along the waterfront, and is one of Norway's most enjoyable cities.

Bergen's history is closely linked to the sea. It became a major trading port of the medieval merchants of the Hanseatic League, who dominated European trade during the Middle Ages. The hub of the city's social life is around the Torget, the picturesque harbour-side market plaza that is surrounded by an assortment of cafes, restaurants and pubs, and home to the vibrant fish market. Flanking one side of the harbour is a colourful row of old wooden houses, part of the historic wharf area and the remaining influence of the Hanseatics, from where narrow cobbled streets wind their way up between the quaint houses of the picturesque old neighbourhood.

The city centre is divided into two parts: the old Hanseatic town along the wharf area and the modern centre stretching inland from the harbour. It has a pleasant, slow pace and a cultured atmosphere with numerous interesting museums, galleries, an aquarium and surviving medieval buildings. A cable car and a funicular carry visitors to the top of two of Bergen's hills, Mount Ulriken and Mount Fløyen, to enjoy splendid views over the city and coast. Mount Fløyen is covered in forest with a well-marked series of walking trails. Boat trips to the fjords are very popular and the excellent 'Norway in a Nutshell' package tour provides a spectacular glimpse of Norway's scenery in a day, for those short on time.

Set in a magnificent landscape of dramatic snow-capped mountains with a rocky shoreline, Tromsø is a lively town characterised by unusual old wooden houses, street music, cultural events and the most pubs per capita in Norway. It is the capital of the north and a bustling metropolis in comparison to the surrounding fishing communities along the northern coast of Norway; it is also a vibrant university town.

Known as the 'Gateway to the Arctic' and situated within the Arctic Circle, the town is an excellent base from which to explore the surrounding area and has the greatest amount of Northern Light activity on earth, making it a sought-after tourist destination from which to experience the spectacular show of the Aurora Borealis. The Midnight Sun during summer is another strange phenomenon, when continuous daylight makes people forget to go to bed, and the winters experience a few hours of bleak twilight during midday. It is these extreme light conditions that hold the greatest fascination for tourists, regardless of the season, and make it such an intriguing place to visit.

There are several museums and other places of interest, a cable car to the top of one of the surrounding hills providing fantastic views, and boat trips into the fascinating landscape of the arctic fjords.

The oldest of Norway's major cities, Trondheim has a youthful feel, dominated by the 25,000 students at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Traditionally a religious centre and trading hub for northern Europe, Trondheim celebrated its 1,000th anniversary in 1997.

Trondheim is home to some important historic landmarks, including the Nidaros Cathedral, the biggest church in northern Europe and the only Gothic cathedral in Norway. There are many traditional wooden houses in pretty areas including Bakklandet and Ilsvikøra, and other wooden buildings along can be viewed from the Old Town Bridge. There are historical military sites at the fortress island of Munkholmen and DORA 1, a former German submarine base. Trondheim also has several museums, including those dedicated to musical instruments and local culture and history.

Trondheim is a picturesque city, and though there are active pursuits like skiing, swimming, and hiking available, it is pleasant to simply stroll along the Nidelva River. There are a number of shopping centres and restaurants spread across town; and the student population ensures an energetic nightlife, though venues tend to close earlier than in other major cities. The city is especially lively in July and August during the St Olav Festival.

Situated on the south-west coast, Stavanger is Norway's fourth-largest city, and its petroleum capital. A modern city, with excellent public transport, it also boasts the area known as 'Gamle (ancient) Stavanger', a cobble-stoned suburb full of 18th century wooden houses, where many local artists have taken up residence. Other attractions include the Oil Museum, the Canning Museum, and the Rogaland Art Museum; while Stavanger's rich, varied nightlife is considered some of the best that Norway has to offer. In the summer, visitors can take advantage of Stavanger's many climbing and hiking opportunities, or hang out on Solastranden (a long, sandy beach close to the airport); and in winter, can ice skate on the city's largest lake, Stokkavannet. Several low-cost airlines, such as BMI and SAS, regularly serve Stavanger's Sola Aiport - making it a popular entry-point for travellers to Norway.