Hammerfest

This 10,000-strong fishing town claims to be the northernmost town in the world. If its name sounds familiar, it’s the place Bill Bryson hung around at the start of Neither Here Nor There waiting to be gobsmacked by the Northern Lights. While you’re waiting for this celestial display of psychedelia, check out the Royal & Ancient Polar Bear Society and the reindeer grazing in the Hammerfest graveyard.

Jotunheimen National Park

This national park is one of Norway’s best wilderness destinations. It has a network of hiking trails leading to some 60 glaciers and to the country’s loftiest peaks. The trails pass through ravine-like valleys and past deep lakes and plunging waterfalls. Huts and private lodgings are along many of the routes. The park is on the road between Sogndal and Lom, in central Norway.

Hammerfest

This 10,000-strong fishing town claims to be the northernmost town in the world. If its name sounds familiar, it’s the place Bill Bryson hung around at the start of Neither Here Nor There waiting to be gobsmacked by the Northern Lights. While you’re waiting for this celestial display of psychedelia, check out the Royal & Ancient Polar Bear Society and the reindeer grazing in the Hammerfest graveyard.

Jotunheimen National Park

This national park is one of Norway’s best wilderness destinations. It has a network of hiking trails leading to some 60 glaciers and to the country’s loftiest peaks. The trails pass through ravine-like valleys and past deep lakes and plunging waterfalls. Huts and private lodgings are along many of the routes. The park is on the road between Sogndal and Lom, in central Norway.

Oslo

Norway’s capital and largest city creeps up on you and makes you very glad you came. Possessed of a staid reputation and by no measure Scandinavia’s most beautiful city, low-key Oslo nonetheless has lots to see and do - it just doesn’t make such a big fuss about it.

Unlike most European cities, Oslo isn’t full of architectural wonders, but some districts, such as Frogner, offer elegant examples of historical architecture. The city is also replete with notable museums and monuments, as well as plenty of green spaces.

Central Norway

The central part of Norway takes in the country’s highest mountains, largest glacier and most spectacular fjords. Unsurprisingly, this region is the top destination for almost all travellers to the country. The historic city of Bergen is the main jumping-off point for the western fjords.

From here you can visit Sognefjord, Norway’s longest (200km) and deepest (1300m) fjord; the scenic Hardangerfjord; the massive Jostedalsbreen glacier; spectacular waterfalls at Geirangerfjord; and Trollveggen, a jagged and often cloud-shrouded summit near Åndalsnes that is considered the ultimate challenge among Norwegian mountain climbers.

In addition, there are resorts, excellent national parks, and road trips through some of Norway’s most breathtaking scenery. Don’t miss the 470km (291mi) train journey on the Oslo-Bergen railway: this scenic trip is Norway’s finest, and passes through mountain ranges and the windswept Hardanger plateau.

Risør

This cluster of historic white houses built around a small fishing harbour is one of Norway’s most picturesque villages. It’s popular with artists and tourists, and is a summer hangout for Norway’s yachties. Visits to nearby islands can be made by inexpensive water taxis. One such island is Stangholmen, which has an old lighthouse with a restaurant and bar. Risør is on the curving southern coast, south of Oslo.

Tromsø

The ‘Gateway to the Arctic’ is a stark contrast to the sober communities dotting the northern coast of Norway. It’s a spirited town with street music, cultural happenings, more pubs per capita than any other place in the country and many ‘northenmost’ claims. Snow-capped mountains provide the scenic backdrop, the town has a swag of period buildings and the Tromsø Museum is a good place to learn about Lapp culture. There’s also fine skiing here in winter.

Oslo

Norway’s capital and largest city creeps up on you and makes you very glad you came. Possessed of a staid reputation and by no measure Scandinavia’s most beautiful city, low-key Oslo nonetheless has lots to see and do - it just doesn’t make such a big fuss about it.

Unlike most European cities, Oslo isn’t full of architectural wonders, but some districts, such as Frogner, offer elegant examples of historical architecture. The city is also replete with notable museums and monuments, as well as plenty of green spaces.

Central Norway

The central part of Norway takes in the country’s highest mountains, largest glacier and most spectacular fjords. Unsurprisingly, this region is the top destination for almost all travellers to the country. The historic city of Bergen is the main jumping-off point for the western fjords.

From here you can visit Sognefjord, Norway’s longest (200km) and deepest (1300m) fjord; the scenic Hardangerfjord; the massive Jostedalsbreen glacier; spectacular waterfalls at Geirangerfjord; and Trollveggen, a jagged and often cloud-shrouded summit near Åndalsnes that is considered the ultimate challenge among Norwegian mountain climbers.

In addition, there are resorts, excellent national parks, and road trips through some of Norway’s most breathtaking scenery. Don’t miss the 470km (291mi) train journey on the Oslo-Bergen railway: this scenic trip is Norway’s finest, and passes through mountain ranges and the windswept Hardanger plateau.

Risør

This cluster of historic white houses built around a small fishing harbour is one of Norway’s most picturesque villages. It’s popular with artists and tourists, and is a summer hangout for Norway’s yachties. Visits to nearby islands can be made by inexpensive water taxis. One such island is Stangholmen, which has an old lighthouse with a restaurant and bar. Risør is on the curving southern coast, south of Oslo.

Tromsø

The ‘Gateway to the Arctic’ is a stark contrast to the sober communities dotting the northern coast of Norway. It’s a spirited town with street music, cultural happenings, more pubs per capita than any other place in the country and many ‘northenmost’ claims. Snow-capped mountains provide the scenic backdrop, the town has a swag of period buildings and the Tromsø Museum is a good place to learn about Lapp culture. There’s also fine skiing here in winter.