Norway’s Natural Wonders

Hamburg is Germany’s second-largest city with a history dating back to Charlemagne. A major port, this vibrant city is home to art and culture, extensive shopping facilities, Baroque buildings and waterfront vistas. With its well-known fish market, art galleries and Museums together with several beautiful parks including a botanical garden, this is a city with something for everyone. British visitors who remember the Swinging Sixties may like to visit the streets around Grosse Freiheit, where an unknown pop group called The Beatles gave their first public performances in various local clubs before achieving worldwide fame.

Nestled between picturesque fjords and steep hillsides, Norway’s second largest city, Bergen, exudes the charm of a lively coastal city. The Hanseatic quarter of Bryggen, with its colourful wooden houses as a reminder of the city’s trading and seafaring history, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and gives Bergen its unique character. A walk along the harbour, where fishing boats moor up in the mornings, leads you to the busy fish market – a place full of aromas where fresh specialities are sold straight off the boats. The city brings visitors under its spell with its harmonious blend of history, liveliness and breathtaking natural scenery.

Molde, on Romdalsfjord, is also known as the “City of Roses” because of its many rose gardens. A walk through the old town will take you past colourful facades, the cathedral and to the Romsdal museum, which offers interesting insights into the history of the region. At the Varden viewpoint, visitors can enjoy the breathtaking panoramic views of the 222 surrounding peaks, most of which are higher than 1,000 m (3,280 ft), making Molde a popular destination for hikers.

Trondheim, with its idyllic location on a peninsula in the Trondheimfjord, combines over 1,000 years of history with modern urban life. In the centre of the city is the Torget market place, surrounded by historic streets and the Art Museum. A particularly impressive landmark of the city is Nidaros Cathedral, one of the largest Gothic buildings in Scandinavia and once the burial site of kings. North of the market place is the Stiftsgarden, a magnificent 18th century wooden palace, which is now used as a royal residence. A walk over the old town bridge, also known as the “Portal of Happiness” due to its decorative red portals, leads visitors into the Bakklandet district with its little cafes and colourful wooden houses.

Svartisen, the second biggest glacier in Norway, covers a surface area of around 370 km² (143 square miles) in the north-west of the country. The area is a real paradise for nature-lovers and adventure seekers, who come to see the remote icy landscapes of the Arctic in all their glory. The glacier is composed of two parts, the Ostisen and the Vestisen, which are separated by a valley and offer a stunning scene of steep mountain peaks and deep-blue ice fields. A visit to Svartisen is a journey into the silent and sublime beauty of a world of ice.

Majestic mountains, deep-blue fjords, green valleys and idyllic beaches – the Lofoten Islands are a unique scenic location in the north of Norway. The 80 or so islands north of the Arctic Circle stretch for over a hundred miles along the west coast and are a paradise for adventure seekers and hikers. Leknes lies in the heart of the archipelago. Here you can enjoy the view and some regional specialities in the cosy cafes and restaurants or look for hand-made souvenirs in the little shops.

In the north of Norway on the island of Mageroya lies Honningsvag, the ideal gateway to the legendary North Cape. With a population of around 2,300, Honningsvag is the administrative centre of the Nordkapp municipality and is known for its fishing industry and tourism. The town was rebuilt after the Second World War and is now a mix of tradition and modernity. Around 30 km (19 miles) away, the globe monument at the North Cape is the symbol of the northernmost point of the European continent. Impressive slate cliffs reach far out into the Arctic Ocean, forming a spectacular backdrop especially in late summer, when the sun stays over the horizon for two and a half months. Honningsvag is a meeting point between the raw Nordic climate and the forces of nature.

Often called the “Gateway to the Arctic”, Tromso is the largest city in northern Norway. Nestled between fjords and mountains, it is a perfect place to see the Northern Lights, as well as enjoy polar nights and the midnight sun. Tromso’s charming old town is on the island of Tromsoya, which is connected to the mainland by the impressive Tromsobrua bridge. A cable car provides an easy way up the Storsteinen, the local mountain, and from here you can enjoy breathtaking views of the impressive Arctic Cathedral featuring one of Europe’s largest stained glass windows and the surrounding Arctic landscapes.

Kristiansand lies on the estuary of the River Otra in the Skagerrak strait. A particularly charming aspect of the capital of the Norwegian Sorlandet region is the harbour promenade, where cafes and restaurants are the ideal place to enjoy the maritime atmosphere. The sandy headland on which the city was founded in 1641 by King Christian IV, is a great place for an extended stroll, while the nearby city beach and traditional wooden houses in the old town offer relaxation and variety. A walk around the boutiques in the historic city centre will round off your stay in Kristiansand perfectly.

Between imposing mountain ranges and deep fjords, Stranda is an enchanting destination in the west of Norway. In winter, the snow-covered mountains attract skiers to their well-groomed pistes, while in summer, hiking paths offer wonderful views over the water as far as the world-famous Geirangerfjord. The fjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a genuine wonder of nature, which fascinates visitors thanks to its steep rocky cliffs and crystal-clear water. In the charming village of Stranda with its traditional wooden facades, cosy cafes are a wonderful place to take a break and enjoy the breathtaking scenery.

Oslo lies between thick forests and the deep-blue Oslofjord – a city that combines innovative architecture, first-class museums and encounters with nature. The fast-growing capital city of Norway is impressive with its modern districts and interesting sights, such as the Barcode Buildings, the opera house, the Astrup Fearnley Museum, the new Munch Museum and the National Museum. Iconic historical sights can be seen at the Akershus Fortress on the Oslofjord. Another highlight of the city is the Holmenkollen, a 371 m (1,218 ft) hill featuring the world-famous ski jump – a mecca for winter sports and a famous Oslo landmark that’s popular with visitors.

Known for the Kiel Canal and Kiel Week, the city boasts an important maritime history. Kiel is also a great place to sight-see, do some shopping and take part in one of the many festivals taking place there.