Coastal Wonders Of The Norwegian Coast And Midnight Sun

Bergen, the second largest city in Norway, is located in the county of Hordaland on the SW coast of Norway. Surrounded by seven mountains, Bergen is the starting point for fjord tours and cruises as it is located midway between the main Sognefjord and the Hardangerfjord. The city was one of nine European cities honoured with the title of European Capital of Culture in the Millennium year. Read more about Bergen, Norway

Geiranger is a little village tucked in a hollow surrounded by the towering craggy rock walls that rise almost straight out of the water of the Geirangerfjord, which is one of the most majestic sights in all of Norway. From here visitors take a spectacular bus tour to Mt. Dalsnibba. Read more about Geiranger, Norway

The Norwegian Art Nouveau town of Ålesund could be taken right out of a fairy tale. If you look up as you explore the town, you will discover an abundance of imaginative ornamentation on the fronts of the buildings. Walk up the 418 steps to the top of Mount Aksla and you will be rewarded by unforgettable panoramic views. Read more about Alesund, Norway

Brønnøysund is “the coastal town in the middle of Norway”, adjacent to the North Sea and just below the Arctic Circle. Brønnøysund sits on a narrow peninsula on the mainland surrounded by islands and water. Its population is just 5000. Read more about Bronnoysund, Norway

The 2.6 km Trollfjord is a western offshoot of the Raftsund strait between the islands of Hinnøya and Austvågøya, that has a length of about 25 kilometres. The name is derived from a troll, an ugly cave-dwelling creature from Norse mythology. Trollfjord is a well-known tourist attraction, often entered by cruise ferries for its scenic wonder. Read more about Trollfjord, Norway

Tromsoe, the home of the famous Northern Lights, is situated a mere 2000 km from the North Pole, on the same latitude as Northern Siberia and Alaska. Most visitors are surprised by the prominence and sophistication of this fascinating port. On offer are high-quality theatre, arts and music, which contrast with the boundless and vast wilderness surrounding the city. Read more about Tromsoe, Norway

Skarsvåg is a village in Finnmark county in Arctic Norway, on the island Magerøya. The island is joined to the European mainland by the 6.87 km subsea North Cape Tunnel. Magerøya features a bleak, barren, tundra-covered landscape devoid of any trees (except for a few small pockets of mountain birch), with steep cliffs along the coast, and dramatic mountainscapes in the interior. Read more about Skarsvag, Norway

Bear Island is an island in the Svalbard archipelago in the Barents Sea of Norway. It lies isolated midway between North Cape on the European mainland, and Longyearbyen. It was on this island that a polar bear was sighted – hence the island’s name – by Constantine Phipps, who first described polar bears in his voyage to Svalbard Archipelago. Read more about Bear Island, Norway

Longyearbyen lies on the river Longyearelva on the Norwegian Island of Spitsbergen high in the Arctic. It is the world’s northern-most town, as all settlements further north are research or meteorological outposts. The modern town, fringed by abandoned mining detritus, enjoys a superb backdrop including two glacier tongues, Longyearbreen and Lars Hjertabreen. Read more about Longyearbyen, Norway