Lovely Norway & The Fjords

Southampton, UK, is a city and major port situated on the south coast of England, and is widely recognised as the capital of the country’s cruise industry. Each year more and more cruise liners take advantage of its superb cruise terminals. It is, of course, a gateway to Europe’s largest city, the enormous cosmopolitan city of London, with all the cultural and gastronomic attractions you'd expect from a world capital. Read more about Southampton, Great Britain

Stavanger, a city on the SW coast of Norway, grew to become among the most influential Norwegian cities in the late 1900s when oil was discovered in the North Sea. Today a vibrant city, but still with its small town appeal, the picturesque harbour with the quiet streets of the old town climbing up from the water’s edge, is the centre from which the city radiates across a network of islands interlaced with graceful bridges. The area is very popular for hiking, so if time permits visit the Pulpit Rock - a massive rock that overhangs the fjord at a height of 604 metres. Read more about Stavanger, Norway

Vik - aka Vikøyri, Vikøiri - is located in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway on the Sognefjord, the longest fjord in the world. Vik is the municipality and Vikøyri is the administrative centre and village with a population of 2900. It is accessed by boat and road from Bergen and Oslo. Read more about Vik, 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

Arctic Svolvær is one of the main towns in Lofoten, and the administrative centre for the Norway’s Vågan municipality on the island of Austvågøy - the easternmost of the Lofoten chain. The towering islands of the ‘Lofoten Wall’ stretch for more than a hundred miles along Norway¹s coast. In Svolvaer, discover a picturesque harbour overlooking the Vestfjord. Read more about Svolvaer, 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

The construction of the large liquefied natural gas site on Melkoya Island just off Hammerfest, which processes natural gas from Snohvit, is the most expensive construction project in the history of Northern Norway. This project has resulted in an economic boom and new optimism for Hammerfest in recent years. Hammerfest offers both sea and freshwater fishing, as well as scuba diving. Read more about Hammerfest, Norway

Honningsvåg, Norway, lies deep within the Arctic Circle at 71 deg.N. latitude, on the island Magerøya. Twenty-two km north of Honningsvåg is North Cape, the northernmost part of mainland Europe. Read more about Honningsvag, Norway

Alta lies on the fjord coastline of Norway, just below North Cape. It is the second northernmost city in the world surpassing 10,000 inhabitants, and 380km north of the Arctic Circle. The large Altafjorden has several notable bays and fjord arms that branch off from it including Langfjorden, Jiepmaluokta, Kåfjorden, and Lille Kufjorden. Read more about Alta, Norway

Harstad, the third largest city in northern Norway, is situated 250 km north of the Arctic Circle. Surprisingly, the city has relatively mild winters and cool summers, despite being one of the places where, from the end of May to the middle of July, visitors get to see the Midnight Sun, an experience that becomes a lifetime memory. Harstad is the home port for the Anna Rogde - also known as the sailing queen of Norway - the world’s oldest sailing schooner. Read more about Harstad, Norway

Bodø, located about 80km north of the Arctic Circle, is the largest city in Nordland county, and the second largest in North Norway. It has a population of 50,000. The city was completely rebuilt after its destruction during WWII, with the completion of the Town Hall in 1959. Read more about Bodo, 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

Trondheim, Norway, lies on the south shore of the Trondheimsfjord at the mouth of the river Nidelva. Norway's capital of technology is a lively and historical university town. It is home to the famous Nidaros Cathedral built from 1070 onwards that became a most important pilgrimage site during the Middle Ages. Read more about Trondheim, Norway

Molde is situated by the beautiful Romsdalsfjord. The city is known for its roses, International Jazz Festival, and its panoramic view of 222 mountain peaks. Varden, 407m above sea level, is a viewpoint directly above Molde with a good view of the city, the fjord and the Molde archipelago. Read more about Molde, Norway

Nordfjord is a fjord and a traditional district in western Norway. It is one of the well-known fjords on the west coast of Norway, 106 km long, with off-branching smaller fjords. Peaks along the shore reach 1000 m, to 1700 m at the end of the fjord. Read more about Nordfjord, Norway

Eidfjord, a municipality in the county of Hordaland in Norway, has two townships: Eidfjord that is the ‘City Centre’ as well as the major cruise harbour, and Ovre Eidfjord. Eidfjord offers visitors two options, either the opportunity to take in the beautiful scenery - the fjord landscapes are luxuriant with green mountain sides and white mountain tops - or to actively explore the hiking trails that surround Eidfjord. Most visit the impressive Sima Power Plant that is built into the mountain itself, while many also travel or hike to the ‘historical’ mountain farm Kjeasen. Read more about Eidfjord, Norway

Originally a dam in the river Amstel, Amsterdam today is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, as engineered dams, sea gates, and the 19-mile dyke walling out the Zuider Zee prevent this low-lying country from being reclaimed by the North Sea. Interestingly, the 17th century canals of Amsterdam located in the heart of the city have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The main tourist attractions are undoubtedly the famous Museums such as the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum. Read more about Amsterdam, Netherlands

In the region of Flanders the city of Antwerp, situated on the eastern bank of the river Scheldt and joined to the North Sea by an estuary, is a major destination of Belgium. It claims to be the ‘world's leading diamond city’ and it has every right to do so, as more than 70% of all diamonds are traded here. Due to its long and culturally rich history, the city houses buildings built in varying historical periods with an interesting variety of architectural designs. Read more about Antwerp, Belgium