Marvel at spectacular fjords and dramatic glaciers, discover vast wildernesses and thrill to exhilarating outdoor activities-Norway is every nature lover's dream destination. Whether you're exploring diverse landscapes or ambling through enchanting towns, this guide enables you to truly connect with the Land of the Midnight Sun.

Norway is, quite simply, breathtakingly beautiful. No matter how many pictures you've seen,nothing can prepare you for that first moment that you stand amid the precipitous, over-whelming view of the Norwegian fjords. From eyrie-like lookout points hundreds of metres above the water to the deck of a slow boat cruising between cliffs and remote rural villages, Norway's fjords are truly astonishing.

But there's so much more to Norway than ‘just’ fjords, although they alone would besufficient reason to visit.

From the white-timbered villages along the picturesque southern coast to the frontier beauty of northern Arctic regions, Norway has an extraordinary diversity of landscapes,taking in vast forests, rugged peaks, dramatic glaciers, expansive icefields and wild Arctic tundra. Countless exceptional hiking trails carry you almost instantly away from the clamour of modern life and into some of the last great wilderness areas left in Europe, while every-thing from white-water rafting, skiing and climbing, to dog-sledding and parasailing, will surely satisfy the thrill seeker in you.

If your idea of a holiday is somewhat less energetic, you'll not want to miss the epic journey of the Hurtigruten coastal ferry, which transports you from the enchanting Unesco World Heritage-listed city of Bergen, all the way to remote little Kirkenes deep in the Arctic.En route, you'll encounter some of the best Norway has to offer, from spectacular islandssuch as the Lofoten and captivating towns like Trondheim and Tromso, to a delicious sensethat you're heading to the ends of the earth but doing so in considerable comfort.

  Yes, Norway is expensive. But with such stunning natural beauty and some of the friendliest people in northern Europe, Norway is one place you can't afford to miss.

Highlights

Getting Started

Itineraries

The Authors

Snapshot

History

The Culture

Environment

Food & Drink

Oslo

Southern Norway

Central Norway

Bergen & the

Southwestern Fjords

The Western Fjords

Trondelag

Nordland

The Far North

Svalbard

Directory

Transport

Health

World Time Zones

Language

Glossary

Behind the Scenes

Index

Legend