Norway

Boats run the stretch where water falls from the cliffs on either side. The hairpin road climbing to the viewpoint above is famous in its own right.

A square platform six hundred metres above the fjord, about four hours there and back on foot. There is no railing, so keep away from the edge.

Red fishermen’s cabins and steep summits in the same frame. In summer the sun is still up at midnight.

Needs dark, clear winter nights, and luck with the weather matters as much as anything. The further from town lights, the better.

A short coastal stretch of low bridges that waves break over. The rougher the weather, the more people come to watch.

An hour from the mountains down to the fjord, pausing at a waterfall on the way. Usually taken as a leg of the Bergen line.

Two fjords listed together for their extremes of depth and cliff height. The intended way to see them is from the water.

A row of wooden buildings burnt down and rebuilt on the same footprint many times over. Step into the back lanes and the corridors lean.

A twelfth-century timber church whose interlaced beast carving gave its name to a whole Nordic style. It is awkward to reach, so allow half a day.

Rows of soot-darkened timber houses left from its mining years. Winter temperatures here reach thirty below.

The Munch museum, Viking finds and the opera house all sit around the harbour. Most international flights land here.

Bryggen and the fish market, and rain more often than not. Fjord boats and trains leave from here.

The centre for winter aurora and summer midnight sun. A cable car takes you above the whole city.

Lanes of white timber houses and a museum of the oil industry. Many stay a night before the hike.

Islands often said to hold more polar bears than people, reached by air. Strict safety rules apply outside the settlements.

Meltwater swells the waterfalls. Many mountain roads are still closed.

The only season with every road and boat running, and the midnight sun in the north. Peak prices come with it.

Colour in the valleys, and the aurora starts to show. Mountain passes begin closing with snow.

Weeks when the sun never rises in the north, and the best aurora. Without proper cold-weather kit, outdoor plans do not work.

Not an EU member but inside Schengen, so the 90-in-180 rule applies as normal. Check whether the travel authorisation scheme is in force before you leave.

Not the euro, and cash is barely used. Eating out and accommodation are among the most expensive in Europe.

You may cross private land that is not under cultivation and pitch a tent for a night. The rule in exchange is to leave no trace.

Fjords make short distances slow. Coastal ferries are a serious part of the transport network in the north.

Rain is very frequent around Bergen. Waterproofs and layers are not optional.

112 will connect you, but 113 is faster for medical emergencies. Coverage drops out across much of the mountains and fjords.