Cruise to see the spectacular Norwegian Fjords from the UK, or take a short flight to Copenhagen, Oslo or Bergen. Charming towns and villages perch on the waterfront: lovely Bergen, the former capital; Alesund, which is famed for its Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) buildings; Tromso, a thriving resort city for midnight sun seekers; and Trondheim, Norway's third city, with its beautiful timbered Nidaros Cathedral.

As well as towns, tiny hamlets line the coastline. Choose an itinerary that includes one of the great fjords such as Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site. If you are taking a North Cape cruise, you should plan to go ashore in remote Honningsvag, the world's northernmost village, to travel to the Cape itself.

Travel during the summer months to witness the Midnight Sun once you are north of the Arctic Circle. If your aim is to see the Northern Lights, take one of the Hurtigruten working ships during the winter - but remember to wrap up warmly. The weather experienced in Norway during the summer is varied, so pack layers of clothing.