Situated at the very northern tip of Jutland, Skagen is famed for its wonderful light and beautiful coastal scenery, which attracted many artists during the 19th century. Today it’s a popular destination for well-to-do Danes, drawn here by the beaches, charming architecture and spectacular sunsets.

Rosendal is famous for the Barony, an historic manor house and Renaissance garden that was home to some of Norway’s most distinguished nobles between 1655 and 1927. Rosendal is also near to the beautiful Hardangerfjord and Folgefonna National Park.

Beautiful Bergen, Norway’s former capital, is a perfect city to explore on foot. Bryggen – the old Hanseatic wharf, and a UNESCO World Heritage site – still has the old harbour timber buildings, whilst other attractions include the funicular up Mount Floyen and the busy fish market.

The pretty village of Vik, on the southern shore of the Sognefjord, enjoys a wonderfully scenic setting. Highlights include the lovely Fridtjov Park, with its statue of Viking hero Fridtjov the Bold, and the 12th-century wooden Hopperstad Church, the oldest surviving stave church in Norway.

Olden is a lovely little village surrounded by green meadows and rippling mountain scenery, at the mouth of the Oldeelva river. The most popular excursion is a trip to the nearby Briksdalsbreen, an arm of the vast Jostedalsbreen glacier.

When Ålesund was destroyed by fire in 1904, the German Kaiser Wilhelm II agreed to foot the bill to rebuild it. The result was the stunning Art Nouveau architecture that you see today, which blends elements of the German 'Jugendstil' with Viking flourishes.

The little town of Måløy is a major fishing port, on the sheltered eastern side of Vågsøy island. Nearby sights include the Kannesteinen rock, sculpted by the sea into a bizarre mushroom-like shape, while further afield is the Jostedalsbreen National Park, home to continental Europe’s largest glacier.

When Ålesund was destroyed by fire in 1904, the German Kaiser Wilhelm II agreed to foot the bill to rebuild it. The result was the stunning Art Nouveau architecture that you see today, which blends elements of the German 'Jugendstil' with Viking flourishes.

The northbound and southbound Hurtigruten ferries meet every evening at Rørvik, a little fishing port in the lovely Vikna archipelago. The Norveg Museum is the main attraction, recounting the history of the Norwegian coast and built to resemble a sailing ship.

The little village of Reine enjoys one of the most spectacular settings in the Lofoten Islands, where the colourful wooden fishermen’s cabins are dwarfed by towering mountains. For the picture postcard view you’ll need to scale the 1,500 or so stone steps to the top of Reinebringen.

The beautiful Trollfjord, just 100 metres wide at its entrance, slices through Austvågøya island, which lies between the Lofoten and Vesterålen archipelagos. The trolls themselves are said to hide amongst the rocks during the day, emerging only at night.

The little village of Reine enjoys one of the most spectacular settings in the Lofoten Islands, where the colourful wooden fishermen’s cabins are dwarfed by towering mountains. For the picture postcard view you’ll need to scale the 1,500 or so stone steps to the top of Reinebringen.

Svolvær is the largest town in the Lofoten Islands, though with just over 4,000 inhabitants it’s hardly a bustling metropolis. From the picturesque harbour you can strike out into the stunning Lofoten countryside, where dramatic mountains tower above rustic little fishing villages.