The intriguing city of Oslo, Norway’s capital, has so much to offer, from the open air Norwegian Folk Museum to the amazing Vigeland sculpture park, and from the Holmenkollen Ski Museum to the Munch Museum’s collection of memorable paintings. History, art and culture are what defines this lovely city.

You might not expect to find a beach resort in Norway, but the sunny city of Kristiansand is where Norwegians go for a spot of fun by the seaside. There are plenty of family-friendly attractions, including a zoo, and it’s also a good base for exploring the pretty fishing villages of the south coast.

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.

Leknes is the gateway to the Lofoten islands, home to some of the most stunning scenery in all of Norway, and sailing through the archipelago is a wonderful experience. Fishing is still the main source of income for most of the picturesque wooden villages that are dotted along the nearby coast.

Harstad is situated on Hinnøya, Norway’s largest island, and is one of the most important cultural and commercial centres in the north of the country. The town hosts several annual festivals, and the surrounding landscape of forests, mountains and fjords is perfect for outdoor adventure.

Although Alta lies in Norway’s far north, the city has a surprisingly mild climate. Highlights include the UNESCO-listed prehistoric rock carvings at the Alta Museum, some of which date back over 6,000 years, and the striking Northern Lights Cathedral, with its aurora-inspired interior.

The port of Honningsvåg is the gateway to Europe’s most northerly point, the North Cape, and enjoys 24-hour daylight in summer. Aside from tourism, fishing is the major industry in this part of Norway, and the region is also said to be inhabited by trolls.

Situated over 600 miles beyond the Arctic Circle, Hammerfest claims to be the world’s northernmost town, although other Arctic settlements would contest this. It’s also the only place where you can join the Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society, a slightly eccentric club with some 250,000 members worldwide.

Tromsø’s location well within the Arctic Circle means the summer months are lit by the Midnight Sun, a compensation for long dark winters. Explore the streets with their multi-coloured wooden houses, see the amazing architecture of the Arctic cathedral, or take the cable car up to Mount Storsteinen for a fantastic view.

Longyearbyen is the largest settlement in Svalbard, remotely located in the high Norwegian Arctic, and originally built as a mining town. The locals continue to make the best of this hostile environment, and brightly painted wooden buildings line the main street. The surrounding area is breathtakingly beautiful.

The little town of Húsavík, on Iceland’s north coast, enjoys a picturesque setting just across the bay from the imposing Húsavíkurfjall mountain, and is known as Iceland’s whale watching capital. It’s also not far from the fascinating Lake Mývatn if you would prefer to take a land-based excursion.

Siglufjörður is the most northerly town on the Icelandic mainland, a remote little fishing port backed by imposing mountains. You can learn about the town’s history at the herring museum, explore the local culture at the Folk Music Centre or head out on one of the scenic hiking trails around the fjord.

Greenland’s capital and largest town, Nuuk is positively cosmopolitan compared to the rest of this remote and isolated country. The setting amongst mountains and fjords is striking, and attractions include the Greenland National Museum and the picturesque Old Harbour.

Qaqortoq is southern Greenland’s largest town, though with just 3,000 inhabitants it’s hardly crowded. A trip to the nearby hot springs at Uunartoq is recommended; relaxing in the 38°C water and watching icebergs drift across the bay is quite something.

The little fishing town of Grundarfjörður enjoys a picturesque setting on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, surrounded by dramatic volcanic peaks and gushing waterfalls. The nearby Snæfellsjökull volcano, capped by a glacier, was made famous by Jules Verne in ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’.