Norway

The essence of Norway's appeal is remarkably simple: this is one of the most beautiful countries on earth. Impossibly steep-sided Norwegian fjords of extraordinary beauty cut gashes from a jagged coastline deep into the interior. Elsewhere, the mountainous terrain of Norway's interior resembles the ramparts of a natural fortress. Wherever you find yourself in Norway, these landscapes serve as a backdrop for some of Europe's prettiest villages. Here are the must-visit places on your trip to Take in the spectacular scenery on a ferry through Geirangerfjord © Marco Wong / Getty Images Geirangerfjord The 12-mile (20km) chug along Geirangerfjord, a Unesco World Heritage site, must rank as the world's loveliest ferry journey. Long-abandoned farmsteads still cling to the fjord's near-sheer cliffs while ice-cold cascades tumble, twist and gush down to emerald-green waters. Take it from Geiranger and enjoy the calm as you leave the heaving port or hop aboard at quieter Hellesylt. Prime your camera, grab a top-deck open-air seat and enjoy what's literally the only way to travel Geirangerfjord's secluded reaches. You might catch the dancing Northern Lights in the skies above the Lofoten Islands © Nutexzles / Getty Images Lofoten Islands Few visitors forget their first sighting of the rorbuer (fishing huts) cling to the shoreline, while the A-frame racks for drying fish tell of a land and a culture intimately entwined with the sea. The Lofoten Islands are a great place to see the auro...

Daily life and social customs Although Norway is in most ways very modern, it has maintained many of its traditions. Storytelling and folklore, in which trolls play a prominent role, are still common. On festive occasions folk costumes are worn and folk singing is performed—especially on Grunnlovsdagen (Constitution Day), commonly called Syttende Mai (May 17), the date of its celebration. Other popular festivals include Sankhansaften (Midsummer’s Eve), Olsok (St. Olaf’s Day), and Jul (Christmas), the last of which is marked by family feasts whose fare varies from region to region but that are traditionally marked by the presence of seven kinds of cake. The national costume, the bunad, is characterized by double-shuttle woven wool skirts or dresses for women, accompanied by jackets with scarves. Colourful accessories (e.g., purses and shoes) complete the outfit. The bunad for men generally consists of a three-piece suit that also is very colourful and heavily embroidered. Traditionally, Norwegians had two bunader, one for special occasions and one for everyday wear. Learn how rømmegrøt, a Norwegian sour-cream porridge, is prepared The laks (salmon) and torsk (cod) are popular. Lutefisk, Rømmegrøt (sour-cream porridge), pinnekjøtt (dried mutton ribs), reker (boiled shrimp), meatcakes, lefse (griddlecakes), geitost (a sweet semihard cheese made from cow’s or goat’s milk), and aquavit (also spelled akevitt), made of fermented In northern Norway the joik). The arts Norwegian pa...