Perhaps it’s because I’m a Caribbean girl that I never jump out of my socks with joy when planning an adventure that is either too far north or too far south of the equator. Yet strangely, I felt both anticipation and excitement mounting at the thought of heading as far north as I had ever been.

Maybe it was the timing. The trip to Norway (almost half of the country I was visiting was above the Arctic Circle) came mid-summer last year, in the middle of a  scorcher at that. The thought of a cool sojourn hiking up sun sparkling mountains, sailing through imposingly majestic fjords and navigating around grinding glaciers seemed more refreshing than bone-chilling.

But I get it. If you don’t happen to live in Europe  Norway is one of those destinations that you have to be very deliberate in visiting. It takes quite a bit to get to, it’s something you have to commit to financially and it also helps if you enjoy the outdoors and are not afraid of the wet and cold. All that being said there is something magical about Norway that is well worth your time and money.

Norway tops the chart according to the World Happiness Report. This jovial country with its extraordinary landscape is also listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Visitors come to Norway to enjoy its’ austere natural beauty, chiseled by eons of battles between the land, sea and ice. The collateral damage is stunningly dramatic Norwegian fjords, flowing waterfalls, blue glaciers and deep gorges across the coastline.

Despite the fact that Norway is well known for its temperamental weather – ok let’s face it, it’s cold and wet. Life here happens outside, as hiking is a national pastime and honestly there is no better way to get face-to-face with Norway’s jaw-dropping landscapes. Here is my list of the some of the most beautiful and interesting places I visited.

Stavanger is a tale of two cities, once a tranquil, coastal market town, its fortune changed in 1969 with the discovery of oil, lots of it, which transformed it into a bustling, wealthy place. Still, visitors are offered a glimpse of its simple past when they stroll through old Stavanger a small historic area lined with rows of beautiful and cozy wooden buildings.

Bergen is known as the rainiest city on Earth- it rains 240 days per the year. It is surrounded by stunning feathery, forested slopes that form the backdrop to some of Norway’s most impressive towering rocky fjords. While visiting the fjords are a must, so is sampling some Norwegian seafood in the busy fishing market located in the central harbour. The offerings of seafood are impressive, fresh, tasty and even a bit peculiar. This market was the first place I saw blue lobsters. As a UNESCO World Heritage City and a European City of Culture, the Bergen region has the ideal combination of nature, culture and exciting urban life all year around.

Alesund is a port town on the west coast of Norway, at the entrance to the Geirangerfjord-a World Heritage Site. For me, it is by far the most beautiful fjord town in Norway. If you are seeking nature and culture-based activities Ålesund is a great place to be with plenty to capture your interest:  architecture, fjords, outdoors adventures and even the panoramic view from the Mount Aksla lookout.

The capital of Southern Norway is Kristianstad. During the summer months it is a family getaway, full of attractions and activities on and off land.  The town itself is very chilled and pedestrian. With remarkable samples of architecture spread around to discover.

Thanks for reading! 🙂

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