Copenhagen to Copenhagen

Effortlessly cool and down to earth, Copenhagen is a contemporary, clean and classy highlight of Scandinavia. A city built to be liveable, Copenhagen has refused to compromise, resulting in a forward-thinking metropolis that’s green and clean. Swim in the waters of Havnebadet Islands during summer, or shelter from winter’s bite by snuggling in beside a roaring open fire during winter. You can even hop on a train to Sweden, traversing the famous span of a Nordic Noir star - the Öresund Bridge. It takes just a touch over half an hour to step off the train in Malmö. There’s only one way to truly explore Copenhagen and that’s on two wheels. Easy bike hire schemes will get you moving across this flat city, designed with bikes at the forefront of the mind. Choose a model with electronic assistance to take the strain out of any journey, giving you the freedom to whizz around and explore the modern angular architecture of the centre, and the pastoral colours of Nyhavn waterfront. Head out to the Little Mermaid statue, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale - the strikingly-restrained statue is the perfect landmark for Copenhagen; unshowy, self-assured and utterly irresistible. The Danish concept of hygge is very much alive here, and you’ll feel that warm cosy feeling as you visit cafes illuminated by the warm glow of hanging filament bulbs, and stuffed to the brim with thick, dusty books. Home to mega-brewer Carlsberg, Copenhagen is also a city for hop enthusiasts, and there is a thriving craft brewing scene to sample. Danish Smørrebrød sandwiches are a must try, or for something a little more substantial, settle in for a culinary voyage and try a taster menu – the city’s restaurants are littered with Michelin stars.

The crooked, pastel-coloured warehouses of Bergen’s World Heritage waterfront lean together charmingly, welcoming visitors to this city at the heart of Norway’s most extraordinary cinematic landscapes. It may be the country’s second largest city, but the villagey feel here always provides a warm welcome - even when the weather is living up to its famously damp reputation. Bergen’s colourful waterfront, Bryggen, is a ramshackle line-up of incredible Hanseatic warehouses, built following the devastating fire of 1702, which ransacked the city. These iconic warehouses have stood proudly ever since, with Bergen growing and expanding around the colourful facades. Behind them, a labyrinth of narrow alleyways and wooden decking waits, alive with artisan craft shops and bustling galleries. Fløyen mountain watches over the city, and you can take a short but steep hike up to the panoramic viewpoints, or jump on the funicular, which trundles visitors up and down the incline. At the top, spectacular views of Bergen jutting out into the dark seas below unfold before your eyes. Wait until evening to see the sunset painting glorious golden light across the city and waves, and Bergen’s lights flickering into life. Nærøyfjorden, a deeply etched fjord nearby, is perhaps Norway’s most photographed and iconic piece of scenery. A cruise through the base of this spectacular narrow fjord, parting the glass-smooth inky waters, is an utterly humbling experience, as the claustrophobically-close slopes rise imposingly over you. Sognefjord also stretches out nearby, and is Norway’s longest fjord, adorned with plunging waterfalls and vibrant farms during summer.

Quaint wooden farmhouses sit below jagged mountain peaks, in this land of superlative natural features. Witness nature at its most spectacular, as you visit tiny Olden - a village of just 500 people, which is swallowed whole by its colossal surroundings. The village nestles at the mouth of the Oldeelva River, on the southern banks of Norway’s sixth-longest fjord, Nordfjord. Embark on dreamy lake cruises, confront cascading glaciers, and ascend to staggering viewpoints to survey the majesty from above. Olden is surrounded by valleys, carved by the slow grind of mighty glaciers, peeling off from immense ice caps. See mainland Europe’s largest, Jostedalsbreen, with its 22 arms spilling down into branches, which rest between mountains. Head for the blue-white terminus of the Briksdal Glacier, to admire the icy expanse up close, and hike the deeply picturesque surroundings. From Olden, you can sail out on the smooth waters of the scenic Nordfjord, or calmly kayak across its glassy surface, observing sharp peaks and cascading waterfalls. Take a coffee break at Lovatnet Lake – be sure to give the local waffles and strawberry jam a try – before heading out onto the gorgeous blue-green water, which is coloured by minerals and clay particles, washed in by the glacial water. The valley’s bulging mountain walls tower above you, as you glide across the magical surface. Nearby you'll find the slightly larger village of Loen. Jump on the Skylift, and you can reach the bill-topping view from the 1,011-metre tall perch of Mount Hoven, where a spread of villages, fjords and mountains is set before you.

Åndalsnes is located at the mouth of the river Rauma, at the shores of the Romsdalsfjord, one of the fjords protected as a UNESCO world heritage site. Famous in the 19th century for salmon fishing, the Rauma flows through the Romsdalen Valley widely considered some of the most breathtaking scenery in all of Norway. Although the river’s salmon stocks are now being replenished, today Andalsnes is better known as a centre of excellenece for Norwegian alpine sports. Mountaineering, climbing, hiking and even base jumping are all readably accessible. A newly opened Norwegian Mountaineering centre boasts Norway’s highest indoor climbing wall. Some 15 kms out of Andalsnes is the Trollstigen (Troll Road), a mountain road that climbs the pass between the Isterdalen and Valldal valley. It’s one of Norway’s major attractions due to the steep inclines and eleven hairpin bends, only open in the summer months. Equally exciting is a three hour round rail trip from Andalsnes to Dombas on the Rauma Railway line. A feast for the eyes from the comfort of a carriage, mountains, valleys and waterfalls come into sight, as the route follows the Rauma river. Trains thoughtfully slow down at the most photogenic spots. A feat of civil engineering the track passes over countless bridges and through tunnels, the train even performs a 180 degree turn underground. Easily missed, look out at the train station in Andalsnes for a chapel converted from an old red "Intercity Special" railway carriage. The only train chapel in Norway and perhaps the world!

It may be Norway's third-biggest city but there's a welcoming and intimate feel here with a photogenic waterfront and glowing wooden warehouses adding old-time charm. Museums dedicated to Norway's musical heritage will strike a sweet chord while the endless wilds of central Norway and the Trondheim Fjord unveil themselves close by. A destructive fire laid to rest to old Trondheim's narrow wooden alleyways but a flavour of the old city survives in the Bakklandet neighbourhood. Traditional timber houses and colourful wharves line up along the waterfront painting a pretty picture with pistachio-green and turmeric-yellow licks of paint. Vibrating cyclists rattle along the cobbled old streets while flowers spill down from window ledges in this quaint but lively area of cafes restaurants and curiosity shops. Head to the Old Town bridge - Gamle Bybro - to enjoy the colourful lines of houses on both sides of the river on your way to the gothic Nidaros Cathedral which towers above the city with its pointed emerald-green spire punctuating the sky. The most northerly Gothic cathedral in Europe aim to visit during one of the organ performances that rattle the beautiful stain-glass windows. Built on the burial site of King Olaf in 1070 you can test your knees by taking on the narrow ascent of the tower where glorious views of Trondheim await. Take in the beauty of the city with a trundling tour aboard the most northerly tram in the world - Gråkallbanen.

The biggest inside joke in Kristiansund is the mighty waterfall on the city’s coat of arms. There’s nary one to be found among the four low-lying islands that make up the city. There is, however, a thriving community of 23,000 which prides itself on a strong cultural life, ecological purity, natural beauty, and excellent fish. Ever-increasing numbers of tourists are discovering this as well and are taking full advantage.

Make no bones about it, this is Fjordland at its finest. Named by the National Geographic Traveler magazine as "the world's most iconic destination", legend has it that Vikings and Trolls battled on these very waters and the pretty stave churches – of which Vik has two – are built on sacred Norse land. Vik is a place that could have been written by Tolkein; a mysterious land where mists roll off the mountains, the air is crisp and the silent, glassy Fjords are definitely the ruler of the kingdom. Shrouded in enchantment, the landscape of Vik is steeped in Viking heritage, Scandinavian myth and human enchantment.

The city's growth was fuelled by North Sea oil exploits and industry – but this being Norway you can prepare to visit a perhaps surprisingly charming place surrounded by spectacular landscapes of cutting fjords soaring mountains and sandy beaches. Any preconceptions of a lifeless industrial city are instantly allayed by the colourful Øvre Holmegate street. A gorgeous palette of candy-coloured wooden shops and cafes shine brightly along this picturesque row - and you can soak in the colours and the quaint charm of a stroll along the waterfront too. Museums explore Stavanger’s industries - from oil to sardine canning - and the Viking past of one of Norway's oldest cities. The flower-tangled 173 white wooden houses of Gamle Stavanger are a delightful slice of preserved old Norway and gas lamps hang over uneven cobbled streets here. Norway’s oldest church Domkirken Cathedral looms up impressively having stood since the 12th century. Stretching from the city itself Lysefjord is one of Norway’s most striking and picturesque fjords - drenched in Viking history and mythology. Cruise the waters or hike to the majestic Preikestolen viewpoint where you can look out over an impossibly vast view from a height of 604 metres. One of Norway’s most iconic and most-visited natural sites your heart will be in your mouth as you get as close as you dare to the stunning vertical drop down to Lysefjord.

Effortlessly cool and down to earth, Copenhagen is a contemporary, clean and classy highlight of Scandinavia. A city built to be liveable, Copenhagen has refused to compromise, resulting in a forward-thinking metropolis that’s green and clean. Swim in the waters of Havnebadet Islands during summer, or shelter from winter’s bite by snuggling in beside a roaring open fire during winter. You can even hop on a train to Sweden, traversing the famous span of a Nordic Noir star - the Öresund Bridge. It takes just a touch over half an hour to step off the train in Malmö. There’s only one way to truly explore Copenhagen and that’s on two wheels. Easy bike hire schemes will get you moving across this flat city, designed with bikes at the forefront of the mind. Choose a model with electronic assistance to take the strain out of any journey, giving you the freedom to whizz around and explore the modern angular architecture of the centre, and the pastoral colours of Nyhavn waterfront. Head out to the Little Mermaid statue, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale - the strikingly-restrained statue is the perfect landmark for Copenhagen; unshowy, self-assured and utterly irresistible. The Danish concept of hygge is very much alive here, and you’ll feel that warm cosy feeling as you visit cafes illuminated by the warm glow of hanging filament bulbs, and stuffed to the brim with thick, dusty books. Home to mega-brewer Carlsberg, Copenhagen is also a city for hop enthusiasts, and there is a thriving craft brewing scene to sample. Danish Smørrebrød sandwiches are a must try, or for something a little more substantial, settle in for a culinary voyage and try a taster menu – the city’s restaurants are littered with Michelin stars.