Norway

A 15-kilometer arm of the sea cutting through near-vertical mountain walls that rise 1,400 meters above the water, Geirangerfjord is Norway's most celebrated fjord and one of the most dramatic natural landscapes in Europe. The Seven Sisters and the Suitor waterfalls cascade directly from the cliffs, and at the head of the fjord, the village of Geiranger sits in a pocket of green at the base of the peaks.

Situated 350 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is the largest city in northern Norway and the finest base in the world for northern lights viewing — the city's position in the auroral oval means displays occur on average 80 nights per year. Between November and January, humpback whales and orca congregate in the Lyngenfjord nearby in one of the world's most accessible winter whale-watching destinations.

An archipelago of jagged granite peaks rising directly from the Arctic sea, their lower slopes dotted with red and yellow rorbuer fishing cabins, the Lofoten Islands offer some of the most visually striking scenery in Europe. The combination of dramatic mountain photography, the midnight sun in June, world-class surfing at Unstad Beach, and traditional dried cod fishing culture make Lofoten one of Scandinavia's most richly rewarding destinations.

An archipelago of islands at 78°N latitude — halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole — Svalbard is home to more polar bears than people and the largest concentration of Arctic wildlife in the world. Spring expedition cruises by small ship offer encounters with polar bears on sea ice, walrus haul-outs on gravel beaches, arctic foxes, reindeer, and a bird life of extraordinary abundance in permanently treeless tundra.

The narrowest fjord in Europe, Nærøyfjord's cliff walls close to just 250 meters apart at its narrowest point while rising 1,700 meters above the water — creating a cathedral-like enclosure of almost supernatural grandeur. Kayaking the fjord from Gudvangen at the head, paddling in absolute silence between the cliff faces with waterfalls falling directly overhead, is among Europe's finest outdoor experiences.

The gateway to the Norwegian fjords and a Hanseatic trading city since the 12th century, Bergen's Bryggen Wharf — a row of colorful timber-framed trading buildings dating from the 14th century — is a UNESCO World Heritage site of immediate visual impact. The city's fish market, seven mountains, funicular railway, and Edvard Grieg's home at Troldhaugen make it one of Europe's most rewarding compact cities.