(Image Credit: joaquinaristii/Foap/VisitNorway.com)

Bergen

What it's known as: An international city with a small-town atmosphere; the Gateway to the Fjords

Highlight experiences:

Walk through the narrow alleyways of Unesco-listed Bryggen
Ride the Fløibanen Funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen
Wander through the Fish Market, one of Norway's most visited outdoor markets
Stroll to the 13th-century fortress at Bergenhus

Visit with Hurtigruten

(Image Credit: Samuel Taipale/VisitNorway.com)

Ålesund

What it's known as: A fairytale Art Nouveau Town at the entrance to the Unesco-protected Geirangerfjord

Highlight experiences:

Walk 418 steps to the top of Aksla Mountain
Discover architectural history at the Art Nouveau Centre
Visit the 19th-century Holmbua warehouse and learn about the town's production of dried cod
Visit the Viking-era Borgund market town

Visit with Hurtigruten

(Image Credit: mikolajn/iStock)

Molde

What it's known as: A spectacular fjord landscape protected from the harsh surrounding elements

Highlight experiences:

Enjoy a panoramic view of the city, fjords and more than 200 snow peaks from the Varden viewpoint
Attend Molde Jazz, Norway's largest jazz festival, in the summer
Visit Romsdalsmuseet, one of Norway's largest folk museums

Visit with Hurtigruten

(Image Credit: whammer121736/iStock)

Kristiansund

What it's known for: Four main islands and bacalao (dried salted cod)

Highlight experiences:

Attend the annual Opera Festival in February and tour Festiviteten, Norway's oldest opera festival
Visit the lighthouse and Norway's second smallest stave church on the island of Grip
Ride the Sundbåtene passenger ferry between islands
Learn how Kristiansund made its living from the sea at the Norwegian Bacalao Museum

Visit with Hurtigruten

(Image Credit: mfon/Foap/VisitNorway.com)

Trondheim

What it's known as: A youthful and historical university town

Highlight experiences:

Visit the Ringve Music Museum, home to more than 2,000 instruments
Visit Nidaros Cathedral, the world's northernmost cathedral and resting place of Norway's patron saint
Explore the medieval wooden buildings of Bakklandet, Trondheim's old quarter

Visit with Hurtigruten

(Image Credit: eugenesergeev/iStock)

Rørvik

What it's known for: Maritime splendor surrounded by thousands of islands

Highlight experiences:

Learn about Rørvik's 10,000-year-old history at the Norveg coastal museum
Walk through Berggården, a historic trading place dating back to 1878
Soak up the beauty of the Vikna archipelago from a small boat cruise or kayak
Enjoy a traditional cod meal during the cod festival in March

Visit with Hurtigruten

(Image Credit: AYImages/iStock)

Brønnøysund

What it's known for: Rich history and maritime atmosphere

Highlight experiences:

Glimpse through the hole in Torghatten, a mountain on the nearby island Torget
Visit the Neo-Gothic Brønnøy Church, home to a pre-Reformation wooden crucifix
Sail past the Unesco-listed Vega Islands where the down of molting eider ducks has been harvested for over a millennia

Visit with Hurtigruten

(Image Credit: Frithjof Fure/VisitNorway.com)

Bodø

What it's known for: The world’s strongest maelstrom, sea eagles, the midnight sun and Northern Lights

Highlight experiences:

Enjoy a monthly average of 221 hours of sun in June
Witness Saltstraumen, the srongest tidal current in the world from an inflatable boat
Visit Kjerringøy, a well-preserved old trading village where several movies have been shot

Visit with Hurtigruten

(Image Credit: Trajei Mo/Wikimedia Commons)

Svolvær

What it's known for: Spectacular scenery and light

Highlight experiences:

Hike the twin-peaked Svolværgeita mountain in summer
Attend the world cod fishing championships in winter
Explore Vågan's many art galleries and museums

Visit with Hurtigruten

(Image Credit: Janter/Wikimedia Commons)

Stokmarknes

What it's known as: An idyllic village and the birthplace of Hurtigruten cruises

Highlight experiences:

Meet residents from 25 different nations
Learn about the past century of seafaring along Norway's coast at the museum of Hurtigruten

Visit with Hurtigruten

(Image Credit: Bård Løken/nordnorge.com)

Tromsø

What it's known as: A majestic landscape, packed with culture and history

Highlight experiences:

Take the Fjellheisen Cable Car to the top of the Fløyfjellet Mountain
Visit the Arctic Cathedral, featuring a ceiling-high glass mosaic
Visit the world’s northernmost botanical garden
Learn about the history of polar expeditions at the Polar Museum
Ski and dogsled under the Northern Lights
Hike and kayak during endless summer nights

Visit with Hurtigruten

(Image Credit: Carsten Frenzi/Flickr Creative Commons)

Skjervøy

What it's known for: Fish farming and aquaculture

Highlight experiences:

Visit the the oldest wooden church in the Nord-Hålogaland diocese, built 1728

Visit with Hurtigruten

(Image Credit: Leonara Enking/Flickr Creative Commons)

Øksfjord

What it's known as: A small fishing community where colorful houses cling to a dramatic mountain landscape

Highlight experiences:

Glimpse Øksfjordjøkulen, the only glacier on mainland Norway to calve directly into the sea

Visit with Hurtigruten

(Image Credit: rogeluft/VisitNorway.com)

Hammerfest

What it's known as: One of world's northernmost towns

Highlight experiences:

Experience 24 hours of sunlight in the winter and days of darkness in the winter
Enjoy panoramic views from the Salen Restaurant
Visit one chain of the Unesco Struve Geodetic Arc at Fuglene
Learn about the history of Arctic hunting at the Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society

Visit with Hurtigruten

(Image Credit: ookelma/iStock)

Havøysund

What it's known as: A colorful small fishing village on an Arctic archipelago in the Barents Sea

Highlight experiences:

Visit the 15-windmill park at Gavlen overlooking the Barents Sea
Discover 19th-century fishing artifacts at the Måsøy Museum
Go birding on Hjelmsøystauren, Europe's most diverse bird mountain

Visit with Hurtigruten

(Image Credit: Pedal-Power-Photos/iStock)

Honningsvåg

What it's known for: The North Cape

Highlight experiences:

Stand at the edge of the North Cape, Europe's northernmost point
Visit the Perleporten Kultuhus cultural center, Once Upon A Dream art gallery and Artico Ice Bar
Stop by the village church, the only building left standing at the end of WWII
Witness the migration of 3,800 reindeer in the spring and fall
Birdwatch on Gjesværstappan, home to one million puffins

Visit with Hurtigruten

(Image Credit: tupungato/iStock)

Kjøllefjord

What it's known as: A small, but vibrant fishing village

Highlight experiences:

Enjoy excellent views of the ocean and Finnkirka rock formation, an ancient site of importance to the Sami and fishermen
Witness Sami reindeer herding in the spring
Travel like the locals on snowmobiles from December through May

Visit with Hurtigruten

(Image Credit: IngerEriksen/iStock)

Berlevåg

What it's known for: Wide horizons and unforgettable landscapes

Highlight experiences:

Drive to the spectacular Kjølnes lighthouse
Walk along the breakwaters under the midnight sun or Northern Lights
Learn about the village's fishing culture at the Berlevåg Harbour Museum
Visit the workshop of Swiss glass artist Daniela Salathe
Hike Tanahorn, the sacred mountain of the Sami

Visit with Hurtigruten

(Image Credit: Hans Olav Lien/Wikimedia Commons)

Båtsfjord

What it's known as: A ruggedly charming village and major hub of the Norwegian fishing industry

Highlight experiences:

Visit Hamningberg, an abandoned fishing village on the outer coast with well-preserved 19th-century wooden houses
Discover the remains of Stone Age settlements amid sandstone cliffs

Visit with Hurtigruten

(Image Credit: Clemnsfranz/Wikimedia Commons)

Vadsø

What it's known as: A multi-cultural town with Arctic nature at its best on display

Highlight experiences:

Witness the midnight sun and Northern Lights
Discover Finnish culture at the Vadsø Museum
Visit the mooring mast of the airship 'Norge' used by Roald Amundsen in 1926 and Umberto Nobile in 1928 on their Arctic expeditions

Visit with Hurtigruten

(Image Credit: Terje Rakke/Nordic Life/VisitNorway.com)

Kirkenes

What it's known as: The gateway to the Barents Region near the Russian border

Highlight experiences:

Tour the surrounding landscape on a snowmobile or husky tour
Experience the confluence of Russian and Norwegian culture at the Grenselandmuseet museum
See Sami art at The Art Museum Savio
Stay in the Kirkenes Snow Hotel or a traditional Sami hut
Catch king crab on a boat safari

Visit with Hurtigruten

Norway’s coast is the landscape of legends. Fjords tower over bright blue waterways, colorful fishing villages hug rocky shores, Sami tribesmen herd reindeer to pasture and polar bears roam past Viking burial grounds. From Bergen in the south to the Arctic town of Kirkenes, a trip up the coast embodies the best of Norway: majestic and ever-changing scenery, with history present at every turn. Each season offers a new set of spectacular experiences: Hike past rushing waterfalls and over wildflower-dotted mountain passes in spring, cruise into famously beautiful Geirangerfjord in summer, watch migrating whales in the fall and in winter sit back for the nature’s best sky show – the Northern Lights.

For more than a century, Hurtigruten Cruises has introduced passengers to the magic of Norway's coast and is proud to be offering this experience to Smithsonian Journeys travelers beginning in 2018. Explore some of Norway’s most unique coastal destinations in the map above, and click through the slideshows below to discover why a trip up Norway’s coast is a must any time of year.

Spring

Kayakers enjoy warm weather in Bergen. Terje Rakke/Nordic Life/VisitNorway.com

Admire Art Nouveau architecture on a spring walk through Alesund. Andrea Giubelli/VisitNorway.com

From April through September, one million puffins nest in the grassy hills of Gjesværstappan. Asgeir Helgestad/Artic Light AS/VisitNorway.com

The fruit orchards of Hardangerfjord are a popular place to see spring blossoms. CH/VisitNorway.com

As April melts into May and June, waterfalls begin to flow more heavily, snow disappears from hiking paths, and flowers begin to carpet the mountains. The days get warmer and lighter, and Norwegians emerge from their winter quarters to explore the new scenery. Hunting for blossoms is a favorite pastime, especially in Kristiansund—home to more than 20,000 flowers—and the fruit orchards of Hardangerfjord. Spring is also prime birdwatching season. Take a boat safari to Gjesværstappan, the nesting grounds of more than one million puffins, or hike to Hjelmsøystauren, which boasts the highest number of bird species gathered on a mountain in all of Europe. Here, you’ll find kittiwakes, common guilllemots and razorbills among other birds. In March, head to Bodø to witness the world’s strongest tidal current, Saltstraumen.

Summer

Campers go to bed with the sun still in the sky. Pedal-Power-Photos/iStock

In his 1894 novel Pan, Norwegian author Knut Hamsuns wrote of the midnight sun: "Night was coming on again; the sun just dipped into the sea and rose again, red, refreshed, as if it had been down to drink. I could feel more strangely on those nights than anyone would believe." Harvepino/iStock

In the summer, Bodø Golf Park is open 24 hours. Eirik Jensen/Flickr Creative Commons

A boat treats passengers to midnight's starburst colors. Frithjof Fure/VisitNorway.com

Take the Tromsø cable car up to a mountain ledge and watch the sun hovering over the peaks of Ringvassøya Island. Frithjof Fure/VisitNorway.com

Or cycle through the countryside in Lofoten. ManfredStromberg.com/VisitNorway.com

The extended day makes virtually endless activities possible, like sea kayaking at night. Tmasz Furmanek/VisitNorway.com

Fog rolls in to North Cape, Europe's northernmost point. Pedal-Power-Photos/iStock

Hike to Svartisen glacier near Bodø. Avani/VisitNorway.com

You can even go dog sledding. CH/VisitNorway.com

The phrase “eternal summer” takes on new meaning when it comes to Norway’s coast. Days stretch long into the night, and above the Arctic Circle, the sun never sets. In northern towns like Tromsø, watch the sun linger on the horizon in a frozen sunset radiating brilliant shades of red and gold over the Barents Sea. Even as far south as Bergen, nights are often so bright that you can take pictures without a flash. The extended daylight makes virtually endless activities possible. Sail through the legendary Geirangerfjord past gushing waterfalls and abandoned farmsteads, hike to Svartisen glacier, climb the twin-peaked Svolværgeita mountain, or play golf in the middle of the night at Bodø Golf Park. To end the day, do as the locals do and head to an outdoor beer garden.

Fall

A humpback whale dives under the rose-gold hues of sunset. Asgeir Helgestad/Artic Light AS/VisitNorway.com

Light illuminates Hjørundfjord. Håvard Myklebust/VisitNorway.com

Visit a Sami camp and learn how they have made use of nature's "pharmacy and pantry." CH/VisitNorway.com

Witness nearly 4,000 reindeer swim across the mile-plus wide Magerøy Strait. Asgeir Helgestad/Artic Light AS/VisitNorway.com

You may even find a few berries. Mattias Fredriksson/VisitNorway.com

Autumn in Aurlandsfjorden m_dickson/Foap/VisitNorway.com

Mushrooms are a common sight trailside. molarleo/Foap/VisitNorway.com

Beginning in October, the lush greens of summer transform into rich hues of red, yellow and orange. This spectrum of color, combined with cooler temperatures, make autumn the perfect time for hiking. Head to Hjørundfjord, one of Norway’s most pristine fjords, for spellbinding views. Thanks to its steep cliffs, the area has been hard to cultivate and nature left to its ways. Fall is also a great time to learn about the close relationship of the Norwegian people to the land. Visit a Sami camp to learn how the reindeer herders use Arctic flora to prevent pain and discomfort, or go on an Arctic bushcraft harvesting excursion to learn how coastal inhabitants have harvested, stored, hunted and fished for centuries. Out on the water, see whales make their annual migration to warmer waters, and at Honningsvåg, witness nearly 4,000 reindeer swim across the mile-plus wide Magerøy Strait.

Winter

Northern lights dance over the Tromsø Bridge and Arctic Cathedral. Gaute Bruvik/VisitNorway.com

In lieu of dog sledding, opt to ride in reindeer sledge guided by a Sami tribesman. Terje Rakke/Nordic Life/VisitNorway.com

Camping under the northern lights in Lofoten Samuel Taipale/VisitNorway.com

Snow dusts a fishing village in Lofoten. Alex Conu/VisitNorway.com

Witness the northern lights through the ceiling-high glass wall of Tromsø’s Arctic Cathedral during a candle-lit midnight concert. bogdanhoria/iStock

Dog sledding is a popular way to enjoy the Norwegian winter and its light shows. CH/VisitNorway.com

Tromsø wakes up to a winter scene. zettel/Foap/VisitNorway.com

Come night, the lights of houses glow like embers and green wisps appear in the sky. Alex Conu/VisitNorway.com

Northern lights fill the sky above the Kvaløya wilderness. Gaute Bruvik/VisitNorway.com

Sun sets on the village of Reine. FotoKnoff

In the winter, nights get longer, and towns in the extreme north can see days without a sunrise, known as “polar nights.” But these days of darkness aren't without a light show. Electromagnetic radiation causes shades of green, blue, yellow, red and orange to dance across the sky, beckoning photographers and thrill-seekers from around the world. For a true Norwegian experience, set out to hunt the lights in the wilderness of Kvaløya on a Sami reindeer sledge, dog sled or snowmobile. Far from artificial light, you will feel transported in time. At Tromsø’s Arctic Cathedral, witness nature's show through its ceiling-high glass wall during a candle-lit midnight concert. In Kirkenes, embrace the frigid weather to the fullest by spending a night in a hotel made almost entirely out of ice and snow. Fishing enthusiasts will enjoy the world cod fishing championship at Svolvaer, where the world’s largest catches of cod are made from January through April, and in February music lovers flock to Kristiansund’s annual Opera Festival, based out of Norway’s oldest opera house.

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Discover more of Norway's epic coast with Hurtigruten

Join Smithsonian Journeys on A Cruise of Coastal Norway

Follow in the wake of Vikings aboard our new cruise along the coast of Norway from Bergen to Kirkenes, featuring breathtaking scenery, Norwegian history and culture, and optional hikes. 9 days. Learn more.

Join Smithsonian Journeys on A Cruise of Coastal Norway

Discover Norway’s Epic Coastline

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

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Discover more of Norway's epic coast with Hurtigruten

Join Smithsonian Journeys on A Cruise of Coastal Norway