Northern Europe from Rotterdam

Often called the gateway to Europe, the port city of Rotterdam is full of old-world charm. The harbor offers amazing views and a maze of wharves and canals, along with towering spires make for a beautiful sight. Take a stroll and duck into one of the pubs or eateries along the way.
Only three pre World War II buildings in the city centre have survived and are worth a look – city hall, St. Laurence church and the White House. Explore the Museum Boymans van Beuningen, which houses a unique collection dating from the 14th century, or the Museum Voor Volkenkunde – home to ethnological exhibits. Exquisite architecture can be seen in many areas of Rotterdam, most notably in the Delfshaven quarter of the city – where 18th century houses are on display. For a laugh, check out Kijk-Kubus, an upside-down house.

In the shadow of snowy peaks and near stunning blue-green fjords, Eidfjord is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful villages in Norway. Even though it has a population of less than 1,000, scores of visitors come here each year to bask in the area’s natural splendor.

Hardangervidda, near Eidfjord, is Europe’s largest mountain plateau as well as Norway’s largest national park. Interestingly, the legendary polar explorer Roald Amundsen, who led the first expedition to reach the South Pole, and Fridtjof Nansen, who made the first successful crossing of the Greenland interior, both used Hardangervidda to prepare for their expeditions. Walking, hiking, cycling and cross-country skiing are popular, and the area is home to Europe’s largest population of wild reindeer.

Numerous canyons, including the famous Måbødalen Valley, lead south from the Hardangervidda plateau to the fjords along the coast, and about 16 kilometers (10 miles) south of Eidfjord, visitors can see the dramatic 182-meter-tall (597-foot-tall) Vøringfossen waterfall. In the center of Eidfjord stands the 14th-century stone Eidfjord Kirke, while outside town the famous Kjeåsen Mountain Farm sits on a ledge some 600 meters (1,968 feet) above the Simadalsfjord.

Το Alesund είναι μια μικρή αλλά ζωντανή πόλη με μοναδική, μοντέρνα αίσθηση. Μια προσπάθεια ανοικοδόμησης μετά από μια μεγάλη πυρκαγιά το 1904 έδωσε στην πόλη το χαρακτηριστικό αρχιτεκτονικό στυλ Art Nouveau – ή “Jugendstil” – που χαρακτηρίζεται από τις περίτεχνες λεπτομέρειες, τις ασύμμετρες προσόψεις και τις καμπύλες μορφές που μοιάζουν με φυτά, ζώα και λουλούδια. Από το πάρκο της πόλης, ανεβείτε με τα πόδια τα 418 σκαλοπάτια στην κορυφή της πόλης, την Άκσλα – θα ανταμειφθείτε με μια πανέμορφη πανοραμική θέα στην πόλη, τα νησιά και την απόκρημνη οροσειρά Sunnmorsalpane. Το Alesund είναι η έδρα του μεγαλύτερου στόλου αλιείας μπακαλιάρου της Νορβηγίας, οπότε δεν θα χρειαστεί να πάτε μακριά για να δοκιμάσετε μερικά από τα νόστιμα και φρέσκα πιάτα θαλασσινών κατά τη διάρκεια της κρουαζιέρας σας στη Νορβηγία.

Geiranger is a picturesque fjord town nestled in a crook of winding, namesake Geirangerfjord. Nearby, the Seven Sisters Waterfall takes a 5,000-foot plunge.

Beautiful Bergen, Norway’s second-largest city, is one of the most popular ports of call on a cruise up the fjords. Step off the ship into the medieval Bryggen wharf area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, where small boats line the harbor and wooden gabled buildings stand proud along the waterfront. Bergen’s rich maritime tradition goes back nearly 1,000 years, including the years the town played an important part in the Hanseatic League, the trading empire that dominated maritime commerce in the region between the 14th and 18th centuries. The city is one of Europe’s oldest settlements, and its cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways lead to emerald-green parks, medieval cathedrals and stone fortresses that kept enemies at bay centuries ago. It’s also eminently walkable, with historic buildings and excellent markets selling everything from fish and produce to trinkets and souvenirs.

Surrounded by mountains and thick forest, and sitting halfway between Geiranger to the north and Stavanger to the south, Bergen offers plenty to do outside the city too. Whether you sign up for a guided excursion or venture out on your own, you’ll be sure to fall in love with Bergen.

Often called the gateway to Europe, the port city of Rotterdam is full of old-world charm. The harbor offers amazing views and a maze of wharves and canals, along with towering spires make for a beautiful sight. Take a stroll and duck into one of the pubs or eateries along the way.
Only three pre World War II buildings in the city centre have survived and are worth a look – city hall, St. Laurence church and the White House. Explore the Museum Boymans van Beuningen, which houses a unique collection dating from the 14th century, or the Museum Voor Volkenkunde – home to ethnological exhibits. Exquisite architecture can be seen in many areas of Rotterdam, most notably in the Delfshaven quarter of the city – where 18th century houses are on display. For a laugh, check out Kijk-Kubus, an upside-down house.