Norway is a wildly beautiful country of snow-capped mountains and deep glacier-carved fjords. The astounding scenery of the southwestern fjordland is the main draw card for tourists, but there are many incentives to visit this sparsely inhabited country. It offers remote wildernesses and outdoor activities, fairylike forests, historic towns and charming fishing villages, down to earth friendly people, and the lure of the Arctic Circle with its famous Midnight Sun and surreal Northern Lights. It also boasts some of the most scenic bus trips, boat cruises and train rides in the world.

'The Land of the Midnight Sun', with its long summer days, is not only for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, but offers a rich cultural heritage from the Vikings, the traditional nomadic Sami people of the remote northern regions, and world-renowned artists such as Edvard Munch. Principle cities of interest are Oslo, the pretty capital; the historic trading port of Bergen, situated on the fjords and gateway to the Fjordlands; and hilly Tromsø within the Arctic Circle, the centre of the Northern Lights activity. They are pleasant, low-key cities that offer a good range of museums, historical sights and unique architecture.

Norway's greatest impact on history was during the Viking Age, when the sleek Viking ships crossed the Atlantic, and Europe was subjected to numerous raids. Traditionally Norwegians were explorers, and their influences are evident from the Viking settlements established in Scotland, to the more recent personalities like polar explorer Roald Amundsen, and the legendary Pacific crossing of Thor Heyerdahl on his wooden raft, the .

Today Norwegians hold onto many of their cultural traditions, most notably the art of storytelling that takes place around the fireside to while away the long winter hours. Trolls figure prominently in their folklore, some friendly and helpful, while others are naughty characters that conveniently serve as a source of blame for all of life's troubles.

Vigeland Park

Address: Kirkeveien Oslo

Admission: Free The park is always open. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday 12pm-4pm (September to May), and Tuesday to Sunday 11am-5pm (June to August). Closed on Mondays.

Telephone: +47 23 49 37 00

The Kon-Tiki Museum

Address: Bygdøynesveien 36, Bygdøy Peninsula Oslo

Admission: NOK 70 (adults), NOK 30 (children) from January 2012. Other concessions are available. Daily except public holidays 9am-5:30pm (June to August), 10:30am-4pm (January to March), 10am-5pm (April to May and September to October).

Telephone: +47 23 08 67 67

The Viking Ships Museum

Address: Huk Aveny 35, Bygdøy Peninsula Oslo

Admission: NOK 60 (adults), NOK 30 (children); other concessions available. Daily 9am-6pm (May to September), 10am-4pm (October to April). Closed on public holidays.

Telephone: +47 22 13 52 80

Bryggen

Address: Bergen

Hanseatic Museum

Address: Finnegårdsgate 1A, Bryggen Bergen

Admission: Adults: NOK 50 (May 15 to September 15) and NOK 30 (September 16 to May 14), entrance is free for children. Daily 10am-5pm (May 15 to September 15) and from 11am-2pm, Tuesday to Saturday and 11am-4pm on Sunday, closed Mondays (September 16 to May 14).

Telephone: +47 55 54 46 90

Bryggens Museum

Address: Dreggsallmenning 3, Bryggen Bergen

Admission: NOK 60 (adults), children free, concessions available. Daily 10am-5pm (May to August), Monday to Friday 11am-3pm, Saturday 12pm-3pm, Sunday 12pm-4pm (September to April).

Telephone: +47 55 58 80 10

St Mary's Church (Mariakirken)

Address: Dreggen 15, Bergen Bergen

Admission: Monday to Friday 9:30am-11:30am and 1pm-4pm (mid-May to mid-September), Tuesday to Friday 12pm-1:30pm (October to April).

Telephone: +47 55 31 59 60

Tromsø Museum

Address: Lars Thøringsveg 10 Tromsø

Admission: NOK 30 (adults), NOK 15 (children). Daily 9am-6pm from June 1 to August 31. Daily from 9am-3:30pm, except weekends when the museum opens at midday (September 1 to May 31). During this time the museum is open 7pm-10pm on Wednesday evenings.

Telephone: 7764 5000

Arctic Cathedral

Address: Hans Nilsens vei 41, Tromsdalen Tromsø

Admission: NOK 35 (adults), children under 15 free. No admission required for services. Daily 4pm-6pm (mid-April to May, and mid-August to September), 9am-7pm (June to mid-August). Sunday services are held throughout the year; concerts are generally every night at 10pm (July to mid-August).

Telephone: 47 68 06 68

Polaria

Address: Hjalmar Johansens gate 12 Tromsø

Admission: NOK 100 (adults), NOK 50 (children); concessions available. Daily 10am-7pm (mid-May to mid-August), 12pm-5pm (mid-August to mid-May). Feeding daily at 12:30pm and 3:30pm.

Telephone: +47 77 75 01 00

Lillehammer

Address: Fjordland

The Norway in a Nutshell Tour