What is it? Halfway between Norway and the North Pole, Svalbard is a distant archipelago of snowy peaks and untouched glaciers. It’s also home to the world’s most northerly town (Longyearbyen) and has more polar bears than people.
Why go? Svalbard is true Arctic wilderness – but its remote location makes it a prime spot for seeing the Northern Lights in winter. There is no daylight from November to February, but this means the aurora could even appear at lunchtime.
Norway is a beautiful place and it knows it. How could it not? It is all rugged landscape and nature as far as the eye can see, with charming cities and towns seemingly dropped in place by a creator with a keen eye for design. Everything is in the right place here, and we’re privileged to enjoy it. The best things to do in Norway are defined by the beauty of the place, so get the camera prepped and get ready to fall in love.
Norway also happens to be an eccentric place, adding another layer of charm to a destination that has already won hearts and minds across the planet. Oslo is the capital, a figurehead of everything that makes Norway great with excellent restaurants and a museum scene that will knock your socks off, although please make a keen effort to keep the socks on because it gets pretty darn cold here. Not that you’ll be bothered, you’ll be too busy getting doe-eyed at the beautiful landscapes to worry about the temperature, and there are plenty of high-octane experiences to get the blood flowing.
Find out more about how Time Out selects the very best things to do all over the world.