The first thing that comes to mind on reflecting the descent into Oslo is – “Gosh, this is where all the trees in the world are!” As everyone who’s been says, Norway is one of the most green, perfectly preserved places in the world, nestled somewhat close to the pole and surrounded by the most pristine blue waters you will ever see.

Our first stop was the port town of Kragero. A town that zigzags between terrain running uphill and all the way down to the waters with ferries and private boats, this town has been home to one of the most globally renowned artists of his time, Edvard Munch. The houses are mostly wooden, bright with a subdued palette of colors and the curving cobblestone streets are lined with mountain trees that are as green as they are majestic.

A stroll through the quiet town square leads to curio shops with the articles dating to the age of the Vikings, right down to modern knick-knacks that reflect minimalist Scandinavian designs. The coffee shops close to the water have a vibe that makes you want to spend several hours just musing and savouring solitude.

The port has daily ferries that sail between this charming town to a pretty little island called Jomfralandor the Virgin land. This amazing landmass is the summer capital for many and is littered with many hiking trails through the woods, replete with horses and close enough to the white waters. There are also light houses and a quirky art museum that houses works from local artists. There are bikes available for rent as well.

Regular, comfortable buses ply from the tourist centre in Kragero to the main capital city of Oslo – a fine example of town planning that integrates modern architecture with sloping, wooden Norwegian housing and stone monuments from centuries ago. Add to it sloping streets and the water all around and you have one of the least polluted and happiest cities in the world, something that easily explains why this breed of Scandinavians is one of the happiest in the world.

From Oslo, the train ride to the student town of Bergen is nothing short of the fabled Polar Express. Misty white, snow draped mountains, clear aqua blue water and winding tracks make this a memorable ride where you can get a dazzling frame just by pointing and shooting your camera from the window. The majestic journey is perhaps a heritage that will charm generations of tourists for ages to come, much like the country itself.

Best places to visit in Norway:

1. Drive the Atlanterhavsveien (The Atlantic Road)


2.       Tromsø and the land of the northern lights



3.       See the beautiful Hamnoy



4.       Visit the tiny village of Reine



5.       Explore Bergen



6.       The Oslo region



7.       Explore the Arctic Circle on a Spa Boat



8.       Spot puffins on Runde Island



9.       Hike Pulpit Rock



10.   Visit the Briksdalsbreen Glacier



11.   Find polar bears in Svalbard



12.   Explore Alesund



13.   See the Geirangerfjord



14.   Drive the Trollstigen



15.   See Norway’s National Mountain, Stetind



16.   Hike to Trolltunga



17.   Lofoten and Nordland



18.   The Stavanger region



19.   Trondheim and Trøndelag



20.   Kristiansand and Southern Norway 


        
21.   The mountains and valleys of Eastern Norway



Clearly, Norway has an unimaginable assorted variety that goes far beyond its stunning landscape, with its culture being similarly as exhilarating and beautiful to encounter. The entire nation is a proper goldmine of places that every explorer should see.

From any semblance of the Sami people in the north with their historic social customs to the cosmopolitan culture of Oslo, there's a little cut of Norwegian culture that everybody will love to see and will take pleasure in.