senja: Norwegian island. Home to the Ånderdalen National Park, it has varied mountain and forest landscapes.

It is possible to withdraw cash on a credit card in most banks. It is also possible to get cash back when making purchases in most shops. TRAVELLER’S CHEQUES Traveller’s cheques can be purchased from your local bank at home.

The path stretches across Sørenga, past the Opera House, Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen, over Bygdøy. The route is marked by orange information towers and shouldn’t be missed; there’s lots to see and do along the way . The King’s Battery One of Oslo’s top attractions is the Akershus Festning . [newline]Begun in 1299, its stout walls and historic interiors bear the scars of many a battle. The complex is strategically situated on a rocky outcrop with excellent views over Oslofjorden. Norsk Arkitekturmuseum – or the Museum of Norwegian Architecture – is filled with models of buildings old and new, such as the Law Courts, 1994.

To the north, the 1,000-yearold timber town of Røros is the equivalent of Norway’s wild west. Quaint and picturesque, this mining town is perfect Instagram material. VIKING HERITAGE There are many traces of the seafaring Vikings across Norway plus more modern monuments, from reconstructed longhouses to Fritz Røed’s Sverd i fjell in Hafrsfjord.

Blåfjella–skjækerfjella National Park

Today, however, the tower offers great views of the town, the harbour and Boknafjorden. Europe’s best-preserved wooden Rococo building, was built by a nobleman in 1770 when Bergen was a large, bustling and wealthy port town. Of the 80 wooden mansions built during this period, Damsgård is the most impressive. The house was used for entertaining, while the surrounding land was used for nominal farming. The pleasure palace still features the original luxurious interior. The sculpture garden is a lovely place for a picnic and a stroll.

• The museum also has an art collection which contains around 1000 paintings and around 6000 other works.
• The Neo-Gothic cathedral, Domkirken, is the fourth to be built on the site.
• Balestrand is a top stop at Sognefjorden, and is sometimes referred to as the ‘art village’.
• The town is made up of wooden buildings, most of them brightly painted in a cheery colour known as “Stavern yellow”.

They educated the farmers, as did the clergyman Niels Hertzberg (d.1841). The Gothic-style Ullensvang church dates from the early Middle Ages.

Viking Ship Museum

Under Swedish Rule Norway’s next defining moment came in 1807, when Frederik VI allied himself with Napoleon. This, combined with a continuing war with Sweden, meant Norway was surrounded and isolated, triggering years of hunger and hardship. In Sweden, meanwhile, the crown prince Karl Johan convinced his allies that he could force Denmark to relinquish Norway.

BISHOP’S CHAIR The wooden bishop’s chair is a star attraction within the church, and grabs visitor attention. Its elaborate carvings depict the epic Norse legend of Sigurd the Dragonslayer. Christians are said to have repurposed the pagan myth, recasting Sigurd as Jesus and, perhaps not surprisingly, the dragon as the devil. The chair also portrays two knights on horseback approaching a warrior maiden. Kristiansand became a diocese in 1682 when the bishopric was moved here from Stavanger.

The castle occupies a spectacular setting on a hill at the head of Oslofjorden. King Håkon V began building in 1299, since when the fortifications have undergone numerous improvements and reconstructions. One of the fortress’s greatest moments was to resist the siege of the Swedish king, Karl XII, in 1716. In the 19th century, the castle’s defensive role declined in significance and it became an administrative centre for the armed forces. Today, Akershus Slott contains a variety of historic buildings, museums and defence installations.

The fortress is best known for sinking the German heavy cruiser Blücher on 9 April 1940. The island of Tromsoya, located in the strait of the same name, is an important destination for tourists to the region. It is home to the city center of Tromso and several residential areas. The island is part of the Tromso municipality and county, and is connected to the mainland by the Sandnessund Bridge. For a truly amazing experience, you should plan a trip to the area. Svolvaer is also home to the Scandic Svolvaer Hotel, a stylish hotel that was once the town’s main house.

Studio at Ekely In 1916 Munch bought the estate of Ekely, on the outskirts of the city. Ekebergrestauranten For the ultimate dinner with a view, head to elegant Ekebergrestauranten ( restauranten.com). In the hills just above Oslo, the dining room has stunning views over Oslofjord and the Opera House.