My 2024 European holiday took me to a variety of destinations, but mostly it revolved around a Northern Europe cruise visiting places like Norway, Iceland, Shetland Islands and Scotland. This region in Europe was very new to me and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it exceeded my expectations.
Our 14 day cruise itinerary on the Norwegian Star commenced from Oslo in Norway, where I spent one night. I boarded the ship the following day where I embarked on my cruise:
My flight from Paris to Oslo was only a short one and I arrived here late morning. The scenery from the airplane descending into Oslo was stunning. When I arrived I discovered that Oslo city centre was 48 kilometres away. The fastest and cheapest way of getting there was by Flytoget Airport Express train, that took about 19 minutes.
I got a taxi to my hotel that wasn’t too far out of the main city centre, but was extremely disappointed with the size and standard of my hotel room. It was extremely pokey and the decor left a lot to desire. I dropped my luggage and immediately looked for somewhere to have lunch.
Outside the hotel was a square and on one corner there was a lovely restaurant. I decided I would prop myself here until my friends arrived. They eventually arrived on their big tour bus so I went to greet them inside the hotel reception.
They dropped their luggage at their room and the three of us walked towards the city centre and the waterfront. Here we enjoyed a welcome drink together and talked about our past two weeks of travel. It was so nice to have some company after travelling solo in France for two weeks.
Oslo’s waterfront runs along a nine-kilometre long Harbour Promenade. There are many points of interest along the way, including sculptures, murals, museums, hot saunas and loads of eateries. Akershus Fortress dating back to 1299 is a great place to discover Oslo’s history. The Nobel Peace Center, located near the harbour, showcases the Nobel Peace Prize and the ideals it represents.
Oslo is renowned for having some of the top art experiences in the world. The city is full of sculpture parks, art galleries, street art and the iconic painting by Munch called “The Scream”. The incredible outdoor sculpture parks, of Ekebergparken and Vigelandsparken are must-visits.
Kristiansand is one of the many wooden house towns in Norway. It is the gateway to thousands of islands and is a popular summer holiday destination.
We walked off the cruise ship passing the distinctive modern wedge of the Kilden Performing Arts Centre, and wound our way around to the lively and colourful Fiskebrygga harbour with its pretty canal scenery. The imposing Kunstsilo, the former grain silo that has been transformed into a museum was visible from a distance.
Continuing to walk around the harbour we came to verdant parklands, the Otterdalsparken Fountain Park – a unique recreational area with granite fountains. Nearby is Guest harbour and the Christiansholm Fortress of 1672.
Eventually we headed towards the city centre, where we came to a square, the Kristiansand Cathedral, another beautiful fountain, markets in full bloom and many nice restaurants lining the square.
We arrived into Stavanager and viewed the typical white-painted wooden houses in Gamle Stavanger, the oldest part of the city, from the cruise ship deck.
Once we alighted from the ship we passed the fish markets by the harbour and the historic wharf houses of Stavanger (Sjøhusrekken), in many bright vibrant colours.
We lined up for our day boat cruise to Lysefjord and sailed off into fjordlands. This three-hour round trip was one of the many highlights of Norway. The seawater was the deepest ink blue in colour and as smooth as silk as we entered the fjord. Once inside the fjord it took on a mystical quality, with striking scenery from every vantage point on the boat.
We passed by tiny fishing villages, a small lighthouse, rocky escarpments, caves carved into the rocks, a waterfall and the famous Pulpit Rock.
After we returned from our boat cruise we sauntered into the city centre and came across Øvre Holmegate, a street called “Fargegata” by locals, (the colour street). The colourful precinct is lined with quaint cafés, boutiques, and galleries all painted in a myriad of vibrant colours.
The next morning we arrived in Bergen, the second largest city in Norway. The biggest attraction here would have to be the brightly painted wharf houses lining the harbour. These are reminiscent from when Bergen was a key centre for trade between Norway and Europe. Nowadays they house museums, shops, galleries, and restaurants.
After we checked out some of the souvenir shops housed in the wharf houses we walked around to the lively Fish Market that provides both locals and visitors with a wide variety of freshly caught seafood from the ocean.
We discovered that Bergen is also called “the city between the seven mountains” and is surrounded by mountains in every direction. There are beautiful homes set amongst the mountains and a funicular that takes you to the top of Fløyen, 320 metres above sea level.
The funicular is only a short walking distance from the town centre and is a six-minute ride on the Fløibanen funicular to the top. Once we arrived at the top we admired the spectacular 360 degress views of Bergen and strolled through the parklands. There are many hiking paths that you can follow through the forest here and also very tame goats, each with their own unique names.
We weren’t sure what to expect at our next port of call. But we discovered a culturally rich town famous for its Art Nouveau architecture. Ålesund is located on a hook-shaped peninsula extending out into the ocean at the mouth of Storfjord, where three islands are connected by bridges. Meaning that the town is vastly situated on waterfront.
The most stunning part of Alesund are the pastel coloured buildings that reflect in the still waters of Ålesundet sound. The photos I captured simply took my breath away.
A great way to get a bird’s eye view of the city is to climb the 418 steps to the viewpoint from the city park. Here you will be rewarded with the most astounding view of the three islands that comprise Alesund.
However, for me it was only a quick stroll around town as I was fighting off a virus that I had awoken to. The downside of cruise ships!
We were excited this morning as we were actually embarking on a shore excursion at this port in Reykjavik. Whilst we were waiting for our mini-bus to arrive we observed a group of local ladies clad in swimming costumes, holding hands and braving the ice cold water from a small sandy beach near the port.
Our excursion called the Golden Circle Tour, was a half-day tour that took us to places such as: Kerið volcanic crater – a lake-filled caldera with vivid colors.
The amazing Geysir geothermal area with Strokkur Geysir, that erupts spontaneously.
Awe-inspiring Gullfoss waterfall – where the glacial river Hvítá takes a dramatic 32-metre plunge into a canyon.
A hike in Þingvellir national park, a place of great historical and geographical significance.
All of the scenery on our excursion was breathtaking and beyond beautiful. Words cannot express the beauty and wonder of the landscapes that unfolded before our eyes. On our way back to port we stopped at a dairy farm and indulged in a creamy homemade ice-cream.
We arrived on a misty morning, where I’m sure the temperature was close to zero, to the small regional town of Isafjordur in Northwest Iceland. Located in the Westfjords, the port town is located on Skutulsfjordur fjord, surrounded by high mountains in various colours depending on the time of day.
We immediately set off on a hike just out of town, past the golf course and up to a steep waterfall cascading down the mountain.
On our way back into town we took in the Culture House that is housed in the former hospital building. There is an interesting seaman sculpture in front of the building depicting Iceland’s rich maritime heritage and dedicated to those lost at sea.
We strolled through Isafjordur’s Old Town, a well-preserved area of historic buildings dating back to the 18th century. These brightly colored buildings were once used as trading posts, homes, and warehouses.
The next morning we stopped at the capital of North Iceland, the city of Akureyri situated in the innermost Eyjafjörður fjord. We spent our time wandering around the streets brimming with tourists, as there were two cruise ships in port, including ours.
The Akureyrarkirkja church sits prominently perched high on a hill near the city centre. There is an Old Town consisting of a collection of timber clad houses and buildings. The Botanical Gardens are also worth a visit being the world’s northernmost botanical garden.
We spent considerable time in a fabulous book shop in the centre of the city and stopped to get a photo framed by the large love heart. Afterwards we walked along the harbour front before returning to the cruise ship.
Our last port in Iceland was the small town of Djúpivogur in east Iceland near the mouth of the Berufjörður fjord. It is overshadowed by the pyramid-shaped Mt Búlandstindur at an elevation of 1,069 metres that was dusted with snow. It was a freezing cold day with sleet-like rain and a wind-chill that went through to your bones.
We checked out a long cascading waterfall on the outskirts of the town and then made our way into the small village. Seeking refuge from the bleak conditions into a popluar cafe, we enjoyed a steamy hot coffee. The main thoroughfare in the town, a paved street painted in rainbow colours boasted a couple of interesting buildings with painted murals, gift shops, galleries and a cafe, then a quaint small church at one end.
I was very excited to be visiting the film location of one of my favourite detective tv series called Shetland. We arrived early in the morning and were tendered into the port of Lerwick. I instantly recognised a couple of landmarks from the famous tv series.
It was once again raining, so I found the main street and took refuge in a tiny old-fashioned cafe. It was the type of cafe that serves delicious home-made biscuits and cakes and the owners know everyone’s names as they enter the cosy little cafe.
Wandering down the main street I took in the variety of shops selling locally made goods like soaps, handknitted clothing, stationery, souvenirs and keepsakes. I continued down along the waterfront past old warehouses to Fort Charlotte overlooking the strategic Sound of Bressay. The sun had come out and this was the ideal opportunity to take some photos across the harbour and scenery in Lerwick.
Behind the fort I discovered the historical Police Station, another film location for the tv series Shetland and also the town hall. I saw signs pointing to the Shetland Museum and Archives so spent some time in here learning about the history of the Shetlands.
On our last day, prior to disembarking in Southampton in the UK, we spent one of the most memorable and interesting days in Edinburgh – Scotland’s capital city. Words cannot describe how much I enjoyed my day here. It was one of the most historically interesting, intriguing and lively cities I’ve visited during my travels.
This UNESCO City of Literature and the UNESCO World Heritage Site, packs a punch with captivating culture, engaging attractions and magnificent architecture. We boarded a Hop On Hop Off bus at Newhaven port and traversed our way along the streets of Leith and into the city centre.
I was mesmerised by Edinburgh Castle perched atop Castle Rock overlooking the city and the ancient volcano of Arthur’s Seat.
The gothic spire of Scott Monument
The iconic Golden Mile of cobbled street brimming with shops, restaurants, St Gile’s Cathedral and century old statues and buildings.
After a big day of walking through the streets of Edinburgh it left me thirsting for more of this medieval city. I vowed that I would return to see more of this city and of Scotland.
I was sad to leave this amazing city and the final port of call on my Northern Europe cruise. It was back aboard the Norwegian Star and an overnight journey to Southampton. This is a cruise that everyone should put on their bucket lists.
Denyse Whelan
December 18, 2024That was a wonderful wrap Kathy! I enjoyed seeing your photos along the way and now I could put them all together.’
I had hoped to do UK tri- but sadly I am deciding to say no.i am glad you are getting to do what you can..
I too would be fascinated by Scotland as Dad’s father was born there.
Great work here putting together your trip
Denyse
Kathy
December 28, 2024I really enjoyed Northern Europe. Probably a lot more that I expected. The scenery was so different to what I have experienced in other parts of Europe.
Scotland was a big highlight and I would love to return to explore some more. Thank you for positive comments. :)