Northern countries Cruise - from Kiel - 111736

Kiel is the regional capital of Schleswig-Holstein. In this shipyard and maritime town steeped in tradition visitors can take a walk in the countryside and enjoy the fresh air while still having all the amenities of a city close at hand. This combination of closeness to nature and city life gives the residents of Kiel a special attitude to life. With a population of 250,000 Kiel is the cultural and economic centre of the region. Those living in the surrounding area come to Kiel specially to enjoy the varied cultural life with opera and theatre performances, concert halls, a children and youth theatre, museums, exhibitions, free cultural facilities and trendy clubs and eateries. Kiel's signature event is the annual 'Kieler Woche' - the largest sailing festival in the world!

Norway's fourth-largest city grew important through herring fishing. At the beginning of the 20th century it was also home to the largest canned foods industry in the world. Today, Norway's oil capital is characterised by a mixture of Nordic rustic charm and a cosmopolitan atmosphere, which visitors can experience during a visit to the fish market in particular. Since the city has been spared any fires, entire districts with the original old wooden houses have been preserved. Almost 200 of these restored white wooden buildings in narrow steep cobbled streets with gas laterns in the Gamle Stavanger area are a reminder of the time of the city's founding. Sights include: Canning Industry Museum, the Maritime Museum, Utstein monastery, Lysefjord, Romanesque-gothic cathedral.

Bergen is one of the most charming cities in Norway, not least due to its unique setting between seven hills. With a population of 218,000 it is the second-largest city in the country and the capital of "Fylke Hordaland". The town of Bergen was granted the city charter in 1070 by Bishop Olav Kyrre. Not that long after, in 1217, King Hakon IV. declared the town to the Norwegian seat of government. Today, the oldest and most famous wooden houses of the city are at the "Bryggen", the former dock of the Hanseatic League. These unique buildings were among four properties in Norway to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Sights include: the Hanseatic museum, the Bryggen Museum, Bergenshus fort, St. Mary's Church and the Leprosy Museum, and the aquarium.

The Norwegian town of Flåm lies by the new main road, which is open all year round and connects eastern and western Norway. The port has excellent train, bus and ferry services to Oslo, Voss und Bergen. The picturesque town lies in the valley of a magnificent mountain landscape. Attractions in the surrounding area include the popular bicycle route "Rallarvegen", Flam railway and the Flam railway museum. The railway site is surrounded by a large number of hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops. During the summer months, there is a bus to take tourists from Flam to the main attractions.

The port of Ålesund, which stretches across three islands, was reconstructed after the great fire of 1904 with Art Nouveau architecture. The best view of the city and the skerries before the coast is to be had from the observation hill "Aksla", which can be reached on foot via 418 steps or - the more comfortable option - by car. The panorama restaurant "Fjellstua" is located here. The Ålesund Museum provides an insight into the city's history. At Atlanterhavs Park, visitors can marvel at the creatures that inhabit the Atlantic in a huge sea water aquarium. Around 4 km to the east of the city centre is the Sunnmøre Museum which has various sections. The Medieval Museum gives an idea of what daily life was like at that time and there is also an outdoor museum and a maritime exhibition with old fishing boots and reconstructed Viking ships. The popular trip to the bird island "Runde", to the South-West of Ålesund, provides a very special natural phenomenon.

This town in the West of Norway lies at the eastern end of Geirangerfjord, known for its deep gullies and high mountains. The harbour town boasts a large number of small hotels. Sights include: the observation points "Flydalsjuvet" and "Dalsnibba", the "Bride's Veil", "Friaren" and "the seven sisters" waterfalls, the geological park, the church, the "Fjord Experience Centre" which provides information about the history of the area, and the 'royal' farmstead "Skageflå".

The Norwegian town of Hellesylt lies by the Storfjord (Sunnylvsfjord), direct at the opening of the huge Geirangerfjord. The wild Norang valley with its famous mountains "Slogen", "Smorskredtind", "Skruven", and "Kvitegga" is directly nearby. Just 200 m from the ferry quay the powerful Hellesylter waterfall surges over countless huge rocks. Here, visitors can also enjoy watching the sweet little white-throated dippers diving into the water.

Oslo, located at the end of the Oslofjord, is the capital city of Norway. Over the past few years Oslo has developed into a modern capital, encompassing more and more neighbouring towns into its urban area. There are a good 50 museums for tourists to visit; some of the most interesting of these are to be found on the 'museum island' of Bygdoy. A stroll through Vigeland Park with its obeslisks and monumental stone figures is also well worth it, as is a vist to the Holmenkollen ski-jump with a stunning view of the city and the Oslofjord. Other attractions worth a visit are the town hall, which appears a litte clumsy from the outside but boasts huge interior frescoes, the fort at Akershus at the eastern side of the port and the cathedral. Oslo has a population of 486,311. The famous Hollmenkollen ski-jump provides a fantastic view of the enchanting capital of Norway. A visit to the historic area of Oslo close to the fort of Akershus is also very enjoyable. Karl Johans Gate between the castle and the parliament with its numerous shops and cafés is the perfect place to take a lazy stroll. Sights include: the Norwegian outdoor museum with its wooden "Stavkirke" on Bygdoy; the Viking Ship Museum with the Oseberg ship; Fram museum with the Polar ship 'Fram' on Bygdoy; Thor Heyerdal Museum with Kon Tiki on Bygdoy; the Munch Museum; the National Gallery; the Arts and Crafts Museum; the Historical Museum; the Resistance Museum; the Gallery of Modern Art; the Maritime Museum; the Zoological Museum; the town hall (Oslo's landmark); the castle; Storting (Houses of Parliament); Vigeland sculpture park in Frogner Park; Akershuscastle, which is medieval in parts; the view from Holmenkollen - the ski-jump and museum; the cathedral (1697); the Defense Museum.

Kiel is the regional capital of Schleswig-Holstein. In this shipyard and maritime town steeped in tradition visitors can take a walk in the countryside and enjoy the fresh air while still having all the amenities of a city close at hand. This combination of closeness to nature and city life gives the residents of Kiel a special attitude to life. With a population of 250,000 Kiel is the cultural and economic centre of the region. Those living in the surrounding area come to Kiel specially to enjoy the varied cultural life with opera and theatre performances, concert halls, a children and youth theatre, museums, exhibitions, free cultural facilities and trendy clubs and eateries. Kiel's signature event is the annual 'Kieler Woche' - the largest sailing festival in the world!